These guidelines will help the Department of State respond to your request.

	FOIA requests must be made in writing. There are no special forms needed for making a request.
	You can submit your request by mail, fax, or through our electronic FOIA Request Aid

Fax - (202)261-8579
Address - Margaret P. Grafeld, Information & Privacy Coordinator
Office of Information Resources Management Programs and Services,
A/RPS/IPS, SA-2
Department of State
Washington, D.C.20522-6001
Re: Freedom of Information Act Request

	Write "Freedom of Information Act Request" on the envelope or on the subject line of your fax.
	Include a daytime telephone number in case we need to contact you.
	To learn about Department of State records, go to:

	FAM (Foreign Affairs Manual)
	Department of State Records
	Government Information Locator Service (GILS)
	Government Printing Office's Privacy Act Issuances, 1995 Compilation

	Describe the records you are seeking as clearly and precisely as you can. If your request is vague or too broad, we may ask you to be more specific, and this can delay the processing of your request (See 22CFR171.10(a))
	State your willingness to pay the applicable fees or provide a justification to support a fee waiver (See 22CFR171.15 and Fee Structure).
	For information about how the Department of State processes FOIA requests, refer to FAQs.
	To understand the scope of the law, refer to Text of the 1996 FOIA.
	To learn what types of records maintained by the Department of State may be exempted from disclosure under FOIA, go to 22 CFR 171, section 171.11.
	Your appeal rights are discussed in Appealing A FOIA Decision.