What can jeopardize a security clearance?

Deceptive or illegal financial activities, including theft, embezzlement, tax evasion and other financial breach-of-trust problems. A history of unpaid debt and late payments. Unexplained affluence. Financial problems from gambling.

What can ruin a security clearance?

In fact, one common area that can be troublesome on a background check is financial behavior that indicates the applicant is frequently over-extended on credit, personal debt, etc. Having too much debt and not enough income creates a potential circumstance where a security clearance application can be disqualified.

What disqualifies someone from a security clearance?

Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying include: Allegations or admissions of criminal conduct, regardless of whether the person was formally charged; A single serious crime or multiple lesser offenses.

Why would you fail a security clearance?

Almost half of all denials are due to financial issues. These could range from high levels of debt, unpaid taxes, or even moving without informing a creditor of your new address.

What would prevent me from getting a top secret clearance?

Financial Issues. Top secret clearance holders must have no significant financial concerns. If the background check reveals a considerable amount of debt, missed payments, tax evasion, collection judgments, check fraud, foreclosures, embezzlement or bankruptcies, your application might be rejected.

Can my sexual practices jeopardize my security clearance.

Do security clearances check Internet history?

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.

What is checked for security 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.

How often do secret clearances get denied?

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%.

Will being fired affect security clearance?

In today's volatile job market, it's important to remember that being let go from a contract or fired for company reasons (not punitive ones) clearly has no bearing on your security clearance eligibility.

What would make you fail vetting?

There are some convictions that will lead to automatic failure of vetting. These include but are not limited to murder, firearms offences, domestic violence offences, any dishonesty related offence, for example fraud, and offences with a hate aggravation such as race.

Should you lie about drug use for security clearance?

Don't Do It! Many security clearance applicants become tempted to hide former drug use, such as the fact that they smoked marijuana or abused prescription pills, perhaps back in college.

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.

Does security clearance check bank accounts?

They run a credit check and run your name and SSN through NICS. If there are problems you'll be asked to provide more information. You don't have to provide the information (such as bank statements) but the clearance process will stop if you don't provide it.

Does your credit score affect your security clearance?

Credit scores are not specifically mentioned in the Code of Regulations as being examined by the Diplomatic Security Service. So when it comes to obtaining your security clearance, there isn't a clear “cut off” point or range for acceptable credit scores.

Can your spouse affect your security clearance?

Your Spouse Can Also Put Your Clearance At Serious Risk

Substantiated allegations of abuse can seriously jeopardize your clearance. Unfortunately, a vindictive ex can also pose a risk as your ex may be contacted in the course of your investigation.

What do background investigators ask former employers?

Background investigators may ask about the relationships of a prospective candidate, or their performance in previous positions. You may also seek information about other qualities, such as integrity, honesty, attention to detail, or punctuality.

How do I keep my security clearance active?

The easiest way to maintain security clearance is to take “cleared” positions with companies or government agencies. There certainly is no shortage of those opportunities today. A quick search among the nation's top job boards finds thousands of open positions for individuals with active clearances.

Can you get a federal job if you've been fired?

Federal employees who were fired from their job can still apply for federal vacancies for which they are eligible. Prospective federal agencies will consider the facts of their dismissal in deciding whether they are suitable for the positions for which they apply.

How difficult is security clearance?

The National Security Agency denied the most applicants–9.2 percent. The National Reconnaissance Office and the Central Intelligence Agency had the next greatest number of denials, at 7.4 percent and 6.5 percent, respectively. These numbers might seem relatively low, but there's a reason for that.

Does secret clearance 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.

What is required for secret clearance?

For a secret clearance in a national security position, the investigation requires agents to interview people who have lived or worked with the applicant at some point in the past seven years, or sometimes farther back.

What disqualifies you from getting a federal job?

In most cases, individuals tried in federal criminal courts are disqualified from government jobs. Crimes, such as fraud, embezzlement, and tax evasion, and similar white-collar offenses, are highly frowned upon.

What are the 5 levels of security clearance?

What is the highest level of security clearance?

There are three levels of security clearance, with the highest level being Top Secret. Secret is the next level of clearance and Confidential is the final. 6.

Do security clearances look at text messages?

INTERNET HISTORY, EMAILS, TEXT MESSAGES AND iCLOUD

Security clearance background investigators do not check your browsing history, read your emails, surveil your every move, bug your telephones, or photograph you commuting to work. That's just not feasible, or allowable.