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.

What can mess up a security 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.
• Evaluation of drug abuse or dependence by a licensed social worker.
• Failure to successfully complete a prescribed drug treatment program.

What can jeopardize a security clearance?

Financial Considerations for Security Clearance Holders

• A history of poor credit.
• Deceptive or illegal financial activities, including theft, embezzlement, tax evasion and other financial breach-of-trust problems.
• A history of unpaid debt and late payments.
• Unexplained affluence.
• Financial problems from gambling.

What disqualifies someone from a security clearance?

Conditions that could raise a security concern and may be disqualifying include: Allegations or admissions of criminal conduct, regardless of whether the person was formally charged; A single serious crime or multiple lesser offenses.

Why would you fail a security clearance?

Almost half of all denials are due to financial issues. These could range from high levels of debt, unpaid taxes, or even moving without informing a creditor of your new address.

Can I lose my Security Clearance | Keep your Clearance | Security Clearance Process

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 shows up on a security clearance background check?

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.

What would prevent me from getting a 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.

Should you lie about drug use for security clearance?

Don't Do It! Many security clearance applicants become tempted to hide former drug use, such as the fact that they smoked marijuana or abused prescription pills, perhaps back in college.

Can you lose your clearance if you fail a polygraph?

The reality is while the government can't deny a security clearance based solely on a failed polygraph, it can absolutely deny a clearance based on negative information disclosed during a polygraph – that's the entire point.

Does my credit score affect my security clearance?

Credit scores are not specifically mentioned in the Code of Regulations as being examined by the Diplomatic Security Service. So when it comes to obtaining your security clearance, there isn't a clear “cut off” point or range for acceptable credit scores.

Can my spouse credit affect my security clearance?

Your spouse being behind on debt payments does not have to kill your chances of obtaining a security clearance. If none of the accounts in your own name show a poor credit history or delinquency, then your spouse's poor credit will not likely affect your security clearance application.

Can you get a top secret clearance if you've done drugs?

Persons who have used drugs in the past may be approved for access to classified information. In accepting a security clearance, however, government employees and contractors also accept an obligation to remain drug free in the future.

How far back does a secret clearance go?

How long does my security clearance last? Most clearance, once completed, will be for a fixed time period i.e. five or ten years, but this is on the basis that the cleared individual is still working within that role.

What are the 5 levels of security clearance?

Contents

• 3.2.1 Controlled Unclassified.
• 3.2.2 Public Trust Position.
• 3.2.3 Confidential.
• 3.2.4 Secret.
• 3.2.5 Top Secret.
• 3.2.6 Compartmented.

Can you take CBD with a security clearance?

Second, the use of CBD products risks tripping up a holder of or an applicant for a security clearance. Although Congress legalized hemp and its derivatives such as CBD in 2018, use of products containing these substances could result in a positive drug test.

What happens if you lie on e QIP?

Q: What happens if I withhold information or provide false information on my security clearance application? A: The U. S. Criminal Code provides that knowingly falsifying or concealing a material fact is a felony which may result in fines up to $10,000, 5 years imprisonment, or both.

What does e QIP check for?

e-QIP is a web-based automated system that was designed to facilitate the processing of standard investigative forms used by DCSA and other Investigation Service Providers (ISP) when conducting background investigations for Federal security, suitability, fitness and credentialing purposes.

What do clearance Investigators ask references?

“The best references are individuals who have knowledge of you over a long period of time, if possible, and who know your work ethic through direct observation.” Strong references can also describe the best of your personality traits—such as reliability, honesty, and dedication.

Do all top secret clearances require a 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.

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.

What causes a red flag on a background check?

Common background report red flags include application discrepancies, derogatory marks and criminal records.

Does the FBI check internet history?

Security clearance background investigators do not check your browsing history, read your emails, surveil your every move, bug your telephones, or photograph you commuting to work. That's just not feasible, or allowable.

What disqualifies you from getting a federal job?

In most cases, individuals tried in federal criminal courts are disqualified from government jobs. Crimes, such as fraud, embezzlement, and tax evasion, and similar white-collar offenses, are highly frowned upon.

Do security clearance look at social media?

"All personnel who have a security clearance or complete a Personnel Security Background Investigation for a security clearance are giving authorization to be subject to scrutiny of their social media to look for character, trustworthiness, reliability issues and foreign contacts," said Bullard.