How many people are denied Top Secret Clearance?

“Probably 5 to 10 percent of the people who go through the process experience some degree of issues,” Bigley estimated.

How many people fail Top Secret security clearance?

You may even wonder if you should continue with the process, particularly if you're not getting a paycheck while you wait. 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%.

Is it hard to get a Top Secret security clearance?

Obtaining a top secret clearance is a lengthy process that involves an in-depth background check. Denial of a clearance can occur for a variety of reasons, including financial problems, mental disorders and criminal violations.

What happens if top secret clearance is denied?

You may also be given a list of ways to remedy the rejection and then your application can be reconsidered. If that doesn't happen, you move into a more formal appeal process. You can receive this review in writing or a federal employee can ask for a review before an appeals board or an administrative judge.

How do you fail a top secret clearance?

Top Reasons Applicants are Denied a Security Clearance

Do you get interviewed for a Top Secret clearance?

The purpose of the interview is for the investigator to assess whether you will be able to handle having access to sensitive classified information. The questions can be in-depth and deeply probing. If you are seeking Top Secret clearance, you are likely to be interviewed.

How long does a Top Secret clearance take?

It currently takes 121 days to obtain a Top Secret security clearance for the fastest 90% of DoD/Industry applicants, and 95 days to obtain a Secret clearance for the fastest 90% of DoD/Industry applicants. Clearance denials and revocations flagged by DCSA for FY 2022 were: Financial issues. Personal conduct.

Is it easier to get a Top Secret clearance if you have a secret clearance?

Contrary to popular belief, the criteria for getting a Top Secret security clearance are exactly the same as obtaining a Secret clearance. The difference is the depth and extensiveness of the investigation. There are three basic levels of security clearance: Confidential/Public Trust.

Who gets interviewed for Top Secret clearance?

In particular, investigators will perform numerous interviews with your former employers, neighbors and landlords, among others. In some cases, they also will interview relatives, particularly those who are not U.S. citizens.

What percentage of security clearances are rejected?

myth #1: Many security clearances are denied.

Less than 1% of security clearances investigations result in denial. Individuals may not be eligible for an interim clearance, and they may have significant issues that need to be mitigated.

What do investigators look at for Top Secret clearance?

Credit and criminal history checks will be conducted on all applicants. For a Top Secret security clearance, the background investigation includes additional record checks which can verify citizenship for the applicant and family members, verification of birth, education, employment history, and military history.

What are red flags for security clearance?

A criminal arrest, financial bankruptcy, unreported foreign travel, drug abuse, mishandling of classified information, serious mental health disease, etc., could result in removal from access, if the government knew.

Why does a Top Secret clearance take so long?

Because of the high demand for the clearance system, the process is taking anywhere from four to five months. Top Secret clearance processing times are sitting around 159 days, on average.

Does Top Secret require polygraph?

Polygraph tests accompany some Top Secret or TS/SCI clearances; however, they are not required to obtain either type of clearance and are not part of the clearance background investigation.

Does having a Top Secret clearance help get a job?

Having a security clearance is similar to having a special certification or degree on your résumé. It makes you more marketable, helping you stand out from other candidates and increasing your job prospects. An active or current clearance may also increase your earning potential.

How much money is a top secret clearance?

The average cost to process a TOP SECRET clearance is between $3,000 and about $15,000, depending upon individual factors. The government pays the cost of clearances for military personnel and civilian government employees.

Can family members affect security clearance?

Hardly. Previous questions have included if a spouse being listed on the sex offender registry for a decade-old arrest or if a jail stint would affect the applicant's security clearance. Those issues would likely only be an issue of the applicant was involved in some way.

Does credit score affect Top Secret clearance?

Imperfect financial circumstances, such as bad credit scores, can have a negative influence on your application and potentially cause your security clearance to be denied. In fact, financial issues comprise a large percentage of security clearance denials.

What can ruin a security clearance?

There are many reasons security clearances get denied or revoked. However, personal conduct, drug involvement, and security violations are three reasons that we frequently encounter in our work.

How much debt is too much for a security clearance?

Is There a Debt Limit to Obtain a Security Clearance? No branch of the military has a set amount of debt that is the breaking point for security clearance. You could owe $5,000 or $50,000 and be granted or denied clearance. It's all a matter of how you deal with the debt.

Does security clearance check your messages?

Emails, Internet Histories & Other Virtual Assets

Although security clearance background checks can be intensely thorough, the government can't view your emails, Internet browsing history, hard drive data, and other virtual assets without a subpoena or warrant.

Do people lie on security clearances?

Many enlistees going into the military provide false or erroneous information on security clearance applications in order to get past the screeners. Often times they are told by a recruiter or someone else to not disclose information such as illegal drug use which might be disqualifying.

Does anxiety affect security clearance?

Security clearances are not denied for seeking help. Pro-actively seeking counseling is a positive indicator and often mitigates security concerns. Less than 1% of security clearances are denied or revoked due to psychological concerns.

Why do people fail security clearances?

From drug or alcohol dependence, to falsifying information on your application and problematic work history could all fall under the “personal conduct” category and result in a denial of your security clearance application.

Do they call references for secret clearance?

The security clearance process typically includes a FBI reference check of former employers, coworkers, friends, neighbors, landlords, and schools along with a review of credit, tax, and police records.