Web Browser Requirements 

If using Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), you 

must have version 5.5 or later, with Service Pack 2. Internet Options for IE should be set as follows: 

• Enable JavaScript 

• Enable Cookies 

• Enable Scripting 

• Enable TLS 1.0 (this option is disabled 

by default.)

To enable TLS 1.0 in IE, on the top menu: 

• Select TOOLS 

• Select INTERNET OPTIONS 

• Select the tab labeled ADVANCED 

• Scroll down to the section labeled 

SECURITY 

• Check the box to enable TLS 1.0

• Click the OK button to save

If using AOL, open a separate window in IE 

(outside AOL) and set TLS 1.0 following the instructions above; or directly within AOL, go to 

the top menu in AOL, then: 

• Select SAFETY 

• Select SETTINGS 

• Select INTERNET PROPERTIES 

• Under RELATED SETTINGS, select 

INTERNET EXPLORER SETTINGS, then the ADVANCED tab

• Scroll down to SECURITY 

• Check TLS 1.0• Click the APPLY and OK buttons

• Click SAVE in the AOL Browser Settings

If you are using Mozilla, you must have at least 

version 0.9.4. Although security settings may already be defaulted to the proper values, you should verify so by following this process: 

• Select EDIT• Select PREFERENCES

• Select PRIVACY AND SECURITY

• Select SSL

• Under SSL Protocol Versions, enable SSL 

VERSION 2, SSL VERSION 3, and 

TLS

ELECTRONIC QUESTIONNAIRES FOR 

INVESTIGATIONS PROCESSING 

QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE 

FOR THE APPLICANT 

U.S. Office of Personnel Management 

Center for Federal Investigative Services 

Questions? Please contact: 

U.S. Office of Personnel Management 

1900 E Street NW, Room 5416 

Washington, DC 20415 

ATTN: OPM e-QIP Project Officer 

E-mail: e-QIP@opm.gov 

Brochure revised October 22, 2013

Mozilla users must als

enabled to use cookies

browser’s toolbar and v

• Select EDIT 

• Select PREFE

• Select PRIVA

• Select COOK

• Ensure that ei

FOR THE OONLY or EN

checked

e-QIP is also compatib

Navigator, version 6.1 

If you are using JAWS 

please note that JAWS 

Explorer, version 5.5 o

Getting Started 

1. Start your inte

following UR

www.opm.

2. The e-QIP Ga

Scroll down a

e-QIP APPL

3. A “browser ch

automatically for e-QIP com

CONTINUE application. (Ithe error messDisplayed,” pinstructions to 

4. A Security Al

“Do you want 

button with th

Y> to continu

5. The e-QIP W

Enter your Sotext entry box

button to logo
Entering Your Golden Questions/Answers 

After you have selected your set of Golden Questions/Answers, enter each Question under a “Question” header and enter the corresponding Answer under the "Answer" block directly under that question. You must provide a non-blank answer for each question you provide, and vice versa. You must provide three Golden Questions. It is your responsibility to protect the answers to your Golden Questions. Golden Answers are your “password” to the e-QIP system. The text entry 

fields for Golden Answers are not password 

protected to allow for more accurate entry of your 

answers. Asterisks automatically mask Golden Answers, but if you choose, you can view your answers while typing them by clicking the ALLOW ME TO SEE MY GOLDEN ANSWERS checkbox. Do not allow someone to

see your computer screen while your answers areon the screen. If someone acquires your answers,they will be able to logon to the e-QIP system

under your identity, allowing them to access your

personal data.

Entering Your Data 

First Time Data Entry: Prior to entering data for 

the first time, read the instructions on the “Form Completion Instructions” screen. Indicate that you have read and understand the document by clicking the corresponding button. You will then be shown a disclaimer screen that provides additional instructions required by Executive Order 12968. You will need to indicate that you have read and understand the additional instructions by clicking the corresponding button. Question Navigation: You may use the Navigation 

pull-down menu to go to any question, in any order by selecting the item and clicking GO. The 

navigation menu is located in the top right-hand corner of the screen. 

Errors and Warnings: After clicking SAVE, if the 

system displays the same screen with "Validation 

Results" listed at the top, you must correct the data you have just entered. You will only get validationappropriately. For validation "Error" messages, you may correct 

your data by scrolling to the appropriate field andediting. After making corrections, click the SAVE

button at the bottom of this page to save your 

changes. For validation “Warning” messages, you may 

either provide the requested information or click the EXPLAIN button next to the message to 

explain why the information cannot be supplied. Upon clicking EXPLAIN you may provide an 

explanation in the text field or check the box labeled I DO NOT KNOW THE REQUESTED

 INFORMATION. After choosing an action, click the SAVE button to 

save your changes. For validation "Error" and "Warning" messages, you may also choose to click the SAVE/CONTINUE button. If you click SAVE/CONTINUE, you may advance to the next question screen and correct the information at a later time prior to the final submission of your form. If you make a mistake and want to start over on a given screen, click on the RESET THIS SCREEN

button at any time prior to clicking the SAVE

button. 

When you are finished and ready to proceed, click the SAVE button. Upon clicking SAVE, your 

information will be submitted and you will proceed to the next screen. 

Displaying Your Data When you are ready to display and/or print your SF-86 information that has been entered into eQIP, select the “Display” command from the top 

banner (located in the upper left-hand corner). 

By selecting “Display”, a new browser window will appear using Adobe Acrobat Reader. This 

window will generate a display on the screen aentered up to that point

the displayed data by f

PRINT from the new balso save a copy of the floppy disk. To do so, to save the file. If you your forms, please see the “Getting Started” s

Validating Your DaAlthough the e-QIP syvalidate your data after also do a manual validnavigation pull-down mVALIDATE, REVIEWselect GO to the right othe system will take yoThe validation results m

be corrected. Read the 

associated errors. To cnavigation pull-down mthat needs to be editedchanges, and click the 

Listing Expected AYou should create a lisexpect to provide to yoEveryone will have a ssuch as the SF-86 GenOF 306, etc. There madepending on what posAsk your agency if you attachments you are reTo create your list of ethe navigation pull-dowEXPECTED ATTAC

to the right of the pull-will take you to that scthis automatically if yoin sequence. If you choquestion, you will need manually.)