FOIA – Immigration Records in Orlando
FOIA (the Freedom of Information Act) is the federal mechanism that lets you request copies of the records the United States government keeps about you. In immigration, a FOIA request is used to obtain your history from agencies such as USCIS (including your immigration file, the A-file), the immigration court (EOIR), CBP, and ICE. It is a procedure that is administrative in nature, provided for by federal law, and it is the correct way to reconstruct what is officially on record about entries, departures, prior applications, and decisions — information that is often decisive for planning the next step in your case.
Who FOIA is useful for
Requesting records tends to be important when you need to know, based on what the government actually has and not just on memory, what has already happened in your history. The most common situations include:
- People who do not remember the exact dates of entries into and departures from the U.S.
- People who had prior applications (visas, petitions, asylum) and did not keep copies
- People who are or may enter removal proceedings and need to know their own record for their defense
- People who changed representatives and do not have the case documents
- People who want to confirm what is on record before filing a new application, to avoid contradictions
Each agency keeps a different type of record. Knowing which request to make, and to which agency, is part of the work: a well-targeted request brings back the right document and avoids unnecessary waits.
How the process works, step by step
In general, a FOIA request tends to follow these phases:
- Determining which record you need and which agency to request it from (USCIS, EOIR, CBP, ICE, among others)
- Preparing and submitting the request, with the required identification and authorization (with USCIS, Form G-639 is commonly used)
- Identity verification and processing by the agency, often organized into priority tracks depending on complexity and urgency
- Receiving the records, which may come with parts redacted under the legal exceptions for confidentiality
- Reviewing the contents to guide the next steps in your case
Documents commonly required
- The requester's identity document
- Information that helps locate the record (full name, date of birth, A-number, when there is one)
- Authorization signed by the person the records are about
- Information about the time period or the type of record you are looking for
What to expect during the process
FOIA is, for the most part, a matter of waiting and organizing, not of hearings. Once submitted, the request goes through identity verification and enters a processing queue; the response time varies depending on the agency, the complexity of the record, and whether there is priority — for example, cases with ongoing removal proceedings tend to be handled more quickly. Records may arrive in batches and, at times, with portions redacted because of exceptions provided by law. When the material arrives, the most important step is not just receiving it but reading it with technical care: understanding what each entry means, cross-referencing dates, and identifying points that help or that call for caution in the next application. It is this work of reading and strategy that turns a stack of pages into the map of your case.
How Without Borders handles your case
Without Borders is a nonprofit organization recognized by the United States Department of Justice. The FOIA request is handled by a DOJ Accredited Representative, authorized to act in administrative immigration proceedings. We help identify which record you need and from which agency, prepare the request with the correct authorization, follow its progress, and, when the documents arrive, review the contents to guide the next steps in your case. All services are provided in Portuguese and English, in Orlando, with a focus on clarity and on a strategy based on what the record actually shows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I get with a FOIA request?
You receive copies of the records the agency keeps about you. With USCIS, this usually includes the A-file, with prior applications, decisions, and documents from your history. Other agencies keep different records, such as entries and departures or the court case.
Do I need FOIA to know my history?
It is the official way to obtain what the government actually has about you, accurately. This is especially important when you did not keep copies, do not remember dates, or are about to file a new application and want to avoid contradictions.
How long does it take?
The timeframe varies depending on the agency, the complexity of the record, and whether there is priority. Cases with ongoing removal proceedings tend to be handled more quickly. In the consultation, we explain a realistic timeframe for your request.
Which agency should I request from?
It depends on what you are looking for: USCIS keeps the A-file, the immigration court (EOIR) keeps the case, and CBP and ICE keep other records, such as entries and departures. We help direct the request to the right agency.
Can the documents come back redacted?
Yes. Some parts may come redacted because of confidentiality exceptions provided by law. Even so, the content released is usually enough to reconstruct the history and guide the next steps.
Can I request someone else's records?
As a rule, the request depends on the authorization of the person the records are about, or on a specific legal basis. We review your situation and the type of authorization needed in the consultation.
Related services
Let's recover your immigration history
Service in Portuguese and English, in Orlando, with a DOJ Accredited Representative.
Schedule a ConsultationInformational content about an immigration legal service. Without Borders Inc is a nonprofit organization recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). Representation is provided by a DOJ Accredited Representative, within the scope of their accreditation. This text does not replace an individual review of your case in a consultation.