What is this clearance document?
A directory of the forms and notices that appear in a security clearance case. Search by form number or by a phrase from the page in front of you. Each entry says what the document is, whether it is something you normally see, and where the description comes from.
Many of these are routine processing notices between agencies rather than decisions about you. For the correspondence in a contested case — the interrogatory, the Statement of Reasons, the hearing notice, the decision and the appeal — see correspondence in a DOHA case, which covers those in more depth.
Stage
Where it applies
Showing 45 of 45 documents.
Questionnaires and releases
The forms that start an investigation and the permissions that let it proceed.
You normally see or sign this.
The long personal-history questionnaire behind a national security clearance. It is completed online in eApp, and it becomes the spine of the investigation: almost every later question traces back to an answer, or an omission, on this form.
What you do: Complete every section, then certify and release it to the sponsoring security office. The record treats a discovered omission as more damaging than the underlying issue, so an awkward disclosure is the safer disclosure.
Also called: SF-86, SF86, security questionnaire, eQIP form, eApp questionnaire, clearance application
Source: OPM — Federal Investigation Forms — Listed by form number and title on OPM’s federal investigation forms page.
You normally see or sign this.
The single modernised questionnaire that will replace the SF 86, SF 85, SF 85P and SF 85P-S. It shortens the look-back on most questions from seven or ten years to five, narrows mental-health questions to a five-year window aimed at conditions affecting judgment, separates marijuana from other drugs, and drops the physical-description and Selective Service questions. The rollout began on 1 June 2026 with ten companies, for five-year updates only; the government target for using it in all vetting scenarios is September 2027.
What you do: Almost certainly nothing yet. If you are completing a questionnaire today it is still very likely the SF 86, and the SF 86 look-back periods still apply to it.
Also called: PVQ, new SF-86, SF-86 replacement, personnel vetting questionnaire
Source: DCSA Vetting Operations newsletter, June 2026 — DCSA newsletter records the 1 June 2026 start with ten companies; Trusted Workforce 2.0 quarterly report FY26-Q2 sets September 2027 for all vetting scenarios.
You normally see or sign this.
The short questionnaire for non-sensitive federal positions. It is not a clearance form, and its questions and look-back periods are materially narrower than the SF 86.
What you do: Complete and submit it. Do not assume an SF 86 answer carries over; the windows differ between the forms.
Also called: SF-85, SF85, non-sensitive questionnaire
Source: OPM — Federal Investigation Forms — Listed by form number and title on OPM’s federal investigation forms page.
You normally see or sign this.
The questionnaire for public trust positions. It sits between the SF 85 and the SF 86 in scope, and it supports a suitability or fitness decision rather than a national security eligibility decision.
What you do: Complete and submit it. Section numbers do not correspond to the SF 86, so guidance written for the SF 86 will not map cleanly onto it.
Also called: SF-85P, SF85P, public trust questionnaire
Source: OPM — Federal Investigation Forms — Listed by form number and title on OPM’s federal investigation forms page.
You normally see or sign this.
A supplement used alongside the SF 85P for certain positions, covering additional medical and related questions.
What you do: Complete it with the SF 85P when the agency asks for it.
Also called: SF-85P-S, SF85PS, supplemental questionnaire
Source: DCSA — Terms and Definitions — DCSA defines it as the supplemental form for use with the SF 85P.
You normally see or sign this. · Edition 05/2002
A general consent allowing investigators to obtain records held about you by third parties.
What you do: Sign it as part of the questionnaire package. Investigators cannot obtain much of the record without it.
Also called: SF-713, SF713, consent for access to records, records release
Source: GSA — Standard Forms — GSA forms page gives form number SF713 and revision date 05/2002.
You normally see or sign this.
A targeted release for a specific category of record — medical, financial or similar — used where the general consent is not sufficient on its own.
What you do: Sign it when a particular record has to be obtained. It is narrower than the general consent, not broader.
Also called: OFI-16A, OFI 16A, specific release, medical release, financial release
Source: DCSA — Terms and Definitions — DCSA defines OFI 16A as the specific release for medical, financial or other information.
You normally see or sign this.
An employment-suitability declaration used in federal hiring. It is a separate form from the clearance questionnaires and asks its own questions on its own timescales.
What you do: Complete it for the hiring action. Answers here are compared against the questionnaire, so inconsistencies between the two are worth resolving before submission.
Also called: OF-306, OF306, declaration for federal employment
Source: DCSA — Terms and Definitions — DCSA lists OF 306 as the Declaration for Federal Employment.
You normally see or sign this. · No longer in current use.
The former online system for submitting the questionnaires. It has been replaced by eApp within NBIS. Older decisions and older guidance still refer to it by name.
What you do: Nothing. If you are directed to e-QIP today, check with the security office — the current portal is eApp.
Also called: eQIP, e-QIP, electronic questionnaire
Source: DCSA — e-QIP — DCSA’s own e-QIP page records its replacement.
Fingerprints
Biometric submission and the notices sent when a submission fails.
Fingerprint Chart
SF 87 (or FD-258)You normally see or sign this.
The fingerprint chart used for the criminal-history check. Prints are normally captured electronically now; the chart is the paper form behind that step. DCSA records that the SF 87 has also been usable for contractors since June 2013.
What you do: Attend the appointment the security office arranges. Poor-quality prints are a common and avoidable cause of delay.
Also called: SF-87, SF87, FD-258, FD258, fingerprint card, fingerprints, live scan
Full entry for SF 87 (or FD-258)
Source: DCSA — Terms and Definitions — DCSA defines the SF 87 as the fingerprint chart and records the June 2013 extension to contractors.
You normally see or sign this.
The request sent to the agency when a fingerprint submission cannot be used and a fresh set is needed. It is a quality problem, not a derogatory finding.
What you do: Attend the repeat appointment promptly. The case does not progress until usable prints are on file.
Also called: FIPC 11, FIPC-11, new fingerprint chart, fingerprint rejected
Source: DCSA — Terms and Definitions — DCSA lists FIPC 11 as the request to agency for a new fingerprint chart.
Investigation and case status
Mostly agency-to-agency processing notices. Applicants rarely see these, and they are not adverse actions.
Agency-to-agency. You do not normally see this.
The investigators’ completed findings, submitted to the sponsoring agency so it can make its determination. It is the evidence base an adjudicator reads.
What you do: Nothing directly. You can request your own records later; see the records section of this page.
Also called: ROI, report of investigation, investigation report
Full entry for Report of Investigation
Source: DCSA — Investigations and Clearance Process — DCSA describes investigators submitting results through a report of investigation which is returned to the sponsoring agency.
Agency-to-agency. You do not normally see this.
Confirms to the agency that the requested investigation has been scheduled by DCSA. It is a routine processing confirmation.
Also called: investigation scheduled, scheduled notice
Full entry for Investigation Scheduled Notice
Source: DCSA — Terms and Definitions — DCSA: "Verifies the requested investigation has been scheduled by DCSA."
Agency-to-agency. You do not normally see this.
Sent when the type of investigation requested does not match the sensitivity or access information recorded in the request. The investigation has not started, and the paperwork must be corrected and returned.
What you do: Nothing directly, but it is worth asking the security office whether the request has been corrected — this notice means the clock has not started.
Also called: administrative return, case papers returned, returned notice
Full entry for Administrative Return Notice
Source: DCSA — Terms and Definitions — DCSA: case papers returned where the investigation type is inconsistent with the Agency Use Only block; "the investigation has not been initiated".
Unacceptable Case Notice
FIPC 45AAgency-to-agency. You do not normally see this.
Sent to the agency when an investigation request is returned as unacceptable, typically because the investigative forms were not completed correctly. It is a paperwork rejection, not a finding about the person.
What you do: Nothing directly. In practice it usually means a form has to be corrected and resubmitted.
Also called: FIPC 45A, unacceptable case, case rejected
Source: DCSA — Terms and Definitions — DCSA: sent when requests "are returned to agencies as unacceptable", where forms "are not completed correctly".
Agency-to-agency. You do not normally see this.
The summary that accompanies a completed investigation, setting out what was investigated, the results, and the closing action taken.
Also called: CCT, case closing transmittal, closing package
Source: DCSA — Terms and Definitions — DCSA: "provides a summary of investigated activities and results and indicates one of the following closing actions".
Agency-to-agency. You do not normally see this.
A notice in the closing package certifying the level of investigation completed and that a final adjudication was made. It is filed in the personnel folder.
Also called: COI, certification of investigation
Source: DCSA — Terms and Definitions — DCSA: certifies "the level of background investigation that was completed and that a final adjudication was made".
Agency-to-agency. You do not normally see this.
Records that the case has been discontinued. Discontinuation is an administrative outcome — commonly the sponsorship ended — and is not itself an adverse determination.
Also called: closed discontinued, discontinued
Full entry for Closed-Discontinued Notice
Source: DCSA — Terms and Definitions — DCSA: "Indicates when the case has been discontinued."
Agency-to-agency. You do not normally see this.
Sent when a previously requested fingerprint chart was never received, so the case is closed without completing. It returns with the new chart when that is supplied.
Also called: closed incomplete, incomplete notice
Full entry for Closed-Incomplete Notice
Source: DCSA — Terms and Definitions — DCSA: case papers returned "when DCSA has not received a new fingerprint chart previously requested".
Agency-to-agency. You do not normally see this.
An agency request for a determination or an advisory opinion in a federal investigation.
Also called: INV 60, INV-60, request for determination, advisory
Source: OPM — Federal Investigation Forms — Listed by form number and title on OPM’s federal investigation forms page.
Agency-to-agency. You do not normally see this.
The request used for a special agreement check, a limited check performed under an agreement with the requesting agency rather than a full investigation.
Also called: INV 86C, special agreement check, SAC
Source: DCSA — Terms and Definitions — DCSA lists INV 86C as the request for special agreement check.
Agency-to-agency. You do not normally see this.
The form sent to a current or former employer to verify employment and identify supervisors. This is the mechanism behind "they contacted my old job".
What you do: Nothing. Listing employers accurately on the questionnaire is what makes this step go smoothly.
Also called: INV 41, INV-41, employment verification, supervisor check
Source: OMB information collection 0705-0003 — Named in the approved OMB collection for INV 40-44, which transferred from OPM to DCSA; OPM’s forms page no longer lists these.
Agency-to-agency. You do not normally see this.
The form sent to a law enforcement agency for records about you. Law enforcement participation is required by statute.
Also called: INV 44, INV-44, law enforcement check, police records check
Source: OMB information collection 0705-0003 — Named in the approved OMB collection for INV 40-44; participation required by 5 U.S.C. 9101.
Adverse action, hearing and appeal
What arrives when the answer is provisionally no, and what governs the process that follows.
You normally see or sign this.
The document that sets out, allegation by allegation, why the government is not presently able to find that access is clearly consistent with the national interest. It is the start of the due-process stage, not the end of the case.
What you do: Respond within the stated deadline, answering each allegation. Cases are lost by default far more easily than they are lost on the merits.
Also called: SOR, statement of reasons, security concerns letter, statement of security concerns
Source: DOHA — Industrial Security Program — DOHA: where the finding cannot be made, "a Statement of Reasons (SOR) is issued to the individual", and the SOR with the response goes to DOHA.
You normally see or sign this.
The election page inside the SOR packet. It records that the packet was received and captures the choice of how to respond, including whether a personal appearance is requested.
What you do: Return it within the deadline in the packet. It is separate from the substantive response to the allegations, and returning one does not substitute for the other.
Also called: SOI, SOR/SOI, statement of intent, SOR receipt
Source: DCSA — Security Review Proceedings FAQ — DCSA FAQ: a personal appearance is requested "through the Statement of Reasons Receipt and Statement of Intent (SOR/SOI) (Subject) page located in the SOR packet".
You normally see or sign this.
The government’s evidence package in a case decided on the written record rather than at a hearing. Department Counsel assembles it and it goes to the Administrative Judge.
What you do: You have a set period to respond in writing once you receive it. That response is normally the last opportunity to put evidence in front of the judge.
Also called: FORM, file of relevant material
Source: DOHA — Industrial Security Program — Named in DOHA’s industrial security program material as the written-record evidence package.
You normally see or sign this.
Procedural guidance the DOHA Hearing Office sends to applicants ahead of a hearing. It supplements DoD Directive 5220.6; it does not replace it.
What you do: Read it before the hearing. It sets out how the hearing runs and what is expected of you.
Also called: prehearing guidance, pre-hearing guidance
Full entry for Prehearing Guidance for DOHA Hearings
Source: DOHA — Industrial Security Program FAQs — DOHA FAQ: "The DOHA Hearing Office also sends to applicants a copy of Prehearing Guidance for DOHA Hearings."
You normally see or sign this.
The instructions the Appeal Board sends to both parties once a timely notice of appeal is received. Like the prehearing guidance, they supplement DoD Directive 5220.6 rather than replacing it.
What you do: Follow the deadlines in them exactly. An appeal is decided on the existing record, so it is an argument about the decision, not a second chance to submit evidence.
Also called: appeal instructions, notice of appeal, DOHA appeal
Full entry for Appeal Instructions
Source: DOHA — Industrial Security Program FAQs — DOHA FAQ: "When the Appeal Board receives a timely notice of appeal, it sends to the parties a copy of Appeal Instructions."
You normally see or sign this.
A written set of questions put to the individual, used at Energy as an alternative to a personal security interview. Note the terminology trap: in Defense personnel security "LOI" normally means Letter of Intent, which is a different document at a different stage. DOHA’s equivalent instrument is called written interrogatories.
What you do: Answer in writing, completely and consistently with what is already on file. Inconsistency between an answer here and the questionnaire is itself a concern.
Also called: letter of interrogatory, LOI, interrogatory, written interrogatories
Full entry for Letter of Interrogatory
Source: DOE M 470.4-5, Personnel Security — DOE M 470.4-5 Chapter III section 5 is titled "Letters of Interrogatory"; 32 CFR Part 155 Appendix A authorises DOHA written interrogatories.
Access agreements and briefings
What is signed once eligibility exists, and what is signed on the way out.
You normally see or sign this. · Edition 12/2023
The nondisclosure agreement signed before access to classified information begins. Its obligations continue after the job ends.
What you do: Sign it at indoctrination. Access does not start until it is signed.
Also called: SF-312, SF312, NDA, nondisclosure agreement
Source: GSA — Standard Forms — GSA forms page gives form number SF312, revision 12/2023, and the cited authority. Authority: 32 CFR Part 2001.80 and Executive Order 13526.
You normally see or sign this. · Edition 07/2022
A financial disclosure required for certain categories of access, separate from the financial questions on the questionnaire.
What you do: Complete it where the agency requires it for the access being granted.
Also called: SF-714, SF714, financial disclosure
Source: GSA — Standard Forms — GSA forms page gives form number SF714, revision 07/2022, authority Executive Order 12968. Authority: Executive Order 12968.
You normally see or sign this. · Edition 06/01/2000
The certification signed on gaining cryptographic access, and completed again on termination of that access.
What you do: Sign it when cryptographic access is granted, and again when it ends.
Also called: SD-572, SD572, crypto access, cryptographic access
Source: WHS — DoD Forms Management Program — DoD forms page gives form number SD 572, title, and edition date 06/01/2000.
You normally see or sign this.
The briefing given before access to NATO classified information, with a signed certificate acknowledging the responsibilities. There is no single government-wide form number; the certificate is locally produced.
What you do: Attend the briefing and sign the certificate. A matching debriefing certificate is signed when the access ends.
Also called: NATO briefing, NATO certificate, COSMIC, ATOMAL
Full entry for NATO Security Briefing and Certificate
Source: 32 CFR 117.19 (NISPOM) — NISPOM requires employees to "sign a certificate stating that they have been briefed or debriefed" and sets retention periods.
You normally see or sign this.
The briefing required before access to Critical Nuclear Weapons Design Information. The signed acknowledgment block is headed "Security Briefing Certificate". There is no form number; access is annotated in the security database.
What you do: Attend the briefing and sign the acknowledgment. An oral debriefing follows when access ends.
Also called: CNWDI, critical nuclear weapons design information, restricted data briefing
Full entry for CNWDI Briefing and Security Briefing Certificate
Source: 32 CFR 117.20 (NISPOM) — NISPOM mandates the briefing and debriefing; DCSA’s published CNWDI briefing carries the "Security Briefing Certificate" acknowledgment.
Security Termination Statement
NRC Form 136; DOE F 5631.29; DA Form 2962You normally see or sign this.
The statement signed when access ends, acknowledging that the duty to protect what you learned continues. The form number is agency-specific rather than government-wide. Note that DD Form 2962 is a different document entirely — a system access request — despite the similar number.
What you do: Sign it at the exit briefing. The obligation it records does not expire with the job.
Also called: security termination statement, debriefing statement, exit briefing, debrief
Full entry for NRC Form 136; DOE F 5631.29; DA Form 2962
Source: NRC Form 136 information collection — NRC Form 136 is titled "Security Termination Statement"; DOE F 5631.29 and DA Form 2962 carry the same title. Industry equivalent is the NISPOM debriefing at 32 CFR 117.12(l).
Human Reliability Program Certification
DOE F 470.3You normally see or sign this.
Certification under the Human Reliability Program, the additional screening applied to Energy positions with access to nuclear materials or comparable responsibilities.
Also called: DOE F 470.3, HRP certification, human reliability
Source: DOE — Forms — Listed by form number and title on the DOE forms index.
You normally see or sign this.
The individual’s acknowledgment of, and agreement to take part in, the Human Reliability Program.
What you do: Sign it to enter the programme. Participation is a condition of the position, not an optional extra.
Also called: DOE F 470.4, HRP agreement, agreement to participate
Source: DOE — Forms — Listed by form number and title on the DOE forms index.
You normally see or sign this.
Consent allowing Human Reliability Program records, including medical and psychological material, to be released within the programme.
Also called: DOE F 470.5, HRP release
Source: DOE — Forms — Listed by form number and title on the DOE forms index.
Human Reliability Program Refusal of Consent
DOE F 470.6You normally see or sign this.
The form recording a refusal to consent within the Human Reliability Program. Refusal has consequences for the position, since participation is a condition of it.
Also called: DOE F 470.6, HRP refusal, refusal of consent
Source: DOE — Forms — Listed by form number and title on the DOE forms index.
You normally see or sign this.
The form used to record alcohol testing carried out under the Human Reliability Program.
Also called: DOE F 470.7, HRP alcohol testing, alcohol test
Source: DOE — Forms — Listed by form number and title on the DOE forms index.
Application for Access Permit
DOE F 471.4You normally see or sign this.
Application for an Energy access permit.
Also called: DOE F 471.4, access permit
Source: DOE — Forms — Listed by form number and title on the DOE forms index.
Request for Visitor Access Approval
DOE F 473.6You normally see or sign this.
Request for approval of visitor access at an Energy site.
Also called: DOE F 473.6, visitor access
Source: DOE — Forms — Listed by form number and title on the DOE forms index.
Getting your own records
How the file is requested and corrected.
File Summary Sheet
DOE F 5631.16Agency-to-agency. You do not normally see this.
The sheet used at Energy to record all official access authorization actions, kept on top of the personnel security file.
Also called: file summary sheet, DOE F 5631.16, personnel security file
Source: DOE M 470.4-5, Personnel Security — DOE M 470.4-5: DOE F 5631.16 "must be used to record all official access authorization actions and placed in the individual’s PSF".
Superseded and obsolete
Forms still met in older files and older decisions. Not in current use.
Agency-to-agency. You do not normally see this. · No longer in current use.
The predecessor to the SF 312. It was cancelled on 8 February 1988 and replaced by the SF 312. It appears in older files and older decisions.
Also called: SF-189, SF189, old NDA
Source: GSA — Standard Forms — GSA forms page records the form as obsolete, "cancelled on 2/8/1988", replaced by the SF 312.
Agency-to-agency. You do not normally see this. · No longer in current use.
A certification form once used alongside the SF 86. GSA records it as obsolete.
Also called: SF-86C, SF86C, certification
Source: GSA — Standard Forms — GSA forms page gives form number SF86C with revision date recorded as "Obsolete".
Related services
If the document you have identified is an adverse one, these are the next steps available.
Each entry was checked against the issuing agency’s own published source, and documents that could not be verified against an official source are deliberately not listed. Descriptive research on published procedures. Not legal advice, and not a prediction about any pending case.