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 FAQs
Medical Clearance
Security Clearance
Medical Clearance
Q. What is involved in the medical clearance process?
A. The requirement for pre-employment in the Foreign Service is that the applicant must be medically cleared for "worldwide assignment." Family members, however, must be medically cleared before traveling overseas to accompany an employee on assignment at U.S. Government expense. These medical fitness standards are more rigorous than those of most other professions as some overseas posts may be remote, unhealthy, or have limited medical support.
Q. I'm a breast cancer survivor. It has been 10 years since I've shown any evidence of cancer in my regular screenings. Can I be cleared for appointment?
A. A full medical report from the oncologist is required to establish the type of follow-up that is needed. If, after 10 years, you are taking no medication for the breast cancer and your only follow-up care is an annual mammogram, there is a good possibility that your condition would not limit your medical clearance.
Q. My ten-year old child is in a special education program and will need to continue to receive special education assistance for the foreseeable future. What are the implications for her medical clearance?
A. For any child who has special education needs, the Individual Education Program must be forwarded to Medical Clearances for further evaluation through MED's Mental Health Services. Because of the special education needs, your child is likely not worldwide available and would have the limited, Class 2, medical clearance. This means that approval of an overseas post from Medical Clearances will be necessary prior to your child's inclusion on your travel orders.
Q. I have lived with Type I diabetes since I was a child. It is managed and I am completely capable of giving myself the necessary injections. Is this a limitation to a full medical clearance?
A. The standard for diabetes control is based on frequent blood glucose monitoring, testing for hemoglobin A1C every 4-6 months, and having access to emergency services in the event of a diabetic crisis, as well as routine monitoring by specialists as required. Due to conditions at some posts, one may encounter profuse sweating, diarrhea and vomiting, or other unforeseen chemical changes that may affect blood sugar levels very quickly and require the need for emergency care. The specific type of insulin you need may not be available in many locations worldwide and it may not be possible to ship you insulin at such locations. Given this range of considerations for the treatment and control of your diabetes, it is unlikely that you would be issued an unlimited medical clearance.
Q. I'm 39 years old. I had a mild heart attack three years ago and was hospitalized briefly. I've had no further cardiac events and my doctor monitors me regularly. I am otherwise in good health. Does this history pose a clearance problem?
A. We would carefully evaluate the type of monitoring you require. Because your doctor monitors you regularly, it is likely that you would not be worldwide available. There are numerous Department of State posts where no cardiologist, indeed no physician at all, would be available to care for you.
Q. If I am cleared medically for any post in the world but one of my family members is not, won't the Department of State simply assign me to one of those places where all my family members can accompany me?
A. Accepting employment as being cleared for worldwide assignment means that the Department may send you to any assignment in the world without regard to the ability of your family members to accompany you. Although in many cases it may be possible to locate an assignment where all family members can accompany you, there is no guarantee of this and, if the medical clearance for your family members does not change, the same problem will repeat itself with each assignment throughout a career. Accepting an appointment in the Foreign Service when one has family members with medical or learning disability problems that preclude them from receiving a Class One medical clearance is accepting the possibility of unaccompanied assignments. All prospective employees and their family members should understand that principle before pursuing a career in the Foreign Service.
Security Clearance
Q. What is involved the security clearance process?
A. The clearance process considers such factors as registration for the Selective Service, failure to repay U.S. Government-guaranteed student loan, credit history, violations of the law, drug or alcohol abuse, or a less-than-honorable discharge from the armed forces. Background investigations may take several months (longer if a candidate has moved frequently or lived overseas for extended periods of time), and may include interviews of supervisors and coworkers. These investigations are conducted by the Department of State in cooperation with other federal, state, and local agencies.
Q. What is the background investigation?
A. Applicants who are successful in the Oral Assessment will be asked to submit forms for a security clearance required for appointment to the Foreign Service. The clearance process considers such factors as: registration for the Selective Service; failure to repay a U.S. Government-guaranteed student loan; past problems with credit or bankruptcy; failure to meet tax obligations; unsatisfactory employment records; violations of the law; drug or alcohol abuse; a criminal record; extensive travel; education; residence and/or employment overseas; dual citizenship; foreign contacts; immediate family or relatives who are not citizens of the United States and/or a foreign born spouse; or a less- than-honorable discharge from the armed forces. The Department of State conducts background investigations on each candidate to determine eligibility for security clearance. Investigations include interviews with current and previous contacts, supervisors, and coworkers.
Q. I have dual citizenship - can that be a factor in obtaining my security clearance?
A. Security clearance evaluations/determinations must assure that access to classified information for a specific individual is "clearly consistent with the interests of national security." Under the adjudicative guidelines, "any doubt as to whether access to classified information is clearly consistent with national security will be resolved in favor of the national security." When making such a determination, DS must consider all available information, both positive and negative. This is the "whole person" concept. Dual nationality is a relevant element in some cases. While U.S. citizenship is a basic eligibility requirement to be considered for access to classified information, it does not automatically confer the right to a security clearance. Dual citizenship must be considered in context of other circumstances in an individual's background. For more information on Dual Citizenship please visit our in-depth page.
Q. What happens if I do not receive clearance?
A. Candidates who do not receive security clearances are ineligible for appointment. Potential Candidates who have any serious issues which could prevent them from receiving their clearance should give some thought to the likelihood of their being found ineligible before starting this process. These investigations are conducted by the Department of State in cooperation with other federal, state, and local agencies.
Q. During the security clearance process, what will my current employer be told is the reason for the clearance? Is it best they didn't know I was applying for another job, since A-100 isn't guaranteed?
A. If you don't want your current employer contacted, you need to say so to the security investigator. They are not supposed to do that unless you say that they may, since this is a common - and obviously legitimate - concern.
Q. Can you give me an idea of the average time frame from taking the written exam to completing the whole process (Oral, clearance, medical)?
A. It all depends on whether issues arise in either the medical or security clearance processes. It can take as little as 60 days (sometimes even less), but it can also drag on almost indefinitely if there are issues that defy resolution. Such cases, fortunately, are rather rare, and we generally know within 120 days or so whether the clearances will be forthcoming.
Q. I have top security clearance now. If I pass the written and oral exams, would I be eligible for a job immediately?
A. If your TS clearance was granted by the Department of State, then you won't need a new one. However, if it's from another agency, we'll need to do our own background investigation and issue our own clearance.
Q. What chance does someone with a misdemeanor conviction have of becoming a foreign officer?
A. All security clearances are handled on a case-by-case basis. It depends on when, what, etc.
Q. May persons with alternate lifestyles be considered for employment at the Department of State?
A. The Department of State is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against individuals based on the basis of lifestyle or sexual orientation. There are, however, no provisions for benefits for domestic partners.
Equal Opportunity Employer. Privacy Statement
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