I have a bit of a unique situation and could really use some help and advice as to what exactly I should do from here out.
For a bit of context I am a senior undergraduate student who applied for an internship at a 3 letter agency and was offered a conditional offer recently. The position requires TS/SCI CI-Poly. After getting the offer I completed and sent in my SF86, it was then ‘accepted’ and I haven’t heard anything since (it’s only been a couple weeks). Getting an FSO is contingent on receiving TS/SCI clearance. The process is also expedited for summer interns considering the start date is in May, so I don’t want to waste the opportunity of getting cleared much faster than if I were to apply for a normal 'full-time government job and go through the process (I’ve heard this can take years).
Recently after completing the SF86, I realized I have an opportunity to study abroad in a “not-so USA friendly” country for the next school year. Now I’m 99% sure I want to take this opportunity as it’s been a dream and goal of mine since high school to study abroad in this country and experience life there (I did travel there a couple times this year for tourism though). Unfortunately, I realize this could prove to be a red flag later on as well since the US has not-so great relations with them.
Although I want to do this for the next year, I am also quite sure I want to get into the federal/defense sector when I return to the US as this is the best place for a career in the specific field I’m interested in. Considering I am sure I want to get into a career requiring clearance when I get back, I’m wondering what I should do about my opportunity to get clearance now. I figure if I go through the process now, even if I don’t take the job, it will make getting clearance easier once I return to the US, or is that not the case? I don’t want to waste the opportunity I have now and delay my career by years upon returning because I have to wait years to get security clearance.
A little more background about me is that I, and my entire family are born U.S citizens with no connection to a foreign country, I have some foreign travel including to a ‘non-friendly’ country and two foreign friend contacts, and two instances of marijuana use in my life (most recent 1 1/2 years ago).
I don’t have any experience or knowledge of security clearance or government stuff so any help is appreciated.
- Should I even continue with the process at all or just cancel completely given that I want to go live in a non-friendly country for the next year?
- Can I go through the clearance process and then reject the FSO when offered?
- If I go through the process and am deemed eligible to receive clearance but reject the job offer, will I need to go through the process all-over again if I apply for a job at the same agency when I return?
- Could I use the clearance this agency gets me and apply to either the same agency other agencies/private companies when I return to the US a year later?
- Will it be too suspicious to go ahead and do the internship, go study abroad in this country, and then return to the defense sector or same agency when I return? (I realize interning at the government, going straight to a foreign country and back to the government may appear incredibly suspicious and raise too many red flags).
Right now I’m overthinking the whole situation and could use any advice. Thank you all in advance for the help! Feel free to ask for more info if needed.
(Edit: I was hesitant to say at first but I realize it’s probably important to say that the country is indeed China.)