The most common causes of rejection include submission of application packages with incomplete information, e.g., the subject not including the company submitting the investigation request as a current employer; a missing Social Security number for a spouse or cohabitant; fingerprint cards; information for relatives; and failing to provide Selective Service registration information or legal exemption.
Applicants and security officers can help expedite the clearance process by ensuring the submitting company is listed as the subject’s current employer, all other forms are completed accurately, familiarizing themselves with the appearance of a properly rolled set of fingerprints and, when possible, listing references located in the United States who can verify overseas activities.
Related: Search for security clearance jobs.
TABLE A: Top Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) Rejection Reasons
The following issues account for 96% of investigation requests rejected by DISCO:
|
# |
Issue |
Corrective Action |
|
1 |
Missing employment information | List all employment; include the company which is submitting the clearance request as current employer. Applicant should list all full-time work, paid or unpaid, consulting/contracting work, all military service duty locations, temporary military duty locations (TDY) over 90 days, self-employment, other paid work, and all periods of unemployment. |
|
2 |
Missing Social Security number of spouse or adult cohabitant | Provide the SSN of spouse if marital status reflects married or for an adult cohabitant if in a spouselike relationship. |
|
3 |
Missing relatives information | Provide information for any person within the categories of relatives required to be listed, living or deceased, including full name, date of birth, place of birth (city, state or country), present residence and citizenship. Do not provide information on relatives that are not in one of the categories listed: Mother, father, stepmother, stepfather, foster parent, child, stepchild, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, half-brother, half-sister, father-in-law, mother-in-law and guardian. For any relatives who are U.S. citizens or nationals and were born outside the United States, information regarding proof of citizenship, including document identification numbers, from any or all of the following documents, must be provided: U.S. passport (if the subject has been issued a passport); "Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America" (FS-240); citizenship certificate. |
|
4 |
Missing Selective Service registration information | A male applicant born after Dec. 31, 1959, who has not registered for Selective Service must fully explain the reasons for not having registered, with reference to any applicable legal exemption(s). Persons can verify their Selective Service registration and obtain their registration information online from the Selective Service System at http://www.sss.gov or 1-847- 688-6888. |
|
5 |
Incomplete information concerning debts or bankruptcy | Disclose all financial obligations which are delinquent, and all information pertaining to bankruptcy. Include dates, amounts, account numbers, and name of the organization to which debt is/was owed. |
|
6 |
Missing education reference information | Provide complete name and address of the school and a person who has knowledge of the applicant. If the most recent degree falls outside the scope of the investigation (7 or 10 years), provide information regardless of how long ago the degree was obtained. |
|
7 |
Missing employment reference information | If unemployed or self-employed, applicant must identify and provide contact information for a person who can verify the unemployment or self-employment (may use spouse, parents or siblings as the verifying reference). |
|
8 |
Incomplete explanation of employment record | Provide additional employment details such as being fired from a job; quitting after being told you would be fired; leaving a job by mutual agreement of unsatisfactory performance, and/or receiving written warnings; being officially reprimanded, suspended, or disciplined for misconduct in the workplace, such as a violation of security policy. |
|
9 |
Missing personal reference information | Provide the names of at least three individuals and include complete U.S. addresses and phone numbers. These are not to be relatives, spouses, former spouses, or anyone listed anywhere else on this form. Applicant will also need to include a work or home address using drop-down boxes as provided, as well as zip code and current phone number(s). |
|
10 |
Missing explanation of drug usage | Applicant must provide explanation about the use or misuse of illegal or prescription drugs. |
Related: Does your resume pass the 6-second test? Get a FREE assessment.
TABLE B: Top Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Rejection Reasons
The following issues account for 98% of investigation requests rejected by OPM:
|
# |
Issue |
Corrective Issue |
|
1 |
Fingerprint cards not submitted with the required timeframe | Fingerprint cards must be provided to OPM within 14 days of approval by DISCO. |
|
2 |
Certification/Release forms information illegible or missing | Provide complete information for each field and ensure there are no stray marks on the forms, ensure the top, bottom and sides of each document are present after scanning attachments. Type or legibly print the name, SSN, address and dates. Use the date format mm/dd/yyyy. |
|
3 |
Certification/Release forms not meeting date requirements | OPM will not accept forms older than 120 days from the date of the applicant’s signature. Use the date format mm/dd/yyyy. |
|
4 |
Discrepancy of place and date of birth information | Place and date of birth must be accurate and consistent with other forms. Use the date format mm/dd/yyyy. |
|
5 |
Missing references (character, residential, employment or educational) | Applicant must provide names of at least three individuals and include complete U.S. addresses and phone numbers. These are not to be relatives, spouses, former spouses, or anyone listed anywhere else on this form. Applicant will also need to include a work or home address using drop-down boxes as provided, as well as zip code and current phone number(s). If unemployed or self-employed, applicant must identify and provide contact information for a person who can verify the unemployment or self employment (may use spouse, parents or siblings as the verifying reference). |
|
6 |
Discrepancy of e-QIP Request ID Number | Pages printed from e-QIP contain the Request ID Number. Ensure the Request ID Number on the questionnaire and certificate/release forms match before submitting to OPM. The Request ID number cannot be handwritten. |
|
7 |
Missing employment information | List all employment; include the company which is submitting the clearance request as current employer. Applicant should list all full-time work, paid or unpaid, consulting/contracting work, all military service duty locations, temporary military duty locations (TDY) over 90 days, self-employment, other paid work, and all periods of unemployment. |
|
8 |
Certification/Release forms not submitted | The personnel security investigation cannot proceed without a signed and current release form. Scan and attach the forms in JPAS. The Fair Credit Reporting Disclosure and Authorization form is required. |
|
9 |
Missing education information | Provide complete name and address of the school and a person who has knowledge of the applicant. If the most recent degree falls outside the scope of the investigation (7 or 10 years), provide information regardless of how long ago the degree was obtained. |
|
10 |
Missing residence information |
Applicant must provide the complete address of all residences for the past 7 years or 10 years for SSBI. |
Related: For the latest veteran jobs postings around the country, visit the Military.com Job Search section.
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