The U.S. Government conducts background investigations to assist agencies in determining whether individuals are trustworthy, reliable, and of good conduct and character for positions with the Federal Government.
The U.S. Government conducts investigations of certain individuals who will occupy positions which could impact national security, including positions requiring access to classified national security information. The amount of information requested depends on the risk to the public trust, the impact on the national security, and whether an individual has a job which requires access to classified national security information. To see the different forms, select the corresponding forms: SF-86 (PDF file), SF-85 (PDF file), or SF-85P (PDF file).
In general, background investigation forms collect personal information, including Social Security numbers (SSN), of people occupying, or seeking to occupy, positions with the Federal government. This information is used to:
- Check criminal histories
- Validate education histories
- Validate employment histories
- Validate living addresses; and
- Gain insight into the character and conduct of background investigation applicants through reference checks.
In addition, some people occupying public trust or national security positions provide additional types of information which may include:
- Personal information of a spouse or a cohabitant (including SSNs)
- Personal information of parents, siblings, other relatives, and close friends (but does not include SSNs)
- Foreign countries visited and individuals the applicant may know in those countries
- Current or previous treatment for mental health issues
- Use of illegal drugs; and
- Previous places a background investigation applicant may have lived, worked, or attended school.
For public trust and national security investigations, other information may be collected related to parents, siblings, other relatives, close friends, and previous places a background investigation applicant may have lived, worked, or attended school. This information is used to interview employers, friends, and neighbors about the applicant, his or her conduct, and personal history, and to conduct local law enforcement checks at previous locations lived.