Security clearance - how long?
A coworker and myself both applied for clearance for work. His clearance went through within 2-3 months. My status is currently pending. I have not even heard from the agency for an interview. What's taking so long? I believe my coworker had clearance before, this will be my first time being processed. Is that the difference maker?
If you’ve never held a Security Clearance before, it can take up to a year to get a full Clearance. However you may be granted an interim Clearance in a shorter amount of time. It also depends on the level of Clearance you’re trying to obtain.
Security clearances are a slow process with many different reasons for slowing down further. If someone has held a clearance before and has had a background investogation (BI) in the past 5 years then it is much quicker to reactivate (order of 2 to 4 weeks assuming no un reported international travel or unexplained wealth...). To explain a bit of the process, after you fill out your RFA (request for access) it goes to the Boeing program manager who may have a number of requests they want to make. They try to prioritize and not pile too manybon the customer. Once it gets to the customer it goes into a big pile. I have heard it costs the customer (US Govt) 30 to 50k+ to do a BI. Each program has a certain budget (not Boeing money) to process BIs. You may sit for 6 months or a year if other people with more critical skills jump the line in front of you. Once you get past the funding part then i think you fill out the sf86. A huge form describing all places you lived back for past 10 yrs+. From that point you get in line for FBI agents (another queue that could be jumped if someone more important comes along) to go out and do interviews with neighbors and collect data on you which can take a few months. Finally, all that data is compiled and reviewed by the program for risk to determine if a clearance can be granted. It can easily take 12 months+ so don't fret... hopefully you have other work and you are not waiting around twiddling your thumbs waiting for the clearance to come through.
Wow this is detailed explaination !! I was curious, didn't know it had to jump through multiple hoops..
What level of clearance are you in for, have you filled out and submitted the SF86? Current processing time for first time clearances, as of July is 270 days for Secret and 450 days for TS and/or SCI.
It is a secret clearance
I've been waiting two years for mine. Still waiting.
Depending on the level of clearance it can take up to a year I believe