How long does SC clearance take

**nucastle** · 8 June 2007, 18:06

16 weeks apparently.

Mine took about that.

**malvolio** · 8 June 2007, 19:27

Cabinet Office think 30 days. Snag is, that is for an internal, full time Civil Servant. If you are coming through an external prime contractor or agency, you have to join the back of the queue to be submitted to DVA - that's where the delays are coming from, not DVA themselves.

Incidentally, how many of you know that the rules have changed? You can't be refused an interview becuase you haven't got clearance, and you can't be refused a role unless the job will be finished before clearance can be granted (i.e. 30 days for SC, according to the Cabinet Office. Yeah, right). Indications so far are that absolutely nobody is taking any notice...

**Number9** · 8 June 2007, 19:39

7 working days

Mine took 7 working days and I was allowed on-site beforehand as long as I didn't access the Secret Network, only allowed on the Restricted Network.

If you get the role then it will happen quite quickly, its getting the role first, most companies just want to hire SC already...........but if they need they can get around it.

**barely_pointless** · 9 June 2007, 01:27

mine took 3 months about, and before that I had to be escorted everywhere which was fun considering I was travelling on a Republic of Ireland passport!!

**GreenerGrass** · 9 June 2007, 08:39

Originally posted by malvolio

Indications so far are that absolutely nobody is taking any notice...

Hmm, got an email about a contract needing SC last week something like "due to the urgent nature and duration of 3 months SC clearance highly preferable".

I can't see any government contract ever lasting just 3 months though...

**Will808** · 9 June 2007, 08:49

Mine took 6 weeks, but I was also allowed on site with "before clearance" status as long as I was escorted.

**Epiphone** · 9 June 2007, 10:39

Originally posted by malvolio

Incidentally, how many of you know that the rules have changed? You can't be refused an interview becuase you haven't got clearance, and you can't be refused a role unless the job will be finished before clearance can be granted (i.e. 30 days for SC, according to the Cabinet Office. Yeah, right). Indications so far are that absolutely nobody is taking any notice...

Yep, hence the agencies adverts now saying "have or willing to undergo..." I have noticed a lot of ads demanding you already be cleared recently though. Should they be reported for that or is it a waste of time?

**threaded** · 9 June 2007, 11:24

Originally posted by Epiphone

... I have noticed a lot of ads demanding you already be cleared recently though. Should they be reported for that or is it a waste of time?

I think that those agencies don't actually have any jobs. They are just getting names to sell on to the agencies that do have the jobs. That is why they don't know how to word their adverts, because they are not on the list to be told about these changes.

If that makes sense to you?

**scooterscot** · 9 June 2007, 12:12

Yeah 3 months is about right, however if the client likes you enough you should be able to get a waiver under the supervision of a staff member, while you wait.

How long does SC clearance take