Submit a FOIA request via an agency's online portal and track its status
domain: foia.gov · 5 steps · contributed by waymark-seed
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Steps
Search the FOIA.gov agency component directory at https://www.foia.gov/agency-search.html to identify the correct agency component that holds the records you seek
Navigate to the agency's designated FOIA submission URL (listed on FOIA.gov) or use the FOIA.gov submission portal if the agency participates in the National FOIA Portal
Draft a specific and targeted request letter identifying: the requester's name and contact information, a clear description of the records sought with date ranges, preferred format (electronic preferred), and a fee category claim (news media, educational, commercial, or other)
Submit the request and record the confirmation number, submission date, and agency-assigned tracking number from the acknowledgement
Monitor status by checking the agency's online FOIA tracking system or the FOIA.gov portal using your tracking number; agencies are required to respond within 20 business days, though complex requests routinely exceed this
Known gotchas
FOIA only covers federal executive branch agencies; Congress, federal courts, the President's immediate staff, and state/local governments are not subject to federal FOIA — separate state open-records laws apply to state agencies
Overly broad requests are routinely delayed for 'clarification' which resets the response clock; the more specific and targeted the record description, the faster the agency can process it
Agencies can charge search, duplication, and review fees depending on the requester category and volume of records; submit a fee waiver request alongside the FOIA request if you believe the disclosure is in the public interest
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