State Department Changes How You Ask for Government Information
The State Department has new rules for how people can ask for government information, making it mostly online.
Affects: All immigrants, Employers · Source: Federal Register · Action may be needed
What happened
The U.S. Department of State has updated its rules for how the public can get information from them. These new rules explain how to ask for records that the State Department has.
The department now wants people to first check its online library to see if the information they need is already there. It also says that many requests must now be sent online through specific websites.
The new rules also make it easier to understand how to describe the records you want. They also clarify how you need to prove your identity when asking for personal information or someone else's.
By the numbers
- 91 FR 59698 — Federal Register citation for this rule
- 8 pages — Length of the official document
The bigger picture
Before these changes, the rules for getting information from the State Department were older and did not fully reflect how the department works today. It could be harder for people to know exactly how to ask for information, and some requests might have been missing important details like proof of identity.
The government made these changes to follow a law called the Freedom of Information Act Improvement Act of 2016. The goal is to make it easier and faster to process requests for information. It also aims to reduce mistakes and the need for the department to ask for missing details from people.
What this means for you
All immigrants
If you need to ask the State Department for any records or information, you will now likely need to use their online systems. The new rules encourage you to search online first and submit requests electronically. This might make the process clearer and faster for you.
Employers
Employers who need to request information from the State Department will also follow these new guidelines. You should plan to use the department's online tools and websites for your requests. This change aims to make the request process more efficient.
Green card applicants
If you are applying for a green card and need to request your own records from the State Department, the process for doing so has been updated. The new rules clarify how to describe the information you need and how to verify your identity, which could make your request smoother.
F1 students
There is no direct change for F1 students unless you need to specifically request records from the State Department. If you do, you would follow the new online procedures for submitting your request and verifying your identity.
What you should do
- If you need information from the State Department, plan to look online first and send your request through their official websites. Make sure you clearly describe what you need and provide any required identity proof.
Key dates
- 2026-09-21: Date the rule was published in the Federal Register
- 2026-10-21: Date the new rule officially starts
Words explained
- Federal Register
- This is the official daily newspaper of the U.S. government where new rules and notices are published.
- FOIA
- This stands for the Freedom of Information Act, which is a law that lets people ask the government for information.
- Final rule
- This means a new government rule has been officially approved and will go into effect.
- Regulations
- These are official rules made by government agencies to explain how a law will be carried out.
- Privacy Act
- This is a law that protects your personal information that the government collects and keeps.
Common questions
How do I ask the State Department for information now?
You should first check the State Department's online FOIA Library to see if the information is already public. If not, you will likely need to send your request electronically through FOIA.gov or the State Department's own FOIA website.
Can I still send a paper request by mail?
For some offices, like the Information Access Programs Directorate and the Directorate for Passport Services, the State Department will now only accept electronic requests. This means you should plan to submit your request online.
What if I need my own visa records?
The new rules make it clearer how to ask for specific records, like visa records. You will need to provide enough information to describe what you need and follow the updated steps to prove your identity when you submit your request online.
When do these new rules start?
These new rules officially start on October 21, 2026. After this date, the State Department will follow these updated procedures for handling information requests.
This is a plain-English explanation, not legal advice. Confirm with the official source or a licensed immigration attorney.