Security Clearance (SC) Q&A Read first before asking questions

[northernladuk]

Can you approach a ListX company and ask them to sponsor you for SC if you are willing to pay, or does the company then have to employ you?

Sorry in advance for my SC ignorance

Hello 1st time

I have just started contracting (although not got a contract yet)
I have a limited company and I know you cannot get SC clearance as an individual but is this a chicken and egg situation or is there a way of using my company. Also how much does it cost?

I am sure if you both read the thread I am sure you would find your answers. Some basic research would also have helped both questions. Not sure how you think you would be suitable to work in high secure areas if you can't do a bit of legwork first.

No you cannot just as a listX company to sponsor you, what is in it for them? They don't just give SC out willy nilly to anyone that fancies it.

SC clearance IS on an individual basis. What on earth made you think it wasn't? It isn't chicken and egg at all. An organisation needs and SC person, they find the right candidate and then put them through the process (or pick someone that is already cleared from previous roles).

In any case it costs you nothing, your client/sponsor are the ones putting you through it.

Gotta do better than this.

[psychocandy]

Interesting to read about the fact that SC expires immediately after leaving an SC role and is considered dead after 12 months.

Surely this is going to HUGELY cut down the no of available contractors for a role? Basically, if you're SC, you're going to have to make sure nearly all of you're contracts are SC or risk losing it.

Last used my SC about 17 months ago so I imagine its dead and gone by now :-(

[northernladuk]

Interesting to read about the fact that SC expires immediately after leaving an SC role and is considered dead after 12 months.

Where did you read that?

Surely this is going to HUGELY cut down the no of available contractors for a role? Basically, if you're SC, you're going to have to make sure nearly all of you're contracts are SC or risk losing it.

You win the stating the obvious award for this month.

Last used my SC about 17 months ago so I imagine its dead and gone by now :-(

Why imagine when you have just confirmed it in the very same post?

[malvolio]

Where did you read that?

That would be me.

It happens to be true, clearance is for the role, not hte person filling the role, who has been judged to be a fit person to hold the role and may well be fit for another role for a while.

But looking at the transfer process, if the original SSO has any doubts at all (for example he knows about your two weeks in the sun in Afghanistan, or you got binned for fraud) he will refuse the transfer of clearance accreditation and the candidate has to go back to the beginning even within the one year grace period.

[IR35FanClub]

That would be me.

It happens to be true, clearance is for the role, not hte person filling the role, who has been judged to be a fit person to hold the role and may well be fit for another role for a while.

But looking at the transfer process, if the original SSO has any doubts at all (for example he knows about your two weeks in the sun in Afghanistan, or you got binned for fraud) he will refuse the transfer of clearance accreditation and the candidate has to go back to the beginning even within the one year grace period.

If you think about it, and although it's a PITA, everyone should have their SC reviewed for each role. In 1 year for example, you could have left your wife, taken up a coke habit, hang around the kind of places that have towels and lots of girls for the guests, taken lots of holidays in places known to be enemies of the UK, all of which may lead to you having no money and a likelihood of being susceptible to selling information for cash. Just coz you were squeaky clean 3 years ago - doesn't mean you are now. That's when we'd have a level playing field for all SC contracts - and they'd have to get a bit faster at processing them. They got banking payments down from 3 days to 30 seconds in a lot of cases, so lets see...

[ContractsUK]

Well,

I find myself in an interesting situation

SC cleared in 2005 until 2015

Left first SC role in 2006 and have worked in 3 other SC roles (different companies) since

Left the last 1 earlier this year

Went to apply recently for 2 other SC roles and was told according to DBS my clearance lapsed in 2006 due to company 1 telling them I left, but company 2 not telling them I arrived?

Yet since then I've also worked for companies 3 and 4, all supposedly SC cleared?

[up4it]

I believe that when you leave an SC cleared contract the SC remains valid for 1 year during which time you can get another SC contract.
After 1 year the SC clearance becomes Lapsed but it is easier to get it back than if you never had any clearance. Always worth putting that to the agent when they try to reject you for the contract for not having current clearance!

[gingerjedi]

Re: Security Clearance (SC) Q&A Read first before asking questions

I believe that when you leave an SC cleared contract the SC remains valid for 1 year during which time you can get another SC contract.
After 1 year the SC clearance becomes Lapsed but it is easier to get it back than if you never had any clearance. Always worth putting that to the agent when they try to reject you for the contract for not having current clearance!

If the new client just checks if the SC is valid and doesn't transfer it then the clock will remain ticking from when you leave the old client.

Been there many a time, the problem is if they only want you for a few months they may not be that bothered about transferring. You need to get firm with them, an agent can be quite helpful if they think you may walk.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD

[mayIAsk]

Mimimum stay requirements

Hi,

I am non-UK citizen residing in UK for last 7 years holding a permanent residency and am not subjected to immigration control. I had to travel out of UK for work-related reasons during my 7 years in UK once for 6 months (apart from my short travels abroad for usual holidays etc. for about 20-25 days each year).
So, am I eligible for Security Clearance? I was informed by someone that I have to be in UK for last 5 years and any absences from UK should not be for more than 90 days at a stretch.

Please confirm if there is any such requirement.

Thanks!

[Anonymous2012]

Cannot Get UK Clearance

I worked for the Canada Security Service as a Cyber Security Specialist.I worked there for six years. I am a Canadian and UK Citizen.I come back to the UK and MI15 will not hire me as I worked for another Security Service.Have not lived in the UK for nine years etc Man I was talking on Skype to the NSA FBI CIA Daily We tracked down Zeus and many bot-net-makers. I have no Computer Science degree or Certification.They are a big waste of time. CISSP's make me laugh.Firebrand rips of the sucker students for 4000 pounds a shot to get one.I learned my trade as a cracker.It was some what of an addiction(not hacker) Luckily CSIS hired me.Here in the UK I was and still am out of work.So I join Anonymous and set up the world servers to run Tyler on.A replacement for Wiki Leaks.The whole project fell apart and is now defunct.I quit Anonymous in disgust after all my volunteer work can to nil.So now I have to find a job and it is not easy as I am in my sixties. I cannot put any of the above on my CV due to Security Laws that I signed.I joined this board in the hope of finding some paid Consulting jobs.Many be it is time to retire but I am getting married and have a wife to support.I would not work for Government here as I think they are screwed up.Better in the Commercial World.