Security Clearance Experience - How long it took

**Saddo** · 7 October 2010, 13:39

Originally posted by tigerinhunt View Post

When your security clearance is done, are you informed by the vetting agency about that? or sent any documentation about this?

May be my fellow contactors can share their experience on how long it took for their SC to come through. Mine has been under process for 5 weeks now and waiting for it to come through so I can be back into job. Been a long time out of it.

I never have been. The vetting agency will only work with the organisation who put you forward, and once granted the clearance will be held by that company.

SC clearance typically takes a couple of months. I'm told DV takes a lot longer - they have to do personal interviews and find out things which you didn't know about yourself or anyone you know. You won't actually be told the result - you have to talk to the security officer of the ListX company that put you forward.

You will probably find out if you failed clearance though - it will probably be marked by you being escorted off the premises by security (assuming you have been allowed on-site with BC clearance).

**Mr.Whippy** · 7 October 2010, 16:46

Originally posted by tigerinhunt View Post

When your security clearance is done, are you informed by the vetting agency about that? or sent any documentation about this?

May be my fellow contactors can share their experience on how long it took for their SC to come through. Mine has been under process for 5 weeks now and waiting for it to come through so I can be back into job. Been a long time out of it.

I got SC once in about 10 weeks. Got a letter through the post. A colleague working at the same sponsor on the same project took almost 9 months. I also know of someone who got DV from scratch in 3.5 months, which is exceptionally quick by all accounts...

So basically, other people's experience of how long it took for them means nothing for you. You best bet is to talk to the vetting dept of the sponsor and ask them for a progress update. They're really the only ones who can give you any idea.