Hi, everyone! I have a conditional offer for a legal job at DEA. I’ve had legal internships at DOJ before where I had to fill out an SF85 and an SF85P, but this is my first time applying for an actual security clearance. I have two questions:
I lived abroad for 4 years before law school (grad school, worked a bit). For my prior DOJ internships, I provided whatever extra information they asked for (contact info, statements, etc.) and I got cleared no problem. I wasn’t previously asked about my foreign contacts beyond the people I had to list on my prior forms because they were employers or room mates. On my current form, under the “close continuing contacts” part, I was wondering if I need to list my ex. He’s a UK citizen. We dated for three years but broke up over 5 years ago and have had zero contact since. I want to be as open as possible, but it was kind of a nasty break-up and I would prefer not to list him if I don’t have to.
I tried pot a couple of times in college. It was almost 10 years ago and haven’t tried it again since. But since it’s DEA, I’m still worried. I never bought or sold it. Never tried any other drugs.
Otherwise, no debt, never been arrested, no foreign relatives.
Answer the questions that are on the form. It asks for your foreign contacts within the last 7 years and you had a foreign boyfriend 5 years ago, so yes he needs to be listed. If they ask for drug use within the last 7 years and it has been 10 years, no it does not need to be listed. They are not designed to be trick questions. Just answer honestly.
I was recently processed for a TS DoD job with Foreign relatives, lived in Middle East for years, Foreign travel to China, Malaysia, Thailand etc. and fairly recent Marijuana use within 8 months of the application and still received an interim TS. The most important thing is to simply tell the truth. That’s all they want! You can get waivers for most things that are minor. Just my experience and what others I know with clearances also told me before my application.