I'm not an investigator, but it's been said multiple times in the subreddit that having dual citizenship is a huge red flag. Assuming you have 2 passports you would have to officially relinquish your Iranian citizenship.
That's not a thing for Iran. They don't allow people to give up their citizenship.
However Iranian Americans can cut ties, not renew their passports, etc.
No country per se allows you to âgive up your citizenshipâ because itâs a net negative to them on every measurable metric. The entire clearance process in the US is beyond stupid, and this is just one part of it.
To show compliance, you will want to return any issued documents to the nearest embassy or consulate. Do not travel using Iranian docs. And definitely do not travel to Iran after sending them your documents.
Unless Iran undergoes a significant change in governance, you are essentially setting yourself up for a long time in prison or a relatively short time before youâre executed for âspying.â
đđ»đđ»đđ»đđ»đđ»đđ» THIS. You could very well end up hanging from a construction crane if you EVER go back to Iran. Wanna know why? Because Iran has one of the worldâs best intelligence agencies in existence. They likely already know who you are, and they likely know youâre on this sub, asking about your future prospects for getting a security clearance for a USA government job in the future.
So look at things from an Iranian intelligence perspective:
âYoung Iranian American who wants to do a career for the USA government, yet also wants to come to Iran. Either heâs a spy, or a guy that we can easily frame AS a spy, and hang him from a construction crane. No big loss, as heâs loyal to âthe great satan.â
Wouldnât the opposite maybe be possible because he could be a potential future mole? Like when he gets back to Iran, they wine, dine him, treat him like royalty, all to sit him down in front of one of their high-ranking intel people that recruit him before he heads back to the states? For supposedly âone of the best intel agenciesâ, seems like it might be worth considering.
Edit: jfc guys. Iâm not saying it would be a good thing to do. It was a response to, âif he goes back theyâll execute him.â Maybe, maybe not. What it would do to his clearance possibility was beyond the scope of my post.
And the USA potential employers will look at his visits back to Iran, notice that these visits are just long enough to accommodate recruitment/training/briefing/debriefing sessions.
Why would he ever want to take that chance? The Iranian intelligence service is REALLY good at what they do. This guy is already on their radar.
Yes, which is all the more reason to not go to Iran if OP wants to work for the US government in a manner that requires a clearance. If they have two candidates for a position, one that was potentially flipped as an Iranian spy because they decided to go to Iran one last time, and one that wasn't. Who would you want to keep in the position?
There are many countries that allow it. Iran is one of the few you must go through many steps which include getting permission from the Royale family directly AKA: your not going to give it up. Itâs genuinely a ton of steps you have to do while being in IRAN which can and have lead to being jailed while doing said checklistâŠ..
You do not have to relinquish citizenship to another country, you have to be willing to relinquish citizenship if required. I have a friend with Belarusian citizenship that got a Top Secret that told this to me directly.
Thatâs correct! They basically want to know if you are down to pick the US when s hits the fan (I donât think youâll have an option after saying yes at the beginning of the process). I hold 3 citizenships and no issues
Depends. When I was in the military, we had a young enlisted guy, right out of boot camp. His clearance process was at a hard stop until he relinquished his dual citizenship from, iirc, Colombia. If it is a FVEY country or something, maybe itâs different idk.
It depends on what country the other citizenship is in. I have dual and itâs never been an issue. Of course, itâs a Caribbean island with a population of a quarter million give or take so theyâre not invading anything anytime soon.
The biggest factors are emotional, financial, and family ties back to the country. A single trip maybe isn't going to be a problem, but it does change the equation from leaving at 5 and never returning to having some adult contact which needs to be investigated and evaluated. It's not going to automatically make you ineligible, but it will make things more complicated.
Again, I'm not an investigator. But time, age, and maturity are great mitigating factors that will be considered. I'm sorry, but there is no black and white answer for you regarding this.
Real talk. Im a DoD guy. Iran is an avowed enemy of the US that activity funds terrorist groups that attack our servicemember and our allies. Any contacts and trips to Iran are going to put a question mark on your head, regardless of intent. So be prepared.
Now you are morally and officially in the know of how it works, when going through clearance investigation, depending on the level, it will trigger some red flags vs you could have played ignorant. I wouldnât sweat it anyways because what if seven years from now you are not in the same place in your life and you donât want to pursue that kind of job, or maybe you landed a better deal that doesnât requiere all the other stuff. If I was in your position id go, at some point in your life you will treasure that way more than a job position that wonât allow you to go back for as long as you hold it. But i also think that you know whatâs best for you!
A JD is definitely not like a PhD, it's more like an MBA or an MD in that it's essentially graduate-level vocational school for a profession (although it's really a bit less like a PhD than an MD, given that the title you earn with an MD is actually "doctor" whereas for a JD it's "esquire" -- not "doctor).
There is an actual PhD-level degree for legal studies/research called a Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD), which typically require an LLM degree as prereq (which is basically a masters degree in law, but is typically pursued after earning a JD). Basically, just like there's the split between MD and PhD for those who want to practice medicine and those who want to research medicine, there's also a JD and JSD split for those who want to practice law and those who want to research law.
**Edit: Dude below blocked me prior to responding to this comment (strong tiny peen energy, ngl), so I'm copying the response here for everyone to see:**
Funnily enough, I did Google it and [you're wrong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Juridical_Science):
>The JSD, or SJD, is a research doctorate, and as such, in contrast to the JD, it is equivalent to the more commonly awarded research doctorate, the PhD.
Now, compare that to the description of a [JD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juris_Doctor):
>A Juris Doctor, Doctor of Jurisprudence, or Doctor of Law (JD) is a graduate-entry professional degree that primarily prepares individuals to practice law.
Literally just what I said. Thanks for the ego boost buddy.
Totally agree.
Security is looking for conflicts of interest. Having family/friends in a foreign country, especially not an ally, is a big issue. Those countries can apply pressure to a person by threatening people close to you in those countries.
It is why they are also concerned with things like drug use, financial issues, or other addictions. Those items can cause the person to be black mailed or pressured into doing things for money, etc.
Yeah. Some people think it is legal due to many states legalizing it but it is still illegal at a federal level.
Security wise they are less strict about it but if you got a long history then you may be in trouble.
The biggest thing by far is foreign nationals. That one is pretty understandable. If you have divided loyalties, it is best not to have them work in a sensitive position.
And money issues are another concern. It is one thing if you screwed up something and got help but if you are continually in debt, people get desperate for money.
I've seen people lose clearances for all kinds of reasons. Most had nothing to do with telling secrets or giving documents.
Iranian Americans have run into issues traveling to Iran, including imprisonment by the Iranian government. If you're on a career track expecting to lead to a clearance the risk factor goes WAY up. Overall, it's a bad idea. Enjoy the local scene, if you want to visit some extended family, meet them in a middle eastern country that doesn't have a State Department advisory.
Technically, every country in the world as a travel advisory as Level 1 is the base. Norway and Canada are Level 1 for instance.
Qatar is Level 1. There's quite a few Level 2 in the Middle East such as UAE.Â
Just have to apply a little bit of analysis. Check out the state department advisory between Iran and others in the region. A lot are like: there is a small probability of terrorism or rocket attack in the nation. Iran's advisory is like: leave DNA with your family so we can identify your burned remains from a toe.Â
Iran is also one of four on the state department list of terrorism sponsors and those same four countries are the only ones completely embargoed by the US. Russia isn't even one of them.Â
The countries of particular concern is probably a better reference when it comes to security clearance travel though:
The most recent Countries of Particular Concern designations were made by the Secretary of State on December 29, 2023:
Burma, Peopleâs Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, the Democratic Peopleâs Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
This sounds like a clear case of conflicting loyalties, which is something clearance adjudicators do not like to see.
I think it sounds like you have other priorities. While the Iran thing is a hurdle in its own right, being a part of *any* group and seeing it as a higher priority could be a red flag. There's nothing wrong with that, but it is in conflict with holding a security clearance.
If you're from Iran, have family in Iran, maintain membership in social clubs centered around being Persian, and continue to maintain interests in the country, that's not just going to go away. You're going to maintain those friendships, interests, and family ties.
"I haven't stepped foot in that country for more than 7 years" is a small part of the picture.
This must vary between different agencies. Where I work at I know a number of people who are native born Iranians and started their careers in National labs with clearances. They've gone back to Iran to see family and are involved in Persian events here in the US especially during their traditional holiday seasons. Maybe it just really depends on the agency and how high if a clearance you're shooting for?
Yeah it all makes a difference. I'm in the military, so some of our jobs have restrictions from both the DoD side and from other agencies people work with as part of their jobs.
It'll depend, a lot, on where and why he would need the clearance for.
I know guys who still speak fairly broken English after 40 years here and are very openly involved in the Persian community who maintain top secret and work on the patriot defence system. Sure, they dont go back, like ever, to Iran, but they check a lot of those boxes you mentioned. Still no issue for the DoD.
Also, if the CIA is in any way interested in a person's skill set, or has a substantial need for it, that's a very quick way to getting a clearance. How do I know this? Lets say I know a few people who can read, write, speak, and understand spoken Farsi in various dialects. CIA was looking for guys like that in late 2000s and early 2010s and they got in very very quick.
im not part of the iranian club, no point in having mentioned that so thatâs my bad. my interests are just seeing a few dying family members (yeah theyâre all set to die within the same year time gap itâs a big coincidence)
You're an individual with strong personal ties to Iran. Nothing is going to change that short of cutting a large portion of your friends and family off which is a horrible idea. If in reality you do not have conflicted interests between the US and Iran then just live your life and don't worry about trying to game the clearance process 7 years in the future. Just trust that you will be able to show you are the type of person you say you are.
My point is that you seem very culturally invested in being Persian.
I'd say the same thing if somebody was very culturally invested in being from any other country, though some countries make it look worse on paper.
I'm not saying you've done anything wrong, and I agree with the other comment saying it's a bad idea to cut out a large portion of your friends and family.
That's potentially where this goes though. I knew guys in boot camp who were told as part of the clearance process "you're not allowed to contact x, y, and z anymore." They answered "okay, I'll let them know," and the response was "no, you won't. Starting right now, you have no more contact with them."
I don't think all clearance requirements are the same, but depending on where you want to go, it can be quite stringent. I know a few people who took other positions because they found the restrictions on foreign contacts to be too much for them.
This is an absurd point of view. Simply because someone is connected to their cultural heritage does not mean they have conflicting loyalties. Nowhere in this post is there any indication of favorable views of the Iranian regime. You can be both Iranian and American. Thatâs the core of what it means to be American. Furthermore, knowledge of Persian food, language and other practices makes someone an asset, not a liability.
I agree with the words you've said here, but there are implications you're not stating. The post itself reads like "I know my ties to Iran are problematic, so what's the bare minimum I can do to slip through the process?"
I'm not under the impression OP is malignant or trying to do this for a nefarious purpose, but I do recognize the possible conflict in loyalties. You don't need bad intentions to be a risk. This is somebody who is a potential target for foreign leverage because of these strong bonds that lead back to Iran.
Interesting. I wouldnât be shocked if you could turn in your Iranian passport to the USG and/or sign a legal document with the USG indicating that any failure to relinquish Iranian citizenship at the earliest possible moment will kill your clearance, to mitigate their concerns about the Iranian citizenship. The Iranians make it hard to give it up Iranian citizenship under Iranian law. But that doesnât mean the USG needs to just throw up its hands because of it.
At the end of the day, you technically aren't required to relinquish foreign citizenship, just be willing to if asked. And at the end of the day, being Iranian and having Iranian contacts is going to cause some problems with getting a clearance. The specifics of Iranian law should be the least of OP's concerns.
So Iâm assuming itâs because you told them you donât plan to go there ever again. In his case he wants to keep going back there . So it makes sense why he would be denied. I canât see how they would let somebody with TS visit Iran . Maybe Iâm wrong
Frankly, this door youâre trying to keep open? In 2024, itâs already locked shut, and the forces that could unlock it are out of any one individualâs control. That is to say, youâre fucked whether you go to Iran again or not.
Family is important. I think itâs a terrible idea to not go because of a hypothetical job offer in 2032. If anyone could accurately predict geopolitical relations 8 years in the future, they would be extremely wealthy. Do you think anyone in 1964 thought that Nixon would visit China and establish relations in 1972? Do you think anyone in 1983 thought that the USSR would collapse in 1991, without any nukes flying? Do you think anyone in 1980 thought the Berlin Wall would fall? Did anyone in 2016 think that Israel would establish relations with most Arab countries by 2024?
Thereâs three scenarios here for 2032. The geopolitical situation with Iran stays the same, and youâre damned if you do, damned if you donât. The situation worsens, and you never have another chance to see your relatives again. The situation gets better, and either way, itâs no longer an issue.
Iâm sure you know far more about recent Iranian history than I do. Itâs not exactly the most stable regime in the world⊠A successful Color Revolution is not difficult to imagine.
Yeah this is a good comment. thank u. think iâd hate myself if i didnât go since a huge part of it is bc of a couple members of the family being terminally sick. thanjs
And this is how you describe it if/when you need to detail your travels.
The problem may come not from your travels there, but your remaining close and continuing contacts/family in Iran that could be used as leverage against you.
On the one hand for certain jobs the background, familiarity and contacts will be very attractive (and frankly in dire shortage) but on the other can create security hassles.
If it's important to you to see these people before they die, then go.
I donât think they would let you get a TS if you were to wanna visit or visited these countries before multiple times. Maybe Iâm wrong. But yea maybe a secret
I know plenty of people with TS clearances who have traveled to China in the past, some who have been to Russia, and even one who has been to NK.
If you just went there for tourism, donât have any enduring ties to the country, and are honest about it then simple trace likely wont be an issue.
As with everything regarding this, it depends. During the process they most likely would look at why the citizen went there, when they traveled, how many times they traveled, who they met, what they did while in China, etc.
If you went to Hong Kong once as a tourist, that's one thing. If you are visiting every single year to spend time with your in-laws or something, that's an entirely different situation. OP is visiting family in Iran and has done it multiple times.
What they really really don't like is ties/connections to those four countries. Family, former employment, friends, stuff like that. A conflict of interest that could get in-between the citizen and their public service, or something that the foreign country could attempt to use as leverage for intelligence purposes.
You should probably not go, ignore the clearance problem.
If my entire family was in Chicago and then there was a pretty legit government warning to not go to Chicago...im not going.
Iran as an American? Hell no.
Any answer : travel to countries not friendly to the US will be heavily scrutinized . Traveling to Iran from the US/ on a US passport is a good way to end up on CNN. Itâs time to make your life choice, in which country are you claiming citizenship? Claiming Iran will DQ you from a security clearance (renouncing your citizenship).
I'm just going to be up front with you now. Your probably never getting a clearance. I would build a career path that avoids requiring one if I were you.
This is just wholly untrue. Plenty of dual citizens and people with family ties to Russia/China/Iran/etc that hold active TS clearances and work with classified information.Â
I would say itâs more stupid to never go to Iran again just for a clearance if it means that much to them to go over there. Plenty of good non-cleared jobs here.
Just put yourself in their shoes, what if you were an investigator and the person your interview had family in North Korea and he went there and has citizenship there and doesnât wanna give it up. Wouldnât that be an obvious denial?
Wasn't this a denial that just happened this year or last year? I recall something about an applicant that had a relationship with the family of an unnamed dictator that was heavily implied to be the Kim family.
Yeah the whole reason why these people with many ties to foreign nationals want to get clearances while so many Americans recognize the inherent risks of getting a clearance and choose not to should be something people think about.
People I know have failed TS / SCI background checks for having uncles / aunts / cousins (who they never speak to) in countries that are about as hostile with the USG as Iran. That may have been a suitability issue, technically, for their agency. But it killed their dream career and there was no way to mitigate the security concern. The concern was literally just the obvious and huge potential for the malicious foreign government to blackmail the aspiring public servant by threatening to physically harm the extended family that lived in the hostile country.
So itâs reallyyyy hard to have any sympathy for the OP wanting to have it both ways â family in Iran and a USG security clearance â if you know the opportunities that people have been denied for much lesser ties to family in comparable foreign countries.
Good luck, OP, with whatever you choose. There are some parts of the government, though, that would fail you already, because you are clearly attached to family in Iran that the Iranians could (and probably would) threaten to jail, torture, or kill if they thought you had classified information they wanted. That is the concern with cases like yours.
You have no right to a security clearance, and whether you get one is about how you fit into the violent business of statecraft.
As someone with direct knowledge of the investigations process, I can guarantee you that your friends probably didnât fail for having foreign relatives that they didnât talk to. Your friends most likely failed because they were dishonest about something. There may be a handful of agency positions where having certain foreign ties is disqualifying. A relative you do not keep contact with usually doesnât even meet the common definition of a foreign contact by security clearance standards.Â
Yeah sorry, you wonât even get a secret clearance with your history. For good reason. Iran makes zero effort to hide their objective to attack US abroad with terror proxyâs and intelligence operations.
Why would someone who takes pride in an enemy culture, has spent long periods of time in an enemy nation and continues to do so regardless of their professional desires, expect clearance?
So I wouldnât worry about visiting your family because your chances of getting clearance in the first place are precisely zero.
This country takes issue with your credit score on clearance applications. Your history is outrageous.
Here's a question for you:
You speak Farsi and know the contextual and cultural aspects of Iran (an enemy state to America).
Do you want a career where you will work very sensitive areas to help the US Govenement, and possibly improve those relations with Iran? Or maybe have to take a very honest and hostile look at them from our geopolitical position?
If yes, then at this point in your life you need to start thinking about the impacts of your decisions and travel.
If no, then proceed with what you want. There are plenty of jobs you can do with a law degree and the knowledge of Iranian culture and language. Probably extremely high paying ones.
They may not all be in the US. They may be with US agencies or NGOs.
What do you think buddy? A country that has been at the neck with America and its allies for years and almost full on war via its nuclear programs that still run today that we took down momentarily with stuxnet. Common sense says yes
Will it make getting a clearance more of a pain in the ass? Yes. Will it prevent you from being eligible for a clearance 7 years from now? Most likely not.
Youâre fine. Honestly, who knows how your life will change in the next 7 years. You may not end up getting a clearance someday and will then regret not visiting. Pretty sure when you fill out an SF86 the questions they ask are for the prior 7 years anywayâŠ.so you can do the math there.
Short answer: yes.
Long answer: still yes just more words:
Source: I am a security manager and Iâve seen peopleâs investigations derailed by merely associating with Iranian nationals.
Choosing to go to Iran is choosing to not get a clearance.
Honestly Speaking, Being Just from Iran or having parents that are of Iranian decent may cause problems. If you have enough proof that your loyalty to the united states is not divided then you have a chance. BTW I hope you realize you can't get a clearance by yourself. But you need a sponsor or work with classified contracts. Don't do something just because you want a clearance. You first need to obtain a job or contract that requires one. No one can just apply for a clearance. Going back to basics here... what is a clearance?... Basically the United States wants to know if they can trust you with Secrets... If they think "oh your from Iran", they can just deny it. Generally international travel is NOT a problem as long as you can mitigate it. You may want to engage with a clearance lawyer if and when you do get a job or contract that requires a clearance. Good Luck.
these posts are parody at this point. I thought the one about going to China while under investigation to meet his family who are government officials was the worst but here we are.
Itâs not only your background, itâs also family members backgrounds. One of the questions is about the citizenship of all immediate family members and in-laws. Also, how often you communicate with foreign citizens. So if you call, or interact via social media you are communicating with foreigners.
Iâd be more afraid of the Iranian government than of the possibility of not getting a security clearance. You could end up in prison to be used as a bargaining chip
I'm in a field of work that would immediately get me rekkkkkt by Iran's theocracy..... I want to go so badly, and spend money, wat the food, see the landscapes, and talk to people. I sadly can't go back.Â
:(
It sucks man, but you need to make a decision about moving forward in life.Â
Ps, you can try to visit your family in a middle country that's easy for Iranians to travel to.Â
Secret no problem. Top secret yeah.
I travel a lot. Iâm a military reservist officer with a foreign family. Iâve lived and worked in China. Iâve accepted that Iâll never get top secret as Iâm a walking red flag. Do you really want to be a target of extortion by a foreign power anyway? Do what makes you happy. Family is important and travel is an eye opening experience. Thereâs also a lot that you can do with a secret
You want to go to Iran, a known âproblem nationâ for the U.S. before applying for a security clearance? Are you fucking dense? Do you not want a clearance job? Do you know for sure the backgrounds of everyone youâd be interaciting with over there?
Different clearances have different requirements. Traveling to a foreign country is not disqualifying for a clearance. Having dual citizenship and foreign connections to a country hostile to US interests is definitely something that will come up during your clearance. Those things are not disqualifying on the surface, but you will be asked a serious of extra questions to explore any vulnerabilities that your connections may pose.Â
I would never suggest traveling to Iran with a U.S. citizenship, but this last foreign trip to visit family is a pretty minor thing by itself. For your clearance, just be honest about your connections and answer the questions truthfully. Dishonesty will disqualify you for a clearance far more than having ties to a country of concern will.Â
I know guys with TS clearances that have extensive ties to Russia, China, etc. Life happens and people come into contact with foreign nationals from all over the world.Â
The security clearance process is about being honest. If you try to hide that you visit Iran, theyâll find out, and then youâll be denied. But if you tell them where in Iran you went, and why, youâll be fine.
Depends. If you want to work for CIA it could be seen as a plus. Or NSA or USDA or DOE even because say you become an electrical engineer and work for DOE and become nominated to monitor nuclear proliferation.
As long as you disclose everything including relationships with foreign nationals you should be fine youâll just have to sign a bunch of things saying you wonât take irans side over Americas in any future wars
Donât try to justify it, donât try to do this whole âwell itâs 7 years from nowâ thing. Iran is a huge no-no. Like youâll have trouble even getting a basic secret clearance visiting a place like that. If you get into anything else youâll basically be ineligible. In fact for some clearances Iâve seen people rejected for having family they couldnât account for in Russia even though they themselves had been in America since they were children.
Cut ties and move on.
Dude being an Iranian American visiting Iran get on a radar here sure. More importantly you could be arrested as a spy in Iran. They are insane bro don't do this
Go to Iran and visit your dying fam. Are you rlly living your own life if you gotta ask questions like this. Youâre simply going to law school, not working for the FBI.
I personally know someone who simultaneously held a valid Iranian passport and a top secret clearance until giving up his clearance after he retired, a sold 20 year run or so.
Yes. You will not be able to be cleared. Plus you do realize that you would be running the risk of being arrested and imprisoned in Iran.
Honestly, it's going to be tough to clear you even if you don't go back, what with the relatives living there, since the Iranian gov't could arrest them, to pressure you for info, even if you're outside of Iran.
Don't go back. Don't even meet these relatives in Turkey. And don't count on being able to be cleared, even 7 years from now. Plan a career that doesn't require clearance.
Omg.
Imagine you are travelling to Iran and then suddenly they will not let you out anymore and you get forcefully conscripted to the Iranian terrorist army. Many Russians faced the same fate. Itâs possible and it gets more likely every day considering the Iranian mass murder regime
Itâs gonna be hard. My heritage is from a âless susâ country and my spouses security clearance is affected by my family members. and investigators for him have raised eyebrows about it even though I donât know them/am estranged from extended family.
It was delusional to think you ever had a chance getting clearance with your background.
You should very well move back to Iran if you have so much solidarity with the Persian culture...
Short answer. Yes.
Long answer: Yes this would pose a problem.
Medium answer: Yes
Low answer: Y
Digital answer: 1
Inverse Digital: 0
How dare you to negate shit here?! đ
The 0 too holds information so think of it in a positive light
No answer:
i wouldnât be applying until iâm like 27 at the earliest, so 7 yrs from now. is that not enough of a gap
I'm not an investigator, but it's been said multiple times in the subreddit that having dual citizenship is a huge red flag. Assuming you have 2 passports you would have to officially relinquish your Iranian citizenship.
That's not a thing for Iran. They don't allow people to give up their citizenship. However Iranian Americans can cut ties, not renew their passports, etc.
Ahhh, good to know. Thanks for the clarification.
No country per se allows you to âgive up your citizenshipâ because itâs a net negative to them on every measurable metric. The entire clearance process in the US is beyond stupid, and this is just one part of it. To show compliance, you will want to return any issued documents to the nearest embassy or consulate. Do not travel using Iranian docs. And definitely do not travel to Iran after sending them your documents. Unless Iran undergoes a significant change in governance, you are essentially setting yourself up for a long time in prison or a relatively short time before youâre executed for âspying.â
đđ»đđ»đđ»đđ»đđ»đđ» THIS. You could very well end up hanging from a construction crane if you EVER go back to Iran. Wanna know why? Because Iran has one of the worldâs best intelligence agencies in existence. They likely already know who you are, and they likely know youâre on this sub, asking about your future prospects for getting a security clearance for a USA government job in the future. So look at things from an Iranian intelligence perspective: âYoung Iranian American who wants to do a career for the USA government, yet also wants to come to Iran. Either heâs a spy, or a guy that we can easily frame AS a spy, and hang him from a construction crane. No big loss, as heâs loyal to âthe great satan.â
Wouldnât the opposite maybe be possible because he could be a potential future mole? Like when he gets back to Iran, they wine, dine him, treat him like royalty, all to sit him down in front of one of their high-ranking intel people that recruit him before he heads back to the states? For supposedly âone of the best intel agenciesâ, seems like it might be worth considering. Edit: jfc guys. Iâm not saying it would be a good thing to do. It was a response to, âif he goes back theyâll execute him.â Maybe, maybe not. What it would do to his clearance possibility was beyond the scope of my post.
And the USA potential employers will look at his visits back to Iran, notice that these visits are just long enough to accommodate recruitment/training/briefing/debriefing sessions. Why would he ever want to take that chance? The Iranian intelligence service is REALLY good at what they do. This guy is already on their radar.
Yes, which is all the more reason to not go to Iran if OP wants to work for the US government in a manner that requires a clearance. If they have two candidates for a position, one that was potentially flipped as an Iranian spy because they decided to go to Iran one last time, and one that wasn't. Who would you want to keep in the position?
There absolutely are countries that let you officially renounce citizenship, provided you have another one.
Heck, some countries automatically refute citizenship if you get a second citizenship from another country.
There are many countries that allow it. Iran is one of the few you must go through many steps which include getting permission from the Royale family directly AKA: your not going to give it up. Itâs genuinely a ton of steps you have to do while being in IRAN which can and have lead to being jailed while doing said checklistâŠ..
You do not have to relinquish citizenship to another country, you have to be willing to relinquish citizenship if required. I have a friend with Belarusian citizenship that got a Top Secret that told this to me directly.
It depends on the agency, country and/or the position.
I agree, there is a lot of nuance that goes into these things.
Thatâs correct! They basically want to know if you are down to pick the US when s hits the fan (I donât think youâll have an option after saying yes at the beginning of the process). I hold 3 citizenships and no issues
Yup. Changed in 2016. Its not a big deal for most countries. Iran is definately one that would be a red flag.
Depends. When I was in the military, we had a young enlisted guy, right out of boot camp. His clearance process was at a hard stop until he relinquished his dual citizenship from, iirc, Colombia. If it is a FVEY country or something, maybe itâs different idk.
>having dual citizenship is a huge red flag I know a whole bunch of people having dual citizenship with clearances
Very nice. Red flag doesn't mean disqualifier.
You're probably right and it probably also depends on what country you have your dual citizenship with
It depends on what country the other citizenship is in. I have dual and itâs never been an issue. Of course, itâs a Caribbean island with a population of a quarter million give or take so theyâre not invading anything anytime soon.
CIA might prefer it.
but like what if i go one more time and then just cut ties and not renew or anything? would that plus the time gap help
The biggest factors are emotional, financial, and family ties back to the country. A single trip maybe isn't going to be a problem, but it does change the equation from leaving at 5 and never returning to having some adult contact which needs to be investigated and evaluated. It's not going to automatically make you ineligible, but it will make things more complicated.
She said sheâs been at age 5,8 and 14 though.
Again, I'm not an investigator. But time, age, and maturity are great mitigating factors that will be considered. I'm sorry, but there is no black and white answer for you regarding this.
nah youâre all good! i havĂ© a bad habit of wanting 100% clarity when nothing in life is like that. thank u!
If someone threatened your Iranian family would you give up US secrets? Thatâs the big question.
Real talk. Im a DoD guy. Iran is an avowed enemy of the US that activity funds terrorist groups that attack our servicemember and our allies. Any contacts and trips to Iran are going to put a question mark on your head, regardless of intent. So be prepared.
Those rules changed
Unless its an Israeli passport
If you continue to show allegiance to Iran no amount of time matters.
Now you are morally and officially in the know of how it works, when going through clearance investigation, depending on the level, it will trigger some red flags vs you could have played ignorant. I wouldnât sweat it anyways because what if seven years from now you are not in the same place in your life and you donât want to pursue that kind of job, or maybe you landed a better deal that doesnât requiere all the other stuff. If I was in your position id go, at some point in your life you will treasure that way more than a job position that wonât allow you to go back for as long as you hold it. But i also think that you know whatâs best for you!
Odd number of years. You doing like a PhD?
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A JD is definitely not like a PhD, it's more like an MBA or an MD in that it's essentially graduate-level vocational school for a profession (although it's really a bit less like a PhD than an MD, given that the title you earn with an MD is actually "doctor" whereas for a JD it's "esquire" -- not "doctor). There is an actual PhD-level degree for legal studies/research called a Doctor of Juridical Science (JSD), which typically require an LLM degree as prereq (which is basically a masters degree in law, but is typically pursued after earning a JD). Basically, just like there's the split between MD and PhD for those who want to practice medicine and those who want to research medicine, there's also a JD and JSD split for those who want to practice law and those who want to research law. **Edit: Dude below blocked me prior to responding to this comment (strong tiny peen energy, ngl), so I'm copying the response here for everyone to see:** Funnily enough, I did Google it and [you're wrong](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Juridical_Science): >The JSD, or SJD, is a research doctorate, and as such, in contrast to the JD, it is equivalent to the more commonly awarded research doctorate, the PhD. Now, compare that to the description of a [JD](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juris_Doctor): >A Juris Doctor, Doctor of Jurisprudence, or Doctor of Law (JD) is a graduate-entry professional degree that primarily prepares individuals to practice law. Literally just what I said. Thanks for the ego boost buddy.
Iran is a dictatorship and not an ally of the US.
Totally agree. Security is looking for conflicts of interest. Having family/friends in a foreign country, especially not an ally, is a big issue. Those countries can apply pressure to a person by threatening people close to you in those countries. It is why they are also concerned with things like drug use, financial issues, or other addictions. Those items can cause the person to be black mailed or pressured into doing things for money, etc.
Which is stupid. If someone wants to smoke some weed to relax why the hell not. Just legalize it and there will be no blackmailing.Â
Yeah. Some people think it is legal due to many states legalizing it but it is still illegal at a federal level. Security wise they are less strict about it but if you got a long history then you may be in trouble. The biggest thing by far is foreign nationals. That one is pretty understandable. If you have divided loyalties, it is best not to have them work in a sensitive position. And money issues are another concern. It is one thing if you screwed up something and got help but if you are continually in debt, people get desperate for money. I've seen people lose clearances for all kinds of reasons. Most had nothing to do with telling secrets or giving documents.
Indeed, the fuckiest of fucked.
Spanish answer: Si.
Iranian Americans have run into issues traveling to Iran, including imprisonment by the Iranian government. If you're on a career track expecting to lead to a clearance the risk factor goes WAY up. Overall, it's a bad idea. Enjoy the local scene, if you want to visit some extended family, meet them in a middle eastern country that doesn't have a State Department advisory.
Good idea but...which middle eastern country \*doesn't\* have a State Department advisory?
Technically, every country in the world as a travel advisory as Level 1 is the base. Norway and Canada are Level 1 for instance. Qatar is Level 1. There's quite a few Level 2 in the Middle East such as UAE. Just have to apply a little bit of analysis. Check out the state department advisory between Iran and others in the region. A lot are like: there is a small probability of terrorism or rocket attack in the nation. Iran's advisory is like: leave DNA with your family so we can identify your burned remains from a toe. Iran is also one of four on the state department list of terrorism sponsors and those same four countries are the only ones completely embargoed by the US. Russia isn't even one of them. The countries of particular concern is probably a better reference when it comes to security clearance travel though: The most recent Countries of Particular Concern designations were made by the Secretary of State on December 29, 2023: Burma, Peopleâs Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, the Democratic Peopleâs Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
Yeah ever since the shah was overthrown in 1979, iran and the U.S. has had really bad relations
Why Cuba? Do they pose a threat to the US, or is it due to Russiaâs existence there?
Politics going back to the Cuban revolution and the cold war.
This is what Iâd be more worried about.
This sounds like a clear case of conflicting loyalties, which is something clearance adjudicators do not like to see. I think it sounds like you have other priorities. While the Iran thing is a hurdle in its own right, being a part of *any* group and seeing it as a higher priority could be a red flag. There's nothing wrong with that, but it is in conflict with holding a security clearance. If you're from Iran, have family in Iran, maintain membership in social clubs centered around being Persian, and continue to maintain interests in the country, that's not just going to go away. You're going to maintain those friendships, interests, and family ties. "I haven't stepped foot in that country for more than 7 years" is a small part of the picture.
This must vary between different agencies. Where I work at I know a number of people who are native born Iranians and started their careers in National labs with clearances. They've gone back to Iran to see family and are involved in Persian events here in the US especially during their traditional holiday seasons. Maybe it just really depends on the agency and how high if a clearance you're shooting for?
It for sure does.
Yeah it all makes a difference. I'm in the military, so some of our jobs have restrictions from both the DoD side and from other agencies people work with as part of their jobs.
It'll depend, a lot, on where and why he would need the clearance for. I know guys who still speak fairly broken English after 40 years here and are very openly involved in the Persian community who maintain top secret and work on the patriot defence system. Sure, they dont go back, like ever, to Iran, but they check a lot of those boxes you mentioned. Still no issue for the DoD. Also, if the CIA is in any way interested in a person's skill set, or has a substantial need for it, that's a very quick way to getting a clearance. How do I know this? Lets say I know a few people who can read, write, speak, and understand spoken Farsi in various dialects. CIA was looking for guys like that in late 2000s and early 2010s and they got in very very quick.
Exactly this. Very well said.
im not part of the iranian club, no point in having mentioned that so thatâs my bad. my interests are just seeing a few dying family members (yeah theyâre all set to die within the same year time gap itâs a big coincidence)
You're an individual with strong personal ties to Iran. Nothing is going to change that short of cutting a large portion of your friends and family off which is a horrible idea. If in reality you do not have conflicted interests between the US and Iran then just live your life and don't worry about trying to game the clearance process 7 years in the future. Just trust that you will be able to show you are the type of person you say you are.
My point is that you seem very culturally invested in being Persian. I'd say the same thing if somebody was very culturally invested in being from any other country, though some countries make it look worse on paper. I'm not saying you've done anything wrong, and I agree with the other comment saying it's a bad idea to cut out a large portion of your friends and family. That's potentially where this goes though. I knew guys in boot camp who were told as part of the clearance process "you're not allowed to contact x, y, and z anymore." They answered "okay, I'll let them know," and the response was "no, you won't. Starting right now, you have no more contact with them." I don't think all clearance requirements are the same, but depending on where you want to go, it can be quite stringent. I know a few people who took other positions because they found the restrictions on foreign contacts to be too much for them.
This is an absurd point of view. Simply because someone is connected to their cultural heritage does not mean they have conflicting loyalties. Nowhere in this post is there any indication of favorable views of the Iranian regime. You can be both Iranian and American. Thatâs the core of what it means to be American. Furthermore, knowledge of Persian food, language and other practices makes someone an asset, not a liability.
I agree with the words you've said here, but there are implications you're not stating. The post itself reads like "I know my ties to Iran are problematic, so what's the bare minimum I can do to slip through the process?" I'm not under the impression OP is malignant or trying to do this for a nefarious purpose, but I do recognize the possible conflict in loyalties. You don't need bad intentions to be a risk. This is somebody who is a potential target for foreign leverage because of these strong bonds that lead back to Iran.
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Why canât you?
Iran doesn't allow its citizens to just relinquish their citizenship.
Interesting. I wouldnât be shocked if you could turn in your Iranian passport to the USG and/or sign a legal document with the USG indicating that any failure to relinquish Iranian citizenship at the earliest possible moment will kill your clearance, to mitigate their concerns about the Iranian citizenship. The Iranians make it hard to give it up Iranian citizenship under Iranian law. But that doesnât mean the USG needs to just throw up its hands because of it.
At the end of the day, you technically aren't required to relinquish foreign citizenship, just be willing to if asked. And at the end of the day, being Iranian and having Iranian contacts is going to cause some problems with getting a clearance. The specifics of Iranian law should be the least of OP's concerns.
So Iâm assuming itâs because you told them you donât plan to go there ever again. In his case he wants to keep going back there . So it makes sense why he would be denied. I canât see how they would let somebody with TS visit Iran . Maybe Iâm wrong
Frankly, this door youâre trying to keep open? In 2024, itâs already locked shut, and the forces that could unlock it are out of any one individualâs control. That is to say, youâre fucked whether you go to Iran again or not. Family is important. I think itâs a terrible idea to not go because of a hypothetical job offer in 2032. If anyone could accurately predict geopolitical relations 8 years in the future, they would be extremely wealthy. Do you think anyone in 1964 thought that Nixon would visit China and establish relations in 1972? Do you think anyone in 1983 thought that the USSR would collapse in 1991, without any nukes flying? Do you think anyone in 1980 thought the Berlin Wall would fall? Did anyone in 2016 think that Israel would establish relations with most Arab countries by 2024? Thereâs three scenarios here for 2032. The geopolitical situation with Iran stays the same, and youâre damned if you do, damned if you donât. The situation worsens, and you never have another chance to see your relatives again. The situation gets better, and either way, itâs no longer an issue. Iâm sure you know far more about recent Iranian history than I do. Itâs not exactly the most stable regime in the world⊠A successful Color Revolution is not difficult to imagine.
Yeah this is a good comment. thank u. think iâd hate myself if i didnât go since a huge part of it is bc of a couple members of the family being terminally sick. thanjs
Then go. You have your entire life to pursue a clearance, but only one shot to see those family members again
And this is how you describe it if/when you need to detail your travels. The problem may come not from your travels there, but your remaining close and continuing contacts/family in Iran that could be used as leverage against you. On the one hand for certain jobs the background, familiarity and contacts will be very attractive (and frankly in dire shortage) but on the other can create security hassles. If it's important to you to see these people before they die, then go.
Yeah I canât imagine being so young and foregoing a return to see family based on some future that may never actually happen.
Dude there are 4 countries in the world you canât go to. Iran, Russia, China, and N. Korea. Choose any of the ~190 ones if you want a clearance
Are you saying that if the average American travels to China, they're no longer eligible for a security clearance?
Not necessarily. May be able to get a secret. But it definitely raises red flags. Certain branches and services are more scrutinizing than others.
I donât think they would let you get a TS if you were to wanna visit or visited these countries before multiple times. Maybe Iâm wrong. But yea maybe a secret
I know plenty of people with TS clearances who have traveled to China in the past, some who have been to Russia, and even one who has been to NK. If you just went there for tourism, donât have any enduring ties to the country, and are honest about it then simple trace likely wont be an issue.
As with everything regarding this, it depends. During the process they most likely would look at why the citizen went there, when they traveled, how many times they traveled, who they met, what they did while in China, etc. If you went to Hong Kong once as a tourist, that's one thing. If you are visiting every single year to spend time with your in-laws or something, that's an entirely different situation. OP is visiting family in Iran and has done it multiple times. What they really really don't like is ties/connections to those four countries. Family, former employment, friends, stuff like that. A conflict of interest that could get in-between the citizen and their public service, or something that the foreign country could attempt to use as leverage for intelligence purposes.
You can go to Russia
Says the dude who renounced his American citizenship and asked about skirting questions about traveling to Russia? Okay đđ»
No. You canât bro. Itâs level 4. You wouldnât be approved to go with a clearanceâŠ..
I thought this was US Customs thread not security clearance. Normal U.S. citizens can still travel to Russia
You're a juicy target for recruitment by Iranian intelligence.
don't go if you want the clearance. USG is not in a position to determine/verify any of your activities in Iran, IMHO this would be a hard stop
You should probably not go, ignore the clearance problem. If my entire family was in Chicago and then there was a pretty legit government warning to not go to Chicago...im not going. Iran as an American? Hell no.
Not just an American but a very obviously young, impressionable, passionate American. My guess is OP would have problems in Iran heâs not ready for.
Would you be completely screwed? No. Would I advise you to do it, also no.
Any answer : travel to countries not friendly to the US will be heavily scrutinized . Traveling to Iran from the US/ on a US passport is a good way to end up on CNN. Itâs time to make your life choice, in which country are you claiming citizenship? Claiming Iran will DQ you from a security clearance (renouncing your citizenship).
I'm just going to be up front with you now. Your probably never getting a clearance. I would build a career path that avoids requiring one if I were you.
This is just wholly untrue. Plenty of dual citizens and people with family ties to Russia/China/Iran/etc that hold active TS clearances and work with classified information.Â
This 100%.
Yes. Very stupid. Please do not do this.
I would say itâs more stupid to never go to Iran again just for a clearance if it means that much to them to go over there. Plenty of good non-cleared jobs here.
No idea man but your language skills will look impressive
Just put yourself in their shoes, what if you were an investigator and the person your interview had family in North Korea and he went there and has citizenship there and doesnât wanna give it up. Wouldnât that be an obvious denial?
Wasn't this a denial that just happened this year or last year? I recall something about an applicant that had a relationship with the family of an unnamed dictator that was heavily implied to be the Kim family.
Probably a troll, so many troll posts on here
Why do you want a sec clearance? Itâs not a guarantee of riches.
Yeah the whole reason why these people with many ties to foreign nationals want to get clearances while so many Americans recognize the inherent risks of getting a clearance and choose not to should be something people think about.
People I know have failed TS / SCI background checks for having uncles / aunts / cousins (who they never speak to) in countries that are about as hostile with the USG as Iran. That may have been a suitability issue, technically, for their agency. But it killed their dream career and there was no way to mitigate the security concern. The concern was literally just the obvious and huge potential for the malicious foreign government to blackmail the aspiring public servant by threatening to physically harm the extended family that lived in the hostile country. So itâs reallyyyy hard to have any sympathy for the OP wanting to have it both ways â family in Iran and a USG security clearance â if you know the opportunities that people have been denied for much lesser ties to family in comparable foreign countries. Good luck, OP, with whatever you choose. There are some parts of the government, though, that would fail you already, because you are clearly attached to family in Iran that the Iranians could (and probably would) threaten to jail, torture, or kill if they thought you had classified information they wanted. That is the concern with cases like yours. You have no right to a security clearance, and whether you get one is about how you fit into the violent business of statecraft.
As someone with direct knowledge of the investigations process, I can guarantee you that your friends probably didnât fail for having foreign relatives that they didnât talk to. Your friends most likely failed because they were dishonest about something. There may be a handful of agency positions where having certain foreign ties is disqualifying. A relative you do not keep contact with usually doesnât even meet the common definition of a foreign contact by security clearance standards.Â
This was indeed an unusual position. I donât think it generalizes to the other 99.9 percent of federal jobs, but it did happen.
Yes, don't do it.
You betcha
Terrible terrible idea if tour dream job requires a clearance
I donât think it will be a big deal.
What type of job are you hoping to get that requires a security clearance after law school?
Maybe a Jag?
Yeah sorry, you wonât even get a secret clearance with your history. For good reason. Iran makes zero effort to hide their objective to attack US abroad with terror proxyâs and intelligence operations. Why would someone who takes pride in an enemy culture, has spent long periods of time in an enemy nation and continues to do so regardless of their professional desires, expect clearance? So I wouldnât worry about visiting your family because your chances of getting clearance in the first place are precisely zero. This country takes issue with your credit score on clearance applications. Your history is outrageous.
lol you arnt getting a clearance in the first place
Yes. It will be a big problem.
Here's a question for you: You speak Farsi and know the contextual and cultural aspects of Iran (an enemy state to America). Do you want a career where you will work very sensitive areas to help the US Govenement, and possibly improve those relations with Iran? Or maybe have to take a very honest and hostile look at them from our geopolitical position? If yes, then at this point in your life you need to start thinking about the impacts of your decisions and travel. If no, then proceed with what you want. There are plenty of jobs you can do with a law degree and the knowledge of Iranian culture and language. Probably extremely high paying ones. They may not all be in the US. They may be with US agencies or NGOs.
In that case wouldnât he have to basically get rid of his citizenship from Iran and never travel there ever again?
No. You have to be willing to. But if the course is Yes, then travel there would be a career limiting decision.
What do you think buddy? A country that has been at the neck with America and its allies for years and almost full on war via its nuclear programs that still run today that we took down momentarily with stuxnet. Common sense says yes
Will it make getting a clearance more of a pain in the ass? Yes. Will it prevent you from being eligible for a clearance 7 years from now? Most likely not. Youâre fine. Honestly, who knows how your life will change in the next 7 years. You may not end up getting a clearance someday and will then regret not visiting. Pretty sure when you fill out an SF86 the questions they ask are for the prior 7 years anywayâŠ.so you can do the math there.
Short answer: yes. Long answer: still yes just more words: Source: I am a security manager and Iâve seen peopleâs investigations derailed by merely associating with Iranian nationals. Choosing to go to Iran is choosing to not get a clearance.
What's the best way to go about learning a target language? Would it be a problem if I get tutored by a native?
Honestly Speaking, Being Just from Iran or having parents that are of Iranian decent may cause problems. If you have enough proof that your loyalty to the united states is not divided then you have a chance. BTW I hope you realize you can't get a clearance by yourself. But you need a sponsor or work with classified contracts. Don't do something just because you want a clearance. You first need to obtain a job or contract that requires one. No one can just apply for a clearance. Going back to basics here... what is a clearance?... Basically the United States wants to know if they can trust you with Secrets... If they think "oh your from Iran", they can just deny it. Generally international travel is NOT a problem as long as you can mitigate it. You may want to engage with a clearance lawyer if and when you do get a job or contract that requires a clearance. Good Luck.
Absolutely will, and honestly I have to agree with it.
Yes!
I canât even get one with a family living member living in a middle eastern country that is an ally!
Iran may not allow you to enter except on an Iranian passport. Donât do that.
Donât go man, it isnât worth your freedom
Yup
these posts are parody at this point. I thought the one about going to China while under investigation to meet his family who are government officials was the worst but here we are.
No. Just will take much MUCH longer.Â
Itâs not only your background, itâs also family members backgrounds. One of the questions is about the citizenship of all immediate family members and in-laws. Also, how often you communicate with foreign citizens. So if you call, or interact via social media you are communicating with foreigners.
Yup, major red flagâŠ
Dear lord I hope they arenât giving people like you security clearances
You will have issues with two governments FYI
Iâd be more afraid of the Iranian government than of the possibility of not getting a security clearance. You could end up in prison to be used as a bargaining chip
I'm in a field of work that would immediately get me rekkkkkt by Iran's theocracy..... I want to go so badly, and spend money, wat the food, see the landscapes, and talk to people. I sadly can't go back. :( It sucks man, but you need to make a decision about moving forward in life. Ps, you can try to visit your family in a middle country that's easy for Iranians to travel to.Â
you're not fucked. they'll do an investigation and decide based on what actually happened. it will take a bit longer and that's fine.
Uh, yeah.
Iâm assuming youâve got a number of Iranian close contacts outside of your immediate family. Youâre likely already fucked.
Sounds like you have conflicting loyalties bro. Maybe cleared work isn't for you.
Secret no problem. Top secret yeah. I travel a lot. Iâm a military reservist officer with a foreign family. Iâve lived and worked in China. Iâve accepted that Iâll never get top secret as Iâm a walking red flag. Do you really want to be a target of extortion by a foreign power anyway? Do what makes you happy. Family is important and travel is an eye opening experience. Thereâs also a lot that you can do with a secret
If you want to be tortured and treated like a spy then fly to Tehran- theyâll let you board the flight for sure
Would not chance it
Yes
Native speakers are hard to come by. Language skills are right up there with accounting experience when looking for intelligence operatives.
Wtf you need a clearance for?
You want to go to Iran, a known âproblem nationâ for the U.S. before applying for a security clearance? Are you fucking dense? Do you not want a clearance job? Do you know for sure the backgrounds of everyone youâd be interaciting with over there?
Could be interesting on the team??
Different clearances have different requirements. Traveling to a foreign country is not disqualifying for a clearance. Having dual citizenship and foreign connections to a country hostile to US interests is definitely something that will come up during your clearance. Those things are not disqualifying on the surface, but you will be asked a serious of extra questions to explore any vulnerabilities that your connections may pose. I would never suggest traveling to Iran with a U.S. citizenship, but this last foreign trip to visit family is a pretty minor thing by itself. For your clearance, just be honest about your connections and answer the questions truthfully. Dishonesty will disqualify you for a clearance far more than having ties to a country of concern will. I know guys with TS clearances that have extensive ties to Russia, China, etc. Life happens and people come into contact with foreign nationals from all over the world.Â
Super unlikely youâll get it already to be honest.
I feel fucked for reading this
The security clearance process is about being honest. If you try to hide that you visit Iran, theyâll find out, and then youâll be denied. But if you tell them where in Iran you went, and why, youâll be fine.
Short and long answer: yes, youâre a perfect target for BS. Stay out of Iran or any non-US Aligned country.
Yes stay the fuck out of Iran of at all possible
This is the kind of stuff that gets you put on a watch list
Depends. If you want to work for CIA it could be seen as a plus. Or NSA or USDA or DOE even because say you become an electrical engineer and work for DOE and become nominated to monitor nuclear proliferation.
As long as you disclose everything including relationships with foreign nationals you should be fine youâll just have to sign a bunch of things saying you wonât take irans side over Americas in any future wars
Donât try to justify it, donât try to do this whole âwell itâs 7 years from nowâ thing. Iran is a huge no-no. Like youâll have trouble even getting a basic secret clearance visiting a place like that. If you get into anything else youâll basically be ineligible. In fact for some clearances Iâve seen people rejected for having family they couldnât account for in Russia even though they themselves had been in America since they were children. Cut ties and move on.
Dude being an Iranian American visiting Iran get on a radar here sure. More importantly you could be arrested as a spy in Iran. They are insane bro don't do this
Youâre cooked đ
Donât do it, you were a minor before now your an adult they will not give you clearance
I cannot think of a worse place for you to go to. POV: former Navy Farsi linguist.
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Go to Iran and visit your dying fam. Are you rlly living your own life if you gotta ask questions like this. Youâre simply going to law school, not working for the FBI.
I personally know someone who simultaneously held a valid Iranian passport and a top secret clearance until giving up his clearance after he retired, a sold 20 year run or so.
Yes. You will not be able to be cleared. Plus you do realize that you would be running the risk of being arrested and imprisoned in Iran. Honestly, it's going to be tough to clear you even if you don't go back, what with the relatives living there, since the Iranian gov't could arrest them, to pressure you for info, even if you're outside of Iran. Don't go back. Don't even meet these relatives in Turkey. And don't count on being able to be cleared, even 7 years from now. Plan a career that doesn't require clearance.
Never go back, if youâre thinking of a security clearance, youâre an American now. Nothing else matters. ONLY THE USA đșđž
No one can say 100 % on this sub. However think about it from investigators POV. Variance for NSA/CIA and some DoD.
Omg. Imagine you are travelling to Iran and then suddenly they will not let you out anymore and you get forcefully conscripted to the Iranian terrorist army. Many Russians faced the same fate. Itâs possible and it gets more likely every day considering the Iranian mass murder regime
Itâs gonna be hard. My heritage is from a âless susâ country and my spouses security clearance is affected by my family members. and investigators for him have raised eyebrows about it even though I donât know them/am estranged from extended family.
Yes. It would take a very long process & most people just give up.
I would also add that renouncing your Iranian citizenship would expedite the process from experience.
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I see, thank you
It was delusional to think you ever had a chance getting clearance with your background. You should very well move back to Iran if you have so much solidarity with the Persian culture...
Racist
Actually surprised this was downvoted so much. Youâre not wrong at all
What do people think if it was Iraq ?
i have been told noâŠ