Tier-3 Clearance: Passport Entey/Exit Stamp Page Photocopied?

Hey all,

I’ve been hired to a position that requires a tier-3 “secret” clearance. It’s just a Human Resources position. In 2014, I lived in Russia. Obviously, I was denied an interim clearance.

They are expediting my full adjudication. My interview was yesterday. It was five hours long, and 90% of the questions had to do with foreign contacts/living abroad.

At the end, he started to say he had to do a “special screening” but then stopped himself from describing it further. He gave me instructions to get my passport, go to a FedEx Office and photocopy the data page and the entry/exit stamp page(s). I was then to fax the photocopies to him. I could not take a photograph of the passport, it had to be a photocopy. I couldn’t email the photocopy, it had to be faxed.

I have emailed him, asking what this is about but he hasn’t responded. I believe they’re screening me for espionage and plan to send photocopies of my passport data page to each country that issued and entry/exit stamp.

Has anyone heard of such a thing? If I’m wrong, any insights into what they’re trying to accomplish? I’m the only one, so far, required to do this.

How the hell did you come to that conclusion? Yes, you’re being screened for counter-intelligence purposes. No, that doesn’t involve foreign governments, especially not Russia.

How do you know? Are you privy to the clearance information of other applicants?

Many people go through the counter-intelligence screening, which is what they need your passport information for. Since COVID, they want applicants to send them copies of the pages instead of doing that at an in-person screening.

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This is a very normal requirement.

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I would not take the photo copy/fax option. Ask him if you can have your passport reviewed via video teleconference or in person.

copy/fax is part of the passport review. There is no reason why you can’t take a clear photograph with your phone for each page, then send them by fax or other secured means to the investigator.

We try not to use email to protect the Subject.

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He specifically said no photographs. It had to be a photocopy. That was strange because a couple of the entry/exit stamps aren’t legible.

No, I figured out his concern. I recently paid off a $15,000 IRS debt, and they were concerned it was paid for by a foreign intelligence service. I paid it off with money from a car insurance claim.

He was upset that I was off by two days on the day I returned from Russia and he thought Amsterdam was a country.

They weren’t upset. They were doing their job.

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Well, in either case, you guys were right. I am just being a little neurotic because my clearance has to be adjudicated by a certain upcoming date or they are rescinding the tentative offer. None of my foreign contacts were interviewed, but I just learned they generally just run them through a namecheck database. But interestingly, none of my references or local law enforcement agencies have been contacted.

I know the investigator submitted his report of investigation yesterday. So, I emailed him this morning to ask why these things haven’t been done yet, given the tight deadline. He responded that he did everything DCSA asked him to do. Apparently, the threat for espionage was DCSA’s only real concern. Literally, 90% of the five hour interview was about foreign intelligence, foreign bribes, whether there is anything a foreign national could blackmail me with, etc.

When the investigator submits his ROI, that means the investigation is complete and ready for adjudication, right?

Not always.

There are multiple levels of review at each step in the process.

Maybe stop trying to control your own investigation and things will go much better for you.

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Your deadline has ZERO impact on the process. Just being honest.

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Hey all,

I’ve been hired to a position that requires a tier-3 “secret” clearance. It’s just a Human Resources position. In 2014, I lived in Russia. Obviously, I was denied an interim clearance.

They are expediting my full adjudication. My interview was yesterday. It was five hours long, and 90% of the questions had to do with foreign contacts/living abroad.

At the end, he started to say he had to do a “special screening” but then stopped himself from describing it further. He gave me instructions to get my passport, go to a FedEx Office and photocopy the data page and the entry/exit stamp page(s). I was then to fax the photocopies to him. I could not take a photograph of the passport, it had to be a photocopy. I couldn’t email the photocopy, it had to be faxed.

I have emailed him, asking what this is about but he hasn’t responded. I believe they’re screening me for espionage and plan to send photocopies of my passport data page to each country that issued and entry/exit stamp.

Has anyone heard of such a thing? If I’m wrong, any insights into what they’re trying to accomplish? I’m the only one, so far, required to do this.