Washington DC Industrial Security Clearance Lawyer
Are you a government or employee or contractor who needs a security clearance to do their job? At Henault & Sysko Chartered, our skilled Washington DC industrial security clearance lawyers can guide you through the process. Whether you need a personnel security clearance (PCL) or facility security clearance (FCL), we can help you from filling out your initial SF-86 application to appealing a denial or revocation of your clearance. Our firm was founded by former National Security Agency employees, so we understand how overwhelming the security clearance process can be, especially for individuals who have not been through the process before.
How Do I Apply for a Security Clearance?
The first thing to understand about security clearances is that you do not just “apply” for one on your own. Rather, you must be sponsored by a government agency or employer who certifies your job requires a clearance. Once you have a sponsor, you will need to fill out Standard Form 86 (SF-86), the U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s “Questionnaire for National Security Positions.” The form itself is filed electronically using the OPM’s e-QIP system, and it requires you to provide extensive information about your background and lifestyle.
Here are just some of the subjects covered by the SF-86/e-QIP:
- Your Social Security Number, passport information, and citizenship
- Every place you have lived in the past 10 years
- Every school you attended in the past 10 years
- All of your employment activities, including unemployment and self-employment, for the past 10 years
- The names and contact information of at least three people “who know you well” and can serve as character references
- Information about your spouse and relatives, including their place of birth, citizenship, employment, and possible connection to any foreign government
- Information regarding any foreign national with whom you have had “close and/or continuing contact” with during the past seven years
- Any foreign financial interests or professional activities involving you or your spouse
- Your psychological and emotional health, including whether or not you have been declared mentally incompetent by a court or government agency
- Your past illegal use of drugs or drug-related activities
- Your financial records, including whether you have filed for bankruptcy within the past 7 years
It is essential to answer all questions on the SF-86/e-QIP honestly and forthrightly. Remember, a lie of omission is still considered a lie. And when it comes to obtaining a security clearance, the last thing you want to do is convey the impression you have something to hide.
Get Help from Our Experienced Washington DC Industrial Security Clearance Lawyers
After submitting your written application, the OPM or the Pentagon’s Defense Security Services will conduct a full background investigation, which typically includes an in-depth personal interview. The DC industrial security clearance lawyers at Henault & Sysko Chartered can assist you in preparing for this interview, including helping you to clarify or explain any potential problems identified by the investigators. And if for some reason the government denies your security clearance application, we can represent you through the adjudication and appeals process.
