THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

SAMPLE FOIA REQUEST LETTER

AUTHORITY: 10 U.S.C. 8013 and 5 U.S.C. 552.

PURPOSE: To obtain necessary information so that a response can be provided to your FOIA
request.
ROUTINE USE: Your request may be referred to another Federal agency if the record(s) you
seek originated with that agency.
DISCLOSURE: Voluntary: However, no reply can be given if the requested information is not
furnished.

(Date)
56 CS/SCSR (FOIA)
7023 N Jerstad Lane
Luke AFB AZ 85309-1661

Dear FOIA Manager

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). I request a copy of the following
document(s) be provided to me: (identify the records and/or information requested to include dates,
places, names, and any other specific data).

In order to help you determine my status for the purpose of assessing fees, you should know that I am
(insert one of the descriptions below).

(1) A representative of the news media affiliated with the _____ newspaper (magazine, television
station, etc.), and this request is made as part of newsgathering and not for commercial use. (2)
Affiliated with an educational or noncommercial scientific institution, and this request is made
for a scholarly or scientific purpose and not for a commercial use. (3) Affiliated with a private
business and am seeking information for use in the company’s business. (4) An individual
seeking information for personal use and not for a commercial use.

I am willing to pay fees for this request up to a maximum of $_____. If you estimate that the fees will
exceed this limit, please inform me first. (NOTE: This statement is required even though assessable fees
of $15.00 or less are automatically waived.)

(Optional) I request a fee waiver because disclosure of the information is in the public interest. It is
likely to contribute significantly to the public understanding of the operations and activities of the Air
Force and is not primarily in my commercial interest (include details about how the information will be
disseminated by you to the general public.)

(TIP to help us respond much sooner. If the record sought is subject to contain any third party personal
information which is protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, include the following statement in your
request. “I agree to accept the requested records with all Privacy Act protected information redacted.”
However, with such an agreement in your request the information redacted by your authority will not be
considered a denial on our part. Therefore, you will not be given any appeal rights for that information.)

Please contact me at (include area code and phone number) if you need to discuss my request further.

Sincerely

Name
Street Address
City, State, Zip Code
Daytime Telephone Number