DavidS

Thanks Mike, appreciate you taking the time. Just so I understand you, at the Secret or below level getting a clearance will be no problem, but if I want to work as a Crypto @ the NSA I could potentially have a problem?

Thanks, credz. About the citizenship thing, that's such a relief. That would be the plan either way, and while it would take a long time, I'm young enough to wait it out without being too old for a federal job after she becomes a citizen.

Thanks dno. That's encouraging. Hopefully more people can chime in.

I'm a young guy working in China and studying Chinese. I've been here for a couple years now. I've been thinking about trying to find work for the FBI, CIA, military, etc using my language skills. I have a serious girlfriend that I would like to marry eventually, but her being a Chinese national has me concerned about my ability to obtain a security clearance. I've seen a couple of threads about people who already have security clearances marrying Chinese nationals, but nothing about people trying to initially obtain one with a Chinese spouse. I actually talked to a woman in the CIA a few weeks ago and, without me even telling her I have a girlfriend here, she told me to avoid getting into a relationship while in China because I won't be able to get a security clearance. It's gotten me a bit down. Would I really be outright denied just for marrying a Chinese girl? I have a squeeky clean background--great credit, nothing criminal, etc. My girlfriend comes from a modest family that lives in a village in Sichuan. They have no party connections or anything like that. Mom works in a tea house, dad's an electrician, brother works in a factory. Girlfriend works a plain Jane office job. They're in no position to do damage. Thanks everyone.