You may appeal an adverse determination made by the Department of State.​

• Your appeal must be in writing and must be postmarked or electronically submitted within 90 calendar days after the date of the Department’s adverse determination.

  
  

• Your appeal email, letter, or fax should state why you disagree with the Department’s determination and should clearly mark the withheld portions that you are appealing.

  
  

• Remember to include the case number in any correspondence regarding your case.​

Send your appeal to the following: 

Email:   FOIAAppeals@state.gov

Mail:      U.S. Department of State
               Appeals Office
               Information Access Programs (A/SKS/IAP)
               2201 C Street, N.W., Suite B266
               Washington, D.C. 20520

Fax:       (202) 485-1718​

Please write “Freedom of Information Act Appeal“ or “Privacy Act Appeal” on the envelope or the subject line of your email or fax.​

U.S. Department of State response​

For FOIA requests, the Department has 20 working days from the date the appeal is received to respond. This may be extended for up to an additional 10 days in unusual circumstances.

For Privacy Act requests, the Department has 30 working days from the date the appeal is received to respond. This may be extended for good cause shown.

If, on appeal, the denial is upheld in whole or in part, you have the right to seek judicial review of the Department’s actions.

You may appeal a denial to waive or reduce fees.​

• The Department's decision to refuse to waive or reduce fees may be appealed within 90 calendar days after the date of the Department’s adverse determination.

  
  

• The appeal email, letter, or fax should contain as much information and documentation as possible to support the request for a waiver or reduction of fees. ​

  
  

• Remember to include the case number in any correspondence regarding your case.​

Send your appeal to the following:

Email:   FOIAAppeals@state.gov

Mail:      U.S. Department of State
               Appeals Office
               Information Access Programs (A/SKS/IAP)
               2201 C Street, N.W., Suite B266
               Washington, D.C. 20520

Fax:       (202) 485-1718​

Please write “Freedom of Information Act Appeal“ or “Privacy Act Appeal” on the envelope or the subject line of your email or fax.​

​U.S. Department of State response

The Department has 30 working days from the date the appeal is received to respond.

If, on appeal, the denial is upheld in whole or in part, the requester has the right to seek judicial review of the Department’s actions.

You may appeal a denial to grant expedited processing.  

• The Department's decision to refuse to grant expedited processing may be appealed within 90 calendar days after the date of the Department’s adverse determination.

  
  

• The appeal letter should contain as much information and documentation as possible to support the request for expedited processing.

  
  

• Remember to include the case number in any correspondence regarding your case.​

Send your appeal to the following: 

Email:   FOIAAppeals@state.gov

Mail:      U.S. Department of State
               Appeals Office
               Information Access Programs (A/SKS/IAP)
               2201 C Street, N.W., Suite B266
               Washington, D.C. 20520

Fax:       (202) 485-1718​

Please write “Freedom of Information Act Appeal“ or “Privacy Act Appeal” on the envelope or the subject line of your email or fax.​​

U.S. Department of State response

A decision in writing on the appeal will be issued within 10 calendar days of the receipt of the appeal.​

If, on appeal, the denial is upheld in whole or in part, you have the right to seek judicial review of the Department’s actions.