Is it possible to get a 35L MOS waiver for having a foreign national parent?

2021-04-05T23:01:44-04:00

I'm 33, motivated but feeling inclined to change gears in my military career. Became interested in 35L. After speaking to the CA ANG, took the DLAB and went back to MEPS for my physical. Did well, everything looking great until I hit a wall.
My Father emigrated from Iran in the '70s and has been here since the early 80's with a green card. At MEPS I was told this is a showstopper. Frankly, it makes perfect sense, but somehow the thought had never occurred to me. I grew up in a US military household with a tradition of service going back a couple centuries and I suppose I never considered the potential conflict there. Basically, I guess what I'm asking is, has anyone had any experience with something like this being waivered ?

Feel free to DM to discuss or set up correspondence via enterprise email if preferred.
Thanks in advance!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2021 11:10 PM

2021-04-05T23:10:13-04:00

Iran is considered an adversary and is on a list of countries that prohibits you from securing a Top Secret clearance. If he was to naturalize and be a US citizen, as long as there are no long standing or continued relationships with members who live in Iran, you will be able to get one.

Until that happens, there’s nothing you can do

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2021 11:20 PM

2021-04-05T23:20:57-04:00

I don't even think this is waiverable. I just had a kid get his 17C packet kicked back because he has relatives who live in China. No option to submit a waiver, just a hard no.

You will probably face a brick wall for any MOS requiring a Top Secret clearance as long as your father is not a citizen - but especially for all the MI MOS's.

Response by SSG Dale London made Apr 6 at 2021 5:46 AM

2021-04-06T05:46:22-04:00

Yep - it will be a hard no until your father becomes a citizen. Even then, if you still have family in Iran, if your father harbors any kind of sympathy towards his country of birth, or if anyone the FBI or Army CI interviews even thinks he or you would be in any way disloyal, you can forget the clearance.
Having foreign national parents can be problematic. Having parents from an aggressor country are worse. Until PROVED otherwise, you will be assumed to be susceptible to irresistible influence through coercion or sympathy and thus you will be a security risk.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2021 1:44 PM

2021-04-06T13:44:46-04:00

Many have already said, this is a hard no. Recently a lot of service members got left in the lurch and had to find new MOS's when they acquired their TS under less restrictive times. All potential cracks are being sealed up.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2021 1:30 PM

2021-04-08T13:30:27-04:00

Yes you can request a waiver. The MEPS people have no clue as to if it would be approved or not unless they are a CI Agent who sat on boards. Let the process work and see if the waiver is approved not listen to someone at MEPS.