username.exe

Anyone here been through the process for significant security clearance with the US government?

Idle browsing last night took me to a site showing decisions for and against clearances being issued. Most of the denials were down to financial debts and cock ups. Others were down to 'Foreign Influence or Preference'.

Looking into it further, it looks like if you're a dual national and you want to work for the government you're going to need to demonstrate significant cutting of ties with your original country of citizenship.

One recent case (PDF) showed a British chap was denied who, despite immigrating in the sixties, naturalizing and serving in the USAF for 20 years honourably was found to have retained a valid UK passport.

The judgement looks like if he'd been willing to surrender his passport, he'd have been okay.
An expression of 'willingness' to renounce UK citizenship appears to be sufficient, as opposed to formally renouncing... which is confusing.

So, anyone been through this process?

Bob

There's been a few threads over the years, most are probably in the main, US section. Might have a bit of luck searching them out?

But yes, hand in the passport seems to be enough, but that doesn't stop you from applying for a new one later. Same for citizenship.

sir_eccles

From what I've read there is a lot of variability depending on who is asking and why, what job, what level of clearance. From memory, willingness to surrender the other passport is fairly common.

MsElui

so wouldnt you just 'not renew' it. then if you ever wanted to you could re-apply?

petitefrancaise

my daughter did a comp sci summer course last year and they had a presentation from a couple of CIA officers. She put up her hand and asked if you had to be a US citizen to join the CIA, their reply made me laugh..
Yes, you have to become a US Citizen, you have to give up your original citizenship, forget a high salary, never ever talk about your job, never ever have a social life...."we make sure you're doing out of love for your country"!!!!

scrubbedexpat099

Passport is just a travel document. Might be a valid reason to have two if you need to have one to 'surrender'. I know people who used to travel to the ME had 2.

I guess if you voluntarily and one over then the issue about of being the property of HMG does not arise.

Does sound a bit like slave labourers and employers keeping their passports.

ottotheboar

To attend a service academy or be in an ROTC program you must be a US citizen and renounce with proof citizenship of any other country.

nun

I've been through it.

If you are a dual national you need to convince the US that you do not have a preference for any other country over the US. Foreign preference is shown by holding a valid foreign passport, if you also use it that's a big strike against you. Foreign relatives aren't usually an issue....you can't choose your family....but having financial ties to another country is also really bad.

The US cannot force you to renounce citizenship and does not require that you do, however, they want you to swear that you would renounce foreign citizenship if asked. The US will require you to either destroy, return, or give your passport to a security officer for safe keeping for you to get a security clearance. There is a wide range of interpretations of the rules and things got significantly stricter after 9/11.

username.exe

Interesting. Renouncing seems like a big step as opposed to surrendering a passport. Shame the rules are so open to interpretation though.

nun

You won't be required to renounce a foreign citizenship, but will be asked if you would be willing to do it. Giving up the passport will be required though.

Every evaluation is different. You, your friends and family will be interviewed and a decision made. As every individual is different and so is each job there is bound to be some interpretation of the rules.

Pulaski

Indeed, and the "other country" is going to be part of the evaluation. I suspect that having British citizenship might be the citizenship that gives the least cause for concern. At the other end of the spectrum will be, in some order, Iranian, North Korean, Russian and Cuban citizenship, followed closely by a host of other politically dubious countries.

seawaternow

Similar to my experience. I had a passport that was expiring soon and didn't renew it. They didn't ask me to hand it over except to just take a look at it. No issues getting the clearance one year after naturalizing.

S Folinsky

From what I understand, attachment to a "friendly" country is also often of concern -- it increases the likelihood that an individual will believe that the interests of the two countries of coincident.

scot47

Is this just Xenophobia or does it make sense in terms of national security ?

I get the impression that there is deep suspicion of the "foreign-born" and those who might not be sufficiently Murkan.

scrubbedexpat099

Sticks and stones.

Much bigger issues that are ignored.