“I will never be able to get a security clearance again after this denial.” That is a common thought that many people feel after having a clearance denied or revoked. However, as long as you take the necessary steps to ensure that the previous reasons for your security clearance denial or revocation have been resolved, there is a pathway to overcoming a previous denial or revocation.
Most government agencies allow an individual who has been denied a clearance or had their clearance revoked to reapply for a security clearance after 12 months from the date of the final decision. Some agencies require a wait of 24 months and others of 36 months. The most common length of time is 12 months. This may seem like an eternity, but if you use that time wisely, you will be able to set yourself up for success in the future.
You cannot simply submit a reapplication request once the required waiting period has elapsed. You must obtain sponsorship for a security clearance first, and the reapplication request for a security clearance must be made initially by that sponsoring company or organization. This step typically begins with the sponsoring company requesting the person complete an updated security clearance application, typically done through the e-QIP system.
Once the security clearance application is processed, an agency will review the reasons an individual’s clearance was previously denied or revoked. In some cases, if you are an employee of a DOD government contractor, DOHA will notify the sponsoring company that the applicant’s previous clearance was denied or revoked, and the applicant will be required to supply mitigating evidence that the reasons that previously caused the applicant’s security clearance to be denied or revoked have been resolved or sufficiently mitigated.
