Anonymous wrote:NP here. so, I'm starting a new job and one of the forms I have to fill out asks about *any* past arrests regardless of disposition. Which is fine, happy to fill it out, except that I was found not guilty and the record was expunged... and I can't actually find anything with the date of the arrest. I'll go through my attic this weekend to see if I can find anything, but-- what does one put otherwise? Just the year? "summer... ish?"

Also- does one have to fill out a sf-86 for all positions public trust/std background check? or just for cleared ones?

I had a speeding ticket in a far away state that was over the fine amount you had to disclose. However, that state eliminated any and all associated records if you paid when required and had no further offenses in the subsequent 5 years. I put the month and year it happened. My investigator got all upset about it because he couldn't find a record of it anywhere, and was told by the state the reason why there would be no record. He kept coming back to me for nearly a year asking for more information, was anyone with me, could I provide their contact information, etc. Held up my clearance for so long.

public trust is pretty easy.

I believe there used to be an "estimated" box to check.

Clearances take forever these days, even renewals for active employees. For new hires they may do a quick interim check, then hire you contingent on the result of the actual investigation. From my experience, the process may differ from agency to agency.

NP here. so, I'm starting a new job and one of the forms I have to fill out asks about *any* past arrests regardless of disposition. Which is fine, happy to fill it out, except that I was found not guilty and the record was expunged... and I can't actually find anything with the date of the arrest. I'll go through my attic this weekend to see if I can find anything, but-- what does one put otherwise? Just the year? "summer... ish?"

Also- does one have to fill out a sf-86 for all positions public trust/std background check? or just for cleared ones?

Anonymous wrote:I have a non-sensitive (Q) background check, and worked while it was being performed.

Q as in DOE Q? that is comparable to TS + some caveats.....

I have a non-sensitive (Q) background check, and worked while it was being performed.

Public trust is a basic background check. You should be fine.

Agree with PP. If it's an actual clearance it can take up to a year depending on the agency.

I work in Personnel Security in the government. Firstly, public trust is not a security clearance. It's a background investigation. Most likely, the agency will give you an interim suitability determination so that you can begin working while your full investigation is completed. Accepting a job and then accepting another job will not affect your background investigation.

Time to get a public trust depends on how complex your life is.

Have you lived at the same place for more than 7 years or lived all over the country?

Traveled to exotic (security concern) locations or not?

Do you have family with close ties to foreign countries?

Any financial concerns or drug use in the last 7 years?

If you have a simple situation - it can take 4-8 weeks (depending on the agency). If it is more complex 6-24 weeks is a guess.

It will not hurt your public trust that you accepted another job.

Anonymous wrote:Isn't public trust just the standard clearance? You'd need that for any fed job.

No it's above a regular background check. The other job came through very quickly because no clearance was required.

Isn't public trust just the standard clearance? You'd need that for any fed job.

I have been offered two fed positions, one is still tentative, the other they are moving to the final offer stage. I want the tentative position much more but it requires a security clearance (public trust). Could it hurt my clearance if I took the other offer and then quit to take the job I really want? And does anyone know how long public trust clearance tend to take?