What factors are considered when applying for US Government Security clearance?

Question

I'm thinking of having my employer sponsor me for Top Secret clearance. I know the process will cost them about $10K. I have been advised to not apply (and cause my employer to spend that money) if there are things in my background that would cause my application to be rejected. Just wondering what factors are considered when applying for this clearance.
Thanks.

Answer 1

Requirements for a clearance

The vetting process for a security clearance is usually undertaken only when someone is hired or transferred into a position that requires access to classified information. The employee is typically fingerprinted and asked to fill out a detailed life history form, including all foreign travel, which becomes a starting point for an investigation into the candidate's suitability. This process can include several types of investigations, depending on the level of clearance required:

* National Agency Check with Local Agency Check and Credit Check (NACLC). An NACLC is required for a Secret, L, and CONFIDENTIAL access. (See: Background check)
* Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI). An SSBI is required for Top Secret, Q, and SCI access, and involves agents contacting employers, coworkers and other individuals. Standard elements include checks of employment; education; organization affiliations; local agencies; where the subject has lived, worked, or gone to school; and interviews with persons who know the individual. The investigation may include an NACLC on the candidate’s spouse or cohabitant and any immediate family members who are U.S. citizens other than by birth or who are not U.S. citizens.
* Polygraph. Some agencies may require polygraph examinations. The most common examinations are Counter Intelligence (CI) and Full Scope (Lifestyle) polygraphs. While a positive SSBI is sufficient for access to SCI-level information, polygraphs are routinely administered for "staff-like" access to particular agencies.

If issues of concern surface during any phase of security processing, coverage is expanded to resolve those issues. At lower levels, interim clearances may be issued to individuals who are presently under investigation, but whom have passed some preliminary, automatic process. Such automatic processes include things such as credit checks, felony checks, and so on. An interim clearance may be denied (although the final clearance may still be granted) for having a large amount of debt or having admitted to seeing a doctor for a mental health condition.

Investigations conducted by one federal agency are no longer supposed to be duplicated by another federal agency when those investigations are current within 5 years and meet the scope and standards for the level of clearance required. The high level clearance process can be lengthy, sometimes taking a year or more. The long time needed for new appointees to be cleared has been cited as hindering U.S. presidential transitions.

The security clearance forms are available at http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/formslibrary.do by searching for SF86 and SF85.

Answer 2

Yes he could. And the same reasoning you presented would apply to Sarah Palin (as her former job was a Director serving on Senator Ted Steven's 527 Group)....that is she was associated and worked for a FELON...Government security clearances include more than just a check of associations...it also includes an entire credit check, an investigation of one's neighbors (and their opinions of you), as well as overseas travel, and previous jobs....I also had a full field government security clearance...and the thing that will also get you is BAD CREDIT and/or TOO MUCH CREDIT where you are living beyond your means...the majority of American's in these hard times would not be able to qualify for a government security clearance if they had BAD CREDIT or TOO MUCH DEBT!