O (No) Canada: C-3 Canadian Citizenship and Security Clearance Eligibility
On December 15th, 2025, many Americans awoke to find themselves suddenly Canadian—myself included. Bill C-3 (An Act to Amend the Citizenship Act) extended Canadian citizenship…
Keeping Your Security Clearance After an Arrest
Things are not always black and white in security adjudications. A prime example is the question of whether a Guideline J, Criminal Conduct concern could follow any arrest, even…
Uncertainty Remains: Rescheduling Hype & Medical Marijuana
Marijuana reclassification was a source of hype well before President Trump issued the executive order “Increasing Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research” on December 18,…
Risky Business: Marijuana-Related Investments & Business Ventures Could Jeopardize Your Security Clearance
Despite widespread legalization at the state level, marijuana is currently classified as an illegal Schedule I substance under federal law. It is recommended that individuals…
Schedule III Cannabis Won’t Change Much for Security Clearance Holders
Making cannabis a Schedule III drug is unlikely to change things for most security clearance holders and applicants any time soon. President Trump directed the attorney general to…
The Hazards of Being a Global Citizen and Doing Classified Work: Guideline B, Foreign Influence
In the context of eligibility for access to classified information, Guideline B, Foreign Influence is one (1) of the thirteen (13) Adjudicative criteria established by Security…
What Is Guideline A? How Allegiance to the United States Affects Security Clearances
While not a commonly seen reason for security clearance revocation or denial, certain situations can trigger concerns under Guideline A: Allegiance to the United States. What is…
Procedural Points #6 | CIA – Applicants Before Office of Security, Appeals (Part II)
Part II: Personal Appearance and Appeal For more information on CIA SOR and requesting review, see Part I: Statement of Reasons and Response. Examine Your Investigative File and…
Procedural Points #6 | CIA – Applicants Before Office of Security, Appeals (Part I)
Part I: Statement of Reasons and Response For the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), as with most federal agencies, the talent acquisition process slows to a crawl at the vendor…
Play Safe: Understanding Security Risks in Online Sports Betting
In 2018, a SCOTUS decision (Murphy v. National Collegiate Athletic Association) enabled states to govern sports gambling for themselves. Many opted in. This, combined with the…