Do they call people for secret clearance?

for a Secret-level clearances it is (generally) not required to contact your references, unless something needs to be clarify or the case is expanded. I suggest you not contact the Investigator, let him/her do their job and not be a "helo-Subject". As hard as it is, best to let the process proceed.

What questions do they ask friends for security clearance?

Can you tell me about your law enforcement experience? Have you ever held a security clearance before? Have you ever had access to classified or top-secret information before? What do you consider your most important technical skills?

Who do they interview for Top Secret clearance?

Once you have submitted your completed SF 86, you can expect to wait anywhere from 3 to 12 months while investigators look into all the information on the questionnaire. In particular, investigators will perform numerous interviews with your former employers, neighbors and landlords, among others.

Does FBI interview family?

And we capture information about a person's background; their history; their date and place of birth; their family; their associates; their employment, and other pertinent information that we then do our background investigation.” Mr. Schiff: And Gant says agents checking applicants don't stop there.

How to Prepare for Security Clearance Interview | Federal Background Check | Get a Federal Job

What disqualifies you from secret clearance?

These conditions may disqualify you from access to classified information: Drug abuse. Illegal drug possession. Diagnosis of drug abuse or dependence by a medical professional.

What are disqualifiers for 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.

Do they interview family for security clearance?

Thanks for the help in advance. Relatives are typically not interviewed. Questions about a current spouse are not usually asked, though if she is a foreign national, some follow up may occur. Ditto if there are some odd ball circumstances regarding your spouse that might warrant a question or two.

Are secret clearances hard to get?

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.

How many references do you need for top secret clearance?

4 People You Should List as References on Your Security Clearance Application

• current or former employers. ...
• Someone who knows you from civic or community engagement. ...
• A current or former professor, teacher, or instructor. ...
• A personal friend you've known for many years.

How long is security clearance interview?

The security clearance interview itself tends to last approximately one to two hours, although the duration varies depending on the difficulty of the case. Usually, just one investigator is assigned for the personal interview, but in some cases there can be two investigators.

How long does it take for a secret security 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.

What is a personal security interview?

The interview process will usually occur a short time following the submission and review of the completed security clearance materials by the investigator. Security clearance investigators will review and confirm the information that the individual has supplied in the security clearance submission.

Why would a background investigator call me?

How did the investigator get your name? They were given contact and reference information by the person being investigated, or by another person who was questioned during the course of the investigation. The normal procedure for an investigator to make contact is by phone or in person.

What do background investigators ask your references?

They mostly asked if she drank, did drugs, or had "business" with any other countries. Or if anyone would be blackmailing her. He also listed her other personal references and asked if I could think of anyone else (which I thought was completely inappropriate).

Does Top 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.

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 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%.

What do they check 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.

Can siblings affect security clearance?

Can you brothers history affect your clearance, remotely possible but not likely, can not identifying your brother on your SF-86 affect your clearance, yes. Failing to disclose information is the quickest way to get denied a security clearance.

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 you wear to a security clearance interview?

For most federal government security clearance interviews, a dark suit with a white or blue shirt or blouse is often recommended. Women should wear minimal makeup and conservative jewelry.

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.

Why would you fail a security clearance?

You Have a Criminal History

Never lie about or downplay something that happened in the past. Those who are investigating your background have access to all of the information they need to find out about your criminal history. If you are anything but honest, you can trigger a denial of your security clearance.

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.