Granting Interim Security Clearance Eligibility is Standard Procedure Now

Eligibility for access to classified information may be granted to security clearance applicants on an interim basis when specific conditions are met while the background investigation is underway and before a final eligibility determination is made. An interim clearance allows an applicant to begin working in a position requiring access to classified information while the investigation remains ongoing.

For contractor personnel, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency’s (DCSA) Adjudication and Vetting Services (AVS) is responsible for making interim clearance determinations. For military personnel and federal civilian employees, interim clearance decisions are handled by the appropriate military service or civilian agency personnel security office.

To be eligible for an interim security clearance, applicants must meet the following requirements:

1. Be a U.S. citizen.
2. Receive a favorable FBI fingerprint-based criminal history check.
3. Have no disqualifying information identified on the SF-86.
4. Receive a favorable local records check.
5. Receive a favorable Advanced National Agency Check, with the background investigation officially underway.

Once these requirements are met, AVS evaluates the case for contractor applicants and records its eligibility determination in the Defense Information System for Security (DISS). This notification is sent to the company’s Facility Security Officer (FSO), who conducts the required security briefing and indoctrination before updating DISS to reflect the interim (temporary) clearance status.

An interim clearance remains in effect until a final eligibility determination is made following completion of the background investigation, or for up to one year, whichever occurs first. Intelligence Community agencies are a notable exception, as many require the background investigation to be fully completed and a final eligibility determination to be issued before an individual may begin work.