What is this clearance document?

Agency-to-agency. You do not normally see this.

What it is

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.

What it is

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.

What it is

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".

Agency-to-agency. You do not normally see this.

What it is

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

Full entry for FIPC 45A

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.

What it is

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

Full entry for CCT

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.

What it is

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

Full entry for COI

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.

What it is

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.

What it is

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.

What it is

An agency request for a determination or an advisory opinion in a federal investigation.

Also called

INV 60, INV-60, request for determination, advisory

Full entry for INV 60

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.

What it is

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

Full entry for INV 86C

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.

What it is

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

Full entry for INV 41

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.

What it is

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

Full entry for INV 44

Source: OMB information collection 0705-0003. Named in the approved OMB collection for INV 40-44; participation required by 5 U.S.C. 9101.