# Foreign contacts / University classmates **URL:** \ **Category:** INVESTIGATORS\ **Created:** [April 17, 2025, 9:50am UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/foreign-contacts-university-classmates/20508 "2025-04-17T09:50:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bigdawg101](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba9def/32.png) [@bigdawg101](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/bigdawg101)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 9:50am UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/foreign-contacts-university-classmates/20508/1 "2025-04-17T09:50:06Z")
So one of the questions in the SF-86 asks: “Do you have, or have you had, close and/or continuing contact with a foreign national within the last seven (7) years with whom you, or your spouse, or legally recognized civil union/domestic partner, or cohabitant are bound by affection, influence, common interests, and/or obligation?” I have some family members who are foreign nationals and I will include those. But what about classmates from my university who are foreign nationals? Who I am in contact with when studying, doing homework, helping each other with the class, etc. Do I include them too? ---
**Author:** ![PIPSr](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/pipsr/32/2101_2.png) [@PIPSr](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/PIPSr)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 11:36am UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/foreign-contacts-university-classmates/20508/2 "2025-04-17T11:36:18Z")
Do you have a close relationship with any of these classmates? The key to the question is affection, influence. Are these classmates people that you would break a law to protect, or could you be blackmailed because of your association with your classmates? Also, do you associate with these classmates outside of class on a regular basis where you’re not involved in any kind of study? If you do not have a close personal relationship with your classmates, then I would not list them. ---
**Author:** ![SMCVA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@SMCVA](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/SMCVA)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/foreign-contacts-university-classmates/20508/3 "2025-04-17T15:53:26Z")
The question reads “close and/or continuing contact” bound by “common interests” My understanding, as a long time investigator, is that if you have current classmates with whom you are studying, meeting for group projects, etc, these folks would need to be listed, without asking them for information. So don’t go to your project mates and ask for their birthdates, citizenships, etc. List what information you know even though your contact with them is only course related. The relationship does not have to be close or feelings of affection in order to be required to be listed. Hope this helps. ---
**Author:** ![Weeble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7cd45c/32.png) [@Weeble](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/u/Weeble)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2025, 2:51am UTC](https://discuss.clearancejobsblog.com/t/foreign-contacts-university-classmates/20508/4 "2025-04-20T02:51:14Z")
No one is ever going to give you a clear definition of who you should or shouldn’t list as a foreign contact. Immediate relatives that you have ongoing relationships with can most certainly be considered as such. Some will guide you to list every person you have ever met that has a “foreign sounding name” Others will guide you to only list those you have regular ongoing influence and contact. You are the captain of the “listing” ship.