Continuous Vetting Self-Reporting: What Cleared People Must Report
Once you hold a clearance, reporting doesn't stop at the SF-86. Under SEAD 3 and Continuous Vetting, certain life events need to go to your security office as they happen. Here is what to report and how to stay organized.
The Short Answer
Security Executive Agent Directive 3 (SEAD 3) sets the minimum reporting requirements for everyone with access to classified information or in a sensitive position. Agencies can add more. Continuous Vetting, run by DCSA, adds automated record checks between investigations, but it does not replace your duty to self-report.
What to Report
The list below summarizes common SEAD 3 categories. Requirements differ by clearance level and agency, so confirm the details and timing with your security office.
| Event | What to report | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Unofficial foreign travel | Report itinerary before you go and any unusual contacts after you return, as your agency requires. Pre-approval may be required for some clearance levels. | SEAD 3 |
| Foreign contacts | Unofficial contact with a known or suspected foreign intelligence entity, and continuing association with foreign nationals involving bonds of affection, personal obligation, or intimate contact. | SEAD 3 |
| Foreign activities | Foreign bank accounts, foreign property, voting in a foreign election, adopting non-U.S. citizen children, applying for or getting foreign citizenship or a foreign passport. | SEAD 3 and agency policy |
| Financial issues | Bankruptcy, wage garnishment, liens, delinquency over 120 days, and other significant financial problems. | SEAD 3 |
| Arrests and criminal matters | Any arrest, regardless of whether charges are filed, and criminal charges including those later dismissed. | SEAD 3 |
| Alcohol and drug treatment | Alcohol or drug-related treatment, as your agency's policy defines. | SEAD 3 |
| Changes in personal status | Marriage, cohabitation, divorce, legal name change, and changes in citizenship. | SEAD 3 and agency policy |
| Media contact | Contact with the media where the media seeks access to classified or protected information, or about your agency. | SEAD 3 |
| Others' conduct | Reportable behavior you observe in other cleared people, such as security violations or unexplained affluence. | SEAD 3 |
How Continuous Vetting Fits In
Most of the cleared workforce is now enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which checks sources like criminal, financial, and public records on an ongoing basis. If something shows up in those checks that you never reported, it can raise questions on its own. Reporting first, in your own words, keeps your record consistent. See Continuous Vetting, Explained for how enrollment works.
Keep a Simple Record
- Write it down when it happens. Date, what happened, who you reported it to, and when.
- Keep copies. Save travel itineraries, court papers, and financial paperwork with your report date.
- Line it up with your next form. Your next SF-86 or reinvestigation will ask about many of the same events. Matching dates matter.
Common Snags
- Waiting for charges. SEAD 3 lists arrests, not only convictions.
- Forgetting the return report. Foreign travel reporting often has a before and an after step.
- Assuming CV caught it. Automated checks don't satisfy your own reporting duty.
Get the Printable Checklist
Keep a one-page reminder of the categories with a reporting log: Download the Continuous Vetting Self-Reporting Checklist (PDF). Also see SEAD 3 Self-Reporting, Explained and Foreign Travel Reporting With a Clearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Continuous Vetting replace self-reporting?
No. Automated record checks run alongside your own reporting duty. DCSA describes self-reporting as a continuing obligation for everyone enrolled.
Who do I report to?
Your security officer (FSO) or agency security office. Your agency may have its own forms, systems, and timelines on top of SEAD 3.
Will reporting something hurt my clearance?
This guide can't predict any outcome. Ask your security office about your situation. Reporting promptly is part of what you agreed to when you were cleared.