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HOW TO MAKE A FOIA REQUEST

Although there is no standard format or form to use when requesting records from the State Department, you may find the FOIA Request Letter Generator below helpful in structuring your request.

Please Note: If you are making a request for personal records regarding yourself, you must provide an original signature. Accordingly, you will not be able to submit your request via the FOIA Request Letter Generator. Please go to "About the Privacy Act" in Frequently Asked Questions.

Also, to find out what records are available from the State Department please go to "About State Department Records" in Frequently Asked Questions. Generally, permanent records older than 25 years, or pre-1925 passport and pre-1940 visa records are with the National Archives and Records Administration.


FOIA REQUEST AID

The FOIA Request Letter Generator, with its accompanying help buttons, is designed to aid you in formulating a letter to request State Department records under the FOIA. Please click the help buttons for detailed information.
Office of Information Programs and Services
A/RPS/IPS/RL
U. S. Department of State, SA-2
Washington, D. C. 20522-6001
Date: 11/12/2004
Dear FOIA Officer:
This is a request filed under the Freedom of Information Act.

Date range of request:
Between (mm/yyyy)   and  

Description of request ( ):
We strongly recommend that you use the tips if this is the first time you are submitting an online request.
For faster processing, please restrict the parameters of this FOIA request to the State Department's automated online electronic repository of Central Foreign Policy Files-- State Archiving System (SAS). SAS contains over 25 million electronic records including telegraphic and written communications from/through the Department and its diplomatic and consular posts from July 1976 to present.

Agreement to pay fees: Please be advised that by making a FOIA request, it shall be considered an agreement by you to pay all applicable fees charged under (22 CFR 171.14), up to $25.00, unless you seek a waiver of fees. We will confirm this agreement in our acknowledgement letter. When making a request, you may specify a willingness to pay a greater or lesser amount.

I am willing to pay fees for this request up to a maximum of
$ . Please inform me if the estimated fees will exceed this limit before processing my request.

Fee Category: Please Check the appropriate fee category so that we may properly and accurately assess fees for your request.

Note:   Please review the Fee Structure for Request to assist you in determining your fee category.
an individual seeking information for personal use and not for commercial use.
a representative of the news media affiliated with seeking information as part of a news gathering effort and not for commercial use. (Additional documentation or comments will be required. See )
affiliated with an educational or noncommercial scientific institution seeking information for a scholarly or scientific purpose and not for commercial use. (Additional documentation will be required. See )
affiliated with a private corporation and seeking information for use in the company's business.



Additional Comments

Thank you for your consideration of my request.
Sincerely, "Your name"

How to Contact You: This website does not automatically collect your e-mail address. In order for us to respond or contact you, you must include either your e-mail address or a mailing address.

Your Name


Your E-mail Address


Street Address


City


State or Country


Zip or Postal Code


Telephone Number


Fax Number




Please note: If your request seeks personal information about a living person, your request must be:

• mailed in (and cannot be faxed or submitted online)
• accompanied either by an original, notarized signature, or an original signature with a "penalty of perjury statement"
( )
• if required, a Third Party Authorization
If, however, your request does not concern personal information on a living person, you may fax your Freedom of Informaiton Act request to (202) 261-8579, or mail it to the address shown above.

The confidentiality of communications sent via the Internet cannot be guaranteed and the electronic submission of your Freedom of Information Act request is purely voluntary. You may also print the contents of your request letter and submit via fax at (202) 261-8579 or via U.S. mail.


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