Friday, April 10, 2009

How long does the Government take to approve security clearance?

I recently landed a job with the government (federal). I need to obtain secret clearance. I am anxious to work, but how long is it going to take them to clear me?


That depends on your background. You need to go back 7 years for a secret clearance, and you will need to have a credit check.

You may be hired and begin working without the clearance, if your agency allows it, but if you are denied after you've started work, you can be furloughed. It usually takes a month for USIS to get the SF86 reviewed, and pull the credit check. Your references will be contacted and will have to fill out a form that is mailed to them. The more jobs and residences you've had, and the more items on the SF86 that need to be checked, the longer this takes. Then you'll be interviewed, and then the clearance will be granted (or not.)

Figure a good two months at the very minimum. The USIS is getting these done as fast as possible, but there are priorities among agencies. It could take as long as a year to get a clearance. It takes longer if you did a paper form as opposed to the JPAS form (online).

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