How can I prepare for the security clearance process? Track where you travel—Extensive travel outside of the United States can lengthen the security clearance process. You must report all travel outside the U.S. unless travel was required for U.S. government business.
Individuals with a security clearance must report all personal foreign travel to their security manager prior to travel. In addition, individuals with SCI access are required to report official and personal foreign travel. Security Managers will enter all reportable information in the FC/FT tool.
In essence, if personnel working for a contractor require access to classified information in the performance of their duties, the contractor must have an FCL and the personnel must have personnel security clearances (PCLs).
How Employees Report. When a cleared employee plans to travel abroad, they need to email their FSO at least 10 business days before they leave. Some companies may require notice further out from the planned travel. This email should include where they're traveling to and the dates they'll be there.
Missing the reporting of foreign travel might seem trivial, but in the world of security clearances, it's a big deal. Continuous vetting (CV) will catch unreported foreign travel, potentially putting your clearance in jeopardy.
Section 19 – Foreign Contacts: Provide any foreign national whom you have, or have had, close and/or continuing contact with within the last seven years with whom you, or your spouse, or cohabitant are bound by affection, influence, common interest, and/or obligation.
Individuals to whom these regulations apply must use Form DS-1887, Foreign Contact Report (available on MyData), to report all contacts for which reports are required. If the official duty station is a U.S. mission or post abroad, the report must be submitted to either the RSO or PSO.
Specify the security clearance level — e.g., Top Secret, Secret, or Confidential. Highlight the clearance most relevant to the job application, if you hold more than one active clearance. Be honest.
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.
The Standard Form 86 “Questionnaire for National Security Positions” (SF-86) is a background investigation form you need to fill out for a security clearance. The information provided on this form is used to determine whether you are reliable, trustworthy, of good conduct and character, and loyal to the U.S.