SC Clearance

Dunks · 10 Oct 2013 at 12:44

Hey guys,

Anyone here gone through the process of gaining SC clearance? Just wondering how long it roughly took and if your current employer was contacted as part of the process.

Cheers.

Gilly · 10 Oct 2013 at 12:45

6-8 months is usual (edit, actually that's for a renewal, not for new clearance, although it is that for new staff with the new process ATM). They've overhauled the process recently and whilst that's supposed to shorten lead times it isn't doing at the moment. It could be whilst the staff involved get used to it.

randomshenans · 10 Oct 2013 at 12:46

I have. Took me about 6 weeks to go through. Employer for me was the sponsor, so were contacted. I missed a question off mine, too, so they called me up and I poo'd myself that I'd get rejected

I didn't, luckily.

Dunks · 10 Oct 2013 at 12:47

Thanks guys. I guess as long as you're completely honest with everything if you miss something out it'll be fine.

In my situation the sponsor is a potential employer.

randomshenans · 10 Oct 2013 at 12:47

Gilly said:
6-8 months is usual. They've overhauled the process recently and whilst that's supposed to shorten lead times it isn't doing at the moment. It could be whilst the staff involved get used to it.

Christ! Mine was back like 3 years(?) though...

Gilly · 10 Oct 2013 at 12:48

randomshenans said:
Christ! Mine was back like 3 years(?) though...

My first clearance request took nearly a year, but that was 13 years ago now.

Reza86 · 10 Oct 2013 at 12:49

I went through it recently, mine took about 6 weeks, I've known people to have it completed in less than a month though. It really depends on how much they need to check out. Just fill in everything as fully and honestly as possible and it will be fine.

randomshenans · 10 Oct 2013 at 12:50

Dunks said:
Thanks guys. I guess as long as you're completely honest with everything if you miss something out it'll be fine.

In my situation the sponsor is a potential employer.

Ah OK, and you don't want them to approach your current one. You shouldn't have an issue. Be honest, if you've missed a payment on something say etc.
They're really funny about financials and lying about it, or they were, as they think if you have financial troubles, or potential to, you're more likely to be able to be coerced in to giving out info for money.

No one ever offered me. Dammit. I'd have caved for enough... maybe. :eek:

Dunks · 10 Oct 2013 at 12:51

Well, I'd rather they don't as until everything is sorted I don't want to burn any bridges if however unlikely it falls through. But if they do I obviously need to give them some warning!

And yeah, I understand the financial side of things, possibility of bribes etc.

Hilly · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:28

mine took (within my current company) around 4 weeks. This was a renewal. The original request took something like 3 months IIRC.

Gilly · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:28

It also depends on which department it is with.

DJMK4 · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:30

Had to go through a check when I got the job I am with now, however it was just to verify the stuff I had claimed on my CV was correct (not sure if this is SC clearance?) and some CBR checks

(They verified my previous jobs, my education, any certification I had done, memberships I was part of), the fact that I was a UK resident and was permitted to work in the UK (passport check) etc etc.

Dunks · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:31

DJMK4 said:
Had to go through a check when I got the job I am with now, however it was just to verify the stuff I had claimed on my CV was correct

(They verified my previous jobs, my education, any certification I had done, memberships I was part of), the fact that I was a UK resident and was permitted to work in the UK (passport check) etc etc.

With the security watchdog?

DJMK4 · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:33

Dunks said:
With the security watchdog?

Was with a company called Veroscreening.com, that the company I work for use to do checks before employment commences.

Dunks · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:34

DJMK4 said:
Was with a company called Veroscreening.com, that the company I work for use to do checks before employment commences.

Aha.

I've had to go through a similar check to the one you've just described alongside the SC stuff. Eek.

DJMK4 · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:35

Dunks said:
Aha.

I've had to go through a similar check to the one you've just described alongside the SC stuff. Eek.

Should be fine, as long as you have nothing to hide and all the info you gave them is correct

Dunks · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:37

DJMK4 said:
Should be fine, as long as you have nothing to hide and all the info you gave them is correct

Yup

It's just the wait!

DJMK4 · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:40

Dunks said:
Yup

It's just the wait!

Do you have to be cleared before you start? by the time my start date had come, the screening still hadnt been cleared, they were still contacting me like a week after I had started asking me to send some further info

What if I actually turned out to be a serial murderer and they had let me start

randomshenans · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:42

I actually got to start early (shhhhhhhhhhhhhh!) and I passed, so it's all good. That could have backfired haha they were desperate, what can I say!?

Dunks · 10 Oct 2013 at 13:45

DJMK4 said:
Do you have to be cleared before you start? by the time my start date had come, the screening still hadnt been cleared, they were still contacting me like a week after I had started asking me to send some further info

What if I actually turned out to be a serial murderer and they had let me start

I know with some places you can with a basic BC(?) level check and depending on the information you need to access.

Seems I have to wait!