Security clearance question

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Specializes in CVICU.

I did my security clearance EQUIP a couple months ago. Since I lived and studied in South America I tripped up the system and they sent the OPM investigator to do the interview to ask all the questions about why I was traveling in South America. I guess they want to make sure your allegiance to US is strong and werent corrupted by foreigners. Anyhow, I explained my travels and such and had my interview with the OPM investigator about 4-5 weeks ago.

So my question is if anyone knows how long it should take to get back word about the clearance or if we sign papers when/if we get cleared? Or do we just get cleared and not hear anything about it? Im currently drilling with my Army Reserve TPU but we have no security guy so not sure what I should do if anything. Guess Im just curious how long it should take from time OPM investigator does his interview and gathers all the facts to when we hear something. Thanks!

depends how many places they have to go.... and where they are at. Usually you are just granted a temporary status if investigation is ongoing.

Your local authorities can grant an interim clearance pending final outcome to allow you to do your job. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months or more than a year, depending upon the workload and the complexity of your background. An example is your travel, a glitch that had to be worked out. A more difficult glitch, for example, would be travel to any of the restricted countries, or another glitch, a rotten credit history, which can trigger a decision to deny a clearance level. Then you have a problem jumping through hoops. That is when it can take months or more than a year to get everything resolved, one way or the other. The only people who come into their security clearance with greased skids are the youngsters who come straight out of school who never went anywhere or did anything.

Specializes in CVICU.

Thanks for the reply!

No I never went to any restricted countries. Just Brasil, Argentina and other SA countries and Central America. I studied abroad in Brasil and lived in Argentina for 6mos or so. Also visited some Euro countries. None of them restricted. My credit is pretty decent and that never came up in interview. Also no criminal record so that wasnt discussed either. Only thing that came up is exactly what countries I went to and for how long and exactly where I stayed and who I talked to. I told him I took a bus from Rio to mexico city one summer and that it would be pretty hard to recall everything! HE just put sightseeing passing through countries doesnt recall exact addresses or something. So ya, if you been overseas your security clearance gets more confusing, especially if you dont remember exact addresses where you stayed or who rented you temporary flats!

Im a 66H and we just kinda hurry up and wait to do stuff at my TPU. Its never patient care so Im not sure if they gave me an interim clearance to do my job of "hurry up and wait". LOL!

If/when we get a secret clearance or whatever it is we get do we signs something or does it just auto go into effect? I guess ill have to ask my commander but we usually prefer to stay out of her way and we have no S1 or security guys with my unit.

Si it sounds like after the OPM investigator does his investigation it could take up to a year to get your regular clearance? I guess in the meantime I might have a temp. and can sign up for OBLC? THanks again!

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