THE MESSERSMITH LAW FIRM · SECURE CLIENT INTAKE

Immigration Records & FOIA Questionnaire

Request records from USCIS, CBP, ICE, EOIR, the Department of State, FBI and other agencies. Tell our office which government records you need and why.

QUESTIONNAIRE SECTIONS

SECTION 01 · CLIENT INTAKE

Contact information

Only your first name, last name and email are required. Every other field is optional.

Your first name *

Your last name *

Your email address *

Telephone / WhatsApp

Preferred language and communication method

Current country of residence

Preferred time zone

Communication or appointment notes

SECTION 02 · CLIENT INTAKE

What records do you need?

Select Yes for each relevant agency. Multiple agencies may hold separate records about the same event.

Main reason for requesting records

US Department of State: visa or consular records

USCIS / former INS: A-file or immigration filings

CBP / Border Patrol: entries, secondary inspection or removal at a port of entry

ICE / DHS enforcement: detention, investigations or removal

EOIR / immigration courts / BIA: court and appeal records

FBI / DOJ / other federal agencies: investigations or records

SEVIS / ICE SEVP / related student records

Prior FOIA request, appeal or litigation about records

Briefly describe the main incident or issue

Known deadline or upcoming interview/appointment date

SECTION 03 · CLIENT INTAKE

Identity and background

Records subject: first name (if different from person completing form)

Records subject: last name (if different)

Middle name and suffix

Former names, aliases, maiden names, alternative spellings

Name in native alphabet / script

Date of birth (YYYY-MM-DD)

Place of birth (city, region, country)

All countries of citizenship or nationality

Current residential and mailing address

Prior addresses in the United States

Sex (if used in government documents)

Other legal names used in government filings

Entry 1

Name

From date

To date

Where this name appears

SECTION 04 · CLIENT INTAKE

Immigration and government identifying numbers

Sensitive identifiers are optional. Responses are stored encrypted on the law firm server; email notifications containing submitted answers are separate copies.

Alien Registration Number (A-number)

Any previous or additional A-numbers

USCIS Online Account Number

USCIS receipt numbers (IOE, EAC, WAC, LIN, SRC, MSC, NBC)

Social Security number (optional)

I-94 admission record number

SEVIS ID (N-number)

DS-160 confirmation or barcode number

DS-260 / NVC case number

Consular case number, NVC case number, or passport visa foil number

EOIR A-number, immigration court or BIA appeal reference

CBP incident, I-860, I-867 or I-213 reference

ICE detention, bond, removal or enforcement reference

FBI / DOJ / FOIA reference numbers

SECTION 05 · CLIENT INTAKE

Passports, travel documents and family identifiers

Current passport number

Current passport issuing country

Passport issue date

Passport expiration date

Father’s full legal name and other names

Mother’s full legal name, maiden name and other names

Spouse’s full name, if relevant

Other countries of issuance or lost passports

Previous passports used for US travel or visa applications

Entry 1

Passport number

Issuing country

Issue date

Expiration date

Relevant US visa or admission

SECTION 06 · CLIENT INTAKE

US Department of State and consular visa records

For visa application and foia files, identify the consulate and type of records, such as interview notes, foia worksheets, DS-160 or DS-260, visa revocation, and communications.

Most recent visa classification

Embassy or consulate and country

Most recent interview / foia date

Stated legal ground(s) of foia or revocation

Administrative processing, Security Advisory Opinion (SAO), or 221(g) details

Specific consular records, correspondence or explanation you seek

Visa applications, foias, administrative processing or revocations

Entry 1

Post / embassy / consulate

Application or interview date

Visa category

DS-160, DS-260 or case number

Approval, foia, 221(g), revocation, etc.

INA section or written explanation

Documents or notes sought

SECTION 07 · CLIENT INTAKE

USCIS filings, A-file, and immigration benefit records

USCIS may hold an A-file, petitions, interviews, decisions, biometrics and related records. Records from other agencies may require separate requests.

Do you want the complete USCIS A-file (if available)?

Important USCIS filing, interview, adjudication or denial summary

Specific USCIS records you need: interview notes, adjudications, filings, statements, biometrics, etc.

USCIS petitions, applications, decisions and interviews

Entry 1

Form or benefit type (I-130, I-140, I-485, N-400, etc.)

Receipt / case number

Date filed

Service center or field office

Result and decision date

Specific records requested

SECTION 08 · CLIENT INTAKE

CBP, Border Patrol and port of entry records

This may include I-867 sworn statements, I-860 expedited removal, I-275 withdrawals, I-213, secondary inspection notes and travel-history information.

Most recent airport, land crossing or seaport

Officer name or badge number, if known

What the officer said and any inaccuracies in your sworn statement or inspection report

Forms or government documents received

Phone search, secondary inspection, ESTA cancellation, withdrawal, or other records wanted

CBP inspections, border encounters, entry foias and departures

Entry 1

Encounter date

Port / airport / border sector

Travel origin / flight

Visa or attempted admission classification

Admitted, denied entry, withdrawal, expedited removal, parole, etc.

I-860, I-867, I-275, I-213 or other forms

Specific records sought

SECTION 09 · CLIENT INTAKE

ICE, DHS enforcement and detention records

Main ICE / DHS agency or office

Date(s) of investigation, detention, check-in or removal

Detention location or ICE field office

What records are sought: arrest, investigation, detention, removal, I-213, bond, correspondence

ICE / DHS enforcement incidents and custody events

Entry 1

Date and location

ICE, ERO, HSI or other agency

Detention, interview, arrest, check-in, removal, investigation

Case / A-number / field office

Specific records sought

SECTION 10 · CLIENT INTAKE

Immigration court, BIA, and EOIR records

Immigration court, judge or BIA office

Notice to Appear (NTA) issue / filing date

Removal, voluntary departure, termination or dismissal date

Former legal counsel, if needed to locate records

Records sought: ROP, audio recordings, orders, exhibits, appeal briefs, hearing dates

Immigration court, BIA or appeal proceedings

Entry 1

Court / BIA / tribunal

Relevant filing or hearing date

A-number / docket

Pending, removal ordered, relief granted, dismissed, appealed

Record of proceedings / audio / documents sought

SECTION 11 · CLIENT INTAKE

FBI, DOJ and other federal law enforcement records

An FBI FOIA request is not the same as obtaining state/local police or court records. Provide the federal offices and date range involved.

Federal agency or investigative office

Date or approximate time period

Location / field office

Nature of contact, investigation or immigration background check

Companies, associations or other names relevant to locating records

Records sought from FBI, DEA, DOJ Criminal Division, US Attorney’s Office, OEO or other agency

Federal law enforcement contacts, investigations or proceedings

Entry 1

Federal agency / division

Date or date range

Office / city

Reference, file or case number

Interview, investigation, arrest, contact, referral, etc.

Specific records requested

SECTION 12 · CLIENT INTAKE

SEVIS, SEVP and student or exchange visitor records

SEVIS ID

Schools, sponsors or programs

F-1, M-1, J-1, OPT, STEM OPT or other status

Dates of enrollment, transfers, SEVIS terminations or reinstatements

What SEVIS, ICE SEVP, DS-2019, I-20 or other records are sought

Schools, programs and SEVIS history

Entry 1

School or program sponsor

SEVIS number

Start / end dates

Enrollment, OPT, STEM OPT, termination, reinstatement, transfer

Specific records

SECTION 13 · CLIENT INTAKE

Arrest, investigation, and background records

Court records and police reports from state or local authorities may not be obtainable through federal FOIA. Include both so our office can identify the appropriate source.

Any arrest, citation, criminal investigation or charge relevant to the requested records?

Main criminal or background incident, if any

Disposition, dismissal, arrest-only or no charges filed

Arrest reports, fingerprints, referral materials, federal records or other documents sought

Criminal matters or law enforcement records relevant to the request

Entry 1

Date

City, state, country

Police / federal agency / court

Charge or investigation

Disposition or outcome

Records sought

SECTION 14 · CLIENT INTAKE

Specific records and government notices

What is the purpose of the records request?

Describe the problem or question our office should investigate

Specific government documents or categories of records you want

Date range for the records

Most important event and the details needed to locate its file

Records already in your possession

Known file locations, officers, agencies or postal addresses

Government notices, decisions, orders or foia worksheets

Entry 1

Date

Agency / office

Form, notice or order type

Reference number

What it says

Records associated with this notice

SECTION 15 · CLIENT INTAKE

Agencies and record locations

Likely record holders

Other government offices, divisions and records to request

Entry 1

Agency or department

Unit, embassy, field office or city

Date range

Related subject / issue

Documents requested

Relevant foreign agency records (not generally obtained through US FOIA)

State or local agencies, courts or departments involved

SECTION 16 · CLIENT INTAKE

Prior FOIA and Privacy Act submissions

What has already been requested, denied, appealed, delayed, withheld or redacted?

Records received and pages missing

Reasons given for withholding, denial, no records, or referrals

Who filed the earlier request and on whose behalf?

Prior FOIA requests, agency tracking numbers and outcomes

Entry 1

Agency

Request or appeal date

Tracking / control number

Scope of prior request

Released, no records, denied, delayed, referred, appealed

Appeal or response deadline

SECTION 17 · CLIENT INTAKE

Time sensitivity, expedited processing and deadlines

Expedited processing is an agency-specific legal standard and is not automatically granted merely because a case is important or urgent.

Is expedited processing needed?

Known deadline date and agency

Reasons supporting expedited processing (urgent threat to life or physical safety, urgent public information need or other agency criterion)

Evidence to support expedited processing

Appeal, removal, immigration court, litigation or interview deadlines

Outstanding requests and delays

SECTION 18 · CLIENT INTAKE

Requester, identity verification and authority

This questionnaire is not a government FOIA request or signed identity declaration. The firm may later request agency-specific identification and written authorization through secure instructions.

Who is completing the questionnaire?

If requesting another person’s records, describe your authority or consent

Records subject’s contact details, if different

Can you provide acceptable proof of identity or signed declaration separately, if required?

Is the records subject deceased? If yes, describe documents supporting your standing.

Any records or agencies the records subject does not authorize us to pursue

Maximum government processing fee, if any, you authorize without further approval

SECTION 19 · CLIENT INTAKE

US travel, admission and status history

Use separate entries for multiple visits or stays. Information about every admission, overstay, adjustment or departure may help identify appropriate records.

Visits, admissions, status changes and departures

Entry 1

Entry date

Exit date

Port of entry

Visa, parole or immigration status

I-94 number

Admission, departure or related event

Periods of overstay, unlawful presence or unauthorized employment, if relevant to the records sought

Other countries, routes, aliases or passports used for US entry

Past removal, exclusion, deportation, voluntary return or departure details

SECTION 20 · CLIENT INTAKE

Additional details and submit

This is a confidential law firm intake, not a filed FOIA request, signed release, appeal or litigation. Any government deadlines continue to apply.

Additional events, names, dates, documents or corrections

Questions you would like our office to address

List the evidence you can provide through a separate secure channel

Special circumstances, privacy concerns or instructions

Please do not email original identity documents. Our office can provide secure instructions for delivering supporting evidence.

Immigration Records & FOIA Questionnaire

Contact information

What records do you need?

Identity and background

Immigration and government identifying numbers

Passports, travel documents and family identifiers

US Department of State and consular visa records

USCIS filings, A-file, and immigration benefit records

CBP, Border Patrol and port of entry records

ICE, DHS enforcement and detention records

Immigration court, BIA, and EOIR records

FBI, DOJ and other federal law enforcement records

SEVIS, SEVP and student or exchange visitor records

Arrest, investigation, and background records

Specific records and government notices

Agencies and record locations

Prior FOIA and Privacy Act submissions

Time sensitivity, expedited processing and deadlines

Requester, identity verification and authority

US travel, admission and status history

Additional details and submit

Secure submission