Welcome to the Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (e-QIP) system. e-QIP is a web-based automated system that was designed to facilitate the processing of standard investigative forms used when conducting background investigations. e-QIP allows the user to electronically enter, update and transmit their personal investigative data over a secure internet connect to a requesting agency. The requesting agency will review and approve the investigative data.
e-QIP is compatible with most well known browsers including Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox and Apple Safari. The following settings should serve as a guide for configuring your browser.
If using Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), you must have version 6.0 or higher. Internet Options for IE should be set as follows:
To enable TLS 1.0 in IE, on the top menu:
If using Mozilla Firefox (or Netscape), you must have version 0.9.4 or newer. Although security settings may be preset to default to appropriate settings, you should verify.
If using Safari, you must have Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher version or Firefox 2.0.0.12 - Mac version web browser at the "User Agent" category or higher for Firefox. Use the following instructions to configure your Safari browser to access e-QIP.
On the Menu Bar
JAWS (Job Access with Speech) is a vocal screen reading software program that enables visually impaired users of e-QIP to complete their form. JAWS provides text to speech recognition. To use the JAWS Screen-Reading Software, you must use Internet Explorer 6.0 or later and JAWS 10.0 or later.
Getting Started
A "browser checker" utility will automatically run and test your computer for e-QIP compatibility. Be sure that you have three green checkmarks and click the CONTINUE button to proceed to the application. If you receive the error message "Page Cannot Be Displayed" please follow the instructions to enable TLS 1.0 on the "Testing Your Web Browser for Compatibility" page.
To enable the TLS 1.0. Go to
Tools
Internet Options
Advanced Tab (top right)
Scroll to the bottom of the page and check
Use TLS 1.0
Then Click "OK"
It is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to create and remember your Golden Questions. Golden Questions enable e-QIP to verify your identity. Create a combination of Golden Questions that only you will know the correct answers to. The Golden Questions/Answers are one of several security measures that have been built into e-QIP to help to minimize unauthorized access to your information.
Remember that it may be several years before you return to the e-QIP system to complete a reinvestigation so it is recommended that you use responses that you will remember in the distant future. Please contact your requesting agency (the agency that initiated you onto e-QIP) if you have difficulty with your login.
After you have selected your set of Golden Questions/Answers, enter each Question under the "Question" header and enter the corresponding Answer under the "Answer" block. All three boxes must have a Golden Question and Answer. You cannot respond by leaving the question/answer area blank.
It is your responsibility to protect the answers to your Golden Questions. Golden Answers are your "password" to the e-QIP system. The text entry fields for Golden Answers are not password protected to allow for more accurate entry of your answers. Asterisks automatically mask Golden Answers but if you choose, you can view your answers while typing them if you click the "ALLOW ME TO SEE MY GOLDEN ANSWERS" checkbox. Do not allow someone to see your computer screen while your answers are on the screen. If someone sees your responses, the person can logon as you and they will have access to your personal data.
Prior to entering data for the first time, read the instructions on the "Form Completion Instructions" screen. Confirm that you have read and understand the document by clicking the corresponding button. For the SF-86 form, you will also be shown a disclaimer screen that provides additional instructions required by Executive Order 12968. You will need to indicate that you have read and understand the additional instructions by clicking the corresponding button.
You may use the Navigation pull-down menu to go to any question, in any order by selecting the section (question). Then click "Go". The navigation menu is located at the top right-hand corner of the screen.
After you click the SAVE button, if there is an error, the system will display the same screen with "Validation Results" at the top of the form. You must correct the data you have just entered. Validation messages occur only when you have not answered a question appropriately.
For Validation "Error" messages, you may correct your data by scrolling to the appropriate field and editing. After making corrections, click the SAVE button at the bottom of the page to save your changes. Error messages must be corrected before final validation occurs.
For validation "Warning" messages, you may either provide the requested information or check the box "I DO NOT KNOW THE REQUESTED INFORMATION". In some cases an additional explanation is required if the check box is used. After choosing an action, click the SAVE button to save your changes.
For validation "Error" and "Warning" messages, you may also choose to click the "Save/Continue" button. If you click Save/Continue, you can advance to the next question without making the correction. You will have to correct the information prior to the final submission of your form.
If you make a mistake and have to start over, click the "Reset This Screen" button at any time prior to clicking the "Save" button. "Reset This Screen" will clear all answers on the screen. Reminder: If you continue to experience Login problems, you should contact the HR or Office of Security representative at your sponsoring organization.
You can display and/or print your personal information at any time while you are entering your data by selecting the "Display" link on the top banner (located at the upper left-hand corner of the screen).
By selecting "Display", a new browser window will appear. This window will contain an HTML formatted file, which will display on the screen all the data that has been entered up to that point. If desired, you can print the displayed data first by selecting "File", then "Print" from the new browser window.
Although the e-QIP system will automatically validate your data after every screen save, you may also manually validate your screen. To do so, go to the navigation pull-down menu (top right hand side of the screen) and select "Validate, Review and Certify" button. Then select "Go" (located to the right of the pull down men). The system will take you to the Validate, Review and Certify screen.
The validation results may show any Errors and/or Warnings that need to be corrected. Read the validation results and associated errors. To correct your answers, use the navigation pull-down menu to go to the section that needs to be edited. Make the necessary changes and click the "Save" button.
Create a list of the attachments that you expect to forward to your sponsoring agency. At minimum your agency will expect a signed and dated Certification form, General Release form and if applicable a Medical Release form. Your signature should be legible. Ask you agency representative if you are unsure of all of the attachments that are expected.
To use the Expected Attachments menu, go to the navigation pull-down menu. The system will take you to the "Expected Attachments" page. (You will be shown this automatically if you complete your form in sequence but if you respond to the questions out of sequence you will need to select this command manually).
There are three ways to submit your attachments to your requesting agency.
When you have completed all of the questions on the form and are ready to submit, select the Validate, Review and Certify command from the Navigation menu at the top of the screen and click "Go". If the message displayed is "Validation Found No Errors or Unsatisfied Warnings", click the "Continue" button to proceed. The next screen will request a final review of your data with another CONTINUE button to proceed.
The following screen will have a "Certify Investigation Request" button. After certification, YOU CAN NO LONGER MAKE CHANGES TO THE FORM. Your answers will be locked and unavailable for editing.
The Final Release of your request is in three steps on the "Release Investigation Request" screen.
You are required to print the release form(s) which include the Certification statement, General Release form and if applicable, a Medical release form. If you do not have a printer, you should consult your sponsoring agency representative and ask for assistance. After printing, please sign the forms. Your signature should be legible and preferably in black ink. Return the signed release forms to your agency.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS: Contact the Human Resource or Office of Security representative who requested that you use the e-QIP system.
This page can be found on the web at the following url: http://www.opm.gov/e-QIP/reference.asp