When applying for citizenship in the United States or attempting to renew your visa, you will be required to fill out a significant amount of paperwork. The application process is a long and arduous one, so you don't want to jeopardize your chances of an approval because of information contained within your immigration file.

You have a right to know what information the government has on file regarding you and your immigration history. Working with an experienced attorney can help you gain access to this information so that you can address any potential pitfalls in your application to expedite the immigration process.

Freedom of Information Act

You are able to obtain access to your immigration file under the Freedom of Information Act. This piece of legislation allows individuals to request documents from the federal government.

You may run into issues accessing your immigration file if the information contained within the file has been redacted. Some common reasons for redaction are the inclusion of a government official's name in your paperwork and information on individuals other than yourself within your file.

An experienced immigration attorney will be able to work around these redacted documents to help you access the information you need to complete your immigration paperwork with confidence.

Agency Selection

The first step in harnessing the power of the Freedom of Information Act to obtain your documents is to determine which agencies have the paperwork you need access to. You will need to file individual requests with each of the agencies that might be involved in your immigration case.

These agencies can include the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the United States Customs and Border Protection, or the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Your attorney will be able to help you determine which documents you need as you fill out your immigration application, and he or she can request access to these documents from the appropriate agency.

Valid Reasoning

Along with your request for information, you will need to submit a detailed statement that outlines why you need access to document in your immigration file. This is where the help of an attorney can be especially beneficial.

An immigration law firm like Tesoroni & Leroy can write this statement on your behalf, providing valid reasons why you should be granted access to government documents. Without a statement containing sound reasoning, your request for information will likely be denied.