Any idea when the typical timeframe is for them to request additional time?

My request currently says in process and was received January 27th. Any way to track foia request from other people to the IRS on or around that date?

In short, I am building a project outlining the current US White House Admin association across the federal government and society. If you are not familiar with the work in this space, I am building a project like ProPublica Trump Town. Except I am doing a twist on this take and seeking to cover aspects that ProPublica missed out on during Trump's 1st term.

In short, my first FOIA of the admin will be seeking to retrieve DOGE information ( I am an independent journalist running a database). I am new to this process and know that DOGE is not an actual agency. Well, it kinda is, but it is associated with the White House and is built into the US Digital Service agency. (See Executive Order: Sec 3) this subjects DOGE to FOIA, right?

I am also just seeking general advice (let's say outside of DOGE, I am looking to obtain information associated with agencies that now have confirmed Sec. So any pointers is helpful.

My question:

1. Do you have any tips for a newbie in this process?
2. What are your suggestions for requesting information?
3. Should these requests be directed to a different agency? ( I thought this would go to the White House)

How would I request information from Doge? It is a renaming of the Digital Service, but neither pop up on the FOIA.gov site.

Two things I am curious about

1. They are making a map of every federal building in the United States, to determine where federal employees who are currently working remotely should be sent to start showing up in the office.
2. How many federal employees take the deferred retirement deal

Just off the top of my head. Any other ideas?

Link to previous post: https://www.reddit.com/r/foia/comments/1hw821u/request_denied_by_va_police_department/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Thanks for the advice given on my last post! I wanted to follow up on my last post so that those interested could see the resolution. Long story short: Virginia has put things in place legally to severely limit release of documentation pertaining to criminal activity even if the case is closed and has been closed for quite some time. The lack of transparency is frustrating. I've decided it's no longer worth it to pursue FOIA requests from Virginia law enforcement. The pics attached show my correspondance with an FOIA specialist.

In Hillsboro Oregon, neighbor told me horror story about her arrest one night. Worked through the system to get the arrest report and found a glaring violation of her 4th amendment rights based on US v. Matlock. Roommate gave police permission to enter the house, but my friend was in her bedroom behind a closed door.

<if> roommate is present and consents to a search, the police are only allowed to search the common areas of the residence and the personal space of the person who gave consent, not the personal space of any other roommates who may not be home.

So helping her to get the BWC and have been rejected 3x by the police and expect to be rejected by the DA today.

Next is a lawsuit in Oregon Circuit Court.

I'm doing some historical/biographical research on a German accused of espionage against Britain during the lead-up to WWI. Is there some equivalent to a FOIA request that I could send in to the British govt? MI5/6?

Hi,

The FOIA office is refusing to provide A-file records for my grandmother, instead referring me to the genealogy team. I'm aware the USCIS genealogy team takes 1+ years to respond to requests and may also be quite expensive. What can I do? I'm looking for my grandmother's German passport and really anything USCIS has on file for her. I need this quickly to add to a German citizenship application for my family.

Note, my grandmother has passed away. My mother is alive but might be unwilling to request her mother's file or her own file (she was admitted to US citizenship as a minor, as part of her mother's application).

Here is the email from the FOIA office:

It appears the records you are requesting fall under Genealogy Records. Please visit www.uscis.gov/genealogy for instructions on how to file a FOIA request for genealogy records. If you cannot find the answer to your question in the FAQ sections and you need to speak with one of our specialists, please email Genealogy.USCIS@dhs.gov.

At your service,

Linda Davis

Public Liaison

Customer and Support Team, FOIA

National Records Center

Lee’s Summit, MO 64064

Does that mean the caseworker sent it to the people who respond to the request?

Hi everyone,

I’m a journalist currently working on an investigative story in Alabama. Unfortunately, Alabama’s public records laws make it difficult for non-residents to access certain records. I’m looking for someone based in Alabama who’s willing to assist me by submitting a FOIA request on my behalf.

This is a completely legal and ethical request – I’ll handle all the legwork, provide the wording for the request, and cover any associated fees. I just need someone local to serve as the requester, as Alabama’s laws are restrictive when it comes to journalists from out of state.

Your help could be key in uncovering an important story that benefits the public. If you’re interested or have any questions, feel free to DM me.

Thanks for supporting transparency and journalism!

Hi friends! I have a very close family friend whos husband went missing on May 18, 1996 in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan. Well, recently I got a certification in investigative reporting so that I could investigate this case and use the content on my youtube channel to get his name back out there! I have interviews set up, but I know I need to ask my PD for the file on his case. I know that I need to be very specific in what I request, but this is my first time doing it so I'm not sure what all I should be asking for. Anyone ever request items from a cold missing persons case? What did you specifically ask for? Help! Thank you in advance!

I am trying to investigate a home remodeling contractor who did a terrible job on my house. I want to find some of his other customers to see if they are satisfied with the work he did for them. My county's building permit office has the information I want, but I don't want them to know that it is me requesting the information. I want to find someone who will send an FOIA requesting the property owner's names and addresses where he did other remodeling jobs. Does anyone in this group know if there are companies that would send an FOIA request to a building permit office and forward the response to me?

In 2022 I filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission regarding a weird phone call and text messages, a couple days after i submitted the complaint the phone number was taken out of service. I have been interested to know more about the details of this case so i requested my complaint which only provided me with what i reported but didn't include the actions the FCC may have taken.

someone suggested that the FCC may have documented their actions in another database separately from the consumer database where the report is located. Would i be able to request the FCC's enforcement actions against this number and any internal logs, database entries, or other documentation they may have or is the report the only thing on file?

Hi,

I've never done a FOIA request before and I am so lost. It is for a murder trial that concluded last year in my county (Cuyahoga County, Ohio). I would like to get everything in relation to that trial, but I know the request is supposed to be specific so I don't know exactly what to ask for. Submitting request through Cuyahoga county's website. They only televised a small portion of the trial. If some was televised does that mean all of it should be on file somewhere or is that just bc of the media? Am I able to request that?

It seems there's a lot of misinformation going around about this case and I want to read anything and everything I can about it.

I would like anything put into discovery like photo data, photos, videos, EDR report, autopsy summary, etc.

Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you

Anyone able to help me get this report?

Hey there,

I have always been interested in true crime from a very young age. I remember watching reruns of 'Unsolved Mysteries' with my grandmothers as they babysat me. I'm really trying to go at this in a proper way. These cases are from different states, too, I just need to know if I should go to the FOIA site or directly with the departments? Is there a format to request?

Hello!

I plan to place a FOIA request for my grandmother’s naturalization papers/A-file to use in my application for dual citizenship.

She is still living, but is across the country and I feel it’d be too much for her to make the online request herself and then mail it to me.

I’m not her POA, so I’m a bit confused about making the request for her info. There’s a part of the application that asks for a notarized document showing her consent. However, the last part of the application has a place for her contact info and says they can contact her to get consent.

I’m sorry if this is a dumb question but I feel a little confused!! Would it be enough to just add her contact info and let her sign off on the release? Or would I also need to get a notarized document stating her consent which I’d upload to the application?

Thanks for the help!

Hellooo, I submitted and paid for a public records request (police report) to the city of Phoenix in June of 2023. The status has been “on hold” for like 15 months now and I’ve received 0 contact regarding this. Any reason why that would be the case? Thank you!

I have been trying to find specific examples of items that one might request information on regarding a local municipality. For this project I am trying to develop a list of likely items or frequently asked items. Any help is appreciated!

Anyone know if it's possible to request body cam footage from a police department for all traffic stops from a certain date range? Or do you have to specifically request the footage from each individual situation?

Get a nonsharable government report out of the Biden administration? My congressmen office put in a request even they had trouble getting it out.

I put in another foia but not much hope I can prove the report exists though

In under an hour?

Mene zanima dal se isplati upisat, jel tesko. Moze li osoba u stalni posao zavrsiti taj smjer

I'm a student journalist and I have four active FOI requests for my university (in Ontario, Canada).

As far as I can tell the FOI team seems great about trying to get me the information I'm looking for, but I'm worried if I file too many they might get annoyed with me and make less of an effort to get me the documents I want.

They've already alluded in a couple calls that they are very busy, and they've noticed I've filed multiple. There isn't a huge rush on my end to get this information, but of course I'd prefer sooner than later.

Thanks.

I requested records for a cold case related to a family friend from over 30 years ago. I was denied on the basis that it was an “active and open investigation” (sure, right). Do I have any options here?

This is what they said:

“X Police Department respectfully denies your request for this information. The requested information is exempt from disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act (CPRA), Government Code Section 7923.600. Except for specific types of investigations not applicable here (see Penal Code 832.7; 832.8), records of investigations that are conducted by local law enforcement agencies are exempt from disclosure. As this case is still an active and open investigation our department will not be releasing the information requested without a valid court order.”

I submitted a FOI request for police dash cam and body cam footage of an arrest that took place in 2022 in Virginia. The suspect has been charged and sentenced so the case is closed. I'd appreciate some advice on how to appeal this. The reason given for denial is:

"Virginia Code § 2.2-3706.1(D) exempts criminal investigative files relating to a criminal investigation or proceeding that is not ongoing from the mandatory disclosure provisions of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act unless requested by specific authorized individuals. The cited Code section does provide for victim access to records of criminal investigations that are no longer ongoing, but that right of access does not extend to you. Your FOIA request does not meet the criteria for access to such records as mandated by § 2.2-3706.1(D)."

I disclosed in the original request that i am a part of an independent media entity and plan to use the footage for that business: "In order to help to determine my status to assess fees, you should know that I am affiliated with an independent media entity and am seeking information for use in the entity's business."

Any advice on how to appeal?

So my situation is tricky ive been trying to apply for citizenship with the Cherokee nation though my great grandmothers father I've sent off for my grandmothers ss-5 in even tho I received the certified letter in it has my grandmothers parents listed on it they said it wasn't the right document. So I sent off for a certified descendant numident record in hopes that it has my grandfathers place of birth listed this time in not just his name any advice ?

I'm applying for my green card no and I am missing my final APPROVED STEM I20s. My university does not have a copy as well apparently. This is from 8 years ago. I only have till the requested for STEM EAD I20s.

I do have the EAD card though but lawyers are telling me that there is a chance they may do an RFE for it and hence file a FOIA for the same.

Questions

1. Which department should I file it in? USCIS/ICE? and what details should I give them to find it quickly?
2. How long does a e-copy for I20 from FOIA take?