In the United States, many professions such as those in law enforcement, civil service, and the military require employees to obtain security clearance in order to access classified information. However, simply because you have been approved, hired, or promoted into a position requiring clearance, there is no guarantee that your access will be granted.
The denial of security clearance can potentially derail your career path, affecting your livelihood for years to come. In the U.S., security clearances are not given out lightly and this has become especially true in our post 9/11 world. The government has ruled that if there is any doubt that a person is unfit for security clearance, they will be denied. This means that many denials occur out of “default” and depending on the nature of your case, you may be given the opportunity to appeal.
The thirteen guidelines used to determine candidacy for security clearance:
- Allegiance to the United States
- Foreign influence
- Foreign preference
- Sexual behavior
- Personal conduct
- Financial considerations
- Alcohol consumption
- Drug involvement
- Psychological conditions
- Criminal conduct
- Handling protected information
- Outside activities
- Use of information technology systems
In the event that information is uncovered relating to any of the above categories which casts doubt upon your candidacy, you may be denied. Individuals will then receive a Letter of Intent (LOI) or Statement of Reasons (SOR), detailing why this decision was made. How you respond to the information contained in the SOR will largely determine if your appeal is successful.
In any appeal, hard proof is key. For example, if you were denied citing “financial considerations” due to outstanding loans, you may reverse this decision if you can provide proof that the loans had in fact been paid in full. Every situation will be different and if you have questions on if an appeal is right for you, do not hesitate to contact our firm.
For more information on security clearance guidelines, stay tuned to our multi-blog series on guidelines A through M.
Talk to Our Security Clearance Appeals Attorneys
If your security clearance has been denied or revoked, contact the Edmund Law Firm and find out if your case is eligible to appeal. Our security clearance attorneys possess more than 40 years of experience helping clients nationwide to uphold their rights. Our lead attorney has the skills and knowledge you need to build a strong appeals case and get your life back on the right track. Schedule an initial consultation with our attorneys and get the answers you need.
There is no time to waste. Call the Edmunds Law Firm today.
