Thinking of dual citizenship - will this hurt my chances of clearance

[Anonymous]

I’m a US citizen and have held top secret (no poly) in the past for client I’ve worked with. Most of my work is in the commercial sector but occasionally I work with Federal agencies.

I able to get a German citizenship and am considering applying for it. Will this hurt my ability to get a Public Trust clearance? What about Secret?

[Anonymous]

For DoD, yes, but for most agencies it will not matter. I know many people with dual citizenships who are cleared to the Secret level.

[Anonymous]

Public trust not a big deal. Hard to have a secret with dual citizenship. At least for dod. had to relinquish my no US passport (not my clearance) to my security officer until I got rid of that citizenship so I couldn't travel on it. A guy in my office had to use his to travel back to a country (not European) for a parent health emergency and lost his clearance. If you travel on a non us passport they can't trace your movements so you become a liability.

[Anonymous]

Our of curiosity, why are you considering dual German citizenship?

[Anonymous]

The question that will be asked is why you felt the need to obtain a new dual citizenship while living and working in the US with an active clearance. This is not one of those situations where you've been a dual citizen for a long time and then you get into your career and it becomes an issue but is ultimately fine. This is you actively seeking to become a dual citizen while working under an active clearance. I'd be shocked if you didn't lose it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The question that will be asked is why you felt the need to obtain a new dual citizenship while living and working in the US with an active clearance. This is not one of those situations where you've been a dual citizen for a long time and then you get into your career and it becomes an issue but is ultimately fine. This is you actively seeking to become a dual citizen while working under an active clearance. I'd be shocked if you didn't lose it.

The above is for secret.

Public trust is not a clearance. May not be an issue but questions will definitely be asked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our of curiosity, why are you considering dual German citizenship?

Not OP, but my kids and spouse have dual citizenship with a European country. It gives our kids options in the future for college and work.

[Anonymous]

I think if you had it going in, from the beginning, that's one thing. Seeking it now will raise questions.

[Anonymous]

In grad school, my brilliant roommate was offered a job in SoS's office as a summer intern. Secret clearance. She's a dual US-Japanese citizen and was told that if she wanted the job, she would need to renounce her Japanese citizenship.

She turned down the job to work directly with the SoS.

[Anonymous]

Not the OP, but debating same. I can claim Canadian citizenship which is safer to travel internationally under.

[Anonymous]

Can't be dual with a TS/SCI where I work. Have to renounce anything other than US.

[Anonymous]

If you were born a dual citizen, it's less risky, but seeking to become one will cause issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can't be dual with a TS/SCI where I work. Have to renounce anything other than US.

This, and there are all kinds of travel and other restrictions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In grad school, my brilliant roommate was offered a job in SoS's office as a summer intern. Secret clearance. She's a dual US-Japanese citizen and was told that if she wanted the job, she would need to renounce her Japanese citizenship.

She turned down the job to work directly with the SoS.

Son of Sam?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The question that will be asked is why you felt the need to obtain a new dual citizenship while living and working in the US with an active clearance. This is not one of those situations where you've been a dual citizen for a long time and then you get into your career and it becomes an issue but is ultimately fine. This is you actively seeking to become a dual citizen while working under an active clearance. I'd be shocked if you didn't lose it.

+1. For TS this is a total no-go and would raise huge flags.