No further information requested

SECURITY CLEARANCE Q&A
1

Hello all,

I am new to the site, I just wanted to get some insight/past experiences from a recent question I have about my SC investigation.

Currently working for a big name federal contractor, I was put in for a TS/SCI clearance. My clearance is ground up; never had one before. Paperwork was submitted Mar-2018, Interim granted Apr-2018, Interviewed Sept-2018 with a few people already interviewed.

I had a lot of references in my SF-86 since I have lived and worked so many places. From what I can gather, only the most recent job and housing locations had those references contacted (maybe 2-3 each), and probably 1-2 of my personal references were contacted. I had about a dozen references put down and they only contacted half of them. Another interesting note is many of these interviews happened in parallel, all in about a month, but since about October, no one else has been contacted

A few of those references that were not yet contacted moved locations (across the country). Being proactive that I am, I decide to inform my BG investigator about the new info so they aren’t looking in the wrong place. But when I told the investigator, she said “at this time [she] doesn’t need any new information, because they haven’t requested additional information” I don’t know who they are (her supervisors perhaps?). She says that while my investigation has not concluded or even moved to adjudication, she doesn’t need the updated information yet. My question is this:

The way she said it made it seem like they might not even pursue those other references, unless absolutely necessary. If they don’t need more information and have already talked to the references they need, what exactly is left of the investigation? Does it just go through additional levels of approval? Why were my other references not contacted?

I always thought there was only 1 investigator (the one that originally interviews you) who sends out field officers to interview your friends, family, etc. Once all the information is gathered, your original investigator reviews it, writes up a report, and sends it to an adjudicator. is that about right?

I know this is a ton of information in one post, I just want to have all my bases covered in case something is not clear.

Thanks!

2

Each investigator writes their own reports and your investigator is only responsible for items in her geographical area. Once her items on your case are complete, you disappear from her case load and she has no where to report new info. Not all references are going to be contacted.

2 Likes
3

When they cover the required minimum, and get a solid enough feel for your reported items…and seeing they granted the interim…I would surmise you are checking out just fine. Had the investigator uncovered or developed questionable behavior in the first few people…I would expect they capture this in writing and inform their chain. If additional info from outside the investigator’s area is required…they would then look into getting that information. It normally takes 60 days from submission to initiation. I imagine you started in May or June, meaning an investigator had your file and began actively working it. June through September, they covered the vast majority of relevant data deemed necessary. A full TS SCI clearance easily takes 18 months if waiting for a polygraph. If so, the BI report and the Poly results are then reviewed, weighed, and a determination is made. Most definitely there are multiple levels of review to ensure the integrity of the process. It isn’t unusual for verifiers to move on to other locations, but it sounds as if they are content with what you provided.

2 Likes
4

Thanks for the info. It sounds like things are running smoothly. I have tired to be as informed about the process as I can. The last thing I want is to be that one person whose paperwork is sitting idle. The thing that kinda sucks about the process is there is nothing really you can do once it is submitted. It’s a luck of the draw, I have heard some people get processed within 18 months and other who are 24 months and counting.

1 Like
5

As investigator721 said, your investigator is only responsible for items in her geographical area. She may have completed all of her items in a timely matter but you may still have items hanging out there in other locations. After everything that is required is obtained, or attempted to be obtained, your case goes to review before it goes to an adjudicator. A reviewer may “reopen” certain reports transmitted by individual investigators who have worked your case. What that basically means is the report is sent back to the investigators so they can make any revisions or clarifications the reviewer is asking for. Sometimes it can take months for a case to be reviewed, and once a case is looked at by a reviewer it may be determined that additional coverage is needed on certain things or additional leads need to be pursued, which can hold the case up even more as now more fieldwork needs to be completed.

There are hundreds of variables that can hold a case up. The investigator job has a high turnaround rate so there are always fresh batches of new investigators making simple mistakes on cases which leave things out in the field longer than they need to be.

2 Likes
6

As sideshow indicated comparing the variable is most difficult. Depending on what is presented and what info develops, add in how much the person is needed, what pull the requesting agency has…all influence approval. You can submit side by side with a neighbor and both have very different cases and adjudications.

1 Like
7

Adding to the mix, the fewer people interviewed is normally a good sign - meaning the investigator did not need to interview additional sources for developed/known issues.

3 Likes