FOIA permits any person to request access to federal
agency records. FOIA requires federal agencies to disclose any information
requested unless it falls under one of nine exemptions. Beginning June 25,
2019, USCIS began accepting FOIA requests online through (FOIA) Immigration
Records System (FIRST) in order to improve the process, reduce errors and save
time. FIRST allows requesters to submit
and track FOIA status, receive email notifications, and receive documents
digitally. In order to submit a FOIA request online, the requester must have a
USCIS online account.
FIRST is a part of USCIS’s attempt to transfer the
nation’s immigration system away from paper-based services to digital
transactions. Before, FOIA requests were submitted via mail, fax or email and the
response was provided on a disc. Now, FIRST offers a fully electronic service:
online submission and online receipt of requested records. This should help to
reduce costs and save time.
