Knight

Now I've got my EAD in hand, I've started to look very closely for some jobs. One of the major employers in my area is Raytheon. They have some good technical roles which I seem to be qualified for, but the thing that I am not sure about is the security clearance.

When I get my green card (assuming I don't get denied etc), are there any security clearance restrictions on an LPR that there are not on a citizen (other than Yankee White and SSBI)? Is it generally accepted that companies will not bother with an LPR for a position that requires security clearance because of the need to investigate activity abroad?

Thoughts welcome.

penguinsix

Do a search in this forum. This has been discussed a couple times in the last three months.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...=clearance+sas
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...rity+clearance

If I recall, the general thrust is that it is extremely difficult without citizenship, and even then, given your foreign connections, still not assured. Clearances may be given to non-citizens for the work they did in the past (i.e. SAS, Mi-6) but are almost impossible simply because you simply "need a clearance for this job or that".

Check out the previous threads. Much has been said in there.

penguinsix

I would also recommend these two articles from the Washington Post:

The first is basic background on clearances in DC.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...nguage=printer

The second is a discussion with an HR specialist who deals in national security issues. Some really good stuff here in a Q and A format:

http://discuss.washingtonpost.com/wp...ive_032003.htm

Dan725

The short answer is basically: No Citizenship, no clearance. Very very very few exceptions (such as extremely hard to come by abilities, true expert in field etc etc - and by this I mean Steven Hawking type internationally recognised level, not just well up in the field).

My field is one where I could really do with a clearance (and I even used to have one when I first came to the US - but that was because I was a cleared representative of an invited foreign (UK) govt at the time) - but until I get my citizenship, I know its not even worth bothering looking at cleared jobs, having been down that road(block) on a number of occasions over the past 3 years.

Dan725

Even with these sorts of people, it will be a limited clearance and usually for work overseas, not in the US.

Knight

Thanks for that. Some good information in these posts.

bevinva

I've even had a neighbour in the military being bitched at for not mentioning I was a foreign national when she gave my name for her security clearance. She just assumed that I was a USC.

They have even put military spouses on the "fast track" for citizenship of late so their husbands don't lose the security clearance they need. Forced citizenship in my opinion.

NC Penguin

If a position requires security clearance, it's more than likely mentioned in the advert/job description. It's not unusual for employers to ask for candidates with active security clearance too since it can take months or even more than a year to obtain security clearance.

Dan725

It is, however, possible to get an interim clearance......if you are a citizen.

AdobePinon

Depends on the agency concerned. Some do, some don't.