I’m looking at various internships from multiple agencies. Can someone provide insight about the different agencies and which does their own background process and which uses the same process? I understand that DIA, CIA, FBI, NSA, NGA (and maybe others) all use their own process and a new SF86 would have to be completed for each CJO from those agencies (and all would be TS/SCI anyway). What about Department of State or Secret Service, when only a Secret is needed? Do they use the same process (via OPM?)
The reason I’m asking is that my understanding is a TS/SCI for a three letter agency will likely take at least a year (if not longer). While waiting for that clearance and final intern job offer (for two summers from now), would it be possible to accept a CJO from the DoS and/or Secret Service and fill out a new SF86 for a Secret clearance? Presumably, the Secret clearance will take less time, and I’m wondering if I could do a semester or summer internship at DoS or Secret Service while waiting for a TS/SCI to clear for another agency. Will the Secret clearance process from DoS and/or USSS delay the TS/SCI three letter agency process or visa versa?
Can one have a TS/SCI clearance process underway at a three letter agency and a Secret clearance process underway at DoS and Secret Service, at the same time?
Of note, internships I’m considering are for different periods, including two different summers and two different part-time internships while in school, so theoretically (aside from the clearance process), it seems possible to do all the internships and not have to choose between them.