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Summary

The applicant, a 51-year-old U.S. Army veteran, sought a security clearance under Guideline B (Foreign Influence) and Guideline F (Financial Considerations). He has significant foreign contacts due to his Chinese wife and her family, and he is financially overextended with multiple delinquent student loans. The judge found that the applicant's foreign connections posed a risk of coercion and that his financial issues indicated poor judgment, leading to a denial of his security clearance.

Under Guideline B (Foreign Influence) and Guideline F (Financial Considerations), the Statement of Reasons alleged the following: Applicant is a native-born American citizen. His current wife, however, is a citizen of China. They have lived together since December 2014, and married on November 6, 2015. She is a lawful permanent resident of the United States, and is employed. Applicant provided no additional specific information about her (1.a). Applicant admitted that his mother-in-law is a citizen and resident of China. He stated he had in-person contact with his mother-in-law every two years, and weekly contact on Facetime over the internet. Applicant provided no additional specific information about her (1.b). Applicant admitted that his father-in-law is a citizen and resident of China. He has had in-person contact with his father-in-law one time, and monthly contact on Facetime over the internet. Applicant provided no additional specific information about him (1.c). Applicant admitted owing a past-due student loan in the amount of $15,997. Applicant stated in his Answer (Item 2) that he was making minimal payments on this debt. No further information was provided. This debt is not resolved (2.a). Applicant admitted owing a past-due student loan in the amount of $14,795. Applicant stated in his Answer (Item 2) that he was making minimal payments on this debt. No further information was provided. This debt is not resolved (2.b). Applicant admitted owing a past-due student loan in the amount of $12,794. Applicant stated in his Answer (Item 2) that he was making minimal payments on this debt. No further information was provided. This debt is not resolved (2.c). Applicant admitted owing a past-due student loan in the amount of $10,692. Applicant stated in his Answer (Item 2) that he was making minimal payments on this debt. No further information was provided. This debt is not resolved (2.d). Applicant admitted owing a past-due student loan in the amount of $6,302. Applicant stated in his Answer (Item 2) that he was making minimal payments on this debt. No further information was provided. This debt is not resolved (2.e). Applicant admitted owing a past-due student loan in the amount of $5,859. Applicant stated in his Answer (Item 2) that he was making minimal payments on this debt. No further information was provided. This debt is not resolved (2.f). Applicant admitted owing a past-due student loan in the amount of $5,516. Applicant stated in his Answer (Item 2) that he was making minimal payments on this debt. No further information was provided. This debt is not resolved (2.g). Applicant admitted owing a past-due student loan in the amount of $4,623. Applicant stated in his Answer (Item 2) that he was making minimal payments on this debt. No further information was provided. This debt is not resolved (2.h). Applicant admitted owing a past-due student loan in the amount of $1,210. Applicant stated in his Answer (Item 2) that he was making minimal payments on this debt. No further information was provided. This debt is not resolved (2.i). Applicant denied that he owed a pet hospital $375 for a collection account. He stated in his Answer (Item 2), “Paid and will dispute.” This debt continues to appear on his most recent credit report, which is dated more than a year after his Answer. The credit report does not provide any support for a dispute. (Item 6.) No further information was provided. This debt is not resolved (2.j). Applicant admitted that he owed a past-due medical bill in the amount of $370. He stated in his Answer (Item 2), “I admit and owe, will pay.” This debt continues to appear on his most recent credit report, which is dated more than a year after his Answer. (Item 6.) No further information was provided. This debt is not resolved (2.k). Applicant denied that he owed a past-due medical bill in the amount of $173. He stated in his Answer (Item 2) that he had paid the bill on November 16, 2015. This debt does not appear on his most recent credit report, which is dated more than a year after his Answer. (Item 6.) Given the state of the record, I find that the Government has not proved Applicant still owed this debt at the time the record closed. This allegation is found for Applicant (2.l). Applicant denied that he owed a past-due medical bill in the amount of $133. He stated in his Answer (Item 2) that he had paid the bill on November 16, 2015. This debt does not appear on his most recent credit report, which is dated more than a year after his Answer. (Item 6.) Given the state of the record, I find that the Government has not proved Applicant still owed this debt at the time the record closed. This allegation is found for Applicant (2.m). Applicant denied that he owed a past-due medical bill in the amount of $113. He stated in his Answer (Item 2) that he had paid the bill on November 18, 2015. This debt does not appear on his most recent credit report, which is dated more than a year after his Answer. (Item 6.) Given the state of the record, I find that the Government has not proved Applicant still owed this debt at the time the record closed. This allegation is found for Applicant (2.n). Applicant denied that he owed a past-due medical bill in the amount of $91. He stated in his Answer (Item 2) that he had paid the bill on November 18, 2015. This debt does not appear on his most recent credit report, which is dated more than a year after his Answer. (Item 6.) Given the state of the record, I find that the Government has not proved Applicant still owed this debt at the time the record closed. This allegation is found for Applicant (2.o). Applicant denied that he owed a past-due medical bill in the amount of $73. He stated in his Answer (Item 2) that he had paid the bill on November 16, 2015. This debt does not appear on his most recent credit report, which is dated more than a year after his Answer. (Item 6.) Given the state of the record, I find that the Government has not proved Applicant still owed this debt at the time the record closed. This allegation is found for Applicant (2.p).

The judge denied the clearance. The government raised disqualifying conditions AG ¶ 7(a), AG ¶ 7(b), AG ¶ 7(e), AG ¶ 19(a), AG ¶ 19(b), AG ¶ 19(c). The decision turned on the following: The applicant has significant foreign contacts with his Chinese wife and her family, raising concerns of divided allegiance and potential coercion; The applicant is financially overextended, with multiple delinquent debts, indicating a lack of reliability and trustworthiness.

Why the Applicant Was Denied

• The applicant has significant foreign contacts with his Chinese wife and her family, raising concerns of divided allegiance and potential coercion.
• The applicant is financially overextended, with multiple delinquent debts, indicating a lack of reliability and trustworthiness.

Conditions Referenced

Key Rule Quoted

“Any doubt concerning personnel being considered for national security eligibility will be resolved in favor of national security.”

Procedural Posture

• SOR issuedNov 21, 2016
• Answer filedJan 24, 2017Requested decision on written record.
• Hearing held—No hearing; case decided on written record.
• Decision dateSep 27, 2018

Cite For

• Foreign Influence Due to Family Ties Under Guideline B
• Financial Reliability Concerns Under Guideline F
• Impact of Foreign Contacts on Security Clearance Eligibility