In today’s globalized world, many individuals work overseas in various capacities, including government agencies, defense contractors, and private companies. However, with the transfer to different countries comes the challenge of maintaining security clearances. Security clearances are necessary for many jobs that require access to sensitive information, and they allow individuals to do their jobs without posing a risk to national security.
When an individual moves overseas, they need to ensure that they can maintain their security clearance. In some cases, this may involve transferring their clearance to a new location. The United States government has established procedures for transferring security clearances overseas, which vary depending on the level of clearance and the complexity of the transfer.
Security Clearance Levels
To understand how security clearance transfers work, it’s essential to understand the different levels of security clearance. These levels include Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret. Confidential is the lowest level of clearance, while Top Secret is the highest. Each level requires a different degree of investigation and background check to obtain and maintain.
Transferring Security Clearances Overseas
The U.S. government has established three types of security clearance transfer procedures: Simple Transfer, Extended Transfer, and Re-investigation Transfer. Each type of transfer requires a different level of security clearance and involves varying degrees of complexity.
Security Clearances Overseas
Simple Transfer
The Simple Transfer procedure is the simplest type of security clearance transfer. It applies to individuals who are moving from one overseas location to another within the same organization or agency, and both locations have been deemed trustworthy by the U.S. government. In this case, the individual’s security clearance can be easily transferred without any additional investigation or background checks.
Extended Transfer
The Extended Transfer procedure applies to individuals who are transferring to a new overseas location that has not been pre-approved by the U.S. government. This may include moving to a new country, working for a new employer, or working in a new capacity that requires a higher level of clearance. In this case, the individual’s security clearance will need to be extended to cover the new location, which involves a more extensive investigation and background check than the Simple Transfer procedure.
Re-investigation Transfer
The Re-investigation Transfer procedure is the most complex type of security clearance transfer. It applies to individuals who are transferring to a new overseas location, but their current clearance is not sufficient for their new role or location. In this case, the individual will need to undergo a full re-investigation, which includes a thorough background check and evaluation of their suitability for the new role or location. The Re-investigation Transfer procedure may also apply to individuals whose clearance has expired or been revoked, and who need to be re-evaluated before their clearance can be reinstated.
Security Clearance Investigations
To obtain a security clearance, an individual must undergo a thorough background investigation that includes a review of their personal, professional, and financial history. The investigation will also look at the individual’s character, loyalty, and trustworthiness. Depending on the level of clearance required, the investigation may take several months or even years to complete.
Maintaining Security Clearances Overseas
When an individual moves overseas, they must ensure that they can maintain their security clearance. Failure to do so could result in the revocation of their clearance and potentially the loss of their job. To prevent this from happening, individuals must follow the appropriate transfer procedures when moving between overseas locations or taking on new roles.
In addition to following the transfer procedures, there are other steps that individuals can take to maintain their security clearance while working overseas. These include:
- Keeping up-to-date with security training: Many organizations require employees to complete regular security training to keep their clearance. This training may cover topics such as handling classified information, identifying potential security threats, and reporting suspicious activity.
- Reporting any changes in personal or financial circumstances: Individuals must report any significant changes in their personal or financial circumstances to their organization’s security clearance office. This includes changes in marital status, addresses, and financial difficulties.
- Following local laws and regulations: When working overseas, individuals must follow local laws and regulations that may impact their security clearance. This may include restrictions on travel, social media use, and contact with foreign nationals.
Transferring and maintaining security clearances overseas is essential for many individuals working in various capacities overseas. The Simple Transfer, Extended Transfer, and Re-investigation Transfer procedures provide a framework for transferring security clearances based on the level of clearance required and the complexity of the transfer. By following these procedures and taking additional steps to maintain their clearance while working overseas, individuals can ensure that they can continue to do their job without posing a risk to national security.
