USCIS Expands Online FOIA Request System

06/25/2019

Today USCIS announced it is expanding the Freedom of Information Act Immigration Records System ("FIRST"). USCIS is implementing the system in phases. When it originally announced the system in May 2018, USCIS limited the system to users with pending immigration court dates. With this announcement, the system now allows all USCIS online account holders to submit FOIA requests online for their own records and receive the records digitally.

In its announcement, USCIS stated, "Soon, they will be able to submit online requests for non-A-File material (policies, communications, etc.) Later this year, USCIS online account holders can make requests on behalf of another person."