Can you travel while getting a security clearance?

In most cases, travel will be considered a plus, as long as you've kept a tight record of contacts and experiences. While traveling, studying, and volunteering abroad are great opportunities, they can complicate the process for receiving a security clearance.

Can you travel during a security clearance?

Please note : U.S. government employees with a national security clearance are required to travel on their U.S. issued passports. Failure to use a U.S. passport when entering or exiting the U.S. is a security concern.

What countries can I not travel to with a security clearance?

If you have ties in Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Cuba, or Venezuela, you're in for an uphill battle. But there are also plenty of other countries we've seen deemed a “heightened risk” by various U.S. government agencies, and some of them may surprise you.

What can you not do with a security clearance?

Deliberately omitting or concealing from or falsifying facts on any personnel security questionnaire, personal history statement, or similar forms used to conduct investigations, determine employment qualifications, award benefits or status, determine security clearance eligibility or trustworthiness, or award ...

What do you do while waiting for security clearance?

Summer Travel and Your Security Clearance

What disqualifies you from Secret clearance?

According to the Adjudicating Guidelines, potential financial problems that risk your security clearance include: Poor credit choices over a period of time. Theft, embezzlement, tax evasion and other financial violations. Patterns of unpaid debt.

How long does the security clearance process take?

In general, expect a CONFIDENTIAL or SECRET clearance to take between 1 and 3 months. A TOP SECRET will probably take between 4 and 8 months. However, some individuals have been waiting for the results of their TOP SECRET investigation for more than one year.

What are the 5 levels of security clearance?

What is the highest security clearance you can get?

What is the highest security clearance you can get? The federal government provides three levels of clearance: confidential, secret, and top secret. Top secret clearance is the highest security clearance level anyone can get. A candidate's responsibilities determine the level of clearance granted.

What percentage of people get denied security clearance?

But don't lose heart – 20-30% of all interim security clearances are denied, but that is vastly different than the figure of final clearance denials, which hovers around 1%.

Can I travel with a top secret clearance?

Travel there is unlikely to be approved by security officials – and, to be clear, pre-approval is required for all current clearance-holders. Traveling without pre-approval or in defiance of a denial is an almost guaranteed security clearance revocation.

Can government employees travel?

There are no Government-wide limits on official travel (i.e., travel conducted under an official travel authorization) for Federal employees, regardless of their vaccination status.

Can you travel if you work for the government?

As a government employee on official business, you may need the permission of the U.S. Embassy before heading to foreign soil. Some departments and agencies will handle this process for their employees, but others want you to do it yourself. Make sure you know the rules for your office.

Do security clearances look at bank statements?

You don't have to provide the information (such as bank statements) but the clearance process will stop if you don't provide it. The investigator will interview anyone you listed on the SF-86. They may also interview other people not listed on the SF-86 whose names come up during the initial interviews.

Can you travel to China if you have a security clearance?

Travel to China or contact with Chinese nationals is of particular concern for all clearance holders. DoD contractors require prior approval before having any contact with Chinese nationals involving technology. This is not surprising since the Chinese were suspected of being behind the OPM data hack.

Can I travel to Cuba with security clearance?

Get Pre-approval When headed to Cuba

Travel there is unlikely to be approved by security officials – and, to be clear, pre-approval is required for all current clearance-holders. Traveling without pre-approval or in defiance of a denial is an almost guaranteed security clearance revocation.

Who has Top Secret security clearance?

A Top Secret clearance may be granted to those persons who have a "need-to-know" national security information, classified up to the Top Secret level, and who need unescorted access to FBI facilities, when necessary.

How much is a Top Secret SCI clearance worth?

Taking into account the intensity of the process, you may be wondering, “How much is a top secret clearance worth?” As reported in January 2021, the average cost of a top secret security clearance was between $3,000 and $15,000, and these costs tend to be paid by the government for its own employees.

What's the lowest security clearance?

The Department of State official site lists three federal clearances from lowest to highest. They are, respectively, Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret.

How far back does a security clearance go?

Security Clearance Adjudicative Process

The clearance process for Secret level access uses an investigation called the National Agency Check with Law and Credit that goes back five years, while the clearance process for Top Secret uses a Single Scope Background Investigation that goes back ten years.

What is Top Secret SCI clearance?

What is top secret or sensitive compartmented information clearance? TS/SCI clearance allows you to access sensitive information that is not available to the public. Sometimes, this can mean access to data, information or even technology that is only available to those with the appropriate clearance level.

What is the difference between secret and Top Secret clearance?

While the investigations are different and separate, the adjudicative criteria – with the exception of “Foreign Influence” – are exactly the same. The critical difference between a secret security clearance investigation and a top secret security clearance investigation is the Personal Subject Interview.

What does security clearance involve?

DV Security Clearance Questionnaire. Criminal Record Check. Credit Reference Check and review of personal finances. A search into income, assets and expenditure, which may take into account the joint position with a spouse or partner.

What is a Tier 4 background investigation?

Tiers Three and Four – Secret Security Clearance & High Risk Public Trust. This clearance tier means that you are allowed access to information or material that could cause grave danger to the security of the United States if it were disclosed.

What is the easiest federal job to get?