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2. Do you have to be a U.S. citizen to receive a security clearance from the State Department?
As outlined in Executive Order 12968, Access to Classified Information, eligibility for access to classified information may only be granted to employees who are United States citizens. However, an exception is allowed in specific situations wherein there are compelling reasons for limited access to be granted to an immigrant alien or foreign national employee who possess a special expertise that is needed for specific programs, projects, contracts, licenses, certificates, or grants.

http://www.state.gov/m/ds/clearances/c10977.htm#2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

AndyC wrote:Um.

I have kind of been approached for a sensitive position in Ashcan - and I've passed all their tests and been told I'm highly-skilled, yadda, yadda... and have just been offered the job.

However... now it seems that it requires a "Secret" clearance - and I'm not yet a US citizen. Anyone know if one has to be a citizen for this?

Andy, this may help answer:

http://www.clearancejobs.com/security_clearance_faq.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I guess it depends on who is issuing the clearance. The bottom line is, if they want you bad enough they will may sure that you get a clearance.

The short answer is, Yes you have to be a US citizen, the longer answer is ....It depends.
I have a British officer here on an exchange program, that has a ..well.. Clearance levels are classified.. but the fact he has one is not.. so let’s just say.. this non us Citizen has a clearance.

I have had other non citizen soldiers denied a clearance, so it just depends.

So per the posts above, the answer appears to be "not always, but it helps."

I have worked with foreign military in programs where they are obviously cleared to have access to US Secret data, but I do not think they had US Secret clearances -- they were cleared by their own countries, and the US decided the data was releasable to them.

However, information is supposed to be released only on a "need to know" basis, and there is quite a bit of it that the US Government has decided is not releasable to foreign nationals -- this is shortened to "NOFORN." In fact, when I was on active duty and in a NATO billet, even I was not supposed to access "NOFORN" information -- altho a US officer, since I was in an international military organization, I was treated as a foreigner. Since the weapons system I was working on was in most respects identical to the US version (indeed, it had been designed by the US), this seemed a bit much, but there you go. The US did have a few US-only tweaks to their version, but our NATO allies seemed to know about these anyway.

AndyC, I think the real answer is your are going to have to go ask the people offering you the job, and see a) if it is possible, and b) if they want you bad enough to go to bat for you with the DOS, or DOD, or whoever has the contract you are looking at. There seem to be exceptions to every rule if someone will fight for it hard enough.

Good luck.

If you are able to, it'll be much more time consuming, and a general pain, but clearances are valuable to have.

AndyC wrote:Um.

I have kind of been approached for a sensitive position in Ashcan - and I've passed all their tests and been told I'm highly-skilled, yadda, yadda... and have just been offered the job.

However... now it seems that it requires a "Secret" clearance - and I'm not yet a US citizen. Anyone know if one has to be a citizen for this?

Also, when my job required the same thing, they can award you a "conditional" secret clearance that allows you to go into.. umm... places.. until you have a full fledged one. Congrats on the new job!!

AndyC wrote:Awww... just found out they won't do it. Pooh :(

Bummer man...
On the bright side... Looks like you're stuck babysitting us for a while longer..

AndyC wrote:Um.

I have kind of been approached for a sensitive position in Ashcan - and I've passed all their tests and been told I'm highly-skilled, yadda, yadda... and have just been offered the job.

However... now it seems that it requires a "Secret" clearance - and I'm not yet a US citizen. Anyone know if one has to be a citizen for this?

Not that I am aware of...I served with a Phillipino native in a job rating in the Navy that required a base "Secret" clearance level...He was not yet a US citizen, and I believe he never applied ofr naturalized at the time...

Most Phillipino's I knew who served with us in the US Navy were mostly cooks and administrative/supply ratings...Not technical, or job ratings requiring a security clearance...

So I am not sure if they would have much of a problem with you in a position you have just landed...

Good luck...Let me know how it goes...

AndyC wrote:Awww... just found out they won't do it. Pooh :(

The fact that you're on track for U.S. citizenship doesn't mitigate their answer? That's a shame.

The Annoyed Man wrote:

AndyC wrote:Awww... just found out they won't do it. Pooh :(

The fact that you're on track for U.S. citizenship doesn't mitigate their answer? That's a shame.

It takes a lot of time and money to get a high level clearance, so most companies prefer to hire people who already have one. But with Andy's qualifications and experience, there is someone out there who will go to bat for him.