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.
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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 am also not an adjudicator and don’t play one on TV - BUT - as far as the drug use goes (what I also think stands out the most) - what an adjudicator will be looking for is mitigation going forward - passage of time is one aspect - others are things like - do you still socialize with the same people, have there been positive changes in your personal life that reduce likelihood of recidivism (marriage, kids, moving to a new place that separates you from where you were/who you were with while using, etc.). It will undoubtably come up during a subject interview - so I would prepare to speak to those things candidly.
Depending on age…once 25 rolls by… you are old enough to know better. Choosing to be homeless…doesnt imply wise well thought out positions. I have seen substantial drug use overlooked but time is needed. 3 is usually enough but LSD, other drugs raise the bar.