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Getting a Security Clearance ... In a Nutshell


Whether you work for a private employer or a Federal agency . . .

 

When you need access to classified national security information…

the Federal agency Security Officer will have you fill out this:


Standard Form 86: Questionnaire for National Security Positions

STANDARD FORM 86

 

 

It asks you for a lot of personal history information and a lot of names and addresses.

We'll need your fingerprints too.

 

We’ll ask you to sign a form allowing Investigators access to personal records about you.Image of a hand signing a paper

 

The Federal Agency that needs you to have a clearance sends your forms and papers to our Federal Investigations Processing Center.

The Processing Center requests Investigators all over the world to begin the investigation of your background.

 

IT’S NOT UNUSUAL FOR SEVERAL INVESTIGATORS IN DIFFERENT LOCATIONS TO ALL BE WORKING ON YOUR CASE AT THE SAME TIME.

 

Image of the Earth in 3 different sides

Some Investigators are Federal employees, some are private Investigators working on a government contract. THEY ALL DO THE SAME WORK and follow the same laws, regulations, and rules.

  • We review records about you. (Where you've worked, where you've gone to school, where you lived, and more)
  • We check with the police.
  • We check your credit.
  • We talk to people who know you.

An Investigator may interview YOU to expand and clarify the information you put on the security questionnaire.

Reports from all theInvestigators are collected into a single file; The Report of Investigation. We send this report to the Federal agency that asked us to investigate you.

 

The Federal Agency Security Adjudication Officer carefully reads and evaluates the report, this Federal officer determines your eligibility for access to classified national security information. Your security clearance is either granted, or denied. 

An agency should give you the opportunity to explain or refute negative or unclear information that could influence their clearance decision.

 

Once you have a security clearance, and the need for it continues, you must undergo a reinvestigation every 5, 10, or 15 years, depending on the level of your clearance.

When you no longer need a security clearance... if you leave that job or no longer need to have access to classified national security information... your security clearance is removed.

 

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR INVESTIGATION OR CLEARANCE,

CHECK WITH THE SECURITY OFFICIALS TO WHOM YOU SUBMITTED YOUR SECURITY QUESTIONNAIRE.

| Investigations Main Page |

 
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