What disqualifies you from getting a 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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What is disqualifying for a secret clearance?

disqualifying include: (1) Sexual behavior of a criminal nature, whether or not. has been prosecuted; (2) Compulsive or addictive sexual behavior when the person is unable to stop a pattern or self. high-risk behavior or that which is symptomatic of a personally disorder; (3) Sexual behavior that causes an individual.
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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.
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What shows up on a security clearance background check?

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 can jeopardize a security clearance?

Criminal sexual behavior, pornography and repeated, high-risk sexual behavior are all examples that suggest lack of self-control and trustworthiness to retain security clearance.
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Top Reasons Applicants are Denied a Security Clearance



Does your credit score affect your 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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Why do security clearances get denied?

Financial problems: A security clearance may be denied because of an applicant's poor finances. Recent bankruptcy, high debt levels, bad credit or other financial issues could lead to a 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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What percentage of security clearances are 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%. Your interim Top Secret security clearance may be denied for a number of reasons.
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How to pass a security clearance interview?

5 Tips for a Telephone or VTC Security Clearance Interview
  1. Act like it's in person. Follow the same advice as if you were being interviewed in-person. ...
  2. Don't be a time stuffer. ...
  3. Don't interview and drive. ...
  4. Watch what you wear. ...
  5. Don't Multitask.
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What can ruin a security clearance?

top five reasons for security clearance denial
  • Financial considerations. Almost half of all denials are due to financial issues. ...
  • Personal conduct. ...
  • Foreign influence. ...
  • Drug use. ...
  • Criminal conduct.
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What can hurt security clearance?

Online Behaviors That May Damage Your Clearance
  • Unauthorized Access.
  • Modification, Destruction or Manipulation.
  • Use of IT System for Fraud, Theft, or Personal Gain.
  • Introduction of Unauthorized Software.
  • Misuse of Government or Corporate IT Systems.
  • Personal Harassment.
  • Failure to Protect Information.
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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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What happens if you fail a polygraph for a security clearance?

The Consequence of Inconclusive Results

So, by “failing” a polygraph or producing “inconclusive results” you might not get the job or the clearance you're applying for – but you also won't lose any clearance you already have or jeopardize your future prospects of obtaining clearances that don't require a polygraph.
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Can I get a clearance if I owe taxes?

In the event that the applicant was discovered to owe the IRS back taxes or that he or she neglected to file tax returns for any given year, it is likely that the security clearance application will be denied.
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Is there a polygraph for secret clearance?

A polygraph test may be required as an add-on requirement to a Top Secret or TS/SCI clearance depending upon the job or hiring organization. The CIA is an example of an organization that requires all of its employees to pass a full-scope polygraph test – even its cleaning staff!
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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.
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What credit score is needed for a security clearance?

The Link Between Your Credit and Your Clearance

The credit report obtained by investigators does not include an individual's credit score, so it matters not that your score might be 720 or above (considered a good risk by companies offering credit).
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What happens if you fail a clearance?

In many instances, no security clearance = no job. While you may be the most qualified candidate for a position, you will not get the job if you can't get the clearance that goes with it.
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How far back do security clearances go?

The SF-86 form requests information back 7 years for employment and residence; however, to comply with the investigative standards, 10 years is required.
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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 clearance investigators look at social media?

In the years since, many security clearance applicants have been left wondering what – if anything – the government is considering in an online search of security clearance applicants. SEAD 5 created a framework for federal agencies to use as they implemented their own social media monitoring programs.
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How often do people fail security clearance?

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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Does everyone get interviewed for a security clearance?

The answer – no, not standard protocol. But it's also not out of the ordinary. A number of things can trigger an interview as a part of a Secret clearance investigation.
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Is a security clearance a big deal?

The highest levels of clearance can lead to even higher salaries. The Human Resource Association of the National Capital Area also reported that employees with top secret security clearance could earn up to 60% more than those without top secret clearance in certain jobs.
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