Guideline B – Foreign Influence: What It Means for Your Security Clearance

Foreign influence is one of the most common and complex reasons why security clearances are denied, suspended, or revoked. If you have ties to foreign nationals, conduct business abroad, or maintain financial interests in other countries, your eligibility for a security clearance could be at risk.

At National Security Law Firm, we don’t just understand Guideline B—we live it. Many of our attorneys are former intelligence and military personnel who’ve advised agencies on these exact issues. We bring insider-level insight to help you avoid missteps, correct course, and preserve your career.

What Is Guideline B?

Under the National Security Adjudicative Guidelines, Guideline B – Foreign Influence – focuses on whether your foreign connections could make you vulnerable to coercion, exploitation, or pressure that might cause you to compromise classified information.

Guideline B concerns two main areas:

  1. Relationships with foreign nationals (e.g., family, friends, romantic partners, associates).

  2. Business, financial, or property interests in foreign countries.

Common Situations That Trigger Guideline B Concerns

Guideline B is broad and fact-intensive. Here are just a few examples of real-world scenarios that could raise red flags:

  • Scenario 1: A naturalized U.S. citizen who sends money to family in Iran every month.

  • Scenario 2: A defense contractor who cohabitates with a partner from China.

  • Scenario 3: An employee who owns rental property in Turkey and receives income from it.

  • Scenario 4: An applicant who communicates weekly with a cousin who works for a foreign government.

  • Scenario 5: An SF-86 that omits a foreign friend met during study abroad due to uncertainty about whether they qualify as “close and continuing contact.”

Each of these could present security concerns depending on context—and how you report it.

What the Government Looks At

When evaluating Guideline B issues, adjudicators consider:

  • Nature of the relationship: Are you “bound by affection, influence, common interests, or obligation”?

  • Frequency and closeness of contact: Occasional messages vs. weekly conversations or financial support.

  • Country of origin: Is the foreign national from a U.S. ally or a nation that targets U.S. intelligence?

  • Employment of the foreign national: Do they work for a foreign military, government, or intelligence service?

  • Your business or financial interests abroad: Could they create pressure points or divided loyalties?

How National Security Law Firm Can Help

We’ve helped hundreds of clients successfully navigate Guideline B concerns—whether they’re responding to a Statement of Reasons (SOR), completing the SF-86, or preparing for a DOHA hearing.

Here’s how we help:

  • ✅ Review your SF-86 or draft your SOR response to make sure your disclosures are accurate, strategic, and defensible.

  • ✅ Prepare compelling mitigation packages with evidence showing your loyalty, community ties, and lack of vulnerability.

  • ✅ Coach you for hearings and interviews, including mock questioning based on adjudicator techniques.

  • ✅ Leverage insider experience—our attorneys include former military and intelligence officials who understand how clearance decisions are really made.

  • ✅ Respond fast—we know timelines can be tight, and we prioritize urgent security clearance cases.

Flat Fee Pricing:

  • SF-86 Review: $950

  • Letter of Interrogatory (LOI) Response: $3,500

  • Statement of Reasons (SOR) Response: $5,000 (includes $3,000 LOI credit)

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

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What Are the Mitigating Factors?

If you’ve triggered a concern, don’t panic. Many factors can help resolve Guideline B issues:

  • The contact is casual, infrequent, or clearly not close.

  • The individual is from a U.S. ally (e.g., UK, Canada, Japan).

  • You promptly disclosed all relevant information on the SF-86.

  • Your foreign ties are officially sanctioned (e.g., part of your government job).

  • You have minimal foreign assets, or they’ve since been liquidated.

  • Your life is clearly centered in the U.S. (citizenship, home, family, community involvement).

FAQ – Guideline B: Foreign Influence

Do I have to list every foreign person I’ve ever met on the SF-86?
No. You only need to list those with whom you (or your spouse/cohabitant) have close and/or continuing contact, and with whom you’re bound by affection, influence, common interests, or obligation.

What if I’m not sure how “close” the relationship is?
When in doubt, consult a security clearance attorney. Over-disclosing can raise unnecessary flags. Under-disclosing can be seen as dishonesty. We can help you thread the needle.

What if my foreign contact is a relative but I haven’t spoken to them in years?
That likely does not qualify as “continuing contact.” The context matters. We’ll help you document this clearly in your submission.

Can I be denied just for having family abroad?
Not necessarily. It depends on the nature of the relationship, the country involved, and whether you can show your loyalty lies with the U.S.

Should I reach out to foreign nationals to collect details for the SF-86?
No. Doing so may increase the perception of closeness. It’s safer to mark “I don’t know” if you lack details.

Final Thoughts

Facing a Guideline B issue doesn’t mean you’re disloyal or unfit. It means the government needs assurance that you won’t be influenced or coerced due to your foreign ties. With our help, you can provide that assurance clearly and confidently.

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🛡️ Why Choose NSLF?

At National Security Law Firm, we’re not your average clearance attorneys—we’re the elite unit for national security representation:

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  • SF-86 Review: $950 flat fee
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    This covers everything you need to respond and start defending your clearance.
  • Statement of Reasons (SOR): $5,000 flat fee
     Already paid for your LOI response? You’ll get a $3,000 credit applied here.
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    One fee covers it all—prep, travel, hearing. No hidden costs.

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