It's a real shame that the FBI places so much emphasis on the polygraph while ignoring more reliable selection criteria such as solid background investigation information and honorable military service. If I had a guess I would say the examiner was biased against you because of your ethnicity. I'm not for certain, but I think most FBI applicants fail due to the drug questions and employees who fail have trouble with security issues? Could I ask what the relevant security questions were on your test? It seems very unfair that some applicants are offered retests while others are not. However, I guess that doesn't matter so much because the retests are  not really second chances since no one ever passes them. The agency is just trying give the appearance of fairness by offering an appeal process, which some  people are told about while others are not. There doesn't seem to be a whole lot that's fair in the FBI application process. Personally, I wish I had steered clear of it. If I'd known more about the polygraph before I took it, I would have.      

Polyfool

Yes, I did ask for a retest, which was denied by the letter that came back a week later.  I sent my letter requesting a retest not to the person who sent me the original “not within acceptable parameters” letter, but to the person recommended to me by my former applicant coordinator.  My examiner did tell me, as a part of the posttest interrogation, that he could not recommend I be processed further.   

By the way, my examiner was the same FBI polygraph examiner, who according to George recently quit polygraphing because he realized it was a sham.  I did not make any admissions not did I sign anything.  My “not within acceptable parameters” letter did not say anything regarding an appeal process. It pretty much said that the conditional offer is hereby rescinded.

The FBI contacted all my references, the contacted all my old roommates, prior employers, etc.. I am not sure if they conducted a credit check because a recent inquiry into my credit did not disclose a government credit check.   

According to the examiner, I failed on security issues.  This is a very easy claim for the examiner to make since I was a Middle Eastern- American.  I get the feeling that this is the real reason I failed the polygraph.  The FBI pretty much ignored all my years of honorable service in the U.S. Navy, and labeled me as a security risk. 

polyfool wrote on May 1^st, 2005 at 2:47am:


Although I was not granted a "re-test," my appeal letters were included in my FBI file.

KSLawDog:

Did you send your appeal letter to the person who signed your original "not within acceptable parameters" letter? That's who should have received your letter and the person who can get you a retest through the proper channels. Also, did you specifically ask for a second test? A FBI employee told me that the agency receives appeal letters all the time, but if the applicant doesn't ask specifically for a retest, he/she will not be offered one. Three months seems like a long time before receiving notification that you failed--no wonder your background was already in progress. Did your examiner tell you after the test that he/she was going to fail you? Did you request your FBI file? If you received a response to your appeal letter within a week, I'd say you weren't even considered for a retest. The "no other avenues" letter for me was a turn down for a third test, which stated, FBI hiring policies don't allow additional testing. You didn't make any disqualifying admissions during the poly, right? Did your "not within acceptable parameters" letter say anything else besides "we know this decision will be disappointing to you, but trust that you understand the FBI's position in this matter." Also, do you know how far the FBI got with your background check? Was everyone from your past contacted? Could anyone have said anything negative about you? Was your examiner brutal? Didn't you say the examiner failed you on security issues, not drugs? I wonder why your retest rejection letter didn't say your appeal letter would be included in your file AND why it wasn't even signed?  Sorry for all the questions, I'm just trying to understand why some applicants are granted retests, while others are not.    


Does anyone know if appeal letters are included in the files of FBI applicants who are not granted retests?

PolyFool:

First I may add that I did not receive the original "not within acceptable parameters" letter for roughly three months after I failed the polygraph.  Also it may be of some value for people out there to know that after my failed poly the FBI went ahead and conducted my background check.  They talked to my references, college professors, employers etc... (I know this because all my references contact me as the FBI contacted them).   

Apparently, the FBI background investigators did not know that I had not passed the poly (I mention this as an example of the lack of communication and organization within the FBI).   

To answer your questions:

After receiving the "not within acceptable parameters letter" I sent a letter to the FBI HQ in D.C.  In the letter I politely yet firmly denied being untruthful on the polygraph exam.  I received a reply within a week (which is abnormally fast for the FBI, and only leads me to believe that they did not even bother considering my claims nor did they look into the matter).   

The second letter did not mention anything about me trying to beat the test (which at the time I did not know how to do).  Nor did it mention anything about deception.  It was very similar to what you received in that it said "we appreciate your interest to work for the FBI, but there are not further avenues for you to pursue."  The letter did however; say that "I do not have the authority to grant you a retest” The letter was also unsigned. 

The letter did not say anything about it being added to my FBI file.   

I am considering writing to the Director of the FBI, maybe he has authority, but again given my language skills even if were employed it would be in counterterrorism and in no way would I want to be fired in 5 years because of random polygraph tests.

KSLawDog:

What did you write in your retest request letter and what did the letter denying your request say? Did it say anything about trying to beat the test? Did it say there are no further avenues for you to pursue to gain employment with the FBI? Did it make any reference to indicate that your letter denying the accusations would be included in your FBI file? I'm just curious as to the criteria used to determine who gets a retest and who doesn't? My "no further avenues" letter was more in line with the first "not within acceptable parameters" letter--"we trust that you understand the FBI's position in this matter."   

It seems there's no real rhyme or reason when it comes to polygraph interrogations. Some polygraphers even accuse examinees of using  countermeasures and failing or having trouble with the test at the same time. The entire polygraph screening process is complete nonsense. 

I didn't realize counterterrorism positions involved random polygraphs instead of the usual every five years background update. Boy, what a real treat for those folks. I'm jealous--ha!

I applied for an FBI SA position in March of 2003.  After nearly 1 1/2 years of testing and interviewing I was administered a polygraph.  The polygraph took place in a small room with a see through mirror.  The chair resembled something close to an electric chair.  I was nervous throughout the entire process, however, was assured by the polygrapher that the nervousness would not have an impact on the test results.  The polygrapher conducted his pre exam interview, and tried to make me feel as comfortable as possible.  Next, he hooked up to the machine and began the test.  The fist half of the test was on drug use and criminal activity.  The second half dealt with national security issues.   

After the test the polygrapher left the room and came back.  To the best of my ability, his exact words were "when I see results such as this, I am convinced that the test has been manipulated” I denied manipulating the test because at the time I knew nothing of countermeasures or polygraphy.  He told me that he would have to fax my chart to HQ in D.C. and they will make the final decision.   

A few hours later I received a call from my FBI recruiter.  She notified me that I had failed the test because of deception detected on the national security questions.  This came as a surprise because during the post test interrogation there was no mention of deception being detected.  Instead, the entire post test interrogation involved the examiner attempting to force me to admit that I had been trying to beat the test.  Something did not make sense!!!

To make matters more interesting, before my polygraph exam I was greeted by another polygrapher other than the one who administered the test.  The other polygrapher informed me that the new polygrapher was new and they were trying out some "new" equipment.  Furthermore, he told me that he would personally be supervising the new polygrapher to ensure a proper test.   

I doubt, my test was supervised, unless the supervising polygrapher was watching through the see through mirror for the entire two hours.  I did not see the supervising polygrapher at all during any phase of my test.

It is perhaps a bit odd, that the FBI will ignore all of years of honorable military service and accept the recommendation of a novice polygrapher in questioning my loyalty to the U.S.!!!

I wrote a letter to the FBI laboratory, and requested a retest.  I received a very sketchy and somewhat rude reply which more or less indicated that my application was terminated and there were no other avenues to pursue.