Home + DISCO + Completing and Reviewing the Questionnaire for National Security Position SF-86

Completing and Reviewing the Questionnaire for National Security Position SF-86

Last Updated November 2011

1. Key Points

This document contains guidance for reviewing the Questionnaire for National Security Positions, SF-86, for contractor personnel. NISPOM paragraph 2-202, "Procedures for Completing the Electronic Version of the SF 86" requires the FSO or designee to review the SF-86 to determine its adequacy and completeness before it can be sent to the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO.)

SF 86 questionnaire must be submitted to DISCO by using the Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS). Within JPAS, there is an interface with the Electronic Questionnaire for Investigations Processing (eQIP), which is the electronic version of the SF-86. If you do not have connectivity to eQIP via the JPAS, or if you have questions or issues that you are unable to resolve, please contact the DoD Security Services Center at 1-888-282-7682 for assistance.

The eQIP provides edit and validation features which prevent the entry of incomplete or inconsistent data, and which will note errors in completing the form. FSOs should review every section of any submitted questionnaire in their entirety, as completion of all sections of the questionnaire is required in order for the Defense Industrial Security Clearance Office (DISCO) to accept any submitted SF-86.

Investigation scope for a Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI) is 10 years from date of submission of the request for investigation. Investigation scope for a National Agency Check with Local Agency Check and Credit Check (NACLC) investigation is 7 years. Applicants must provide residence, employment and education information on the SF-86 to meet the appropriate investigation scope.

2. Completing Specific Sections of the Questionnaire for National Security Positions (SF 86)

The SF-86 (revised December 2010) contains 29 sections which require information: some sections will require more detail than others. This information is most useful when used in conjunction with completing or reviewing the SF-86.

The SF-86 includes expanded or branching questions that allow applicants to provide more complete and accurate information about their backgrounds. The questions expand, based on the applicant's response, asking for more detailed information in areas such as employment, criminal records, credit history, and foreign travel. The branching questions align with reform goals to speed the investigation process by ensuring the information collected from applicants is more complete and accurate during the upfront processing phase.

Topics

Click on a section or topic to find out more information. Click the back button to return to this list.

  1. Full Name
  2. Date of Birth
  3. Place of Birth
  4. Social Security Number (on paper form only)
  5. Other Names Used
  6. Your Identifying Information
  7. Your Contact Information
  8. U.S. Passport Information
  9. Citizenship
  10. Dual/Multiple Citizenship & Foreign Passport Information
  11. Where you Have Lived
  12. Where you Went to School
  13. Employment Activities
    1. Employment & Unemployment Record
    2. Former Federal Service – (Excluding Military Service)
    3. Employment Record
  14. Selective Service Record
  15. Military History
  16. People Who Know You
  17. Marital Status/Living Arrangements
  18. Relatives
  19. Foreign Contacts
  20. Foreign Activities
    1. Foreign Activities
    2. Foreign Business, Professional Activities, and Foreign Government Contacts
    3. Psychological and Emotional Health
  21. Mental and Emotional Health
  22. Police Record
  23. Illegal Use of Drugs or Drug Activity
  24. Use of Alcohol
  25. Investigations and Clearances
  26. Financial Record
  27. Information Technology Systems
  28. Non-criminal Court Actions
  29. Association Record
  30. Continuation Space
  31. Applicant Certification and Release Forms

Important note: When given the option to select "Yes" or "No," selecting "Yes" will take you through the section for which you have indicated you need to enter information. When you no longer have any additional information to enter, you must answer the "Yes" or "No" question with "No". This will close the loop, allow the system to take you to the next section, and, most importantly, permit the system to validate your answers.

Section 1 – Full Name

This section requires you to provide your full name.

Key tips for Section 1:

  • You must provide your full name.
  • Make sure that the name provided on the SF-86 exactly matches the name in the Joint Personnel Adjudication System (JPAS).
  • Spelling of name, and name used must be consistent with other submitted forms.
  • Middle name on Fingerprint Card (FPC) must match SF-86.
  • If your name has initials only, you must enter "I/O".
  • If you have no first name, you must enter "NFN".
  • If you have no middle name, you must enter "NMN".
  • Use drop-down boxes when they are available as indicated by the arrow at the end of the box. For example, use drop-down boxes for Initial Only, No Middle Name, and any suffix. (e.g., Jr., Sr., II) ;

Section 2 – Date of Birth

This section requires you to provide your date of birth.

Key tips for Section 2:

  • Date of birth must be accurate and consistent with other submitted forms.
  • Make sure there is no Date of Birth (DOB) discrepancy between Fingerprint Card (FPC) and SF-86.
  • Indicate if the date is estimated.

Section 3 – Place of Birth

This section requires you to provide your place of birth.

Key tips for Section 3:

  • Provide the city, county and state.
  • If you were born outside of the United States, then provide country only
  • Make sure there is no Place of Birth (POB) discrepancy between Fingerprint Card (FPC) and SF86.

Section 4 – Social Security Number (on paper form only)

This section requires you to provide your social security number.

Key tips for Section 4:

  • Section 4 is not in the online version – it is the social security number (SSN) that you entered at the beginning.
  • The SSN must be entered accurately and must be consistent with other submitted forms. If it is not, the form will be rejected and you will be notified of your next step.

Section 5 – Other Names Used

This section requires that you provide other names previously used and the period of time you used them, if applicable.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken to this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section 6.

Key tips for Section 5:

  • If "Yes," you must enter last, first, and middle names. If the other name is your maiden name, then "maiden" should be checked. (Maiden name is the last name you were given when you were born and only refers to females. Males – do not check this box. Females - check this box only when entering your maiden name)
  • Use drop-down box for month. Years require all four digits (e.g.: 1975). Be sure to indicate if the dates are an Estimate (Est.) or if the "To" date is the present (Pres.).
  • If you need to add another name, click "Yes" to the question.
  • Once you have entered all of your information, when asked if you have any additional names, click "No" to move to the next section.

Section 6 – Your Identifying Information

This section requires you to provide your identifying information: height, weight, hair color, eye color, and sex.

Key tips for Section 6:

  • Use drop-down boxes for number of feet and number of inches. If you are exactly 5-feet tall, for example, then put in '5 feet' and '0 inches.' Do not leave the inches box empty.
  • Type in your actual current weight (in pounds).
  • Use drop-down box to enter your hair color.
  • Use drop-down box to enter your natural eye color (not the color of any tinted contact lenses).
  • Check the correct box for your sex.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 7 – Your Contact Information

This section requires you to provide your contact information, including email address(es) and telephone number(s).

Key tips for Section 7:

  • You must have an email address for this page to be accepted. Websites such as www.gmail.com or www.yahoo.com allow you to create an email address, if necessary.
  • You must enter at least one phone number. Enter numbers only; no dashes or parenthesis accepted. Leave the extension blank, if there is no extension.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 8 – U.S. Passport Information

This section requires you to provide your U.S. passport information, such as passport number, issue date, and expiration date, if applicable.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section 9.

Key tips for Section 8:

  • Provide complete passport information. Use drop-down boxes to enter the date your passport was issued. Use a four digit year. (e.g., 1975)
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 9 – Citizenship

This section requires you to provide your current citizenship status and associated information.

This section has choices: If you check one of the options, you will be taken to the corresponding subsection. As long as you indicate you have further information to provide, the system will route you to the appropriate subsection. Once you say "No," you will move on to Section 10.

Key tips for Section 9:

  • Click the appropriate box for current citizenship status.
  • If you clicked the first block, "I am a U.S. citizen by birth in the U.S. or U.S. Territory/commonwealth," go directly to the Section 10.
  • If you are not a U.S. citizen, provide complete information pertaining to Alien Registration Number or Immigration/Residency Status.
  • If you are foreign born and your parents are foreign born, be sure to include your naturalization information.
  • Naturalization information is not required if your country of birth is one of the following: the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, Northern Marianas Islands, the Virgin Islands, the Trust Territory of Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Midway Island, Wake Island, Johnston Island, Kingman Reef, Navassa Island, or Palmyra Atoll.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 10 – Dual/Multiple Citizenship & Foreign Passport Information

This section requires you to provide your information on dual/multiple citizenships or foreign passport information, if applicable.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section 11.

Key tips for Section 10:

  • If you have now or have ever had dual or multiple citizenships, including passports and identity cards, you must complete this section including country(ies), time periods, and how you acquired and/or renounced that citizenship.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 11 – Where You Have Lived

This section requires you to list the places where you have lived beginning with your present residence and working back 10 years.

Key tips for Section 11:

  • This section contains two parts: Residence Information and Person Who Knew You. You must list all of the places where you have lived, beginning with your present residence and working back seven years. Additionally, for each residence you have lived within the past three years, you must provide a point of contact.

Residence Information

  • List the places where you have lived, beginning with your present residence and working back seven years (Depending on which clearance you will be applying for, you must go back seven years for NACLC/Secret or 10 years for SSBI/Top Secret.). To add more entries, click "Yes." Once you have entered all of your information, click "No" to move to the next section.
  • Type the date using the drop-down boxes, where available. Use a four digit year, e.g., 1975). Use the drop-down box to indicate if this date is an Estimate (Est.). Also use the drop-down box for your present residence (Pres.).
  • You must provide residence for the last seven years or until your 18th birthday. If you are under 21 years of age, you must provide two years coverage or the period since your 16th birthday.
  • Indicate the status of each address by checking the appropriate box: Own, rent, military housing, other (You must explain in the box provided).
  • A Post Office (P.O.) Box is unacceptable; an APO/FPO is allowed. The APO/FPO should be entered in the city field and the AE, AA, or AP should be entered in the state. These options are available at the end of the drop down menu. Enter the zip code for the APO/FPO location.
  • Residence coverage must be within commuting distance of employment unless explained.
  • Residence gaps are not allowed without explanation. Use the space provided to indicate why the times provided do not cover the entire period requested.
  • You are not required to list temporary locations of less than 90 days that did not serve as your permanent or mailing address.
  • If you split your time between one or more residences during a time period, you must list all residences.
  • City, state and zip are required for ALL residence addresses.
  • Use the drop down menu for the state. Country not required if it is in the United States.
  • All military duty stations must be provided.
  • If you were aboard ship, you must provide all home ports.
  • Click on the "Add an Entry" button to add enough residences to cover the years required.
  • Click on the "Edit" button under the Action column to edit the details of any entry you have made in this section.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

People Who Knew You

  • For each residence you have lived in the past three years only, you must also provide a point of contact. This contact(s) cannot be a spouse, former spouse, or relative.
  • You must include the individual's name in the box provided, and indicate his or her relationship to you by clicking the appropriate box.
  • Use the explanation box if you need to provide additional information on this person or why you do not have anyone listed for that time of residence.
  • Type in the individual's current address, including zip code, using drop- down boxes where provided. Also do not put the country if the individual is in the United States.
  • Provide at least one current phone number with area code (numbers only, no dashes or parenthesis)
  • Click on the "Add an Entry" button to add enough residences to cover the years required.
  • Click on the "Edit" button under the Action column to edit the details of any entry you have made in this section.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 12 – Where You Went To School

This section requires you to provide your education history.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section 13.

Key tips for Section 12:

This section contains two parts: Schools Attended/Degrees Received and People Who Knew You. You must list any schools attended in the past seven years or your most recent degree. Additionally, for each school you attended within the past three years, you must also provide a point of contact.

Schools Attended/ Degrees Received

  • You must enter any schools attended in the past seven years and list any degrees or diplomas received. If the most recent degree or diploma was received more than seven years ago, list it regardless of when it was received.
  • List dates of activity including month and four digit year (Ex. 1975). For any school you are presently attending, use the drop-down box for present, "Pres." If the dates noted are an estimate, select "Est."
  • Click the box for the school type from the list provided.
  • Type in the complete name of the school.
  • City, state and zip are required for ALL addresses.
  • For correspondence/distance/extension/online school, provide the address where records are maintained.
  • Use the drop-down menu for the state. Only fill in country if it is outside the United States.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

People Who Knew You

  • For all schools attended within the past three years, you must provide information concerning a person who knew/knows you at this school. Include their name in the box provided.
  • City, state and zip are required for ALL addresses.
  • Use the explanation box if you need to provide additional information on this person or why you do not have anyone listed for that time of schooling.
  • Type in their current address, including zip code, using drop-down boxes where provided. Also do not enter the country if the individual is in the United States.
  • Provide a current phone number including area code (numbers only, no dashes or parenthesis).
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 13 – Employment Activities

Section 13A – Employment & Unemployment Record

This section requires you to provide your employment activities, including unemployment and self-employment, beginning with the present and working back 10 years.

Key tips for Section 13A:

  • List all of your employment activities, beginning with the present and working back seven years.
  • You should list all full-time work, paid or unpaid, consulting/contracting work, all military service duty locations, temporary military duty locations (TDY) over 90 days, self-employment, other paid work, and all periods of unemployment.
  • The entire seven year period must be accounted for without breaks. EXCEPTION: Do not list employments that occurred before your 18th birthday unless it is necessary for providing a minimum of two years of employment history.
  • The first employment listed should be information pertaining to the organization submitting the clearance request.
  • List dates of employment including month and four digit year (Ex. 1975). For any job you currently hold, use the drop-down box for present "Pres." If the dates noted are an estimate, select "Est."
  • Employment dates must be consecutive and without breaks for the entire period, or with a full explanation for any breaks in employment coverage.
  • Select the applicable check box to indicate whether each employment is full-time or part-time.
  • You must provide complete name and addresses and phone number with area code (numbers only, no dashes or parenthesis) for employer and complete address of job location, if different than employer's address. All addresses require city state and zip code. Country is only required if your place of work was outside the United Sates.
  • APO/FPO addresses are acceptable if within commuting distance of residence.
  • You must provide all military duty stations and temporary military duty locations (TDY) over 90 days.
  • Accurate overlapping employment dates are acceptable, but overlapping employments not in the same commuting area must be explained.
  • If unemployed or self-employed, you must identify and provide contact information for a person who can verify the unemployment or self-employment (you may use spouse, parents or siblings as the verifying reference).
  • If your supervisor is not your employer, you must provide his or her name, title and work address including zip code, and a valid phone number (numbers only, no dashes or parenthesis).
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 13B – Former Federal Service (Excluding Military Service)

This section requires you to provide your former federal civilian employment, excluding military service, if applicable.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section 13c.

Key tips for Section 13B:

  • Former federal service not previously listed, excluding military service, regardless of when it occurred, should be entered in Section 13B - Former Federal Service.
  • Include dates of federal civilian employment, agency for which you were employed, position, and agency location.
  • Click on the "Add an Entry" button to add enough employment activities to cover the years required.
  • Click on the "Edit" button under the Action column to edit the details of any entry you have made in this section.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 13C – Employment Record

This section requires you to provide additional employment details such as being fired, officially reprimanded, or disciplined for misconduct at the workplace.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section14.

Key tips for Section 13C:

  • Respond to all questions about your employment record. If you click "Yes" for Question 1, provide an entry for each occurrence in the box provided.
  • "Yes" responses would include: being fired from a job; quitting after being told you would be fired; leaving a job by mutual agreement of unsatisfactory performance, and/or receiving written warnings; being officially reprimanded, suspended, or disciplined for misconduct in the workplace, such as a violation of security policy.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 14 – Selective Service Record

This section requires you to provide your selective service record, if applicable.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you are a female, answer "No" and move on to Section 15.

Key tips for Section 14:

  • Males born after Dec. 31, 1959 must list Selective Service number. Note: this number is different than your Social Security Number.
  • If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 and have not registered for Selective Service, you must fully explain the reasons for not having registered with reference to any applicable legal exemption.
  • If you are a male born after December 31, 1959 and have registered for Selective Service, you must provide your registration number.
  • You can verify your Selective Service registration and obtain your registration online from the Selective Service System (SSS) at the SSS web site at http://www.sss.gov/. You may also contact the SSS at 1-847-688-6888 for assistance.
  • Do not make any comments if you answered "Yes" to both questions.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 15 – Military History

This section requires you to provide your military history, if applicable.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section16.

Key tips for Section 15:

  • You should provide information concerning all military service, regardless of when it occurred.
  • If you answer "Yes" to 15, you must account for all of your military service even if there was a break in service.
  • You will need to provide the branch of service, the month and year of service, your service number, whether you were an officer or enlisted, your duty status, the country you were stationed in, and the type of discharge you received.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 16 – People Who Know You

This section requires that you provide contact information of three people who know you well and who preferably live in the United States.

Key tips for Section 16:

  • You must provide names of at least three individuals and include complete U.S. addresses and phone numbers. These are not to be relatives, spouses, former spouses, or anyone listed anywhere else on this form.
  • List individuals who preferably live in the United States.
  • You can use peers, college roommates, associates who are collectively aware of your activities outside of the workplace, school, or neighborhood and whose combined association with you covers at least the last seven years.
  • For each person, you will need to list the dates of acquaintance, his or her name, relationship to you, and any explanation you wish to provide. Use a four digit year (e.g. 1975).
  • You will also need to include a work or home address using drop-down boxes as provided, as well as zip code and current phone number(s).
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 17 – Marital Status/Living Arrangements

This section requires you to provide your marital status and associated information, if applicable.

Key tips for Section 17:

  • Indicate your current marital status by checking the appropriate box. In each section, either complete the required information or check the "Not Applicable" box.
  • If you select "Never Married," then move on to Section 18.
  • If married, provide spouse's full name, Social Security Number (SSN), and date and place of marriage.
  • Remember to use a four digit year in all dates (e.g., 1975).
  • If your spouse is a U.S. citizen or national born outside the United States, you must provide information regarding proof of citizenship, including document identification numbers from any or all of the following documents:
    • U.S. Passport (if the subject has been issued a passport)
    • Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America (FS-240)
    • Citizenship Certificate
    • Naturalization Certificate
    • Alien Registration
  • If your spouse is not a U.S. citizen but lives in the U.S., his or her alien registration number with date and place of entry into the U.S. is required.
  • If separated, give date of separation and location of record. Include current address of spouse if other than your current address.
  • Always use drop-down boxes where applicable and include zip codes in addresses.
  • If divorced, provide complete information requested for each former spouse.
  • Include full name, date and place of birth, any applicable country(ies) of citizenship, when and where you were married, how the marriage ended, and where any divorce or annulment papers are located.
  • Include residence of former spouse(s) in case of separation or divorce.
  • Always use drop-down boxes where applicable and include zip codes in addresses.
  • A cohabitant is a person with whom you share bonds of affection, obligation, or other commitment, as opposed to a person with whom you live for reasons of convenience, like a roommate.
  • If a cohabitant, provide his or her full name (including any other names used –maiden, married), SSN, and date and place of birth.
  • If your cohabitant is a U.S. citizen or national born outside the United States, provide information regarding proof of citizenship, including document identification numbers.
  • Always use drop-down boxes where applicable and include zip codes in addresses.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 18 – Relatives

This section requires you to provide information regarding your relatives.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section19.

Key tips for Section 18:

  • You must provide information for any person within the 16 categories of relatives required to be listed, living or deceased, including full name, date of birth, place of birth (city, state or country), present residence and citizenship. Do not provide information on relatives that are NOT in one of the categories listed: Mother, Father, Stepmother, Stepfather, Foster parent, Child, Step child, Brother, Sister, Stepbrother, Stepsister, Half-brother, Half-sister, Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, Guardian
  • For any relatives who are U.S. citizens or nationals and were born outside the United States, information regarding proof of citizenship, including document identification numbers, from any or all of the following documents, must be provided: U.S. Passport (if the subject has been issued a passport); "Consular Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States of America" (FS-240); Citizenship Certificate
  • Always use drop-down boxes where applicable and include zip codes in addresses.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 19 – Foreign Contacts

This section requires you to provide information regarding close contact with individuals who are not U.S. citizens, if applicable.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section 20.

Key tips for Section 19:

  • Provide information regarding any foreign national with whom the applicant, applicant's spouse, or applicant's cohabitant has close or continuing contact and who was not listed as a relative.
  • Provide information for contacts occurring within the prior seven years.
  • Include full name, dates known (using month and four digit year), their country(ies) of citizenship, and residence.
  • Select the nature of the relationship and the type of contact(s) that apply. Indicate the number of contacts per year.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only. If the answer is "No," DO NOT put anything in the "Additional Comments" box.

Section 20 – Foreign Activities

Section 20A – Foreign Activities

This section requires you to provide information regarding your foreign financial interests, benefits, and/or activities, if applicable.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section 20b.

Provide information concerning foreign financial interests, foreign business activities, foreign professional activities, contacts with foreign governments, and foreign travel within the prior seven years.

Key tips for Section 20A:

  • If the answer is "No," DO NOT put anything in the "Additional Comments" box.
  • If you answer "Yes," be sure to provide the requested information listed below.
  • Include stocks, personal property, company shares, investments, or ownership of corporate entities. Exclude U.S.-based managers and accounts managed through your employer.
  • List anything you have EVER had a financial interest in, the type and amount in U.S. dollars.
  • List property you own or that someone controls for you, including type of property, dates owned, location of property, and estimated value in U.S. dollars.
  • If you have EVER received or currently receive any educational, medical, retirement, social welfare, or other such benefits form a foreign country, list the type and value as well.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 20B – Foreign Business, Professional Activities, and Foreign Government Contacts

This section requires you to provide information regarding your foreign business, activities, and/or government contacts, if applicable.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section 20c.

Key tips for Section 20B:

  • If the answer is "No," DO NOT put anything in the "Additional Comments" box.
  • If you answer "Yes," be sure to provide the requested information.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 20C – Foreign Countries you have visited

This section requires you to provide information regarding foreign countries that you have visited in the last seven years, if applicable.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section 21.

Key tips for Section 20C:

  • If the answer is "No," DO NOT put anything in the "Additional Comments" box.
  • If you answer "Yes," be sure to provide the requested information.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 21 – Psychological and Emotional Health

This section requires you to provide information regarding your psychological and emotional health.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section 22.

Answer "No" if counseling was related to strictly marital, family, or grief not related to violence by you or strictly related adjustments from service in a military combat environment.

Key tips for Section 21:

  • If the answer is "No," DO NOT put anything in the "Additional Comments" box.
  • If the answer is "Yes," provide dates of treatment and name/address (including state and zip code) of the treating health care professional with a signed medical release (Authorization for Release of Medical Information Pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA).
  • Mental Health: If you listed that you consulted with a mental health professional, please list the name, address, and phone of the doctor and facility with dates seen in the notes section.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Please Remember: Mental health counseling in and of itself is not a reason to evoke or deny eligibility for access to classified information.

Section 22 – Police Record

This section requires you to provide information regarding your police record.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section 23.

Key tips for Section 22:

  • If the answer is "No," DO NOT put anything in the "Additional Comments" box.
  • You will be requested to complete this section if the following is true:
    • You have been issued a summons, citation, or ticket to appear in court in a criminal proceeding against you.
    • Do not complete if all the citations involved traffic infractions where the fine was less than $300 and did not include alcohol or drugs.
    • You have been arrested by any police officer, sheriff, marshal, or any other type of law enforcement official.
    • You have been charged, convicted, or sentenced of a crime in any court.
    • Include all qualifying charges, convictions, or sentences in any federal, states, local, military, or non U.S. court, even if previously listed on the SF86 form.
    • You have been or are currently on probation or parole.
    • You are currently on trial or awaiting a trial on criminal charges.
  • If you answered "Yes" to any question in this section, provide date (with four digit year), nature or title of offense, disposition of case or charges, law enforcement authority/court, (including city, state and zip code).
  • For any comments entered into the "Additional Comments" field, note which incident you are describing and include comprehensive details.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 23 – Illegal Use of Drugs or Drug Activity

This section requires you to provide information regarding your illegal use of drugs or drug activity, to include information such as date and frequency, if applicable.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section 24.

Key tips for Section 23:

  • If the answer is "No," DO NOT put anything in the "Additional Comments" box.
  • If the answer is "Yes" to any question in this section, provide dates and places of usage, identify the controlled substance/prescription drug used, and explain the circumstances involving the use, including the frequency and total number of times used.
  • You will be requested to complete this section if the following is true:
    • You illegally used any drugs or controlled substances, to include snorting, injecting, inhaling, swallowing, experimenting with or otherwise consuming any drug or controlled substance.
    • Such drugs could include: cocaine, crack, THC, tentamine, hallucinogenics, inhalants, stimulants, depressants, narcotics, steroids, or other drugs.
  • If you answered "Yes," provide dates of usage, controlled substance/prescription drug used, and the number of times used.
  • For any comments entered into the "Additional Comments" field, note which incident you are describing and include comprehensive details.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 24 – Use of Alcohol

This section requires you to provide information regarding your illegal use of drugs or drug activity, to include information such as date and frequency, if applicable.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section 25.

Key tips for Section 24:

  • If the answer is "No," DO NOT put anything in the "Additional Comments" box.
  • A "Yes" answer would be indicated if your use of alcohol has had a negative impact on your work performance, your professional or personal relationships, your finances, or resulted in intervention by law enforcement/public safety personnel.
  • If the answer is "Yes" to any question in this section, provide dates (with four digit year), name and address (including zip code) of counselor or doctor.
  • For any comments entered into the "Additional Comments" field, note which incident you are describing and include comprehensive details.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 25 – Investigations and Clearance Record

This section requires you to provide information regarding prior U.S. or foreign government background investigations or security clearance eligibility/access, if applicable.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section 26.

Key tips for Section 25:

  • If the answer is "No," DO NOT put anything in the "Additional Comments" box.
  • The e-QIP validation process requires that type of investigation, date, agency code, and clearance code be entered.
  • Details required: type of clearance, date (with four digit year), agency, and clearance.
  • For any comments entered into the "Additional Comments" field, note which investigation you are describing and include comprehensive details.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 26 – Financial Record

This section requires you to provide information regarding your financial record.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section 27.

Key tips for Section 26:

  • If the answer is "No," DO NOT put anything in the "Additional Comments" box.
  • If the answer is "Yes" to any question in this section, indicate to which question the "Yes" answer is applicable and provide information for all fields in the boxes provided.
  • Information should be presented for each delinquent debt overdue 180 days or more within seven years or currently overdue more than 90 days.
  • Indicate Date of Action, Type of Action, Amount, Name Action, Occurred Under, Court/Agency Name, and complete Address (including zip code) of Court/Agency. Information should be presented for each bankruptcy, garnishment, lien, or judgments within seven years.
  • For any Public Record Civil Court Actions, provide date, nature of action, result of action, names of parties involved and court (include city, state, zip code or country if outside US).
  • For any comments entered into the "Additional Comments" field, note which question you are responding to and include comprehensive details.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 27 – Use of Information Technology Systems

This section requires you to provide information regarding your use of information technology systems such as computer hardware, software, and firmware, if applicable.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section 28.

Key tips for Section 27:

  • If the answer is "No," DO NOT put anything in the "Additional Comments" box.
  • If the answer is "Yes" to any question in this section, provide a detailed explanation in the space provided. Note which question you are responding to and include comprehensive details.
  • Information required is date of incident with a four digit year, nature of the incident or offense, location of the incident (full address with zip code), and any action taken (who took it, what he or she did).
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 28 – Involvement in Non-Criminal Court Actions

This section requires you to provide information regarding your non-criminal court actions.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on to Section 29.

Key tips for Section 28:

  • If the answer is "No," DO NOT put anything in the "Additional Comments" box.
  • If the answer is "Yes," provide date, nature of action, outcome of the action, names of parties involved and court (include name, street address, city and state, zip code, or country if outside US).
  • If there is more than one non-criminal court action, be sure to note which one you are responding to and include comprehensive details.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Section 29 – Association Record

This section requires you to provide information regarding your association record, such as association with terrorism or groups that use force in attempt to overthrow the U.S. government, if applicable.

This section has choices: If you answer "Yes," you will be taken through this section. If you answer "No," you will move on so that e-QIP will capture your certification timestamp electronically.

Key tips for Section 29:

  • If the answer is "No," DO NOT put anything in the "Additional Comments" box.
  • If the answer is "Yes" to any question in this section, provide a detailed explanation in the space provided. Note which question you are responding to and include comprehensive details.
  • Keep additional comments to relevant information only.

Continuation Space

Indicate requirements concerning Special Access Programs (SAP) or Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).

Requests for industry SCI clearance eligibility by the Air Force CAF (AFCAF), Army Central Clearance Facility (ACCF) and Navy CAF (DoNCAF) will be processed for SCI only if an SCI Security Management Office (SMO) is present in JPAS. Failure of the company or the Special Security Office (SSO) to record the relationship will result in processing for a collateral clearance eligibility decision by DISCO. This applies to investigations submitted but not yet adjudicated.

Applicant Certification and Release Forms

Ensure the certification and release forms being submitted are generated by the eQIP system. Failure to use the appropriate form will result in OPM being unable to match the release to the investigation request, as codes are contained on the forms to permit matching them.

  • The Fair Credit Reporting Disclosure and Authorization is a new attachment and is required to be submitted for all SF-86's.
    Applicant must sign the name exactly as it appears in e-QIP. (Ex: "John David Smith") The release forms needs to be signed and completed with the full name as it is in e-QIP.
  • When signing, the applicant must sign the signature forms inside the box. Try to avoid signing outside the box, as there is an optical reader that scans the document into the e-QIP system.
  • Any corrections or overwrites must be completed using a new signature form or by drawing a single line through the error and initialing the correction.
  • After completing the release forms and e-QIP has validated your questionnaire you will be returned to the main menu. At this time you will need to scroll down and hit the "Release Request/Transmit to Agency." A pop-up window will appear asking if you "are sure you want to release to requesting agency" Click OK.