U.S. Department of State Information Access Guide

October 26, 2010 by Thomas Esparza
Filed under Features

April 13, 2010
Office of Information Programs and Services

CONTENTS:

UNCLASSIFIED

Page 1 of 25

Information Access Guide
I Introduction 3
II Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 4
1. General
2. FOIA Exemptions
3. FOIA Reading Room
III Department of State Records 5
1. Records Maintained by the Department of State
2. Records Available Without Making a FOIA Request
3. Records Available at the National Archives
4. Department of State Public Reading Room
IV Requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 7
1. Where to Make a FOIA Request
2. How to Make a FOIA Request
3. What to Expect Next
4. Expeditious Handling
V Requesting Personal Records under the FOIA 11
1. General
2. Types of Personal Records Maintained at the Department of State
3. Making a Request for Your Own Records
4. Access to Someone Else’s Records
5. U.S. Passport Records
6. Visa Records
7. Deceased Persons
VI Requesting Personal Records under the Privacy Act 17
1. General
2. Filing a Privacy Act Request
VII Fees 18
1. Introduction
2. Requester Categories
3. Agreement to Pay Applicable Fees
4. Fee Waivers
5. Fees Charged
VIII Appeals 21
1. Denial of Access
2. Fee Waiver/Expeditious Handling