By Haris
Section 19 of the SF-86 turns on the bond, not the passport. What counts as a foreign contact, how much detail to give, and what reporting follows. Section 19 of the SF-86 turns on the bond you share with someone, not on the passport they hold. Here is what counts, how much detail an adjudicator needs, and what reporting continues after you submit. Section 19 of the SF-86 asks one question, and SF-86 foreign contacts is the part of the form people answer wrong. The question asks about "close and/or continuing contact with a foreign national within the last seven (7) years." It then narrows that to someone you are "bound by affection, influence, common interests, and/or obligation." So report every relationship that meets the bond test, not every person who holds a foreign passport. A work friend you confide in counts. A second cousin abroad you have not contacted since childhood probably does not. Then give enough detail for an adjudicator to judge the risk, because the detail is what mitigates. What SF-86 Foreign Contacts Means The form defines a foreign national as any person who is not a citizen or national of the U.S. That definition does little on its own. The question reaches only contact that is close, continuing, or both, inside a seven-year window. Read the pronoun carefully. The question covers your contacts and also those of your spouse, your legally recognized civil union or domestic partner, and your cohabitant. A relationship you have never had yourself can still belong in Section 19. DCSA's applicant guide adds the instruction that catches people out. It tells you to "Include associates as well as relatives, not previously listed in Section 18." Section 19 is the catch-all, and Section 18 takes first claim on anyone who is a relative. "Bound by" is the hinge. Affection, influence, common interests and obligation are four separate tests, and the form joins them with "and/or." Any one of the four is enough. Our guide to clearance levels (/blog/security-clearance-levels-explained) covers which eligibility a given role actually needs. Four Sections, One Relationship The SF-86 spreads foreign life across four places, and one person can appear in three of them. Section 18 asks you to list relatives by type, regardless of citizenship and regardless of whether they are living or deceased. The list runs from mother and father through stepparents, foster parents, children, siblings, half-siblings, parents-in-law and guardian. For each one you give address, place of birth including state and country, citizenship, contact details, employer information, and any contact that person has with foreign government or military personnel. Section 19 then takes everyone left: friends, colleagues, former classmates, landlords, in-laws outside the Section 18 list. Section 20A asks whether you, your spouse or
Section 19 of the SF-86 turns on the bond you share with someone, not on the passport they hold. Here is what counts, how much detail an adjudicator needs, and what reporting continues after you submit.
Section 19 of the SF-86 asks one question, and SF-86 foreign contacts is the part of the form people answer wrong. The question asks about "close and/or continuing contact with a foreign national within the last seven (7) years." It then narrows that to someone you are "bound by affection, influence, common interests, and/or obligation." So report every relationship that meets the bond test, not every person who holds a foreign passport. A work friend you confide in counts. A second cousin abroad you have not contacted since childhood probably does not. Then give enough detail for an adjudicator to judge the risk, because the detail is what mitigates. What SF-86 Foreign Contacts Means The form defines a foreign national as any person who is not a citizen or national of the U.S. That definition does little on its own. The question reaches only contact that is close, continuing, or both, inside a seven-year window. Read the pronoun carefully. The question covers your contacts and also those of your spouse, your legally recognized civil union or domestic partner, and your cohabitant. A relationship you have never had yourself can still belong in Section 19. DCSA's applicant guide adds the instruction that catches people out. It tells you to "Include associates as well as relatives, not previously listed in Section 18." Section 19 is the catch-all, and Section 18 takes first claim on anyone who is a relative. "Bound by" is the hinge. Affection, influence, common interests and obligation are four separate tests, and the form joins them with "and/or." Any one of the four is enough. Our guide to clearance levels (/blog/security-clearance-levels-explained) covers which eligibility a given role actually needs. Four Sections, One Relationship The SF-86 spreads foreign life across four places, and one person can appear in three of them. Section 18 asks you to list relatives by type, regardless of citizenship and regardless of whether they are living or deceased. The list runs from mother and father through stepparents, foster parents, children, siblings, half-siblings, parents-in-law and guardian. For each one you give address, place of birth including state and country, citizenship, contact details, employer information, and any contact that person has with foreign government or military personnel. Section 19 then takes everyone left: friends, colleagues, former classmates, landlords, in-laws outside the Section 18 list. Section 20A asks whether you, your spouse or
Contact Shaavir · View services · Read the blog · Careers · Case studies · Privacy policy · Terms