Request Records through the Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act

Avoid Delays! Make Your FOIA Request Online

During the national COVID-19 response, our capacity to process paper FOIA requests and deliver records by mail will be greatly reduced.

Use our online FOIA system to request:

Your own immigration record,
Another person’s immigration record, or
Non-A-File information such as policies, data, or communications.

We will post our response to your request in your USCIS online account and notify you.

Get your response faster, keep our workforce safe, and reduce the spread of COVID-19 by making your FOIA request online.

Records You Can Request from USCIS

Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), you can request:

Your immigration record;
Another person’s immigration record; or
Non-A-File information such as USCIS policies, data, or communications.

To Receive Your Records as Efficiently as Possible

Visit the USCIS Electronic Reading Room to confirm we have not already posted the records you need.
Make your request with the right agency by reviewing the sections below. We do not have all immigration records.
Request only the records you need, as we can return precise requests faster.

How to Request Records from USCIS

To request	You should
Your immigration record or A-File Another person’s immigration record, with their approval Non-A-File information such as USCIS policies, data, or communications	Use our online FOIA system Request records online to instantly: Get your request in line for processing; Know we received your request; and Be notified when we process your request. Online records are easy to: Access from a phone, tablet, or computer; Send to another person; and Download and print. Watch a video tutorial (youtube.com)
Current average FOIA request processing times The status of your FOIA records request	Visit the Check Request Status page, scroll down, and enter your FOIA control number
Records that are more than 100 years old	File Form G-1041, Genealogy Index Search Request
Information about our FOIA process or operation	Email FOIAPAQuestions@uscis.dhs.gov
Records on behalf of a member of Congress	Email congressionalnrc@uscis.dhs.gov
Immigration records by physical mail	NOTE: Requesting records by mail will increase your processing time. To request records by mail, you will need to: Print, complete, sign, and mail Form G-639, Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Request; or Provide your full name, mailing address, date of birth, place of birth, and a signature that is notarized or one that is executed under penalty of perjury. You will also: Wait for us to receive your request, open it, and add it to our processing line; and Potentially need to mail more information to us to complete your request. Receive a compact disk in the mail that contains your immigration record. Or you may request and receive your records more quickly using our online FOIA system.
Accessible records under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act	Email FOIAPAQuestions@uscis.dhs.gov with: Subject line "FOIA Disability Accommodations" Your name A phone number where you can be reached Your FOIA Control Number We will contact you to assist.

How We Process Your FOIA Request

The more precise you make your request, the more efficiently we can return the records you need.

You can check the status of an existing FOIA request on the Check Status of FOIA Request page.

If you request	We consider this a
Specific documents from an immigration file (A-File)	Simple request, so it is likely to move quickly.
A complete record Most of a record Non-A-File material	Complex request, so our review will likely take a significant amount of time. If you request “the application and all supporting documents,” our review will require more time than a request for a specific document.
An A-File as soon as possible, because you have a scheduled hearing with an immigration judge.	Priority request, but you must include a copy of one of the following forms, issued by the Department of Homeland Security or Department of Justice, with your request: Form I-862, Notice to Appear, documenting a future scheduled date of the subject’s hearing before the immigration judge; Form I-122, Order to Show Cause, documenting a future scheduled date of the subject’s hearing before the immigration judge; Form I-863, Notice of Referral to Immigration Judge; or A written notice of continuation of a future scheduled hearing before the immigration judge.

If you request

We consider this a

Specific documents from an immigration file (A-File)

Simple request, so it is likely to move quickly.

A complete record
Most of a record
Non-A-File material

Complex request, so our review will likely take a significant amount of time.

If you request “the application and all supporting documents,” our review will require more time than a request for a specific document.

An A-File as soon as possible, because you have a scheduled hearing with an immigration judge.

Priority request, but you must include a copy of one of the following forms, issued by the Department of Homeland Security or Department of Justice, with your request:

Form I-862, Notice to Appear, documenting a future scheduled date of the subject’s hearing before the immigration judge;
Form I-122, Order to Show Cause, documenting a future scheduled date of the subject’s hearing before the immigration judge;
Form I-863, Notice of Referral to Immigration Judge; or
A written notice of continuation of a future scheduled hearing before the immigration judge.

Disputing a FOIA Request

If you wish to dispute a USCIS FOIA request, please visit the website of the Office of Government Information Services (OGIS). OGIS offers mediation between FOIA requestors and federal agencies.

How to Request Immigration Records from Other Federal Agencies

USCIS does not have all immigration records, so be sure to make your request to the right agency.

To request	You should consult
Records of apprehension, detention, deportation, entry, exit, expedited removal, background investigations, or inspections by Customs and Border Protection I-94 records Travel industry reservation data such as passenger name record (PNR) Voluntary return	U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Importer Trade Activity (ITRAC)	U.S. Customs and Border Protection, ITRAC
Applications from U.S. citizens for U.S. passports Visa requests from non-citizens to enter the U.S.	U.S. Department of State
Bond obligor requests Medical records while someone was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Student and Exchange Visitor Information affecting those previously or currently in F-1, F-3, J-1, M-1, and I-20 status	U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE)