Hi All, I currently have an offer where I can accept the job offer and be submitted for a Security Clearance, however I have a few red flags that I am worried about. How likely am I to receive this clearance?
RED FLAGS
Foreign Travel
- Taiwan - 2019 - 1 month
- Indonesia - 2023, 2024 - 2 weeks each
- Japan - 2023 - 1 week
Family/Foreign Contacts
- Spouse is foreign from Indonesia
- Constant contact with father in law, mother in law, and 2 brothers of spouse
Address
- Homeless for 3 months - November 2024 to present
Last drug use
- Adderall - twice - 5 years
- LSD - twice - 4 years ago
- 2CB twice - 3 years ago
- Shrooms - 4 years ago
- MDMA - twice - 5 years ago
- Weed - 50 times - 4 years ago
Mitigation: Have not used in 3 years. Am committed to not using in the future.
Drug Purchase
- Purchased weed from legal dispensary - 4 years ago
- Purchased 2CB/LSD - 3 years ago
Finance
- 7 late payments on student loans - 1 year ago
- 1 charge back on credit card, paid off - 1 year ago
Mitigation - Have been on time since I have gotten a job no late payments
Jobs
- Got fired from job in 2022 for ghosting without notice
- Got fired in 2024 for performance issues
Given my red flags, how likely am I to receive a clearance?
Oye! Well for as long as that list is, the only major blocker I see (I’m not an adjudicator so… grain of salt), is the repeated use of illegal drugs. Simply swearing them off may not be enough. You might need more time and drug rehab or something similar to mitigate.
As long as you have reasonable explanations (like sudden loss of employment, etc) for the rest, that stuff is not automatic denial. Best of luck.
Much like the previous comment, I’m neither an adjudicator, nor investigator, just someone who’s been recently through that whole circus and who’s got friends in the IC/security community,
I do agree about the drug use. That might be a show stopper. Reg the other items:
Your spouse - she/he does have a US citizenship, correct? If not, that-especially combined with everything else you listed-is a hundred percent no go.
Finances - the top reason why people get denied (someone posted recent stats here somewhere if you care to search): homelessness plus past delinquencies will raise serious issues about your financial stability.
Overall, each agency is different in how they view and assess risk so it depends where you applied and what level clearance is required. I would definitely caution against the notorious 3-letter agencies here because they’re most likely to deny you. Either way, get ready for some very unpleasant and lengthy polygraph sessions if you’re going for TS. Good luck!
Look up the SEAD 4 Adjudicative Guidelines.
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She has a green card. Is 3 years of no drug use not enough time for mitigation? As far as the finances go, I am choosing to be homeless, as I am using the extra money to pay off my student loans. In this case would I be fine in that regard? My previous delinquencies was due to needing to pay school tuition while being out of a job.
If it helps, I am applying for a regular clearance for the Department of Defense government contractor.
Thank you for the reply. Dang so even 3 years of being completely sober is not enough mitigation? Would starting rehab while going through the security clearance process be enough?
Normally with minor weed use, I’ve heard 1 year would probably be enough. With some repeated use of additional illegal drugs (LSD, etc), you would want to add some other mitigation like therapy. With a history like yours (demonstrates a pattern of poor judgement), you might need more time along with some other mitigation. I’ve heard that starting therapy or counseling after you start the clearance process doesn’t sit very well with them. But you never know. Best of luck.
I’ll give a straight answer. You will be denied SCI access due to “foreign influence.” The adjudicators will view your Indonesian spouse and in-laws as well as your annual trips to Indonesia negatively. Despite what you read on the internet, once you marry (a legal document) a foreign national, your SCI is in jeopardy. It is actually viewed better to have a few one-night stands with foreign nationals and not remember their names instead of entering a legal contract like marriage. Unless your spouse is from a super-friendly ally such as Canada or UK.
As for the secret or top secret clearance you are going for, you will probably be denied suitability (maybe not a clearance) due to drug use, finances, and foreign influence. Agencies often use suitability denials instead of clearance denials because it is “easier” and they can give any reason they want. Also, applicants cannot appeal suitability denials nor does the agencies have to provide the specific reason.
My advice: Let more time pass since your last drug usage and financial debt and show that you’ve taken additional mitigation steps such as counseling and payment plans.
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