SECURITY CLEARANCE LAWYER .COM
Do you have or need to get or renew a government industrial security clearance? Are you in contact with the Department of Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals?
Do you need a lawyer or attorney to help with your application or appeal?
A security clearance is a status granted to individuals allowing them access to classified information, e.g. state secrets. The term "security clearance " is also sometimes used in private organizations that have a formal process to screen employees for access to sensitive information.
A clearance by itself is normally not sufficient to gain access; the organization must determine that the cleared individual needs to know the information. No one is supposed to be granted access to classified information solely because of rank, position, or a security clearance.
If your job requires that you have access to classified government information you either already posses or will be required to apply for an Industrial Security Clearance.
You will be asked to disclose a great deal of information about yourself, your family and those people that you associate with.
After the application process you will either be granted a
clearance, or denied a clearance if there is a problem with your application.
If you are denied a clearance you will usually have the opportunity to reply to the Statement of Reasons (SOR) letter that you will receive, and have a hearing before the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA).
Be aware that the deadline to reply may only be a few days from the day you receive the SOR letter.
Although it is still possible to be granted a clearance
after a hearing, it is much better to go into the application or renewal process with as few potential problems as possible, as opposed to solving the problems
after the investigation and denial of the clearance.
The Department of Defense Directive 5220.6 lists thirteen general areas where a potential problem may exist.
The investigator will examine areas of: Allegiance to
the United States; Foreign Influence; Foreign Preference; Sexual Behavior; Personal Conduct; Financial Considerations; Alcohol Consumption; Drug Involvement; Emotional, Mental and Personality Disorders; Criminal Conduct; Security Violations; Outside Activities; and Misuse of Information Technology Systems.
Having negative issues in any of these areas such as a DUI
or a Bankruptcy will not automatically bar you from holding a security clearance as long as you can persuade the government that there are positive factors that
mitigate the negative issue.
However, one issue that will automatically bar you from
holding a clearance is the possession of a valid foreign passport.
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