How can you tell where you are at amidst the security clearance process? It’s a common question for new applicants during their initial investigation, or for current holders as they go through upgrades or switch to new agencies.
Hey guys, I was told by a perspective job that was a contacting position for the DIA that I had a pending action case from another agency. This is odd? I am going through a FS upgrade that is a full investigation for another agency for a PT position as well but I already have an active TS/SCI with CI poly that was re upped last April. Any potential reasons?
What Does ‘Action Pending’ Mean on Your Security Clearance Record?
“Action pending” is a common security clearance status that indicates that an investigation is in progress for an eligibility determination. The status can mean that the investigation is at any stage of the process, from the beginning to almost completion. The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) notes that ‘action pending’ could also, “indicate the investigation has been forwarded for further adjudicative action, i.e. interim suspension or Statement of Reason (SOR).”
Other security clearance statuses include:
- Eligibility pending: This status indicates that the investigation is complete, but a decision has not yet been made.
- Loss of jurisdiction: A flag or incident is present in a personnel vetting record, but the individual has separated from eligibility before a determination on the incident was made.
- No determination made: An investigation or adjudication is paused for some reason before a final decision is made.
- Denied: Clearance eligibility has been denied.
- Revoked: Clearance eligibility has been revoked.
An applicant or clearance holder should not be concerned if they see a pending status in the Defense Information System for Security (DISS) or their personnel vetting system of record. This portal will show your current status, clearance level, and eligibility status, and can be requested from your security officer or via a Privacy Act request.
This question was posed from a subscriber at ClearanceJobsBlog.com, where you can read and discuss government security clearance process, how to get a security clearance job, and background investigations issues.
Much about the clearance process resembles the Pirate’s Code: “more what you’d call guidelines than actual rules.” This case-by-case system is meant to consider the whole person, increase process security, and allow the lowest-risk/highest-need candidates to complete the process. This article is intended as general information only and should not be construed as legal advice. Consult an attorney regarding your specific situation.
