General FAQs on the Background Investigations Process

The investigation is a job requirement. Providing the information is voluntary, but if you choose not to provide the required information, you will not meet the requirements of the job and will therefore not be considered further. If you are already employed by the Federal government, your appointment will be terminated. The courts have upheld this principle.

Federal Government regulations do not present requirements that allow for an individual to independently apply for an investigation, positions maintained by contractor, or security clearance. Clearances are based on investigations requested by Federal agencies, appropriate to specific positions and their duties. Until a person is offered such a position, the government will not request or pay for an investigation for a clearance. Once a person has been offered a job, in order for the person to be eligible to hold the Federal position or work on behalf of the Federal Government, a sponsoring Federal agency will require the person to complete a Standard Form 86, Questionnaire for National Security Positions. The sponsoring agency that requested the individual fill out the standard form will then initiate the investigation, adjudicate the results, and issue the appropriate clearance. Some Defense Department contractors require applicants to already have a clearance, and they have the right to administer their personnel hiring procedures the way they want as long as they don't discriminate based on prohibited factors (such as race or religion). Persons who already have clearances are those who are already employed by a government contractor (or by the government itself) and are looking for other job opportunities.

Immediately notify the security officials (your sponsoring agency) to whom you submitted the questionnaire.

As defined in Executive Order 13764, ‘Adjudication’ means the evaluation of pertinent data in a background investigation, as well as any other available information that is relevant and reliable, to determine whether a covered individual is: (i) suitable for Government employment; (ii) eligible for logical and physical access; (iii) eligible for access to classified information; (iv) eligible to hold a sensitive position; or (v) fit to perform work for or on behalf of the Government as a Federal employee, contractor, or nonappropriated fund employee.

Educational history is necessary for jobs that require specific education and expertise. Any information supplied by the applicant must be verified.

Your bankruptcy does not restrict you from applying for Federal positions for which you may qualify; however, each Federal Agency or department to which you apply is responsible for making the appropriate access, fitness, suitability and/or clearance determination.  Therefore, it will be up to the hiring agency to decide the impact your bankruptcy has on the hiring decision for a position with fiduciary responsibilities or any other position within the agency. 

You may go to a police station to be fingerprinted. In most instances, however, the agency requiring the investigation and clearance will fingerprint you.

No. It will neither hurt nor help your chances.

All customers for which the National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB) initiates an IPAC payment transaction are required to populate the Treasury Account Symbol (TAS) field within e-QIP, which identifies the submitting agency's fund account that will be used to pay for the requested background investigation.  The Component TAS is a financial code, assigned by the Department of the Treasury, comprised of many separate, component pieces / sub-fields.  Please refer to the Component TAS Helpful Tips and e-QIP Format Conversions document (PDF file) for additional information.