US citizen linguists with TOP SECRET clearance Thread poster: Marina Steinbach
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Marina Steinbach
United States
Local time: 08:53
Member (2011)
English to German
I have just seen a ProZ job offer requiring a 'US citizen linguist with a top secret clearance'.
Do share your knowledge, if you should have gathered any experience regarding this security level (e.g. where can I obtain such a clearance?).
| | | | LEXpert 
United States
Local time: 07:53
Member (2008)
Croatian to English
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| Need to already have it | May 28, 2012 |
In general, you are granted security clearance through a sponsoring agency that hires you for a job requiring the clearance. This is typically a government agency or the military, before you are hired by them initially or assume a new position requiring clearance. Some private-sector jobs for work on government contracts where sensitive material is handled also require clearance, but AFAIK it would be very, very unusual for a private employer to sponsor someone for a TS-level clearance. Due to t... See more In general, you are granted security clearance through a sponsoring agency that hires you for a job requiring the clearance. This is typically a government agency or the military, before you are hired by them initially or assume a new position requiring clearance. Some private-sector jobs for work on government contracts where sensitive material is handled also require clearance, but AFAIK it would be very, very unusual for a private employer to sponsor someone for a TS-level clearance. Due to the time and cost involved, they look for people with a current clearance (e.g., from prior government or military work).
There is no way to simply go out and get a clearance on your own, sorry! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Marina Steinbach
United States
Local time: 08:53
Member (2011)
English to German
TOPIC STARTER
Rudolf Vedo CT wrote:
There is no way to simply go out and get a clearance on your own, sorry!
Oh well, I just thought that this might me a new way to find well-paying clients...
| | | | Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 05:53
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam | Government jobs hardly ever pay well | May 28, 2012 |
Marina Steinbach wrote: Rudolf Vedo CT wrote:
There is no way to simply go out and get a clearance on your own, sorry! Oh well, I just thought that this might me a new way to find well-paying clients...
It is really not worth the hassle. Government contracts are passed on from one supplier to the other, there is not much budget left for the translator. The last time I was offered a job that required the handling of confidential data, it also came with a fixed rate of 2 cents/word, haha...
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Marina Steinbach
United States
Local time: 08:53
Member (2011)
English to German
TOPIC STARTER | My father... | May 28, 2012 |
Nicole Schnell wrote:
It is really not worth the hassle. Government contracts are passed on from one supplier to the other, there is not much budget left for (...)
My father used to work for the military.
[Edited at 2012-05-28 14:00 GMT]
| | | | Woodstock (X)
Germany
Local time: 14:53
German to English
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| Lots of information readily available | May 28, 2012 |
Just Google "top security clearance", if you are interested. There are various types, depending on the department. My father had to have one when he worked at NSA as a linguist. I remember being paid a visit by some government official during the vetting process and being asked a bunch of questions about me and my German spouse, etc. A bit invasive, and it was quite a long time ago. My father wasn't allowed to talk about his job, so I never knew what he did there. He was a talented linguist with... See more Just Google "top security clearance", if you are interested. There are various types, depending on the department. My father had to have one when he worked at NSA as a linguist. I remember being paid a visit by some government official during the vetting process and being asked a bunch of questions about me and my German spouse, etc. A bit invasive, and it was quite a long time ago. My father wasn't allowed to talk about his job, so I never knew what he did there. He was a talented linguist with a command of numerous languages.
Here's one very general source of info:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5020779_secret-security-clearance.html ▲ Collapse
| | | | Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 06:53
Dutch to English
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| Work in an office | May 28, 2012 |
Sometimes top security clearance also means that you have to go to a government office to work, so that they can keep control of the documents at all times.
| | | | | Dual citizenship | May 28, 2012 |
I was approached by an agency who does this sort of thing and after asking my ex-military brother about it, found out that I would never get top secret clearance due to having dual citizenship. Makes sense.
[Edited at 2012-05-28 19:35 GMT]
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Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 05:53
English to German
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In memoriam | Government contracts | May 28, 2012 |
Marina Steinbach wrote: Nicole Schnell wrote:
It is really not worth the hassle. Government contracts are passed on from one supplier to the other, there is not much budget left for (...) My father used to work for the military. [Edited at 2012-05-28 14:00 GMT]
To be in the military and handling government contracts are not the same. I noticed two interesting aspects regarding government contracts:
- The entity that takes on a government contract apparently is never the same entity that actually does the work. All kinds of agencies in-between take their nice cuts and there is hardly anything left for the entity who does the actual work - the translator.
- I am bombarded with interesting agency offers in regard to "helping me to obtain government contracts".
"So, what exactly do you do?"
"We help you setting up the contracts and help with the paperwork."
"That's nice. How much?"
"Only $7,500 per contract."
Great. I offer linguistic services, rather than remodeling the Pentagon.
On a related note I'd like to mention that I have done translations for the NATO or the FBI or the BKA and their transatlantic data exchange containing information that IMHO should never, ever have been passed on via regular, non-encrypted email.
| | | | Marina Steinbach
United States
Local time: 08:53
Member (2011)
English to German
TOPIC STARTER | I never applied for the German citizenship. | May 29, 2012 |
Daina Jauntirans wrote:
(...) found out that I would never get top secret clearance due to having dual citizenship (...)
I never applied for the German citizenship.
| | | | Marina Steinbach
United States
Local time: 08:53
Member (2011)
English to German
TOPIC STARTER | Do they have a top secret clearance? | May 29, 2012 |
Nicole Schnell wrote:
"Only $7,500 per contract."
That's a pretty nice sum that they cash. Do those people/companies have a top secret clearance?
| | | | Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 05:53
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam | One would hope they do. | May 29, 2012 |
Marina Steinbach wrote: Nicole Schnell wrote:
"Only $7,500 per contract." That's a pretty nice sum that they cash. Do those people/companies have a top secret clearance?
Those agencies however are not the ones that provide any projects, they are just ever so helpful with the paperwork involved. 
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| not accurate | Aug 22, 2016 |
Daina Jauntirans wrote:
found out that I would never get top secret clearance due to having dual citizenship.
[Edited at 2012-05-28 19:35 GMT]
I don't think this is accurate information. According to 32 CFR 154.16(c)(1):
"Only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance."
32 CFR 154.16(f) says:
"Persons claiming both U.S. and foreign citizenship shall be processed under § 154.16(b)" which are "Investigative requirements for clearance" that apply to anyone, i.e. no mention of dual-citizens. The mentioned Appendix I also makes no statements about dual-cititzenship. I think you are very well eligible for security clearance.
In fact, working for an LSP, we have a lot of dual-citizens who are granted SC for certain cases.
Cheers
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