Security Clearances and Initial Disclosures on the SF 86 and Self-Reporting Issues While Holding a Security Clearance
Submitted by the Bond & Botes Law Offices - Thursday, October 19, 2023
The basis for issuing a security clearance in our country is predicated on full, open disclosure and detailed vetting. With that said, I always advise security clearance applicants that, if the government discovers that you have lied or made a misstatement or misrepresentation on the SF 86 form (previously completed through the e-Qip system and soon through the NBIS eApp portal), it is highly unlikely that you will EVER qualify for a security clearance in the future.
Security Clearances and Debt Settlement Plans
Submitted by the Bond & Botes Law Offices - Thursday, September 28, 2023
This is a recurrent ad for debt settlement companies that advertise services to help people resolve debts:
“Call our 800 phone number now and we can negotiate with your creditors under a little-known government program that will reduce your credit card debt and it is the secret that the credit card companies don’t want you to know.”
Ron Sykstus Featured on the Raw Story
Submitted by the Bond & Botes Law Offices - Wednesday, August 2, 2023
3-Part article series about the current state of the Security Clearance process
Statement of Reasons (SOR) – What should you do if you get a SOR to revoke or deny your security clearance?
Submitted by the Bond & Botes Law Offices - Friday, July 7, 2023
By Ronald C. Sykstus
If get a Statement of Reasons (SOR) from the government that says it wants to revoke or deny your security clearance, this is a serious matter that requires immediate attention. Without a clearance and if your employer does not have any available non-classified work for you to do, then a revocation or denial of a security clearance will result in the loss of the job.
Security Clearances and the Entire Clearance Process in the News Again
Submitted by the Bond & Botes Law Offices - Wednesday, April 19, 2023
According to this article, nearly 3 million Americans. have a security clearance, while about 1.2 million have access to information that is considered top secret. The recent breach, however, feels different insofar as how a low ranking enlisted national guardsman was allegedly able to access and disseminate a great deal of very sensitive and top secret national security information to his gaming buddies.
Security Clearances and Previous Employment Questions – A Trap for the Unwary
Submitted by the Bond & Botes Law Offices - Wednesday, September 14, 2022
This is an area of concern for security clearance applicants where one would think that there really wouldn’t be much of an issue. In fact, it can be so problematic that I have seen a number of situations where it has prohibited an individual from ever getting a security clearance.
Security Clearances and Psychological Conditions
Submitted by the Bond & Botes Law Offices - Tuesday, August 16, 2022
By Ronald C. Sykstus
Over the last three years or so, I have seen a marked increase in people who hold or are trying to get security clearances running into issues as they relate to psychological conditions. The guideline that controls security clearances references,
Security Clearances and Criminal Charges
Submitted by the Bond & Botes Law Offices - Tuesday, January 25, 2022
By Ronald C. Sykstus
One of the issues that I have seen lately is individuals with clearances getting criminally charged with federal or state offenses. What should you do if you hold a security clearance and find that you are charged or have pending criminal charges in federal or state court?
Security Clearances and Continuous Evaluation
Submitted by the Bond & Botes Law Offices - Thursday, June 17, 2021
By Ronald C. Sykstus
Anyone who holds a security clearance is aware that the “renewal” for the clearance is every ten years for a secret and every five years for a top secret. I wrote previously about the big and new change regarding the use of artificial intelligence and continuous evaluations of security clearance holders.
Security Clearances and Financial Issues – Be Careful!
Submitted by the Bond & Botes Law Offices - Friday, March 1, 2019
I have been handling all aspects of security clearance law for many years, from the initial SF 86 questions and concerns, answering SORs (Statement of Reasons) through the administrative hearing of an attempted clearance denial or revocation by the government. I am writing this particular blog post now because I have noticed a disturbing trend over the last couple of years.