Security clearance SF 86 -USPO

SECURITY CLEARANCE Q&A
1

Hi doing a SF-86 clearance soon and was worried about my financial and family’s criminal history.

Financial-my student loans are currently In forbearance but have never been in default or missed a payment. I also have no debt collections or missed payment but on Expedia’s it does same amount of debt is 30% and rated poor probably due to 2 credit cards I have maxed out in the past but currently working to pay . I have never missed a credit payment or any payment in general. Will the 2 maxed cards in the past cause concerns in the security clearance? What about the student loans on forbearance?

Family criminal history- I have no criminal history not even 1 point on my license. However my intermediate family does . Such as one being on probation and being a registered offender Lv 2Unfortunately you can’t pick family and his criminal offense has nothing to do with me but is it possible I could be denied clearance because of this .

Any advice anyone?

2

Some of it depends on the agency, but in general investigators do not know, nor care about your FICO score. Your credit report is pulled from all three agencies, and what will need to be reported (and discussed) are missed payment, collections, bankruptcies, judgement, leins, etc. If your loans are in forebearance just make certain that the creditors of those loans are not reporting your payments as missed.

If you have not yet filled out your SF86 I highly recommend pulling all three of your credit reports from the bureaus and see if anything is reported as late or in collections. Sometimes there are surprises…better to know up front and be able to address it than have an investigator bring it to your attention.

Some do ask about family members who are engaged in, or continue to engage in criminal activities and your relationship with them.

No advice, just answer the questions truthfully.