How Long Does A Background Investigation Take Secret Service

Security Clearances (FAQ updates)

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The Background Investigation Process

National Security Adjudicative Guidelines

Interim Determination

Reinvestigation

Continuous Evaluation Programme

FAQs

The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) conducts personnel security background investigations for the Section of Country and other federal agencies.

These investigations provide information for DSS to determine an bidder's or current employee's national security eligibility.

DSS conducts more than 38,000 personnel security actions each year for the Department of State and other federal agencies.

The Background Investigation Process

	A job candidate receives a provisional offering of employment and completes and submits the advisable form – either a Questionnaire for National Security Positions, Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions, or Questionnaire for Public Trust Positions – and other required forms to the advisable hiring office.
	The hiring function reviews and submits the completed questionnaire and other required forms – known as the security package – to DSS.
	DSS reviews the security package and formally opens a background investigation.
	DSS conducts record and fingerprint checks confronting commercial and authorities databases.
	DSS verifies and corroborates key data and events from the candidate'southward past and recent history. This may include interviews of people who know the candidate well. The investigator may acquit a face-to-face interview the candidate as part of the process.
	Subsequently the investigation is complete, DSS adjudicates and determines the candidate'due south national security eligibility co-ordinate to Security Executive Agent Directive (SEAD) 4: National Security Adjudicative Guidelines .
	In some cases, background investigations may exist forwarded to a Department of State Human Resources suitability panel.
	After determining the candidate's national security eligibility, DSS contacts the appropriate hiring authority.

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National Security Adjudicative Guidelines

What are the National Security Adjudicative Guidelines?

The guidelines are defined in the Security Executive Agent Directive (SEAD) 4: National Security Adjudicative Guidelines and are the single common criteria used to evaluate all individuals who require national security eligibility.

All Executive Branch agencies use these guidelines when rendering a national security eligibility determination.

What factors are considered?

National security eligibility determinations take into account a person's:

Stability
Trustworthiness
Reliability
Discretion
Character
Honesty
Judgment
Unquestionable loyalty to the U.S.

What factors may non be considered?

In making a national security eligibility decision, the federal government does non discriminate on the basis of:

Race
Color
Religion
Sex
National origin
Disability
Sexual orientation

Negative conclusions cannot be made solely on the basis of mental health counseling.

When will national security eligibility be granted?

DSS considers all available, reliable information nigh a person – past and present, favorable and unfavorable – when reaching a national security eligibility conclusion. DSS shall grant national security eligibility simply when the information demonstrates that such eligibility is conspicuously consistent with the interests of the United States. Any incertitude shall be resolved in favor of U.S. national security.

Acting Determination

What is an interim determination?

A favorable interim determination allows the applicant to first working before the total groundwork investigation is complete and before DSS grants the final national security eligibility determination.

When is an acting determination granted?

In exceptional circumstances, the hiring office may request an interim determination. DSS may be able to grant an interim determination afterward reviewing a complete security package and afterwards certain investigative checks come back with favorable results.

What does it mean if the interim conclusion is denied?

If an applicant's interim determination is denied, additional investigative work must take place prior to a terminal determination. The denial of an bidder's interim determination does not have negative implications for the applicant's final national security eligibility determination.

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Reinvestigation

Employees are subject to reinvestigation based on their level of security clearance.

What happens during a reinvestigation?

DSS notifies the employee when information technology is time for a reinvestigation. The employee submits an updated security package, and DSS conducts a groundwork investigation.

What is covered in this groundwork investigation?

The investigation volition comprehend key aspects of the applicant's life since the previous background investigation. Information technology may exist necessary to readdress sure problems equally further information or patterns are developed.

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Continuous Evaluation Program

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) implemented Continuous Evaluation (CE) program in December 2016 to ensure the federal authorities maintains a stiff and trusted workforce. CE applies to all Executive Branch personnel who require eligibility for access to classified information or eligibility to concur a sensitive position.

What does CE do?

CE maximizes the use of automatic records to identify security-relevant information earlier and more oftentimes than the current reinvestigation cycle. CE records checks supplement information obtained during initial and periodic reinvestigations, transforming them into ongoing reviews rather than snapshots. Read More than

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FAQs

What is the purpose of a security clearance?

The purpose of a security clearance is to allow an individual access to classified national security information.

Can I utilise for a security clearance?

No. Applicants cannot initiate a security clearance awarding on their own.

Who determines whether I need a security clearance? When does this happen?

Hiring officials decide whether a Department of Country position will require a security clearance based upon the duties and responsibilities of the position. If the position requires access to classified information, a groundwork investigation must be conducted. This is washed afterwards a conditional offer of employment is given to an applicant.

Do I accept to be a U.Southward. citizen to receive a security clearance from the Department of Country?

Yes. When the Department of Country's mission has compelling reasons, notwithstanding, immigrant alien and strange national employees who possess special expertise may, at the discretion of the Section of Land, be granted express admission to classified information only for specific programs, projects, contracts, licenses, certificates, or grants.

How many types or levels of security clearance are there?

There are three levels of security clearance: confidential, undercover, and elevation underground.

Who decides the level of clearance?

The Department of Land'southward Bureau of Human Resources determines whether a position volition require a security clearance, likewise as the level required, based upon the duties and responsibilities of the position and using OPM'sPosition Designation Tool .

What is a public trust? A not-sensitive position?

Public trust and depression-risk/non-sensitive are national security eligibility determinations, Not security clearances.

Public trust determinations are requested for applicants whose positions volition crave access to information at the high- or moderate-run a risk levels, based upon duties and responsibilities of the position. A public trust background investigation will include many aspects of a full security clearance investigation.

Low-take chances/non-sensitive determinations are requested for applicants whose positions take low-risk levels, based upon duties and responsibilities of the position.

Low-risk/non-sensitive determinations are requested for applicants whose positions have low-risk levels, based upon duties and responsibilities of the position.

What work does a security clearance let a person to do?

A security clearance allows an individual filling a specific position to have access to classified national security information up to and including the level of clearance that they agree as long as the private has a "need to know" the information and signed a non-disclosure agreement.

Will my clearance be transferable to other federal agencies?

Reciprocity is the acknowledgement and credence of an existing background investigation conducted past an authorized investigative bureau; the acceptance of a national security eligibility adjudication adamant by an authorized adjudicative agency; and the acceptance of an agile national security eligibility determination granted by an executive branch agency. Federal agencies will usually accept another bureau's investigation as the basis for granting a security clearance, provided the bidder'south last security clearance investigation was completed within the by v years for a Superlative Secret clearance and 10 years for a Clandestine clearance, and there has not been a break in service of more than two years. Whatever meaning changes in an applicant's state of affairs since his or her final investigation may exist considered. Some federal agencies might take additional investigative or adjudicative requirements that must be met prior to their accepting a clearance granted by another agency.

Can I transfer my security clearance for private sector employment?

Security clearances simply apply to positions that autumn under the purview of the federal government. Executive Gild 12968, Access to Classified Information, provides that security clearances are merely granted to persons employed past, detailed or assigned to, or working on behalf of the federal government.

How long is my security clearance valid later I exit the federal authorities?
The security clearance must be administratively removed when the employee no longer has need for admission. DSS volition generally revalidate a security clearance if the applicant has not been out of federal service for more than two years and if the applicant'southward clearance is based on an appropriate and current background investigation.

Does having a security clearance guarantee employment with the Department of State?

The hiring procedure addresses whether someone will be initially selected for a particular position within the Section of State. The security clearance procedure does not begin until subsequently a conditional offer of employment is given.

Are members of my family or people living with me subject area to a security check?

In that location are circumstances in which limited records checks or an investigation may be conducted on a spouse or cohabitant.

How often is a security clearance renewed?

An individual is normally subject to reinvestigation approximately every five years for a Secret or Top Hush-hush clearance.

For what reasons would I be denied a security clearance?

Diverse reasons be for denial of a security clearance. Honesty, artlessness, and thoroughness are very important factors in the process of obtaining a security clearance. Every example is individually assessed, using the National Security Adjudicative Guidelines, to determine whether the granting or continuing of eligibility for a security clearance is conspicuously consequent with the interests of national security. Security Executive Agent Directive 4, National Security Adjudicative Guidelines , for more data about the guidelines and specific concerns and mitigating factors.

How long does it take to process a typical security clearance?

Each case varies based on the specific circumstances of the private subject and the level of security clearance requested.

What happens if I'thou denied a security clearance? Is there an appeal process?

If you are denied a security clearance, or your connected eligibility for admission to classified information is revoked, you will be notified of the reason(s) and be provided with the procedures for filing an appeal. You will exist given the opportunity to address derogatory information that is provided every bit the basis for denial or revocation

What is due east-QIP?

The Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eastward-QIP) system is a web-based automated organization, owned past the Office of Personnel Management and mandated for federal government utilize, that facilitates the processing of standard forms used when conducting background investigations for security, suitability, fitness, and credentialing purposes. The e-QIP system allows the user to electronically enter, update, and transmit their personal information over a secure internet connexion to a requesting agency.

What are some typical delays that occur in the security clearance process?

Some of the most common areas of delay include the submission of incomplete forms and data, poorly collected fingerprints, and investigations that involve coverage of extensive overseas activities. Applicants can assist the process past ensuring that they have completed all forms thoroughly and accurately, and when possible, providing additional references who can verify their activities. A lot of detailed information is required to conduct a background investigation. When preparing to fill up out your e-QIP, collect and verify information such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, and dates of birth for immediate relatives. Collect additional references, when possible, in case we are unable to reach those provided initially.

Who should I contact if I have questions about my background investigation?

For aid with background investigations beingness conducted by a federal agency other than the Department of Land, please contact that agency direct.

If the position is a federal contracting position, contact your company's facility security officer or human resource office.

For assistance with completing your security clearance package for a Department of Country investigation or to inquire about the condition of your security clearance with the Department of State, you may email the DSS Office of Personnel Security and Suitability Customer Service Heart at SecurityClearance@state.gov or call between 8 A.Chiliad – five P.Chiliad. EST at (866) 643-4636 or (571) 345-3186.

DSS simply releases data about the status of an investigation directly to the field of study of a Department of State investigation or the hiring authorisation.

Contact Us

Phone	(866) 643-4636 or ( 571) 345-3186 betwixt 8 A.K. – 5P.M. EST
E-mail	SecurityClearance@state.gov
*DSS but releases information about the condition of an investigation directly to the field of study of a Department of State investigation or the hiring authority.*