Can I Get a Security Clearance?

[DavidS]

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.

[dnoblett]

Some quick searching resulted in this thread on a federal job site.

 

http://federalsoup.federaldaily.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=37080&title=foreign-girlfriend-and-secret-clearance

[DavidS]

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

[credzba]

This topic was discussed in the past.

I think it was amafan that is in the service, and has a top secret clearance, as well as a Chinese wife.

 

The discussion was, you will be interviewed, and your wife will be interviewed.

If you pass the interview you can get security clearance.

 

Another thing to consider is if you wife becomes a US citizen, then the problem goes away completely, and many wives want to do this anyway.

 

 

Best of luck.

 

[DavidS]

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.

[2mike&jin]

All - Living and being engaged or married to Chinese Citizen is a non-issue when maintaining or obtaining a US Security Clearance. I maintained my TS (with some code letters) clearances all the time I was living in China. I reported my moving to China, the purpose, and my location/activities - straight away to the company Security Officer (She works for me) and cleared it with a phone call to the DISCO. (Name now changed). It was a non-issue.

 

My return to the US, was coincidentally concurrent with my FIVE year review/update. Other than a "Large NUMBER" exceeding (50) exits and entries to the US, with several pages of travel notes/dates - there was no real problem. I did have a local Hawaii interview, at my home, since I was remote from the Washington Area....but again, just a basic Five year interview - that did touch on my travel. I also did normal standard - things like - alerting my friends (who knew I was living abroad) that they might be interviewed pursuant to the process. This however, this is no different from what I would've done, had I not lived in China. The bottom line is - be honest and complete in dealing with all security issues. If the period of the background investigation goes back to your youth - and you were arrested for entering a gambling establishment and not being 21, then full disclosure. If you used any drugs - tell them up front. If you are honest and open - you should have no problem. Having been a former Industrial Security Officer (when I started my company and was too small to have a separate individual doing security) I have seen just about everything in the papers that one must fill out - and only in extreme cases - usually fraud or felonies - does a person get denied a security clearance, especially at the Secret or below level. If you want to work for NSA as a Crypto Specialist - then the requirements are much tougher.

[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?

 

 

All - Living and being engaged or married to Chinese Citizen is a non-issue when maintaining or obtaining a US Security Clearance. I maintained my TS (with some code letters) clearances all the time I was living in China. I reported my moving to China, the purpose, and my location/activities - straight away to the company Security Officer (She works for me) and cleared it with a phone call to the DISCO. (Name now changed). It was a non-issue.

 

My return to the US, was coincidentally concurrent with my FIVE year review/update. Other than a "Large NUMBER" exceeding (50) exits and entries to the US, with several pages of travel notes/dates - there was no real problem. I did have a local Hawaii interview, at my home, since I was remote from the Washington Area....but again, just a basic Five year interview - that did touch on my travel. I also did normal standard - things like - alerting my friends (who knew I was living abroad) that they might be interviewed pursuant to the process. This however, this is no different from what I would've done, had I not lived in China. The bottom line is - be honest and complete in dealing with all security issues. If the period of the background investigation goes back to your youth - and you were arrested for entering a gambling establishment and not being 21, then full disclosure. If you used any drugs - tell them up front. If you are honest and open - you should have no problem. Having been a former Industrial Security Officer (when I started my company and was too small to have a separate individual doing security) I have seen just about everything in the papers that one must fill out - and only in extreme cases - usually fraud or felonies - does a person get denied a security clearance, especially at the Secret or below level. If you want to work for NSA as a Crypto Specialist - then the requirements are much tougher.

Edited February 22, 2013 by DavidS (see edit history)

[2mike&jin]

Well - actually a TS without special compartments should actually be NO problem, given that you don't have any serious offenses - remember you must be honest - and disclose truthfully anything that they ask. If you do this, you should have no problem with a clearance - this includes Top Secret, Secret, and Confidential Clearances/Access. NSA Crypto and other "special access" programs usually require Poly's and other hurdles and if you're feeling guilty about anything or haven't fully disclosed they will most likely catch it and make it much more difficult. THese special access programs usually take "lifestyle details" into account much more than general service clearances. From memory - Military only requires a basic Secret clearance - FBI is slightly different but has an equivalent level - as are Q clearances when dealing with DOE matters. Different names - but all "general service" clearances. Details might have slightly changed with naming conventions and or procedures to obtain (now one fills out most forms online - especially for DoD) etc...etc.

 

Don't forget the President of our Nation, wrote a book which mentions his driving around Honolulu - while attending Punahou Prep School - in a fog of Marijuana and smoking many hours and days....he has a clearance...so that is a good benchmark about juvenile offenses, whether caught and prosecuted or just admitted to later in life!!!!!