Is Your Foreign Connection Jeopardizing Your Clearance? Here’s How to Protect It.

You’ve built a career around trust, service, and access to sensitive information. But now, a personal detail has raised alarm bells: your spouse, parent, or close contact is a foreign national—or you have substantial ties abroad. Suddenly, the life you’ve built in the U.S. feels like it’s under scrutiny.

Maybe you’ve received a Statement of Reasons (SOR) citing Guideline B: Foreign Influence. Maybe you’re about to submit your SF-86 and aren’t sure what to include. Or maybe your clearance has already been suspended, and you’re trying to figure out what went wrong.

You’re not alone—and you’re not doomed.

At National Security Law Firm, we help federal employees, military personnel, and contractors across the country navigate foreign influence concerns with confidence. We know how to turn red flags into non-issues—and how to build compelling defenses that get our clients cleared.

In this post, we’ll break down what Guideline B really means, why foreign ties trigger concerns, and—most importantly—how to handle those concerns in a way that protects your clearance, your job, and your future.

What Is Guideline B (Foreign Influence)?

Under Security Executive Agent Directive 4 (SEAD 4), Guideline B addresses the concern that an individual’s foreign contacts, assets, or relationships may pose a risk of undue influence, exploitation, or coercion—especially by foreign governments or entities hostile to the United States.

Common Triggers for Foreign Influence Concerns:

  • A spouse, fiancé(e), or domestic partner who is a foreign national

  • Parents, siblings, or children living abroad

  • Ongoing contact with friends, business partners, or former colleagues outside the U.S.

  • Property or financial interests held in foreign countries

  • Dual citizenship or possession of a foreign passport

  • Extended travel or employment overseas

But here’s the truth: not all foreign ties are disqualifying. The government looks at the totality of the circumstances, and strong mitigation can overcome even complex international relationships.

Step-by-Step Guide to Handling Foreign Influence Concerns

1. Disclose Everything—Don’t Minimize or Hide

Whether you’re completing an SF-86 or responding to a SOR, the first rule is simple: full disclosure.

  • List all foreign contacts with whom you have close or continuing relationships (as required by SF-86, Section 19)

  • Disclose citizenship, employment, or military service of foreign relatives

  • Report foreign property or business interests

  • Identify countries visited, even for leisure

Failing to disclose is almost always worse than the underlying relationship. Investigators view omissions as deceptive, and that can trigger an additional concern under Guideline E: Personal Conduct.

2. Demonstrate Loyalty, Integration, and U.S.-Centric Life

Clearance decisions weigh the strength of your foreign ties against your demonstrated allegiance to the United States. The more integrated you are into American life—and the more distant or routine your foreign contacts—the better your odds.

What Helps:

  • Long-term residence and employment in the U.S.

  • U.S. citizenship of the applicant and immediate family

  • Clear intention to remain in the U.S. permanently

  • Limited frequency or depth of foreign communications

  • No evidence of influence or control by foreign persons or entities

Hypothetical Example:
A contractor married to a foreign national from an allied country discloses the relationship, explains the spouse’s intent to naturalize, and provides proof that the spouse has no ties to their home government. The contractor also shows they’ve spent their entire adult life in the U.S., own property here, and have no dual loyalties. Result? Clearance granted.

3. Mitigate the Risk Using SEAD 4 Factors

SEAD 4 lists several mitigating factors under Guideline B that you can use to your advantage. These include:

  • The nature of the foreign contact is such that it is unlikely to result in exploitation

  • The contact is with a close relative, cohabitant, or associate who is not a foreign agent and does not pose a risk

  • The foreign country involved is friendly to the U.S. and has stable democratic institutions

  • The individual has deep and longstanding U.S. ties that outweigh any foreign interests

  • There is no indication of divided loyalties

Pro Tip: Frame your case using these exact phrases. Back them up with documentation and examples.

4. Collect and Submit Supporting Documentation

The government doesn’t take your word for it—you need proof.

Examples of Helpful Evidence:

  • U.S. passports, naturalization certificates, or green cards

  • Copies of communications with foreign contacts (to show innocuous nature)

  • Proof of family members’ permanent residence in the U.S.

  • Letters from supervisors or colleagues affirming your loyalty and professionalism

  • Documentation of property ownership, employment, or business exclusively in the U.S.

5. Address Dual Citizenship and Foreign Passports

If you hold dual citizenship or have a foreign passport, take action before applying or as part of your defense:

  • Renounce foreign citizenship (when possible)

  • Surrender or destroy any foreign passports and document the act

  • Write a clear statement affirming that your loyalty lies with the United States

Hypothetical Example:
A clearance applicant who was born abroad but naturalized in the U.S. voluntarily renounces dual citizenship and provides a sworn affidavit explaining their decision. They submit this with their SF-86 and proactively mitigate the issue—before it becomes a problem.

What If I Already Received a Statement of Reasons (SOR)?

If you’ve already been flagged under Guideline B and received a SOR, don’t panic. There’s still time to mount an effective defense.

At NSLF, we will:

  • Review your investigative file for errors, inconsistencies, or gaps

  • Help you draft a compelling written response grounded in SEAD 4 mitigation

  • Gather strategic supporting evidence, including letters of support and expert testimony

  • Represent you at your DOHA or agency hearing, if necessary

  • Push for the best possible outcome—restoration, reinstatement, or reversal of revocation

Our Pricing (and Financing Options)

We offer clear, flat-fee pricing to help you plan your defense:

  • SF-86 Review: $950

  • LOI Response: $3,500

  • SOR Response: $5,000

    • If you previously hired us for the LOI, we credit $3,000 toward your SOR response

  • Hearing Representation (includes travel): $7,500

Need help covering the cost? We offer legal financing through Pay Later by Affirm—split your payments over 3, 6, 12, or 24 months. Learn more here:
👉 https://www.nationalsecuritylawfirm.com/financing/

Why Choose National Security Law Firm?

Foreign influence cases are complex. You need a team that knows the law, understands the stakes, and has the experience to win.

Here’s why NSLF is the nation’s go-to clearance defense firm:

  • 4.9-star Google rating from hundreds of successful clients: Read our reviews

  • Former clearance adjudicators, military prosecutors, and federal agency attorneys

  • Weekly “Attorney Review Board” meetings to strategize difficult cases

  • Based in Washington, D.C., with nationwide representation

  • Attorneys who hold or have held clearances themselves

  • Founded by disabled veterans committed to protecting your ability to serve

We’ve handled hundreds of foreign influence cases. We know what evidence works, how to explain complex relationships, and how to convince the government you are not a risk.

National Security Law Firm: It’s Our Turn to Fight for You.

Additional Resources

Want to dive deeper into security clearance strategy?

Visit our Security Clearance Practice Area page to explore:

  • Common mistakes to avoid

  • How to win your case

  • Defense strategies for each adjudicative guideline

  • What to expect from the process

  • What to do if your clearance is suspended or revoked

Everything you need to build your strongest possible case—all in one place.

Don’t Wait—The Time to Protect Your Clearance Is Now

Whether you’re about to submit your SF-86 or have already received a Statement of Reasons, there’s one thing we want you to know: there’s still time to fix this—but every day counts.

We’ll help you take control of the situation, preserve your clearance eligibility, and build a rock-solid defense.

The quicker you act, the better your chances of success.
👉 Schedule your free consultation now

No call centers, no waiting. Just expert advice, customized strategy, and real peace of mind.

National Security Law Firm: It’s Our Turn to Fight for You.