The U.S. Office of Personnel Management's Federal Investigative Services (OPM-FIS) conducts background investigations on Federal applicants, employees, military members and contractor personnel for suitability and security purposes at the request of another Federal Agency. These records are maintained in a Privacy Act System of Records.
OPM Background investigations are maintained in the OPM Personnel Investigations Records System, covered by the OPM/Central-9 SORN. Also, please see 5 CFR 297 for additional information regarding OPM's Privacy Procedures for Personnel Records.
How Can I Get a Copy of Background Investigation Records OPM FIS May Have On Me?
To request a copy of your own background investigation you should submit a request to the FIS FOI/PA office. You may use the INV100 Freedom of Information, Privacy Act Record Request Form or submit a handwritten request.
This INV100 is specific to OPM-FIS and has been created by the FIS FOI/PA office to streamline the process of requesting background investigations records in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act and/or the Privacy Act. Although use of this form is not mandatory, we encourage you to utilize it when making a request. Providing all the information requested on the INV-100 will help ensure your request is not returned for additional information.
Alternatively, if you wish to submit a handwritten request, your request must include the following information:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Social Security Number
- Mailing address and email address if you'd like your material returned electronically
- Handwritten signature
- Statement that you are requesting a copy of your background investigation records
- You must include the following unsworn declaration, in full text, in your request: "I declare under the penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct, and I am the person about whom I am requesting records. I understand that any falsification of this statement is punishable under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 1001 by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by imprisonment for not more than five years or both, and that requesting or obtaining any record(s) under false pretenses is punishable under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. § 552a(i)(3) by a fine of not more than $5,000."
- Photocopies of two different identity source documents
Please note: Whether you use the INV100 or you submit a handwritten request, you are required to also provide photocopies of two different identity source documents. Please see the "Acceptable Identity Source Documents" section below.
Requests can be sent to the OPM-FIS FOI/PA office via the methods listed below:
Mail to:
FOI/PA office
OPM-FIS
PO Box 618
1137 Branchton Road
Boyers, PA 16018-0618
OR
E-mail: FISFOIPARequests@opm.gov
Advisement: You may submit your request as scanned attachments to an email. However, you should ensure that the security of your email system is adequate for transmitting sensitive information before choosing to transmit your request which contains your personally identifiable information (full name, social security number, date of birth, etc.).
Acceptable Identity Source Documents
Privacy Act Requesters are required to provide photocopies of two forms of identity source documents (ID). All identity source documents provided by a requester must be the individual’s own, ID must be current (not expired nor cancelled). The two identity source documents must bear the same name.
Approved Identity Source Documents – These documents are provided for official government use only.
- U.S. Social Security Card issued by the Social Security Administration
- U.S. Passport or a U.S. Passport Card
- Driver's license or an ID card issued by a state or possession of the United States provided it contains a photograph (Student ID Cards are not acceptable)
- U.S. Military ID card or CAC card
- U.S. Military dependent's ID card
- PIV Card
- Copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority, possession, or outlying possession of the United States bearing an official seal
- Certification of Birth Abroad or Certification of Report of Birth issued by the Department of State (Form FS-545 or Form DS-1350)
- Voter registration card from the U.S.
- Permanent Resident Card or an Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)
- Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-561)
- Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570)
- Employment authorization document issued by the Department of Homeland Security (such as: Form I-688A, Form I-688B or Form I-766)
- U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197)
- Employment Authorization Card (Form I-688A)
Access by the Representative of the Subject
- A record may be disclosed to a representative of the individual to whom the record pertains after OPM-FIS has received a written authorization from the individual who is the subject of the record.
- The written authorization must include an original notarized statement, or, an unsworn declaration in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 1746, in the following format. The individual must write, in full text: “I declare under the penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct, and I am the person about whom I am requesting records. I understand that any falsification of this statement is punishable under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 1001 by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by imprisonment for not more than five years or both, and that requesting or obtaining any record(s) under false pretenses is punishable under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. § 552a(i)(3) by a fine of not more than $5,000.”.
- The unsworn declaration must include the date the declaration was executed and the individual’s signature.
- The individual must also include in the written authorization the name and mailing address of the third party to whom he/she is permitting us to release his/her record.
Amendment of Records
According to 5 CFR 297, Subpart C, individuals may request, in writing, the amendment of their record(s) maintained in our System of Records. In order for OPM-FIS to process such a request, the individual is required to submit a written request. Your request may be submitted using the INV100 Freedom of Information, Privacy Act Record Request Form. Alternatively, if you wish to submit a handwritten request, your request must include the following information:
- Full name
- Date and place of birth
- Social Security Number
- Handwritten signature
- Mailing address and email address if you’d like your material returned electronically
- Precise identification of the records to be amended
- Identification of the specific material to be deleted, added, or changed
- A statement of the reasons for the request, including all available material substantiating the request.
- You must include the following unsworn declaration, in full text, in your request: “I declare under the penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct, and I am the person about whom I am requesting records. I understand that any falsification of this statement is punishable under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 1001 by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by imprisonment for not more than five years or both, and that requesting or obtaining any record(s) under false pretenses is punishable under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. § 552a(i)(3) by a fine of not more than $5,000.”
- Photocopies of two different identity source documents
Please note: Whether you use the INV100 or you submit a handwritten request, you are required to also provide photocopies of two different identity source documents. Please see the “Acceptable Identity Source Documents” section above.
Requests for amendment of records should include the words "PRIVACY ACT AMENDMENT REQUEST" in capital letters on both the envelope and at the top of the request letter.
The burden of proof demonstrating the appropriateness of the requested amendment rests with the requester. The requester must provide relevant and convincing evidence in support of the request.
The amendment procedures are not intended to allow a challenge to material that records an event that actually occurred nor are they designed to permit a collateral attack upon that which has been or could have been the subject of a judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative proceeding. The amendment procedures are also not designed to change opinions in records pertaining to the individual.
The amendment procedures do apply to situations when an occurrence that is documented was challenged through an established judicial, quasi-judicial, or administrative procedure and found to be inaccurately described; when the document is not identical to the individual's copy; or when the document is not created in accordance with the applicable recordkeeping requirements.
If an individual's representative submits an amendment request of behalf of the subject, written authorization from the individual who is the subject of the record must also be submitted to OPM-FIS. The written authorization must include the name and address of the representative. It should also state the subject's permission for the representative to request amendment of the subject's record on behalf of the subject, and, indicate that OPM-FIS is authorized to correspond with and release a copy of the revised report to the representative. The written authorization must contain an original notary stamp, or, an unsworn declaration (from the subject) in accordance with 28 U.S.C. 1746, in the following format: “I declare under the penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States of America that the foregoing is true and correct, and I am the person about whom I am requesting records. I understand that any falsification of this statement is punishable under the provisions of 18 U.S.C. § 1001 by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by imprisonment for not more than five years or both, and that requesting or obtaining any record(s) under false pretenses is punishable under the provisions of 5 U.S.C. § 552a(i)(3) by a fine of not more than $5,000.”The unsworn declaration must include the date the declaration was executed and the subject's signature.
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