Posted on Feb 20, 2017
Can a foreign-born person who enlisted in the Army get a security clearance?
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I would like to join the army, but I was born and grow up in Iran, and my families are living in Iran. I came to the United States as a Political asylum, and I like to serve to Us army in Intelligence career. I know after enrolling in the army I can get a citizenship, But I don't know can I get an Intell or other jobs which need a security clearance? Are these factors prevent me to getting clearance?
Security Clearance
ARCC (Army Reserve Career Counselor)
Edited 7 y ago
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 13
Suspended Profile
S Mmm - Per Executive Order 12968 Section 2.6(a) - Access by Non-United States Citizens. Where there are compelling reasons in furtherance of an agency mission, immigrant alien and foreign national employees who possess a special expertise may, in the discretion of the agency, be granted limited access to classified information only for specific programs, projects, contracts, licenses, certificates, or grants for which there is a need for access. Such individuals shall not be eligible for access to any greater level of classified information than the United States Govern-ment has determined may be releasable to the country of which the subject is currently a citizen, and such limited access may be approved only if the prior 10 years of the subject's life can be appropriately investigated.
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I would see a recruiter and apply for the position you are interested in. I would guess each person differs in what clearance level they qualify for depending on their situation. Congratulations on your decision to join.
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The answer isn't going to change, no matter how many times you ask it. Until and unless you are a citizen, you will not get a clearance. And even then, there are no guarantees. Plenty of US citizens are denied, or lose, their clearance, every year. I applaud your desire to serve. If intel is the only thing you're interested in, get cracking on your citizenship and try. No one here will be able to give you a definitive answer. I would point out that there are many other ways you could serve, if this one doesn't work out.
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S Mmm
I mean after getting citizenship, and because my father and other family are living in Iran I can not get clearance.
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SN Greg Wright
S Mmm - You will not be judged one way or another for who or where your family is. Only on your own background. As a citizen, yes, you can apply for a clearance. There are no guarantees. Plenty of natural-born Americans get denied every year for all kinds of reasons, ranging from financial to past actions. All you can do is try.
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Below is information about joining the military. Would you be happy with some other position than intelligence? You will need to talk to an Army recruiter.
https://www.thebalance.com/immigrants-in-the-us-armed-forces-3353965
https://www.thebalance.com/immigrants-in-the-us-armed-forces-3353965
Immigrants and Non-Citizens in the US Armed Forces
Immigrants may enlist in the U.S. military if they meet certain requirements. The military benefits from the service of immigrants and non-citizens.
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Don't Hold Your Breath! having said that I'm Sure the folks at the Defense Language Institute in Monterrey would love to hear from You to Teach Others and Do Your Part,
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NO. But if you are really interested in joining the Army, walk in to your nearest Armed Forces Recruiting Center and talk to a recruiter and find out what you can and cannot do.
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MSG (Join to see)
S Mmm - Even IF that Recruiter didn't know.....a simple call to MEPS would have gotten that answer. So, either that call was never made or you didn't like the answer you were given after the call was made.
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SFC J Fullerton
S Mmm - I find that hard to believe, as citizenship qualification is pretty basic knowledge for a recruiter. I will make it simple for you. No, you cannot qualify for a military job that requires a security clearance without citizenship. That said, if you really want to join the military as a resident alien (I551 card), then you will have to settle for a job you can qualify for that there are vacancies in. Take it or leave it.
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First, I'd wonder why, you are so adamant to get Security Clearance? I would think that you'd be interested in certain jobs, and then if you needed the clearance, you'd take the proper channels and protocol to get the clearance.
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S Mmm
Because my passion is serving in Intel jobs.That is why I would like to know can I get clearance after citizenship.
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Sgt (Join to see)
S Mmm - There is no way to know whether you would be granted a clearance ahead of time. No one can make you that promise. Have you served in Intel jobs? Do you want to join the Army and become a citizen?
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S Mmm
Sgt (Join to see) - I have not served in Intel Jobs yet, but I think I have some talents in this field and passion.My goal to join in Army is learning and gaining some skills and working in Intel jobs not just become a citizen.
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SFC J Fullerton
S Mmm - It is not just jobs that require security clearances that also require citizenship. There are a lot of entry level Army jobs that don't require any level of clearance but require citizenship. As a resident alien, your options are limited as to what jobs you can do.
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The quick answer is no. Any legal resident alien can join the military if he meets the other qualifications, but he can not serve in any position that requires a clearance until after he/she becomes citizen. In peace time, that required the completion of one full year of service before you could begin the application process. Once that is accomplished, you can apply for a change to an MOS/job that requires a clearance and then you go through the process like anyone else.
Will having family in Iran disqualify you? Probably not, but you can expect that they will go over your past with a fine tooth comb. So if you were a member of the Army of Guardians or such groups, voluntary or not, don't count on getting a clearance.
Will having family in Iran disqualify you? Probably not, but you can expect that they will go over your past with a fine tooth comb. So if you were a member of the Army of Guardians or such groups, voluntary or not, don't count on getting a clearance.
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