Through the FOIA and Executive Order 13526, you may request access to records that are both created or obtained by the Department and also under the Department’s control at the time a request for these records is submitted. Department of State records document (1) the formulation and execution of U.S. foreign policy and (2) the administration and operations of the Department of State and its missions abroad. For information on Department of State records go to the Department of State Records Disposition Schedules, the Foreign Affairs Manuel (FAM), and the Foreign Affairs Handbook (FAH).
Also, through the Privacy Act, you may request access to records about yourself, if you are a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident alien, that are kept in name-retrievable form by the Department of State. These records include, for example, visa, consular, passport, and – for current or former employees of the Department of State – personnel, medical, security, and administrative records. For information on name-retrievable records, see Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) and Systems of Records Notices (SORNs).