[peepee1]

Just to chime in here... all points have been nailed... pretty much. My background is Intel (AF) and I was our security manager(handled folks clearances).

1. Folks who have lived outside the US and such. It will simply take longer. I had a friend who was born in Turkey. It took him nearly 3 years to have his TS completed. The more you move, the more places youve lived, the more the folks you listed who tell the investigator your know, ie: "Who all youve hung out with", the longer it will take. He/She will speak with all of them... and then some no matter how long it takes.

2. Your dishonest, not punctual/accurate with information or all gaps of time arent connected. They will come back to you and ask you to clarify and then reattack the investigation.

You get a Secret clearance, an open investigation (or interim clearance) gives you access to information on a "need to know basis" (ie: school etc.

The same thing applies with TS/SCI information. The only thing you cannot do is access collateral information facilities or SCI facilities (SCIFs and such) without being escorted by someone with a complete and final TS/SCI clearance.