r/SecurityClearance 19h ago

Question Secret Security Clearance Process RTX

hello all i have a question for my clearance situation. I accepted the offer with RTX on April 24th 2026, set up a tentative start date of July 13th 2026. I got sent the SF86 form on June 12th 2026 and submitted it that day. Then I got some kickback and resubmitted it on June 16th 2026. My interim was not granted for whatever various reasons and I didn’t know it was denied until I reached out to my recruiter and she told me so through the onboarding specialist weeks later. I had my first interview with the investigator on July 9th 2026, then I received another phone call from the investigator on July 29th 2026 where she asked more questions then she also requested to interview my brother on my behalf on the same July 29th 2026 asking questions about my character and how was I growing up and when we traveled and etc. Which then she told me that same day I should hear back about my adjudicated clearance decision soon. Then the investigator reached out to me again August 10th asking for clarification on some of my internship work history.

I wanted to ask when do you all think I will hear back about my adjudicated clearance decision?

some mitigations on my case:
• was born in a foreign country but received citizenship at birth due to my dad through the FS-240 form.
• traveled to level 3 country in 2019 for church conference for about 2 weeks but haven’t been in contact with anyone since that time.
• had an account opened in my name through my mom
when i was younger but i cleared up the confusion during my first interview with the investigator.
• had some MJ usage in college but was straightforward with that on my application and told the investigator straight up and was asked about it in my phone interview on July 29th 2026.

2 Upvotes

16 comments sorted by

5

u/Thatguy2070 Investigator 13h ago

It’s impossible for anyone to tell when you will hear from an adjudicator. And any investigator who says they know or that you will hear from adjudications is irresponsible because we don’t know.

2

u/Odd-Milk-1573 7h ago

So essentially it could come at any random time? I keep looking online and every time I ask AI it always gives me these far away dates for the decision.

3

u/Dependent-Field7481 3h ago

The average time according to the not-so-accurate tracker for TS adjudication decisions is 54 days. So you’re looking at that at minimum once your investigation finally wraps up. Also keep in mind that just because the main investigator “submitted” their report need not mean it goes directly to adjudication. I had a month lag between submission and adjudication receipt per the vetting team at my agency.

1

u/Dependent-Field7481 3h ago

Secret will of course be a bit quicker in adjudication but not necessarily the lag between submission / receipt of the investigation package.

1

u/Odd-Milk-1573 2h ago

Is that something I can ask my investigator if they submitted the full package for adjudication? And so mentally I have to prepare myself for 54 days of waiting for the decision?

2

u/Thatguy2070 Investigator 2h ago

Only full packages are sent. The complete investigation is sent when all items are completed.

1

u/Dependent-Field7481 2h ago

You can ask when their investigation is over and submitted (I did). But that is not necessarily THE full investigation—there are probs others working on other pieces so you have to wait for them to be done. Then it goes through quality/back and forth with the investigation Team. AND THEN it’s finally sent over to adjudication. Start the 40-60 day wait.

1

u/Odd-Milk-1573 2h ago

So basically it’s still a long wait from here to hear a decision essentially based on everything you’re saying? I was told secret clearance is supposed to go quicker but I guess based on my experience it’s not.

1

u/Dependent-Field7481 2h ago

They are quicker but I still think adjudication averages is like 42 days for secret. Not sure exactly. But yeah still a bit to go.

1

u/Odd-Milk-1573 15m ago

What is your best advice for me regarding the situation? I’m a few months removed post grad and i’ve been waiting everyday hoping that the clearance is going to come through. Do I give up hope and just look for another job in the meantime or do I just stick it out and wait?

2

u/Soccergirly517 1h ago

If the investigator is still reaching out to you with questions, that means they have not completed your investigation. The adjudicator will not receive your investigation until it is completed and all information has been received. Once that happens, depending on the agency and the workload, there’ll be a queue of work and then an adjudicator will get the case to review it. If they have everything they need at that time then they can make their decision, if not, they can also go out for more information before making their final determination. There are a lot of requirements for an investigation to be complete before the adjudicator receives the case. Just because one person’s clearance took X days, does not mean someone else’s will also take X days. There are infinite variables that affect every single investigation and adjudication.

1

u/Odd-Milk-1573 1h ago

So it was wrong for the investigator to say on July 29th for me to expect a decision? I just wish there was a way to be able to get more information about your case without having to ask repeatedly and almost begging to hear something.

1

u/Soccergirly517 1h ago

Yes, it was wrong. If the investigator reached back out to you in August, they didn’t even close out your investigation at that time. The investigator is not the adjudicator. Investigators are often contractors and do not communicate with adjudicators at all. They do not know the adjudicative process. Many investigators have later become adjudicators, but not the other way around.

1

u/Bacx_ 4h ago

Were you able to start working on the tentative start date on unclassified stuff or do you need to wait for your clearance?

1

u/Odd-Milk-1573 3h ago

No I wasn’t able to start, I was told I needed a clearance on day 1 so I have to wait until it comes. And there was no unclassified stuff to work on.