<p>Do any parents here know about the process for getting them? I’m considering applying for a job which would require a TS(SCI), but I’m not sure what my chances are for getting cleared (for reasons that I’d rather not post publically). Is there anyone that can help me, or knows someone who can? Let me know and I’ll PM.</p>
<p>It really depends on the agency giving you the security clearance. However, it will most definitely involve a background investigator poking around your life and talking to your family and friends and other people you have constant contact with (work, etc.), not to mention the standard computerized checks and probable polygraph. </p>
<p>My roommate went through a security clearance process not too long ago for the Department of Defense, and I had a federal agent show up to our place to ask me questions.</p>
<p>Ah, also - the check will likely investigate all these things going back at least 10 years.</p>
<p>Go to the CC forum titled Other Majors where you will find the IR experts on the board. Post that quesiton on the IR thread and you will get a succinct answer.</p>
<p>You cannot apply for a security clearance on your own. You must be sponsored by a government agency or a cleared contractor.</p>
<p>I know it sounds like a Catch-22 situation – you want a job that requires a clearance, but you can’t get the clearance until you have an employer who will sponsor you. In reality, your employer has you doing non-classified work until your clearance is approved.</p>
<p>This link will help answer some questions. <a href=“http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/governmentjobs/l/aa_security.htm[/url]”>http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/governmentjobs/l/aa_security.htm</a></p>
<p>Way back when I had a friend applying for a job in the state department. The FBI came and asked me about her. They asked me if she’d ever used drugs. They probably asked me if she had a drinking problem though I don’t remember it. They didn’t want to know about her sex life.</p>
<p>Beong that the job requires an SCI, you may have to take a polygraph. This will probably depend on the level of the SCI. I didn’t, but a friend had to take one.</p>
<p>WashMom has had a variety of security clearances over the years. If you are getting into this area for the first time:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Tell the security office wherever you are applying if you have any concerns about passing a background check. I have been told™ that hiding stuff is frequently worse than the stuff. </p></li>
<li><p>Keep your information together. WashMom has a huge file of information that security people ask for. It saves her lots of time when having to go through it again.</p></li>
<li><p>One clearance isn’t the same as others. WashMom’s had black program clearances before, and then had to go through a short check to qualify for a secret or confidential clearance on another program.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>I think this link is actually quite helpful </p>
<p><a href=“http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/l/blsecmenu.htm[/url]”>http://usmilitary.about.com/od/theorderlyroom/l/blsecmenu.htm</a></p>
<p>I remember needing a street address for every house I have ever lived in since birth, as well as addresses and contacts for all schools and employers. The DOD talked to teachers, neighbors, high school employers, etc. When I got a Department of State Top Secret Clearance for a summer internship as a grad student, they started from scratch, apparently not caring what the Department of Defense had done. Each time it was a very thorough process. They hunted down classmates, customers at the restaurant where I was waitressing, you name it–not just people I knew. </p>
<p>If you have anything you are worried about, I agree with WashDad, I would just admit it and ask if it is a problem. Depending on the depth of the clearance (and there are levels within top secret), I don’t think there is much that stays hidden from these guys if it is something they want to know. At the same time, they don’t expect everybody to be squeaky clean. If that were the case, they would have precious few employees.</p>
<p>They get a list of references from you and then talk to each of them and get from them another list of people that you know and so on until they think that they have talked to everyone that ever knew you. If anybody in that list tells the truth, then they know the truth.</p>
<p>I’ve been questioned for a neighbor’s security clearance several times. They ask a lot of detailed questions about how long you’ve known the person, their habits, their relatives and family life, out of area travel, etc.
They are looking for anything of questionable character and anything that someone could use to blackmail the person. They also asked extensive questions that were obviously related to drug use and/or dealing and alcohol use.</p>
<p>DH has had these black program clearances/levels within Top Secret that others have referred to. It was a while ago, but I think he would echo what WashDad and The Analyst have posted.</p>
<p>There is a recent grad who posts on these boards who has current experience with this, I believe. I don’t know if he would want me to mention his name. But I will PM him and see if he wants to come on to this thread or PM you.</p>
<p>Clearances are a fickle and very idiosyncratic thing. Because a clearance is considered a “privilege” instead of a “right,” many people will find themselves at a dead end when they either fail a polygraph or are told that some past mistake is enough for the adjudicators to deny their clearance.</p>
<p>I tend to be of the opinion that ANYTHING that involves a polygraph is like gambling (polygraphs are by nature unscientific and almost certainly random to an extent), and you cannot place all your eggs in a TS:SCI basket. If you will poly, keep a backup.</p>
<p>Also keep in mind that clearances can draaaaaaag on for a long time. I ended up not doing an internship this past summer with State because of a delayed clearance. Do not plan your life around one of these things, seriously. </p>
<p>If you do plan on going through with the process, get a hold of your addresses, birth certificate, passport, previous employers and their addresses, and phone numbers of ANY close foreign contacts. Fill in EVERY gap of your life since 10 years ago, and make sure that you can provide up-to-date and honest information about your current situation. </p>
<p>MOST IMPORTANTLY- DO NOT LIE.</p>
<p>Trust me, they will find out at some point. Well, unless it’s a polygraph. Then they might not…</p>
<p>It’s a great resume-enhancer once you have it. Our college kid now has one due to her internship last summer.</p>
<p>^^That’s what my S reports as well. It was essential to his internship. Issued temporary Govt. security clearance for internship in ~10 days. Full clearance after a couple of months.</p>
<p>Some of the clearance issues the other interns encountered had to do with living in other countries or dual citizenship.</p>
<p>Back in the Dark Ages, I also got a clearance for a summer job. It also didn’t take long. But I don’t know if the types of clearances that can be obtained in ~10days are at all the same as the black program and/or high level (beyond TS) clearances that some of us are talking about.</p>
<p>So, I would just take the anticipated time requirements as possibly relevant/possibly not based on type of clearance you are seeking.</p>
<p>It took my secret level clearance considerably longer than 90 days because my father was born in Iran. Never mind the fact that I’ve not spoken with him since I was 11. Or the fact that he left BECAUSE of the revolution. That was enough of a reason for a guy at the State Dept. to tell me that my case was “highly problematic” and that I had significant “issues” I would have to overcome.</p>
<p>jmmom, yes definitely different levels of clearance. Not all interns were approved in 10 days for the temporary intern clearance even. The full Government Security took much longer.</p>
<p>UCLAri describes the kind of issues that other interns had. One student renounced the second citizenship.</p>
<p>I was told, in so many words, that I’d never get an interim under ANY circumstances and that my chances of getting the secret clearance in time were slim to none.</p>
<p>Both came true. I ended up going private sector instead this past summer. C’est la vie. The next one will probably go through… eventually. </p>
<p>My point, really, is that you should NEVER plan around a clearance. Plan contingencies because of it.</p>