Is the requirement that your immediate family be U.S. citizens waiverable for the 35L MOS?

2020-11-22T21:46:08-05:00

Hi everyone,

I spent 6 years in the Army National Guard as an 11B, eventually leaving as a SGT. Recently I've been considering going back into the NG or reserves as a 35L. However, one requirement that I see popping up in addition to TS/SCI eligibility is that your immediate family must be U.S. citizens. My parents are citizens of Canada, and my father served in the Canadian Air Force in the 1970s. My parents currently reside in the U.S. and have not been to Canada in almost 30 years, with no plans to ever move back there. However, they are not U.S. citizens, and reside here legally on green cards. I also possess dual citizenship with Canada, which I have never used and would be willing to renounce if necessary. I'm already well aware that this foreign influence can cause additional hurdles in clearance processing, but I'm wondering if the requirement that your immediate family be U.S. citizens is waiverable for this MOS? Would I be wasting my time in pursuing this path, or is there hope for me with that background? Any guidance from those in the CI career field would be appreciated!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2020 9:49 PM

2020-11-22T21:49:58-05:00

no Bueno my dude. They would disqualify you not necessarily because of your citizen status (thats easy to waiver) the issue you will run in to is the fact that your father served in a foreign military. CI is super strict when it comes to things like this. After all, you would be dealing with threats to national security and under the extremely unlikely scenario Canada decides to turn on the US, the question is who would your family support.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2020 2:26 AM

2020-11-23T02:26:14-05:00

I agree with SSG Private RallyPoint Member CI has a counter Intel poly, if I remember correctly, plus there is a long application time for your TS with your citizenship. I don't think you can get a TS without being a citizen, although I'm sure there are waivers and Canada is our ally. But that is still a long, slow process

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2020 8:26 AM

2020-11-23T08:26:48-05:00

take off, you hoser…. lol

Response by SFC Grant Ross made Nov 24 at 2020 1:26 PM

2020-11-24T13:26:30-05:00

While concurring with my CI colleagues I would say submit the application, present full disclosure and see what, if any, waivers are obtainable. It’s worth a shot.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 24 at 2020 4:27 PM

2020-11-24T16:27:52-05:00

To even get a TS/SCI you have to be a US citizen -and cannot be a dual citizen. You would have to renounce any Canadian citizenship. Once that's done, it ultimately depends on the investigation process for the T5. If OPM is still backed up it could be awhile. Depends on the investigator and if they can get ahold of people they need to and you.

For 35L, I'm not sure on all that. You'd have to reach out to a CI recruiter on that to find out any waivers.

Response by SFC Grant Ross made Feb 26 at 2021 7:10 PM

2021-02-26T19:10:53-05:00

I would say try for it, I believe there is that requirement, but it’s been a while since I did an packet for a CI Applicant. Go talk to your local CI Agent. Usually, there are waivers for most things. Don’t quit!