Background Checks

The Authorized Signers will be notified once the Security Threat Assessment and Criminal History Records Check clearance are received for each of their applicants. Applicants have 30 days from the notification date to complete all training and have the badge printed. Airline-sponsored applicants will be notified of this clearance through the airline. Failure to complete the process within this time frame will cause the application to expire, resulting in the employee needing to reapply and start the process over with additional fees. Reminder: applicants cannot be issued a badge until the background checks have been cleared.

Applicants must bring in two (2) forms the following Documents / ID required to satisfy the Criminal History Records Check (CHRC):

One (1) MUST be a valid, non-expired, government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, military ID, or passport. If applying for airport driving privileges, you must present a state-issued unexpired driver's license issued within the United States.
A second identity form includes any of the above, social security card or birth certificate.
Non-U.S. citizen applicants MUST present their employment authorization documentation.
Naturalized U.S. citizens need to provide a U.S. passport/cert of Nationality or birth abroad certificate
An Alien Registration Card must be presented for verification, and a Non-Immigrant Visa (U.S. issued, found inside passport) must be presented if applicable. Refer to the requirements on the STA Application form.

NOTE: We do NOT accept documents that are ripped, frayed, taped, laminated, or faded, and TSA now requires applicants to provide a social security number.

Criminal History Records Check (CHRC), TSA Privacy Act and Acknowledgements

First-time applicants are required to clear an electronic, fingerprint-based criminal history records check from our office before a badge can be issued. Both initial and renewal applicants are required to read, acknowledge and sign the electronic application, which includes the CHRC form and the TSA Privacy Act, Social Security Number Authorization, Screening Acknowledgment and Security Responsibility. The CHRC form lists the offenses (based on conviction) that disqualify applicants from receiving a badge and you can read the Privacy Act and Acknowledgments prior to coming to the Badging Office.

Security Threat Assessment (STA)

The security badging process requires the applicant to provide personal identifying information (PII). To satisfy the TSA's Security Threat Assessment (STA), TSA requires all applicants to provide a social security number and all aliases. Lack of detail or information on the part of the applicant affects the badging process and may result in badging delays.

TSA provided additional guidance regarding the use of the Alias/AKA field. TSA has observed that regulated stakeholders may not be providing ALL previously used names for applicants submitted to TSA for vetting purposes. It is imperative that badging offices ask all applicants if they have ever used any other names, both first names and last names, and record these additional names on the application to ensure complete and accurate vetting occurs for all applicants. It is common for names to change because of naturalization to the US, marriage, re-marriage, etc.; therefore, applicants should not think there is a negative connotation associated with providing an alias or AKA name on the STA application.

Additional names must be listed on STA applications to cover the following scenarios.

Maiden names
Birth name that was changed due to naturalization or other reasons
Legal name changes
Extended last names
Spelling variations
Any additional names reflected on I-9 documents

If the badging office fails to list and submit an applicant’s previously used name(s) or the applicant fails to disclose, and TSA determines that other names do in fact exist for the submitted applicant, TSA will use the current corrections process to reject the application and return the case to the badging office.