Why You Should Hire an Attorney for DCSA AVS Interrogatories & Supplemental Information Requests (SIRs)

When the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency’s Adjudication & Vetting Services (AVS) flags a concern in your clearance case, you may receive written interrogatories or a Supplemental Information Request (SIR). These aren’t routine emails or memorandums—they’re signals that adjudicators need more facts before deciding your eligibility. Well-crafted responses can resolve issues early; weak answers can trigger a Statement of Reasons (SOR) and escalate your case. DCSA

Quick definitions (and why they matter)

• DCSA AVS: The DoD office that decides clearance eligibility for most non-intel DoD personnel and industry under the NISP. Their determinations hinge on the evidence you submit. DCSA

• SIR (Supplemental Information Request): A formal request—delivered through DISS to your Security/Facility Security Office—for documents, clarifications, or actions by a set date. Delays can affect timeliness and adjudicative outcomes. DCSA

• Interrogatories: Written questions seeking sworn, detailed answers (often used in industry cases). DCSA (previously CAS, now AVS) issues them; your answers can make or break the case long before any hearing. Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals

Why precision counts: A thorough, strategic response can resolve concerns and avoid a hearing; a poor one can strengthen the government’s case.

What an attorney changes—concretely

1. Issue-spotting under SEAD-4
   A security-clearance attorney maps your facts to the National Security Adjudicative Guidelines, identifying what to concede, what to explain, and what to document—without creating new concerns. DCSA

2. Deadline control & DISS workflow
   SIRs have specific steps (acknowledgment, uploads, comment box) and due dates. Counsel helps your FSO/SM meet DISS requirements and submit a complete, organized record on time. DCSA

3. Records & exhibits that actually mitigate
   Beyond answering questions, you can submit positive “whole-person” evidence (e.g., compliance plans, repayment proof, supervisor letters). Counsel curates proof that aligns with adjudicative language. ClearanceJobs

4. Consistency with your SF-86 and past statements
   Misstatements—even minor—hurt credibility. An attorney reconciles answers across your eApp, interviews, incident reports, and prior submissions.

5. Positioning for next steps (if needed)
   If AVS later issues an SOR, you may respond in writing and can request a Security Review Proceeding (SRP) personal appearance before a senior AVS adjudicator—before any final denial/revocation. Counsel prepares the record so you’re ready for that pivot. DCSA

Note: During AVS personal appearances, your attorney’s speaking role is limited and you must present your own case—another reason to get help crafting the written record early. ClearanceJobs

Common DIY pitfalls (that we fix)

• Missing or late responses to SIR/interrogatories. (AVS warns timeliness affects determinations.) DCSA

• Over-admitting facts or speculating beyond the question asked.

• Submitting unsupported claims (e.g., “I paid it off”) with no documentation.

• Ignoring the “whole-person” concept—failing to include rehabilitation, compliance, or performance evidence. DCSA

• Inconsistencies with the SF-86, BI interviews, or credit reports that undermine credibility

How we structure a winning response

1. Timeline & tasking: We calendar AVS deadlines, draft your sworn statement, and coordinate FSO/SM submissions through DISS. DCSA
2. Evidence plan: We gather pay records, tax transcripts, treatment/compliance notes, repayment agreements, supervisor letters, and training proofs tied to the exact concerns.
3. Guideline-by-guideline narrative: Every answer is mapped to SEAD-4 mitigation factors (e.g., voluntary corrective action, counseling, changed circumstances). DCSA
4. Quality control: We cross-check dates/amounts across SF-86, interviews, credit files, and incident reports to prevent contradictions.
5. Escalation posture: If an SOR arrives anyway, your file is already primed for SRP with AVS and, if necessary, DOHA review/appeal pathways. DCSA

FAQ

Q:What’s the difference between a SIR and interrogatories?
A: A SIR is a DISS-based task to your security office with instructions and a due date; interrogatories are written questions seeking sworn, detailed answers from you (commonly seen in industry cases). Both feed the same AVS decision. DCSA

Q: Can strong interrogatory responses avoid a hearing?
A: Yes. Thorough, well-documented answers can resolve concerns without a DOHA hearing; weak answers may push your case toward SOR and litigation.

Q: If I get an SOR, is it game over?
A: No. You can submit a written response and may request a virtual personal appearance with AVS under the SRP before any final decision. After a denial/revocation, you can appeal via your component PSAB or request a DOHA hearing (industry). DCSA

Take action now & call Matthew Thomas Law, PLLC

1. Don’t ignore the deadline on your SIR/interrogatories. DCSA

2. Collect documents that prove remediation/compliance (payments, counseling, policies, supervisor statements).

3. Get legal help early to shape the record before AVS makes its call—and before any SOR, SRP, or DOHA stage.