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.

How hard is getting 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.

What disqualifies you from getting a security clearance?

What is the easiest way to get a security clearance?

In order to obtain a security clearance, you must first obtain a job that requires one. Your employer – either the federal government or a government contractor – will walk you through the process of obtaining a clearance, after they've decided they want you for the job.

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%. Your interim Top Secret security clearance may be denied for a number of reasons.

Top Reasons Applicants are Denied a Security Clearance

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.

Does security clearance run a credit check?

The debt you currently owe—which is another factor in determining your credit score—will also be reviewed during your security clearance application process.

Do you take a polygraph for security clearance?

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.

How much does a US security clearance cost?

The average cost to process a SECRET clearance can run from several hundred dollars to $3,000, depending upon individual factors. The average cost to process a TOP SECRET clearance is between $3,000 and about $15,000, depending upon individual factors.

How long does full security clearance take?

Security Clearance (SC): New checks minimum six weeks, averaging six weeks. Developed Vetting (DV): New checks minimum 18 weeks.

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.

Why would I fail SC clearance?

Incomplete Application Or Missing Information

This is a more common reason to fail a security clearance than you may think. You also need to include any documents they ask for, such as birth certificate, utility bills, or anything else that proves your identity.

What do they look at for a 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.

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.

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.

Who gets interviewed for security 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.

Who has the highest security clearance in us?

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.

Can you buy your own security clearance?

If you do not have a security clearance, you cannot obtain one on your own; you must be sponsored by a government agency or a company with a government contract requiring classified performance.

How long does it take to get a security clearance 2022?

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.

What happens if you fail a polygraph test for a clearance?

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.

Does security clearance check your phone?

For what it's worth, security clearance background investigators also don't bug phones or conduct surveillance on applicants, so you can rest a little easier knowing your every move isn't necessarily being watched.

Why did I fail a polygraph when I told the truth?

The problem with polygraph tests

It's used to measure levels of fear and physical responses, not actual lies. These tests can fail because a person who is telling the truth could be anxious and a person who is lying might not be anxious at all.

Does credit card debt affect security clearance?

Many people who require a security clearance for their jobs run into problems due to financial difficulties. Under the Department of Defense's guidelines, the “failure to live within one's means, satisfy debts, and meet financial obligations” may be cited as grounds for rejecting or revoking a clearance.

Can you get a security clearance if you owe taxes?

Security Clearances and Tax Concerns

“For security clearances, what they're looking for is that your compliant,” said Jones. “Even if you have not paid everything that you've owed to the IRS, as long as you have a payment agreement with them…that counts.

Can you pass a background check with debt?

In addition to the basics (name, address, previous addresses, and social security number), a credit check also includes information such as outstanding debts—mortgages, medical debt, or student loans, for example. The report also includes bankruptcies, credit limits, tax liens, and more.