I've been in processing for about 480 days for a top secret clearance position. At first I was so excited and honored to have made it so far in the process. These days, I feel less honored and more frustrated. This wait is excruciating.
The trouble is I applied when I really needed a change of pace. Since then, I've switched jobs and have been there over a year now. I love it and it's with a Fortune 500 corporation, but I'm a contract employee without benefits.
The longer the wait goes on the more I wonder if maybe I should just forget about it and try harder to get permanently hired on with my current employer... is the federal job worth the wait?

Did either of you previously hold a clearance?

Definitely do NOT wait on the govt to get back to you. They can eliminate the billet you applied to or just drop you from the process because of x,y,z reasons at anytime; and then BOOM just like that you are no longer in consideration. Best advice I can give is to pursue any and all opportunities that present themselves. If by some chance the Agency calls you...great. If not, well then you are already on your way to doing bigger and better things. GL buddy.

Took 5 months from packet submission to receive a call for scheduling the poly. Then another 2 months for the actual poly visit.

3 months from sending packet in to getting call to do the schedule processing appointments 3 months in advance and to clarify sf86 answers.

Here's the timeline (looked up for actual dates just now instead of just guesses I had before) I had with CIA before accepting my DIA offer.
Applied- July 2016
Interview - November 2016
CJO - December 2016
Polygraph - July 2017
BI Start - November 2017

By all indications BI/Adjudication is another 12-18 months from what I've heard. I really dont get what takes them so long. At the end of the day 90% of the people at CIA do stuff that's generally pretty mundane reporting on like the Nepalese economy.


DIA on the other hand was way quicker. Got my Interview/CJO in June 2017, polygraphed in August, BI started in September and CJO in January 2018. I dont get how one can take so long and the other be done in 6 months when it's for the exact same clearance level doing generally the exact same work.

My feeling working in the IC so far is the CIA has a massive superiority complex, I feel like the whole process is even indicative of that haha.

Edited by user Saturday, May 5, 2018 7:40:42 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Sounds about right. Two years to get a job there, they must have redundancies up the ying/yang. No chance that keeps pace with the attrition rate.

Here's my timeline:

Applied - 10/27/2016
General Aptitude & Writing test - 10/16
Information session - 12/16
CJO via telephone - 12/16
Received SF-86 packet - 12/16
Mailed out packet - 1/17
Medical/Poly/etc - 10/17
Interviewed with BI investigator - 11/17

I'm told when I call the hiring agency that "I am still in active processing." I have no idea what stage I am in. I don't know if this helps you in any way, JohnnyDeformed.

I get the same thing when I call about being actively processed. I have no idea if an investigation is still going on or if I am in adjudication. I can only get that I am still actively processing. I wish there was slightly more transparency with this process. I guess waiting for over 3 years is starting to itch at me. It'll be worth it in the end if it all comes to fruition.

If you love the current position, then you should definitely try to get a permanent hire. Most people hate their jobs.