Federal Data Reference
Research library

Federal records research guides

Practical, source-first explanations for finding, requesting, checking, and citing official federal records.

How to use this library

Start with the record system that controls the material, not with a person’s name. Federal executive-branch agency records, federal court dockets, archival holdings, securities filings, regulations, and public datasets follow different access rules. Each guide identifies the responsible official system, explains what it does and does not contain, and shows how to preserve the source details needed to check a result later.

Read the source check date before relying on a fee, deadline, eligibility rule, portal, or office address. Government interfaces and instructions can change. Follow the inline link to the responsible agency, court, archive, or publisher and confirm the current instruction there. An index entry or search result can identify a candidate record, but it is not always the record itself and may omit context, attachments, later amendments, or access restrictions.

These guides are written for document research, verification, and citation. They do not assemble resident profiles, determine whether a person is eligible for employment, housing, credit, insurance, or another regulated decision, or replace advice from a qualified professional. When a request concerns your own protected file, use the identity and consent process specified by the responsible office instead of sending sensitive information through an ordinary contact channel.

fbi foia request

FBI FOIA Request: How to Get FBI Records

Learn how to request FBI records through eFOIPA, choose the right access route, prove identity, define a searchable scope, track the case, and appeal.

Sources checked 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
uscis foia request

USCIS FOIA Request: How Do You Get an A-File?

Learn how to request a USCIS A-File online, prove identity or consent, choose specific records, route other agencies, and track the response.

Sources checked 2026-09-11T00:00:00.000Z
foia request fees

FOIA Request Fees: Costs, Categories, and Waivers

Learn which federal FOIA fees apply, how requester categories change charges, how estimates work, and what evidence supports a fee waiver.

Sources checked 2026-09-09T00:00:00.000Z
expedited foia request

Expedited FOIA Request: Standards and Evidence

Learn when expedited FOIA processing applies, what evidence to submit, how agencies decide it, and how to respond to a denial.

Sources checked 2026-09-07T00:00:00.000Z
anonymous foia request

Anonymous FOIA Request: Can You Hide Your Identity?

Learn when a federal FOIA request can omit your name, what contact and identity rules still apply, and how to reduce privacy exposure without losing rights.

Sources checked 2026-09-04T00:00:00.000Z
can a foia request be denied

Can a FOIA Request Be Denied? Reasons and Appeals

Learn why federal FOIA requests are denied, how to read the response, choose the right remedy, and prepare a focused administrative appeal.

Sources checked 2026-09-02T00:00:00.000Z
what are the 9 exemptions to a foia request

The 9 FOIA Exemptions: Rules and Record Examples

Learn what each federal FOIA exemption protects, see official record examples, test redactions and segregability, and prepare a focused appeal.

Sources checked 2026-08-31T00:00:00.000Z
foia request status

FOIA Request Status: How to Check and Follow Up

Check a federal FOIA request status, interpret tracking updates, request a completion estimate, and escalate a stalled case without duplicating it.

Sources checked 2026-08-28T00:00:00.000Z
how long does a foia request take

How Long Does a FOIA Request Take?

Learn what the FOIA 20-working-day rule covers, why production often takes longer, how to estimate timing, and what to do when a request stalls.

Sources checked 2026-08-26T00:00:00.000Z
foia request form

FOIA Request Form: Which One Should You Use?

Choose the correct federal FOIA request form, portal, letter, identity certification, or routine records process before you submit.

Sources checked 2026-08-24T00:00:00.000Z
foia request example

FOIA Request Example: A Federal Records Letter

Use this annotated FOIA request example to describe federal agency records, set a fee limit, choose a format, and preserve a clean request record.

Sources checked 2026-08-15T00:00:00.000Z