formli AI
formli AI
Background Investigation Questionnaire
/ What is this form?
Standard Form 86, Questionnaire for National Security Positions, is the federal government's comprehensive background investigation questionnaire required for anyone seeking a Secret or Top Secret security clearance — and for many other sensitive government positions. Completed in the Electronic Questionnaires for Investigations Processing (eQIP) system, the SF-86 is over 127 pages when printed and can take 8 or more hours to complete accurately.
The form covers virtually every significant life event and relationship for the past 7 to 10 years (and sometimes longer): every address lived at, every employer, every school, all foreign travel, all foreign contacts, financial history including debts and bankruptcies, all drug use, all criminal or legal issues, and all psychological and alcohol treatment. The depth of investigation that follows — conducted by DCSA (Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency) — includes interviews with neighbors, coworkers, supervisors, references, and sometimes family members.
Security clearances are not denied for having issues in the past — they follow a 'whole-person concept' that considers the recency, frequency, and circumstances of any issues, as well as evidence of rehabilitation. What does result in denial is dishonesty on the SF-86 itself, which constitutes a federal crime under 18 USC 1001.
/ Who needs this form?
/ What you need before you start
/ Step-by-step guide
/ Key fields explained
| Field | What to enter | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Section 13 – Employment History | For each job: employer name, address, position title, start and end dates (month and year), your supervisor's name and phone, and reason for leaving. Include part-time work, self-employment, military service, and unpaid work. | Leaving employment gaps unexplained — any period of 90 days or more without listed employment requires an explanation. Unexplained gaps trigger additional investigator questions. |
| Section 18 – Foreign Travel | Country visited, purpose of travel (tourism, business, education, official duty), date of departure, date of return. Include all countries even those visited briefly or during a layover if you entered the country. | Omitting layover countries where you cleared immigration or transit countries visited briefly — investigators cross-reference passport stamps and flight records. |
| Section 23 – Financial Record | Disclose any accounts delinquent 90+ days, accounts in collections, bankruptcies, repossessions, and federal tax liens. Include the creditor name, amount, and current status. | Omitting old collections that are 'off the credit report' — the 7-year credit reporting limit does not affect the SF-86 disclosure requirement, which covers the full 7-10 year investigation period. |
| Section 24 – Illegal Drug Use | For each drug used: type of drug, dates of first and last use, frequency, and circumstances. Disclose truthfully — investigations routinely corroborate this with references. | Underreporting frequency or recency of drug use — investigators ask references specifically about drug use, and contradictions between your disclosure and reference statements are red flags. |
/ Common mistakes to avoid
/ Frequently asked questions
Not automatically. The adjudicative guidelines consider recency, frequency, circumstances, and evidence of rehabilitation. Casual experimentation years ago with no recent use is viewed differently from habitual recent use. Recent use (within the past year for most clearance levels) is more likely to be disqualifying.
Financial issues are evaluated on the whole-person concept. Bankruptcy, collections, or debt alone may not be disqualifying if they arose from circumstances beyond your control (job loss, medical emergency) and you are addressing them. The concern is financial vulnerability to foreign influence — someone with unaddressed severe debt is considered a coercion risk.
It varies significantly by clearance level and current processing times. Secret clearances have averaged 2-6 months. Top Secret/SCI investigations involving polygraph can take 6-18 months or longer during periods of high demand.
Yes, for most questions. The SF-86 specifically asks about charges and convictions including those expunged or sealed. Juvenile adjudications must generally be disclosed even if a court said they could be treated as if they never occurred. Consult with a security clearance attorney if you have complex juvenile records.