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Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

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FOIA Request and Appeal Checklist

Please include the following information in your request:

  • Title (for example: Dr, Miss, Mr, Mrs, Ms)
  • Full name (required)
  • Address (required)
  • Daytime phone number (required)
  • Description of documents that are being requested (required)
  • Maximum dollar amount requestor willing to pay for the request (required)
  • Fax number
  • Email address
  • Description of requestor (required). Choices are:
    • An individual seeking information for personal use.
    • Affiliated with an educational or noncommercial scientific institution, and this request is made for a scholarly purpose.
    • Affiliated with a private corporation and seeking information for use in the company's business.
    • A representative of the news media/press and this request is made as part of news gathering and not for commercial use.
    • Affiliated with a public interest group and this request is not for commercial use.
  • Request for a waiver of fees, if requested information is in the public interest because it is likely to contribute significantly to public understanding of the operations or activities of the government and is not primarily in your commercial interest.
  • Explanation for a request for a waiver of fees (required if a waiver is requested)

Please include the following information in your appeal:

  • Title (for example: Dr, Miss, Mr, Mrs, Ms)
  • Full name (required)
  • Address (required)
  • Daytime phone number (required)
  • Fax number
  • Email address
  • Reason for the appeal (required)
  • Date of the original request (required)
  • Date of the Department's response (required)
  • Request number (required)
  • Supporting documentation

If you want your request to be made under the Privacy Act as well, include a statement signed under penalty of perjury stating that you are the person who you claim to be.

Note: Under certain circumstances you may be entitled to receive more information under the Privacy Act of 1974 than under the FOIA. Privacy Act requests can be made only by U.S. citizens or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent U.S. residence who are seeking information about themselves in a system of records maintained under their names or other personal identifiers. Even if a request does not mention the Privacy Act, ED automatically treats requests as being made under both the FOIA and the Privacy Act, whenever it is appropriate to do so. Thus, requesters receive the maximum amount of information available to them by law.


 
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Last Modified: 10/17/2005