By Molly Thompson Updated June 29, 2018
Applicants for national security-related jobs typically must undergo an extensive background investigation to obtain needed security clearances. U.S. intelligence agencies, the military and contractors supporting these groups typically require at least a Secret clearance; more commonly, they require employees to obtain and hold a Top Secret clearance. Individuals cannot be granted these clearances until investigators have done a thorough review of their background, associations, finances, personal habits and criminal history, and only then if the investigation's results are satisfactory.
Forms and Paperwork
The prospective employer or agency seeking to hire you must request the background investigation based on the requirements of a specific position for which you are being considered – you cannot initiate it yourself. The first step in the clearance process is to complete Standard Form 86 the "Questionnaire for National Security Positions." Applicants typically accomplish this electronically, through the U.S. government's Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing, or e-QIP, system. Completing the form requires you to provide exhaustive details about everywhere you have lived, worked, studied and traveled, as well as names of references, neighbors and family members. You must also provide criminal history and financial information.
A Series of Interviews
Once you have submitted your completed SF 86, you can expect to wait anywhere from 3 to 12 months while investigators look into all the information on the questionnaire. In particular, investigators will perform numerous interviews with your former employers, neighbors and landlords, among others. In some cases, they also will interview relatives, particularly those who are not U.S. citizens. Investigators typically also ask interviewees for additional points of contact, so they can obtain the broadest possible set of opinions and comments about you. In other words, their research into your background is not limited to just the people whose names you provide on your questionnaire.
Records Checks
Another key aspect of the background investigation for a Top Secret clearance is a thorough review of your finances, character and any possible criminal history. These reviews contribute to investigators' understanding of your judgment, reliability, patriotism and potential trustworthiness, all critical factors in your eligibility for a clearance. An occasional late payment or a speeding ticket likely won't disqualify you. A history of bad checks, extensive substance abuse or a serious gambling problem, however, would be red flags to investigators, particularly if such habits or offenses are recent or ongoing.
Polygraph Examination
The major U.S. intelligence agencies typically require applicants for Top Secret jobs to undergo a personal interview and polygraph examination. You will be interviewed to confirm that the information obtained about you during the background investigation is consistent and accurate. During the interview, you are given the opportunity to explain possible discrepancies on your questionnaire or problem areas that arose during the course of the investigation. Finally, you will undergo a polygraph examination to further verify your honesty and trustworthiness. After all these steps have been completed, you wait while your application is "adjudicated" – or more simply, reviewed and a decision reached on whether you are eligible for a Top Secret clearance.
FAQs
Credit and criminal history checks will be conducted on all applicants. For a Top Secret security clearance, the background investigation includes additional record checks which can verify citizenship for the applicant and family members, verification of birth, education, employment history, and military history.
What kind of questions do they ask for Top Secret clearance? ›
Additionally, it asks for information about arrests, illegal drug involvement, financial delinquencies, mental health counseling, alcohol counseling, military service, prior clearances, civil court actions, and subversive activities.
What to expect during a background investigation interview? ›
Prepare for Interviews: Be prepared for interviews with background investigators. They may ask about your personal history, employment history, education, and any legal or financial issues. Be Prepared to Explain Gaps: If there are any gaps in your employment or education history, be prepared to explain them.
What will fail you from a Top Secret clearance? ›
Refusing to complete or be truthful on security clearance forms; A “pattern of dishonesty” or rule violations; Association with people involved in any kind of crime; Negative feedback from acquaintances, employers, or coworkers; and.
What disqualifies me from a Top Secret clearance? ›
What can disqualify you?
- You are not a U.S. citizen.
- You were dishonorably discharged from the military.
- You are currently involved in illegal drug use.
- You have been judged as mentally incompetent or mentally incapacitated by a mental health professional.
- You have had a clearance revoked for security reasons.
You can check on your clearance three ways:
- Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS)
- Security Investigations Index (SII)
- Call DoD at 1-888-282-7682.
For Top Security clearance, the investigation includes verification of citizenship for the applicant and their family and authentication of education and employment history. For Top Secret clearance, investigators interview people who know the applicant, including neighbors.
Do all top secret clearances require a polygraph? ›
Whether you're applying for a job with the border patrol or as a cia agent, a number of cleared careers require a successfully completed polygraph examination. The vast majority of both Secret and Top Secret security cleared positions do not require a polygraph.
What do they ask references for Top Secret clearance? ›
Your references will also be asked questions about your past and present activities, employment history, education, family background, neighborhood activities and finances.
What questions are asked during a background investigation? ›
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
- Have you ever been fired or asked to resign in lieu of termination? ...
- Have you ever quit a job without giving proper notice to your employer?
- Yes No. ...
- Have you ever failed to complete a probationary period for any job? ...
- Have you ever been accused of sexual harassment, discrimination, or hostile work. ...
- Yes No.
Here are five investigation interview mistakes to avoid:
- Not Prepping for the Interview. ...
- Failing to Build Rapport. ...
- Failing to Ask the Question. ...
- Failing to Stop Denials. ...
- Showing Judgment.
A good investigator should focus on open-ended questions that seek the who, what, when, where, why, and how.
How many people pass Top Secret clearance? ›
The suspect is believed to have been motivated by impressing fellow members of an online chat group. As our chart shows, the federal government grants top secret security clearance to large numbers of government employees and contractors: 1.25 million according to the latest publicly available figures.
Is it hard to pass Top Secret clearance? ›
The process of obtaining a Top Secret clearance involves an extensive background investigation. Confidential and Secret investigations are thorough, but the Top Secret version is the most intensive.
How much debt is too much for a Top Secret clearance? ›
Is There a Debt Limit to Obtain a Security Clearance? No branch of the military has a set amount of debt that is the breaking point for security clearance. You could owe $5,000 or $50,000 and be granted or denied clearance. It's all a matter of how you deal with the debt.
How far back does a Top Secret background check go? ›
The clearance process for Secret level access uses an investigation called the National Agency Check with Law and Credit that goes back five years, while the clearance process for Top Secret uses a Single Scope Background Investigation that goes back ten years.
What does the secret service background check look for? ›
The interviewers verify the information an individual has supplied in his or her security package, such as where he or she has lived, gone to school, and worked. Secret Service agents talk to current and former neighbors, supervisors, co-workers, classmates, as well as to the references an individual provided.
How hard is it to get Top Secret clearance? ›
A top secret security clearance is a determination by the U.S. government that an individual can access highly sensitive information or data that affects national security. Obtaining a top secret clearance requires passing a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) and can take 6 to 18 months.
