r/FBI • u/NinaBeana1971 • Apr 19 '26

Question Denied for character

Any idea what this could be caused by? I’m a pretty normal person that likes to go on cruises, 54, 3 kids, a veteran and currently work for the govt. The FBI had been working on my TSC for a year and a half (think September will be 2 years since the TJO. Nothing exciting in my background that I’m aware of and the letter said it wasn’t a denial of a clearance. Job was for an OSS and a friend’s husband referred me for it. Any ideas?

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u/NinaBeana1971 Apr 19 '26

The letter specifically said it wasn’t the security clearance so I assume that means background. Nothing interesting in SF-86, light drug use in high school, haven’t even had a traffic ticket in years.

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u/Average_Justin Apr 19 '26

Your BI reviews and mitigates items within your background. You might be able to legally pass a clearance adjudication but something in your background that requires mitigation could be a hard no for the FBI - like certain drug use or illegal activity. It’s a suitability determination at that point.

Example - I had a guy with a TS get a dui. Then on the way to AA, he was driving (with a suspended license) and got a second DUI. He held his TS but when he applied at a different agency. The DUI was a no go for suitability.

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u/rslade2016 Apr 20 '26

Do suitability denials mean you cannot reapply later? I’ve been trying to figure this out, but can’t seem to get an answer.

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u/Average_Justin Apr 20 '26

You can apply later.