The number of denied security clearance cases under the foreign influence adjudicative guideline rose from 49 in 2021 to 64 in 2022 – it makes you wonder if summer travel is off the table (or just the wise decision) once your background investigation starts to obtain a security clearance.
But this ClearanceJobsBlog subscriber wasn’t vacationing for leisure, and was traveling a week after submitting their eQIP to do some homework on where they would be staying for their prospective OCONUS job:
I’m a current federal employee for an agency that only requires a Public Trust clearance. Back in September I was offered an OCONUS position at a different agency that requires a Top Secret clearance. I am in the middle of that process (EQIP already done, Investigator interview done, etc.).
I accepted the position and it’s OCONUS in a country I’ve never been too. I thought it’d be a good idea to travel there for 7-8 days to enjoy some time off work while also strolling around a new country to try and absorb what I’m walking into. I mentioned this to the DCSA investigator (the trip was booked a week after the EQIP was submitted) and he said there was no issue with it. I also mentioned it to the HR rep for the new sponsoring agency and they also said there’s no issue with it. So, I checked both fronts and got a go-ahead.
I recently listened to the ClearanceJobs – Security Clearance Careers Podcast, the episode on ‘Summer Travel and Your Security Clearance’ where they talk about reporting duties, SEAD 3, and more strict reporting duties for foreign contacts. Would these rules currently apply to me since I technically don’t have a clearance yet, rather it’s in development? I plan to act accordingly as I will be living in the country later down the road, but as far as this one trip, I want to clear the air on just how strict I have to be with reporting duties. I am going alone to a major tourist city and will undoubtedly meet many people. Common sense will be used, obviously, but if it’s determined that I should really keep to myself then I have no issue doing that either. The country is considered ‘friendly’ and an ally to the US.
Any thoughts? Stories that relate?
One background investigator on the thread notes that, “from the investigation standpoint, we investigate things that have already happened – not future things. If you have contact information for the security department at your new job that requires the Top Secret, I would probably contact them and let them know, because it’s better to over report than under report.”
As far as foreign contacts while this individual is travelling before their clearance is adjudicated, casually meeting, or conversing with someone as a tourist is not an issue – and those types of contact don’t need to be reported unless you feel there could be a counterintelligence red flag. But prior to travelling, ensure you are up to date on operational security standards and vacation with caution, especially if someone shows an unusual interest in you.
SELF-REPORTING
If this individual decides to have close and continuing contact with a foreign national that they met while traveling and then obtain the clearance they applied for – then that’s a different story and will need to be reported under SEAD 3 requirements.
As an applicant, familiarize yourself with the reporting requirements even prior to obtaining your clearance so you know what could lies ahead on the horizon.
A casual conversation about the weather or a favorite eatery with an individual you will likely never see again OCONUS is not something to worry about.
