The Student Room Group
Referees not replying or clearing periods of time that you have spent abroad are the usual causes of delay. The TG course has nothing to do with it, the clearance is individual to your personal history. A clearance may take longer if you have, for example, lived abroad at all, travelled to any 'strange' places on holiday, have had any brushes with the law, or if simply anyone along the line doesn't bother to answer the questions that the clearance people ask.

Seems like the timings are quite tight, if you have 10 June as an entry date, they probably simply aren't getting the answers they need back fast enough.
tell me about it, timing couldn't be tighter. The AFCO had to put my interview back 3 times because they were expecting the clearance and it hadn't been received. They decided to go ahead with the interview despite this.They have my references, only been abroad on holiday and never been convicted so im a little confused really. All i can do is hope it doesn't affect my start date, be gutted if it did. Thanks for the reply :wink:
Reply 3
i provisional join date was 17 th january , now my clearence didnt come back in time and was moved to june 13th , but in a way it was best for me as im stronger physically and mentally after having a year of work and not going straight form school.
The SC is conducted by the DeFence Vetting Agency and comprises of a few factors. They will look at your credit worthiness, Check of identity, integrity and deliquency issues and finally the Counter Terrorist Check. The final stage takes the most time (the average, providing there are no significant issues is 120 days). The DVA and Rec Servs have been under remarkable strain due to increased departmental workload and other significant factors. The work both agencies do quite fracnkly is staggering and they work every hour to ensure the SC are completed in a timely fashion. However, this increased strain does put a bottle neck on the system so ultimately slowsthe process. An avenue that Rec Servs has and depending upon authority, they can issue a 308A. This is a certificate of understanding that the candidate completes acknowledging that the RAF is managing Risk by letting them in with only the basic clearance. You sign on the understanding that if the SC is retruned with a significant find then you could/would be dismissed from service.

Individual delays could be due to late submission of the Mod Form 1109, refs don't effect this as they are part of the BC and this is conducted at the AFCO (Identity, proof of address and Integrity - satisfactory Ref). Celtic surnames, overseas connections, scottish candidates (due to Disclosure Scotland) and Irish Candidates can also experience delays. Any undisclosed deliquency or descrepency can also effect this - compared with the Form 493ROA1974. The AFCO will be chasing this constantly so don't worry. I hope this is useful and remember I'm 'Here to help'
Reply 5
PArdon me for being a little silly but 10th of June is a Sunday aint that a bit of an odd date for going in - halton always start on a wednesday and wudnt though officers etc wud go on a sunday
Thats really a lot of knowledge you have and it does give me more understanding to the whole secrity clearance process. Thanks...

I'm joining the RAF regiment and therefore training is at RAF Honington, I thought it was a bit strange too, but thats what its got on my Provisional start form.

Thanks again for all replies....
I'm glad you found the information useful, Its not just a coincidence I how all this stuff :biggrin: Honington Attest on a Sunday (with recruits further a field traveling down Saturday for an overnight stop) Halton attest on the Wednesday (with recruits further a field traveling down Tuesday for an overnight stop). Good luck and remember I'm 'Here to help'
Reply 8
Have you tried contacting the DVA yourself? They are pretty helpful...

Was in a similar position to you for IOT, was put back an intake as the clearance wasnt going to come through in time. Was getting concerned that I was going to miss the second intake so contacted the DVA, who explained that they had sent it back to the RAF in time for the first intake... :rolleyes:


Look on the brightside, it'll give you more time to practice your running etc before the regiment get their hands on you.
Reply 9
I would reiterte the baove. The DVA are generally pretty helpful at telling you what is going on with your case.

Obviosly they aren't going to tell you if they think you are a spy, but they will tell you if they are waiting for a reference from someone etc.

Give them a call.
Reply 10
Sounds like a silly question but -

I can see how they check identity, credit and delinquency issues.

How the heck do they check your 'integrity'?

I take it that this is basically the references part, and also making sure that you do not associate with known criminals?
Reply 11
hi I have a provisional date for the 25th july... im still waiting for my clearence check thingy to be cleared until i can go for final interview... which really is leaving me with about 5 weeks... and thats if i find out before next wednesday (which doesn't look likely!) does anyone have a contact number for the dva? My family have arranged a massive leaving party with all my friends and family etc... will look pretty silly if I haven't even got in for this date haha! is anyone else leaving for Halton for the 25th july? Really excited people! just hope im not the only girl!
Mark9
Sounds like a silly question but -

I can see how they check identity, credit and delinquency issues.

How the heck do they check your 'integrity'?

I take it that this is basically the references part, and also making sure that you do not associate with known criminals?


Indeed Mark, as far as the Basic Clearance is concerned IAW JSP440 the integrity check is confirmed by the references. Usually a past employer but failing this an educational reference. The SI will also afford the interviewer to possibly assess integrity.