I have a friend who is trying to get a security clearance and now I have to meet w/ an investigator?

[Anonymous]

This reminds me of the thread where some poor guy asked the OP's niece to be a reference and the OP and her sister advised the niece to block the guy and reject the investigator. I remember saying I hope karma bites the niece in the ass when she actually needs other people as references.

All in all this just reminds me to choose better people as references.

[Anonymous]

I do this for a friend. I have had investigators show up announced and unannounced at work and home over the years. My friend tells me that I always have the right to decline if I am uncomfortable, or to request a different location.

You are well within your rights to request a location that's not your home, especially if you live alone. And ask to see their identification.

[Anonymous]

They usually come to my office. Only weird question was about one friend and if I thought he was into anything weird sexually.

[Anonymous]

It's normal. The investigator should show you an ID that shows they are with the federal government (OPM I think), and they'll ask you a bunch of questions. Just answer honestly, even when it seems they are invasive questions. It will make your friends processing much easier if you do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes totally normal. They will show your their badge too for verification.

I probably do 2 of these a year since I have so many friends with clearances. They won't ask you questions about you, it's just all about your friend. Where they work, what they do, their ethics, their foreign trips, etc. Not a big deal at all.

oh and they normally come to my workplace, not my house.

+1

I thought coming to the home was a no-no

Many, many investigations are at the person's home, especially since so many people work at home now. OP, they are not investigating you, calm down. No really, calm down. You will not reflect well on your friend at all.

Really? Do you watch the traffic reports on weekday mornings in DC? I don't think it is as popular as you think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my husband did this 20+ yrs ago, they came to our apartment building and knocked on neighbors' doors who weren't even on the list. (this may not be allowed anymore, I don't know) I don't think it's at all weird that they offered to come to your home.

This happened to me about 5 years ago. They knocked on the door and asked some questions about a neighbor I didn't know. I did my best to answer them. It was weird at first but I was happy they investigate so well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When my husband did this 20+ yrs ago, they came to our apartment building and knocked on neighbors' doors who weren't even on the list. (this may not be allowed anymore, I don't know) I don't think it's at all weird that they offered to come to your home.

This happened to me about 5 years ago. They knocked on the door and asked some questions about a neighbor I didn't know. I did my best to answer them. It was weird at first but I was happy they investigate so well.

They did this for my clearance 3 years ago. My old lady neighbor was furious. She was a strange lady though.

They also knocked on doors in my previous apartment building in a prior city, god only knows who they talked to (that was an interesting group of people), and all up and down the street I grew up on.

The reason they do it is to make sure that they aren't troublemakers in the building/on the block. They figure neighbors would know if someone was dealing drugs or running a prostitution ring (or leaving a dog cooped up for days at a time, neglecting their child, hitting a child, etc). If you don't know them, and have benign things to say its a good thing.

[Anonymous]

They asked my third-grade teacher whether I smoked pot.

Ha.

[Anonymous]

OP, I am on your side in terms of finding it odd that someone would meet me at home in this situation. The prior poster's comment have been educational, as one of my friends every few years asks me if I can be a reference. I have not been contacted yet, but this is a good thread to keep in mind in case I do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Totally normal OP. And these freaks on here are projecting heavy! You don't sound paranoid at all from your post. You're a teacher- I understand. Valid question.

+1. What is up with you nut jobs? OP said she never experienced this before; just because you have you're jumping all over her?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:When my husband did this 20+ yrs ago, they came to our apartment building and knocked on neighbors' doors who weren't even on the list. (this may not be allowed anymore, I don't know) I don't think it's at all weird that they offered to come to your home.

We've answered questions about neighbors in the last few years. Probably half my neighbors work for the government in some capacity, and DH has a security clearance so I'm sure they've been asked about him. Not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't want some random stranger inside my home.

I have learned this is normal around here. We once had an IT contractor trying to get clearance. I got a call from an investigator and I originally thought the guy was being investigated for a crime. I quickly realized that the guy put me down as a reference. Investigator asked me very basic questions. I didn't know him personally, just minimal chit chat. I think they asked me questions about how I knew him, how long, what work he did for us, his trustworthiness and I want to say he asked me if he had suspicious behavior. It took less than 10 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A good friend of 30+ years is trying to get a Fed job with a security clearance. She told me she would put my name down as a reference. I got a call today from someone to confirm this and this person on the phone tells me I have to meet with an investigator to answer questions about my friend. The person asked me my address and asked if we could meet at my home. Uh, NO. So now someone else (the actual investigator) is going to call me to set up a mtg at a Starbuck's or some other public place. Is this normal? What kind of questions will they ask? Will they ask anything about me? I don't feel completely comfortable with this.

TIA for any advise/answers.

SO funny I just did this, and I met him at a Starbucks. Very friendly, took about an hour, ask nothing about you but how you know your friend, how long have you known her, does she know any foreign nationals, does she have any issues with drugs/alcohol, and an odd one, does she have any anxiety/mental health issues. Also do you know anything about her that would not be good to know (you know what I mean), try not to over answer and also obviously if you know any embarassing secrets or anxiety do NOT mention,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A good friend of 30+ years is trying to get a Fed job with a security clearance. She told me she would put my name down as a reference. I got a call today from someone to confirm this and this person on the phone tells me I have to meet with an investigator to answer questions about my friend. The person asked me my address and asked if we could meet at my home. Uh, NO. So now someone else (the actual investigator) is going to call me to set up a mtg at a Starbuck's or some other public place. Is this normal? What kind of questions will they ask? Will they ask anything about me? I don't feel completely comfortable with this.

TIA for any advise/answers.

SO funny I just did this, and I met him at a Starbucks. Very friendly, took about an hour, ask nothing about you but how you know your friend, how long have you known her, does she know any foreign nationals, does she have any issues with drugs/alcohol, and an odd one, does she have any anxiety/mental health issues. Also do you know anything about her that would not be good to know (you know what I mean), try not to over answer and also obviously if you know any embarassing secrets or anxiety do NOT mention,

PP here , I was lucky enough that my friend has been a goody two shoes (in a good way) since Ive known her not sure about your friend...but my guess answers in the affirmative to those would not be key

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:*known, not know

sorry

OP, it was a first for me too and freaked me out a bit but really simple process