How to Obtain Your FBI File
Draft a FOIA request., Submit your request., Check the status of the request., Wait to be contacted.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Draft a FOIA request.
When requesting your personal FBI records through the Freedom of Information Act, you must draft a detailed letter specifically requesting the information that you desire and any information that can help the FBI identify the records.
This letter should include the following:
Date Address:
Record/Information Dissemination Section Attn:
FOIPA Request 170 Marcel Drive Winchester, VA 22602-4843 Identifying the request as under the Freedom of Information Act.
Date range of the request.
You can make the request from your date of birth to the present.
Description of the request.
Request copies of all information, including but not limited to files, correspondence, reports, surveillance or any other records concerning you.
Provide information to assist in the search.
You should give your name, date of birth, social security number, place of birth and the first and last names of your parents, any aliases that you use, and former addresses.
Description of the scope of search, including the FBI’s indices, including manual indices, as well as all Field Offices.
Indicate a dollar amount that you are willing to pay for processing the request.
State that you are seeking the information for personal use and not for commercial use.
Provide your name, address, phone number and email address.You can view a sample letter at:https://www.fbi.gov/foia/sample-fbi-foia-request-letter -
Step 2: Submit your request.
Since you are requesting FBI records for a living person, you must submit your request either by mail, fax or e-mail.
You can mail your letter to:
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Attn:
FOI/PA Request, Record/Information Dissemination Section, 170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843. You can fax your request to: (540) 868-4391/4997 You can email a PDF of your request to: [email protected].
In addition to the PDF, you should put your request in the body of the email., You can check the status of your request my calling FOIA’s Public Information Officer at (540) 868-4593.
If you have a FOIA request number, you can also check your request status online at: http://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps. , If you have an extremely large file, your may be contacted by a negotiator to help narrow down the search parameters.
Once the search is complete, you will receive a letter explaining any exemptions that were used to justify not sending you certain records, as well as a copy of the records that were not exempted.
The letter will also indicate the number of pages that were reviewed and the number of pages that were released to you. -
Step 3: Check the status of the request.
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Step 4: Wait to be contacted.
Detailed Guide
When requesting your personal FBI records through the Freedom of Information Act, you must draft a detailed letter specifically requesting the information that you desire and any information that can help the FBI identify the records.
This letter should include the following:
Date Address:
Record/Information Dissemination Section
Attn:
FOIPA Request
170 Marcel Drive
Winchester, VA 22602-4843 Identifying the request as under the Freedom of Information Act.
Date range of the request.
You can make the request from your date of birth to the present.
Description of the request.
Request copies of all information, including but not limited to files, correspondence, reports, surveillance or any other records concerning you.
Provide information to assist in the search.
You should give your name, date of birth, social security number, place of birth and the first and last names of your parents, any aliases that you use, and former addresses.
Description of the scope of search, including the FBI’s indices, including manual indices, as well as all Field Offices.
Indicate a dollar amount that you are willing to pay for processing the request.
State that you are seeking the information for personal use and not for commercial use.
Provide your name, address, phone number and email address.You can view a sample letter at:https://www.fbi.gov/foia/sample-fbi-foia-request-letter
Since you are requesting FBI records for a living person, you must submit your request either by mail, fax or e-mail.
You can mail your letter to:
Federal Bureau of Investigation, Attn:
FOI/PA Request, Record/Information Dissemination Section, 170 Marcel Drive, Winchester, VA 22602-4843.
You can fax your request to: (540) 868-4391/4997 You can email a PDF of your request to: [email protected].
In addition to the PDF, you should put your request in the body of the email., You can check the status of your request my calling FOIA’s Public Information Officer at (540) 868-4593.
If you have a FOIA request number, you can also check your request status online at: http://vault.fbi.gov/fdps-1/@@search-fdps. , If you have an extremely large file, your may be contacted by a negotiator to help narrow down the search parameters.
Once the search is complete, you will receive a letter explaining any exemptions that were used to justify not sending you certain records, as well as a copy of the records that were not exempted.
The letter will also indicate the number of pages that were reviewed and the number of pages that were released to you.
About the Author
Noah Cooper
A seasoned expert in technology and innovation, Noah Cooper combines 2 years of experience with a passion for teaching. Noah's guides are known for their clarity and practical value.
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