Get Foia Request Form - Algonquin Township

The FOIA permits HHS to charge fees to FOIA requesters. For noncommercial requesters, HHS may charge only for the actual cost of searching for records and the cost of making copies. Search fees usually range from about $23 to $83 per hour, depending upon the salary levels of the personnel needed for the search.

Technically, government organizations must respond to a FOIA request with a denial or grant of access within 20 business days. Note that the agency must only respond within 20 days; it does not have to deliver the records within the 20-day time period.

For the quickest possible handling, you should mark both your appeal letter and the envelope Freedom of Information Act Appeal. Simply ask the Designated Appeal Official to review your FOIA request and its denial decision. It is a good idea also to give your reason(s) for believing that the denial was wrong.

If the agency denies your request or does not respond within the required time period, you can appeal to the agency's FOIA Appeals Officer. If the agency sent you a denial letter, it should set out the agency's appeal procedures.

New Request. The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a federal law that gives the public the right to make requests for federal agency records. Agencies may withhold information according to nine exemptions contained in the statute.

You may file an appeal of an adverse agency determination in writing. You may submit your appeal via mail or electronically. If you send your appeal by mail, it must be postmarked, or in the case of electronic submissions, transmitted within 90 calendar days from the date of such determination.

FOIA Request A request submitted to a federal agency asking for agency records on any topic.

STEP 1: Determine Record. Determine the exact record you seek. ... STEP 2: Check Public Domain. Check available resources such as the internet or libraries to determine whether the record already exists in the public domain. STEP 3: Determine Which Part of DHS has the Record. ... STEP 4: Complete Information. ... STEP 5: Send the FOIA.