# How Would YOU Improve the Security Clearance Process? **URL:** \ **Category:** SECURITY CLEARANCE Q&A\ **Created:** [November 13, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/how-would-you-improve-the-security-clearance-process/19607 "2024-11-13T17:14:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Weeble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7cd45c/32.png) [@Weeble](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/Weeble)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2024, 1:51am UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/how-would-you-improve-the-security-clearance-process/19607/21 "2024-11-28T01:51:23Z")
People change over time and the most recent events in their lives are usually the most indicative. Two years was a long time in Jack Texeiras short adult life. 🙂 A long list of traitors/collaborators who were caught will show that most of them are US born. ---
**Author:** ![TurquoisePebble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@TurquoisePebble](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/TurquoisePebble)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 2:12pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/how-would-you-improve-the-security-clearance-process/19607/22 "2024-12-03T14:12:56Z")
I feel like there is an elephant in the room: why does it take so long to get a security clearance determination? It’s been over 14 months since I submitted my SF-86 and while I’m assured that I’m actively processing, there has been no progress communicated to me. None of my references have been contacted and I haven’t been scheduled for a security interview. Of course, a security clearance investigation is going to be more in-depth than background checks for jobs not related to national security, so it’s understandable that it might take longer. But the current timelines are ridiculous. I’m glad the DCSA has to report quarterly performance and that they will no longer be allowed to toss out the slowest 10%, but they consistently fail to meet their stated goals. It sounds like Intelligence Community timelines are even worse and why don’t they have to report? Leaving candidates stuck in limbo can be extremely challenging for them. It’s not just that it can take very long, it’s also that we’re not given updates or accurate estimates. We certainly need a better candidate engagement experience. I don’t expect all the investigative methods to be revealed but we the people deserve more. ---
**Author:** ![HR2C](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/hr2c/32/1719_2.png) [@HR2C](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/HR2C)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 9:20am UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/how-would-you-improve-the-security-clearance-process/19607/23 "2024-12-06T09:20:14Z")
I don’t know what level of clearance you are getting but if it’s a secret and not a top secret then there is no guarantee that your references will be contacted or you will have a subject interview. Those are not required on every secret investigation and only happen under certain conditions. The subject interview and references are required on a top secret. ---
**Author:** ![TurquoisePebble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@TurquoisePebble](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/TurquoisePebble)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 4:51pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/how-would-you-improve-the-security-clearance-process/19607/24 "2024-12-06T16:51:48Z")
This is for top secret. ---
**Author:** ![HR2C](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/hr2c/32/1719_2.png) [@HR2C](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/HR2C)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2024, 8:46pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/how-would-you-improve-the-security-clearance-process/19607/25 "2024-12-06T20:46:57Z")
There are many factors that determine how long an investigation takes including staffing in each department (investigators, reviewers, adjudicators), demand, priority level, location, how well (correctly) the security questionnaire was filled out, extent of issues, etc, etc, etc… you can reach out to your congressman for a congressional inquiry which does speed things up. When we are assigned an item with a congressional inquiry on it we are told to complete that item ASAP. ---
**Author:** ![Marko](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/marko/32/103_2.png) [@Marko](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/Marko)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 5:29pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/how-would-you-improve-the-security-clearance-process/19607/26 "2025-12-31T17:29:16Z")
We are a very interesting year out from when I started this post, with a lot of changes and events that have affected the security clearance process. Anyone who has experienced anything new and would like to share please do. ---
**Author:** ![sbusquirrel](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/sbusquirrel/32/34_2.png) [@sbusquirrel](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/sbusquirrel)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 8:00pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/how-would-you-improve-the-security-clearance-process/19607/27 "2025-12-31T20:00:43Z")
> Create a secure public portal so applicants can track the status of their BI/Adjudication This is a great idea, but I’m afraid it would end up like so many of the hiring/HR portals out there… namely, rarely updated and unreliable. [Previous page](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/how-would-you-improve-the-security-clearance-process/19607.md?page=1)