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FOIA: U.S. State Department
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}) $("#ContactDiv").click(function () { location.href = "/Contact/Default.aspx"; }) } }) </script> <style type="text/css"> .InfoRow { background-color: #E6DDD4; } .ButtonRow { border-top: 5px solid #A10F23; border-bottom: 5px solid #A10F23; background-color:#082243; } .ButtonRow div { color:white; text-transform: uppercase; text-align:center; font-weight:normal; font-family:'EB Garamond',Garamond, 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:2em; padding-top:10px; padding-bottom:10px; } .ButtonRow div:hover { /* border: thin solid yellow; */ background-color: #104287; cursor:pointer; } .Divider { padding-right: 5px; padding-left: 5px; color: #595959; } </style> <script async type="text/javascript" id="_fed_an_ua_tag" src="https://dap.digitalgov.gov/Universal-Federated-Analytics-Min.js?agency=DOS"></script> </head> <body> <nav class="navbar navbar-expand-lg navbar-dark bg-state"> <div class="d-flex flex-row"> <a class="navbar-brand" href="/"> <img src="/images/logo_small_new.png" width="60" height="60" alt="Site's Icon Department of State Seal"> </a> <div class="d-flex flex-column"> <div> <img src="/images/title_small.png" alt="Site Title Department of State"/> </div> <div> <span class="FOIASubHeader"> Freedom of Information Act </span> </div> </div> </div> <button class="navbar-toggler" type="button" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#navbarTogglerDemo02" aria-controls="navbarTogglerDemo02" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Toggle navigation"> <span class="navbar-toggler-icon"></span> </button> <div class="collapse navbar-collapse" id="navbarTogglerDemo02"> <div class="d-flex flex-column ml-auto"> <form class="form-inline my-2 my-lg-0"> <input id="txtSiteSearch" class="form-control mr-sm-2" aria-label="Search Text input box" type="search" placeholder="Search this website"> <button id="btnSiteSearch" class="btn btn-primary btn-blue my-2 my-sm-0" type="button">Search</button> </form> <ul class="navbar-nav mr-auto mt-2 mt-lg-0"> <li class="nav-item active"> <a class="nav-link" href="/">Home <span class="sr-only">(current)</span></a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a class="nav-link" href="/learn">Learn</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a class="nav-link" href="/search">Search</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a class="nav-link" href="/request">Request</a> </li> <li class="nav-item"> <a class="nav-link" href="/contact">Contact</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> <form method="post" action="./" id="form1"> <div class="aspNetHidden"> <input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" id="__VIEWSTATE" value="gXkLEA+3aPMm7jvD/2NZ7O2QMzurf2avLq6/CT0srQeo9TrlHELH/jThz73p/Jc8NY1S5DmzTzAT+jY4Nj3MJ2KLnVm38obWXL4bwrQkSew=" /> </div> <div class="aspNetHidden"> <input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATEGENERATOR" id="__VIEWSTATEGENERATOR" value="CA0B0334" /> </div> <div class=" container panel bg-white rounded-top rounded-bottom"> <div id="carouselWrapper" class="container-fluid"> <div id="carouselMain" class="carousel slide" data-ride="carousel" data-interval="false"> <ul class="carousel-indicators d-none"> <li data-target="#carouselMain" data-slide-to="0" class="active"></li> <li data-target="#carouselMain" data-slide-to="1"></li> <li data-target="#carouselMain" data-slide-to="2"></li> <li data-target="#carouselMain" data-slide-to="3"></li> </ul> <div class="carousel-inner"> <div id="HomeSlide" class="carousel-item active"> <div class=" row"> <div class="col"> <h1>Updated Request Procedures: May 25, 2023</h1> <hr class="m-0" /> <p> The U.S. Department of State has launched the Public Access Link (PAL) portal. </p> <p> PAL is a web-based portal that provides requesters a single point of access to: </p> <ul> <li> Submit a Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act request </li> <li> Check the status of your requests </li> <li> Download released records </li> </ul> <p> <a href="https://pal.foia.state.gov"><u>Request Records Online using the Public Access Link (PAL)</u></a>. </p> </div> <div class="col-4 d-none d-md-block"> <img src="images/flag.png" alt="American Flag" class="img-fluid d-block w-100" /> </div> </div> </div> <div id="LearnSlide" class="carousel-item"> <div class="row"> <div class="col"> <h1>Learn About Records and Records Requests</h1> <hr /> <p> The Department of State manages records requests through its <a href="Learn/FOIA.aspx">Freedom of Information Act</a>, <a href="https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-management/bureau-of-administration/privacy-office/">Privacy Act</a>, and the <a href="Learn/MDR.aspx">Mandatory Declassification Review</a> programs. You can use these programs to access a variety of Department records. Find out more about these programs and the types of records and information the Department maintains on our <a href="/Learn">FOIA and Other Information Access Programs</a> page. </p> </div> <div class="col-4 d-none d-md-block"> <img src="images/learn.png" alt="Laptop and Open Book" class="img-fluid d-block w-100" /> </div> </div> </div> <div id="SearchSlide" class="carousel-item"> <div class="row"> <div class="col"> <h1>Search Available Records</h1> <hr /> <p class="mb-0"> Before you request records, use one of the Department’s searchable databases to see if the information is already available: </p> <br /> <ul class="mt-0"> <li><a href="/Search/Search.aspx">Virtual Reading Room Search</a></li> <li><a href="/Search/Collections.aspx">Document Collections</a></li> <li><a href="/Search/Library.aspx">Administrative Rulings, Policy Statements, and Other Publications</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-4 d-none d-md-block"> <img src="images/search.png" alt="Magnifying Glass onto of Laptop" class="img-fluid d-block w-100" /> </div> </div> </div> <div id="RequestSlide" class="carousel-item"> <div class="row "> <div class="col"> <h1>Request Records under</h1> <hr /> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li> <a href="/Request"><u>Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)</u></a> </li> <li> <br> <a href="https://www.state.gov/bureaus-offices/under-secretary-for-management/bureau-of-administration/privacy-office/"><u>Privacy Act</u></a> </li> <li> <br> <a href="Request/MDR.aspx"><u>Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR)</u></a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="col-4 d-none d-md-block"> <img src="images/request.png" alt="Globe and Keyboard" class="img-fluid d-block w-100" /> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none d-lg-block"> <div class="row ButtonRow"> <div id="HomeDiv" class="col-sm-3"> Home </div> <div id="LearnDiv" class="col-sm-3" title="About information access programs"> Learn </div> <div id="SearchDiv" class="col-sm-3" title="Documents and other records available online"> Search </div> <div id="RequestDiv" class="col-sm-3" title="Documents by mail, fax, or online"> Request </div> </div> </div> <div class="row mt-1"> <div class="col-sm-6"> <div class="card"> <div class="card-header"> <h3>Department of State Records</h3> </div> <div class="card-body"> <p> The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) allows the public to request records from federal agencies. </p> <p> On this website, you can: </p> <ul> <li><a href="/Learn/">Learn about the Department's FOIA and other information access programs</a></li> <li><a href="/Search/Search.aspx">Search available records</a></li> <li><a href="/Request/FOIA.aspx">Learn how to request records</a></li> <li><a href="https://pal.foia.state.gov"><u>Request records online using the Public Access Link (PAL)</u></a> portal</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6"> <div class="container" style="margin-top:20px;"> <p id="pWhatsNew" style="display:none;"> <a href="/Learn/New.aspx">What's New?</a> </p> <p> <a href="/Learn/FAQ.aspx">Frequently Asked Questions</a> </p> <p> <a href="https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-22/part-171">Department of State FOIA/Privacy Act Regulations</a> </p> <p> <a href="https://fam.state.gov/">Foreign Affairs Manual/Handbooks</a> </p> <p> <a href="/Request/Guide.aspx">Information Access Guide</a> </p> <p> <a href="https://www.state.gov/open-government-initiative/">Open Government Initiative</a><br /> </p> <p> <a href="/Learn/Reports.aspx">FOIA Reports</a><br /> </p> <p> <a href="http://www.state.gov/m/a/dir/forms/">Forms</a><br /> </p> <p> <a href="/Learn/MIS.aspx">Major Information Systems</a> </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <footer id="siteFooter" class="bg-state d-print-none"> <div class="container"> <ul class="nav justify-content-center"> <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="/" title="Retun to Home">Home</a></li> <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="/Learn/Reports.aspx" title="Link to FOIA Reports">FOIA Reports</a></li> <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="/SiteMap.aspx">Site Map</a></li> <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="/Disclaimers.aspx" title="Privacy and Disclaimers">Privacy & Disclaimers</a></li> <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="/Contact/Default.aspx">Contact</a></li> <li class="nav-item"> <a class="nav-link" href="https://www.stateoig.gov/" target="_blank" title="Office of Inspector General for the Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors">Inspector General (OIG) FOIA </a> </li> </ul> <ul class="nav justify-content-center"> <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="https://www.foia.gov/" title="FOIA Website">FOIA.gov</a></li> <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="https://www.state.gov/" title="State Department Website">State.gov</a></li> <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" href="https://www.usa.gov/" title="United States of America Website">USA.gov</a></li> <li class="nav-item"><a class="nav-link" 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