SC Question and Job Offer!!

[Peter Loew]

hmm i rang to check this with the DVA helpdesk this morning as I am in the same position as the original poster. Left a company A in 2006 as that is where my clearance is still held and worked for company B and C since then in SC roles where they checked my clearance. Was told that since they hadnt transferred my clearance from A that it was now not valid... which means it wasnt valid for my last role at company C even though they checked. Am now pretty confused

They told me the opposite; that so long as I worked in an SC Cleared role my new company just had to confirm with my old company; this was the case with my last company.

Perhaps the person on the phone didn't know quite what they were talking about? Also wouldn't that mean your company was in breach in your last role?

[Peter Loew]

Bassy et al,

I just spoke to the DVA again today, they confirmed that so long as it can be established that you worked with your last company in an SC role, then the new company should be able to just transfer the clearance over. The lady I spoke to on the DVA Helpdesk also said that she dealt with the same situation previously and that it went through okay.

My situatino isn't resolved yet although I am going call the new company's pass office to explain the situation to them. I think it's just a matter of my old company confirming I was in an SC role till the said date, the new company should then be able to request transfer of the SC.

Let us know how your situation turns out. This is causing me lots of stress because my last company basically stuffed up and didn't transfer the SC properly (and I have written correspondence from them that says they will transfer the SC back when I joined...)

[bassy]

Good luck Peter - hope it works out
I've been on to the last company I was at (which I left Oct 2008) to see if they can sort it on my behalf but confirming etc to the DVA that I worked with them for well over a year. They are currently a little shamefaced that they seem to have messed it up - so heres crossing fingers for both of us.

[spig]

My current employer is non goverment but I've been told they can transfer SC over for some staff, although I'm not sure about contractors. I got my SC with my previous employer I left 6 months ago (gov agency)

Would it be a good idea to try and persuade my current employer to transfer over my SC so I can avoid this problem? Or if they refuse because I'm a contractor should I start collecting letters from each employer to prove I was employed in a role requiring SC?

[Peter Loew]

My current employer is non goverment but I've been told they can transfer SC over for some staff, although I'm not sure about contractors. I got my SC with my previous employer I left 6 months ago (gov agency)

Would it be a good idea to try and persuade my current employer to transfer over my SC so I can avoid this problem? Or if they refuse because I'm a contractor should I start collecting letters from each employer to prove I was employed in a role requiring SC?

If you are doing an SC Cleared role then get them to transfer the SC over because it shows up on the DVA database as having been active. You can ring the DVA to check they have done this.

If for some reason they don't want to, then get it in writing that you have been doing and SC Cleared role from date x to date y and that you were approved for the role; even better tell them to update the DVA with this info.

[spig]

Thanks for the advice, I will hassle current employer to get it moved over. My current contract could end in a couple of months, hopefully it will get moved over quickly so it's not between employers when I'm next looking for a contract, with neither company being the holder. Is this possible?

[opc]

My understanding is that the SC can easily be transferred as long as it's within 12 months of you working in the SC environment. Beyond 12 months you're into re-vetting.

[spig]

Got a response from the security dept here, they requested it be transfered over back in September when I started the first contract here, so all I have to do is wait. No idea how long it normally takes, but very happy I don't have to worry about it any more. Really don't want to lose my SC in the current climate, it's been very useful having it so far.

[ratewhore]

It's my general experience that the parties involved in the holding and transferring of security clearances suffer from an inability to distinguish between an arse and an elbow.

Good luck though...

[Peter Loew]

Got a response from the security dept here, they requested it be transfered over back in September when I started the first contract here, so all I have to do is wait. No idea how long it normally takes, but very happy I don't have to worry about it any more. Really don't want to lose my SC in the current climate, it's been very useful having it so far.

Back in September? It should not normally take that long to transfer... ring the DVA to confirm the transfer has been requested. My last transfer took around 4 - 6 weeks.

IMHO, it is an issue until either the DVA confirm the request and give you a lead time for the transfer, or until it has actually been transfered.