For a process that can be quite opaque sometimes, I’m trying to get what I can from the process information-wise. I was told a couple weeks back by my investigator that they had a deadline of the following Sunday to finish up my investigation and I haven’t heard back since.
Do they typically reach out to tell you when your case is sent to adjudication? Or is it just radio silence until the results/further questions come in?
No, you aren’t typically informed.
Shame on me for hoping at least one part of this process would be convenient haha.
Thanks for answering!
Short answer, no.
Your investigator may have a deadline of XX days to complete their portion, or the entire case may be due back to the customer by whatever date you were given. Either way, those are deadlines that have little to do with adjudication.
After your investigator transmits their portion, the case will sit until the entire case is completed (let’s say your high school friend takes a week to get back to an investigator, or the employer you worked for 3 years ago ignores all inquires). My point is, on some contracts, the case is not worked by one investigator.
One ALL investigators have completed their work, it is compiled and sent to a review process. If your case is being handled by a contractor, the first review will be conducted by the contracting company. If additional information is needed, it is sent back to the investigator. After making through in house review, the case is then turned over to the customer where it undergoes another review process before it goes to adjudication.
So, it can take a bit. Sometimes your interview is the only investigator component. Other times numerous investigators will be assigned a portion of your case. Depends on what type of case it is, the locations of what needs to be obtained, and if there are issues to be resolved.
That’s the long answer.
It can be frustrating, but it’s best to sit and wait….and wait….and wait. If this is your first investigation you will be informed when it’s completed. If (like some of us) you’ve been through the process before, you will not be informed unless there is a problem.
And then there’s the post adjudication pre-in-the-system wait.
A number of years ago, had my clearance upgraded from S to TS. BI completed. 2-3 weeks later adjudication completed. 3 MONTHS later it was put into (this was likely pre DISS, so JPAS).
This still happens… coworker recently got their clearance, FSO said it was adjudicated back over the summer. I guess she could have called to get a status instead of waiting to check the system, but it is what it is.
What a fantastic and much-appreciated response. Truly, thank you for taking the time to provide that clearly well thought-out answer.
If I may ask, my investigator told me that my previous employer confirmed my employment but refused to provide any documentation and my old supervisor refused to get back to them. The investigator went in person and couldn’t make contact, so he told me that would be marked on my phone but was certainly not my fault. My question is whether they will continuously try to contact them, or whether they’ll just keep the process moving forward.
I’m obviously completely hands off and staying out of anything I can, but it seems odd that I could text my old supervisor and tell him they’ve been trying to reach out rather than having the process grind to a halt if they’re still trying to get in touch. I offered to do so but my investigator told me it wasn’t necessary so here we are.
We do not continuously try to get folks to talk to us. We make numerous attempts by different means….phone, text, email and finally in person. Then we move on.
There are a 100 reasons why folks don’t respond. We have an old phone number. Or a wrong number. Company policy prohibits employees talking about other employees, the company doesn’t keep employment records and rather than just admit that (we honestly DO NOT CARE) they avoid the investigator, or let’s face it, some folks just don’t want to have to deal with us. I once had a source pass away between the time we set an appointment and the time I showed up for it (AWKWARD!)
Oh no. How did you find out?
I showed up for the interview and everyone in the office had a weird look on their face when I said I’m here to see Mr. Jones.
Finally one pulled me aside and told me what had happened. I offered my condolences and went on my way.
I think this is correct that IC agencies have their own internal databases or tools and at some point they update SC. But I would be surprised if company FSO’s have access to those internal agency security tools.