Security Clearance Investigation

When an individual, through the authorization of the company or organization for which they work, requests security clearance an investigation will be conducted. The security clearance investigation will be conducted by the Department of Defense (DoD) when an application for security clearance is submitted. The security clearance investigation will be based on the information submitted in the application, and the security clearance will be approved or denied based on the outcome of the investigation.

If an individual's application is denied based on the security clearance investigation, the individual will be given a Statement of Reasons (SOR) completed by the DoD. The SOR lists the allegations made against the individual, which are the cause of the individual's security request being denied. The applicant will have the opportunity to address the allegations made against them in an attempt to obtain the needed security clearance.

Before submitting the application for security clearance, an individual may want to seek the counsel of an experienced attorney. The attorney can help the applicant ensure the application is completely, thoroughly, and truthfully completed, which will aid in the security clearance investigation. Incorrectly completing the security clearance application can cause a delay in the security clearance investigation. Because security clearance can be crucial to the individual's ability to perform necessary job tasks, the less time-consuming the security clearance investigation the better.