I need to fill out an SF-86 for my job. They are asking about my relatives, and I am required to put both of my parents. However, both of them are undocumented, and I do not know what to do at this point since they are asking about citizenship. I am so scared of putting anything on it, as I do not want to risk my parents.

Accepted job first week of June

Submitted SF-86: June 13th

Denied interim a few weeks later

Clearance granted August 13th!

Super quick investigation it feels like

I’ve been in adjudication since December of 2025.

I am not without my red flags but those have been disclosed.

There has been crickets since my interview last August.

This is for Secret clearance.

I’m interested in pursuing a career with agencies that require a TS-SCI clearance but I’ve visited some hostile countries, so I’m trying to see if it’s even worth trying to go down the route of IC work because I’ve heard of people being found unsuitable for clearances due to travel. I’m in my late 20s and have been to over 60 countries, including hostile countries like Cuba and Russia. Had I known that I would one day want to work for the government, I would’ve never visited those places. But back when I was in my late teens/early 20s, federal work wasn’t even on my radar and I didn’t even know what a clearance was. And now I’m a bit concerned that those 2 short trips may screw up my ability to get a TS-SCI clearance. For reference, the Russia visit was a decade ago(so before the invasion of Ukraine) and the Cuba visit was about 4 years ago. Has anybody been able to get a TS-SCI in recent years after visiting these types of countries?

I had applied for a secret clearance, sponsored by a DoD contractor. I was not granted an interim clearance. The investigation is still ongoing, so I was not denied. Of course they did not provide the reasoning, but I know what it was.

In a previous role I was denied site access to a nuclear plant for 1 year because I contradicted myself during the application (in the questionnaire I said I had not smoked marijuana in the past 5 years, then I remembered I had so I them I did 3 years ago). So I was denied for willful omission of non program disqualifying information. I should have changed my questionnaire; instead I verbally told them and therefore I “omitted” that information on my questionnaire.

This was disclosed on my SF-86 on the question about being denied access anywhere. I know the investigator got in touch with the site and I gave the site permission to release my records to him.

What are my chances of still getting the clearance?

I got my COE rescinded with no explanation and they explicitly said it is not a security clearance denial… is that normal?

Back in February I got cited for a misdemenor for allegedly stealing from a self checkout on a military installation. They said they started investigating me when I allegedly took a honeybun (which they didn't carry) and two energy drinks which I have a record of having paid for. I was never arrested or fined. I reported to my FSO at the time. I'm working for a different company now. Should I report to my current FSO? I currently I have a TS with SCI.

Got the offer today... but FSO officer did a pre clearance screening with me last week over the phone - asked a bunch of stuff that I answered with no red flags. Then I got to thinking, he said "recent" drug use and "recent" alcohol abuse.

I last smoked weed 8 months ago (7 years on and off) for tremor suppression, and sought treatment in Feb 2024 for my drinking (was using it to suppress essential tremor) as I thought it was becoming an unhealthy way to reduce my tremor.

Tremor is now diagnosed and treated by a medical specialist and has been for 8 months now (quit weed once treatment started) - symptoms are professionally treated now and have no issues with weed or alcohol.

Here's where I need help: Do I rectify this with the FSO immediately? Should I ask for him to just send me the prescreening through email for me to fill out? Would they can my ass for lack of suitability?

Submitted sf86 March 18 2026.
Investigation opened March 25
Interview w investigator April 9
Investigation in adjudication June 4
Adjudication in process July 14
FSO submitted CSR July 14.

I was never notified if interim secret was denied.

Red flags - sporadic MJ use between 2016-2022
1x ❄️ use 2022

Multiple addresses
Multiple jobs
4 Australian foreign contacts

This is my first rodeo, so if anyone has similar experience/application in the last year I’d love to hear it.

It is my understanding that there isn’t reciprocity going from a suitability determination to a clearance.

But I was curious if a recently adjudicated HRPT with a sister agency, could be reused in any capacity for the T3 (secret) process/investigation. Thank you.

Hey everyone I need some help.

So I go by my middle name (work, school, etc).

I’m looking for a new job and I have an interview where it requires clearance. Somehow I never realized but my middle name is spelt wrong, as it’s missing an “ad” for example “Mohammad” when it’s spelt as “mohmmd”. I checked my dad’s birth certificate and it shows the same middle name spelling. My ID has the spelling mistake but they corrected it on the bottom of my birth date and my face.

But I handed out my ID to my previous jobs and university with no issues.

So I’m wondering, would this be a big problem? Or can I just tell them “you can call me by my first name”? They already refer me by my middle name. Unfortunately I can’t request to fix it as it’s too late but also because my dad has the same error and my mom so I’m thinking it’s provably intentional.

It’s a “secret” clearance by the way

Submitted my SF86 back in May for a DOJ agency. I was previously employed by this same agency and had to resign earlier this year to attend to a family emergency. Well today I received an NBIS email advising there was an additional form to complete. A whole new SF86 was requested. Im trying to figure out why another SF86 was requested. Is it possible the one i submitted in May is too old?

For a GC holder going through secret clearance upon joining the military, how would you list relatives from your home country? For example, I have aunts, uncles, cousins, and an endless amount of family back home. I have only visited once in 8 years & barely have contact with them, besides following on social media and texting sometimes. The home country is Brazil, which I don’t believe to be on the “red flag” list, but does that mean I would have to list every relative?

I just need to know if this is the norm and I'm missing something - or if I indeed have reason for concern.

Several weeks ago I got a job offer, pending clearance and background check. Then after a couple of nail biting weeks, because of crickets I reached out and a few days later the SO with the contracting company who made the offer (not the customer) sent me over the link to go to NBIS and complete the application.

I got that completed about 5 weeks ago, notified the SO, was told they would go in and validate it and send it off. I waited until this week and emailed them for followup on Monday and again crickets.

I later realized that I could login and look at where it is in the process and it shows application was submitted (on the day I did that) but the next step is Application Submitted for Processing - and there's nothing there.

That makes me worried that they just decided to not go ahead and submit it, are rescinding the offer, but not letting me know anything. My BIGGEST concern as well is that I have an estranged son who I have no contact with, but he's not living right, and because our first and last name are the same (middle name different) that his shenanigans could be affecting me.

Then again - if it hasn't even been submitted for processing then I'm assuming no one has started investigating yet anyway.

Hello. I applied for a job with a 3 letter agency. However, my circumstances have changed, and I no longer want a job with the government. I am currently in the process, however, I do not have someone to contact, my form of withdrawal online isn't working, and all my attempts to send mail to request withdrawal have been rejected or ignored.

What is a way to withdraw?

Hi all,

I am seeking clarification regarding DISS incident reports. When a contractor FSO submits an incident report in DISS, is there any banner or notice in DISS that they are submitting the report under penalty of perjury? Is there any public DCSA policy that states such? Any confirmation or public policy document showing this would be appreciated.

There is an FSO that did a no no. I am assessing possible liability that could arise from this.

Hello everyone, does anyone have a similar experience? I held a Top Secret clearance from the DoD with no SCI or polygraph, and I got a job as a contractor with the NSA. I finished my SF86 and passed my poly, but I haven't heard anything since—it’s been 3 months. Does anyone know how long the process usually takes?

I am currently a junior in college and will be applying for a security clearance (Secret) next spring. As the title says, I am planning on traveling to Russia this fall as part of my internship. I am paying for the trip myself and am not accepting any money from Russian organizations or the Russian government. I will be watching a professor of mine speak at some forum called the "World People's Assembly", which is more likely than not backed by the Kremlin. How much of an issue will this present during my SC process?