What delays a security clearance?

Common Causes of Delays
The security clearance application form is missing data. The applicant put inaccurate data on the security clearance application. There are issues with fingerprint submission. There are serious security issues.
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What disqualifies you from getting a security clearance?

What can disqualify you?
  • You are not a U.S. citizen.
  • You were dishonorably discharged from the military.
  • You are currently involved in illegal drug use.
  • You have been judged as mentally incompetent or mentally incapacitated by a mental health professional.
  • You have had a clearance revoked for security reasons.
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Why is my security clearance taking so long?

The process can take months or even up to a year, depending on the number of people ahead of you in the security clearance, whether more information is needed, the depth of the investigation process and other factors.
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How long are security clearances taking 2022?

The security clearance process takes an average of three to four months to complete but can take up to a full year to complete depending on your background.
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What does a security clearance check look at?

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.
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What May Delay, But Won't Disqualify You From Obtaining a Security Clearance



What are red flags for security clearance?

Lying on your application, not cooperating with the investigation, and patterns of dishonest behavior are examples of personal conduct issues that are the second most common reason for security clearance denial.
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Do security clearances check Internet history?

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.
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How can I speed up my security clearance process?

12 Tips for Speeding Up the Security Clearance Process
  1. Provide complete and accurate information. ...
  2. List good sources. ...
  3. Review your credit report before completing the SF-86. ...
  4. Don's submit a sloppy SF-86. ...
  5. Don't lie. ...
  6. Review your SF-86 before the interview. ...
  7. Verify your reference data. ...
  8. Be prepared with recent information.
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How often are secret clearances denied?

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.
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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.
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How long can a clearance delay last?

How long will FedEx be able to keep my shipment on hold for import clearance? FedEx will usually hold the shipments for 10 days for customer instructions or approvals.
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How long does it take for a security clearance to come back?

The clearance process takes approximately 60-120 days to complete from the time you submit your forms to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS). Investigations may take substantially longer than 120 if there is a security, suitability, or medical issue to resolve.
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What does pending security clearance mean?

Eligibility Pending

Indicates the investigation request has been received and reviewed for potentially posting an Interim Determination. When the requirements for an Interim determination have not been met, VRO will post "Eligibility Pending" and defer adjudication until the completion of the requested investigation.
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Can you get a security clearance with anxiety?

A past or present mental, emotional, or personality disorder is not by itself a disqualifying condition for a final security clearance. A psychological condition does not have to be formally diagnosed as a disorder to be a security concern.
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Do they check your credit for a security 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.
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Is it hard to pass a security clearance?

Those who have gone through the security clearance process understand the significant headaches involved in both the initial background investigation as well as periodic reinvestigations. Obtaining a security clearance is no easy task, and not everyone who applies will be granted access.
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What gets investigated for 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.
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What credit score is needed for a security clearance?

There is no specific credit score needed for security clearance.
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What is the success rate of secret clearance?

“The denial rate for the DoD (which issues more than 90 percent of security clearances) has traditionally been reported at one percent to three percent,” she said.
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Why is it so hard to get a 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.
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How long does it take to verify a clearance?

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.
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What are the stages of a security clearance?

There are three levels of security clearance: confidential, secret, and top secret.
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Do security clearances check text messages?

While it is true that security clearance investigators can dig deeply into all the financial, personal, and social aspects of your life, your text messages, and private online accounts are safe, for now.
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Do all security clearances require a 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.
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Do security clearance look at social media?

Security clearance holders should know that comments made publicly can be used against them in the security clearance process. The best step to take to ensure information doesn't come back to bite is to keep your accounts locked down and private.
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