Skip to content.

 

Below Library

Mission

The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is an independent U.S. Government agency responsible for providing national security intelligence to senior US policymakers.
Central Intelligence Agency
The Work of a Nation. The Center of Intelligence

Freedom of Information Act

CIA Home > Library > Electronic Reading Room > How to File a Privacy Act Request > Sample Request Letter
Advanced Search | Tips

How to file a Privacy Act Request

The Seven Essential Elements of a Request Letter (sample below)

  1. Specify in writing that you wish to receive a copy of records indexed to your name, or complete this form.
    Write to:
    Information and Privacy Coordinator
    Central Intelligence Agency
    Washington, D.C. 20505

    Or send via fax to: 703-613-3007.
    Provide your full name and address.
    We cannot accept Privacy Act requests via electronic mail.

  2. Provide your date and place of birth.
  3. Provide your citizenship status. If you are a naturalized US citizen or a Legal Permanent Resident (LPR), we require your naturalization or LPR number and the date that status was acquired.
  4. Notarize your letter or sign it under penalty of perjury pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1746 to ensure that records concerning you are only released to you. If you're making the request through an attorney, include an original notarized statement or statement signed under penalty of perjury pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1746 authorizing us to release information to your attorney.
  5. Requests must be submitted in English

 

Sample Privacy Act Request Letter

Date

Information and Privacy Coordinator
Central Intelligence Agency
Washington, D.C. 20505 

Dear Coordinator:

Under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. subsection 552 and the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. section 552a, please furnish me with copies of all records about me indexed to my name.

To help identify information about me in your record systems, I am providing the following required information:

Full name, current address, date and place of birth, citizenship status

Optional: Please explain contact, if any, with the Agency or any other information that would help us distinguish between you and other individuals with the same or similar names.

If you deny all or any part of this request, please cite each specific exemption that forms the basis of your refusal to release the information and notify me of appeal procedures available under the law.

Optional: If you have any questions about handling this request, you may telephone me at (home phone) or at my (office phone).

Sincerely,

Name

Statement swearing under threat of perjury that above information is true or have the letter notarized.



Fees and Waivers

The CIA charges No Fees for processing a Privacy Act requests.

The Privacy Act authorizes federal agencies to collect fees for record services--specifically for searches and reproduction--as a matter of administrative discretion; the CIA does not assess fees for either searches or reproduction when processing Privacy Act requests.

Note that the CIA processes requests under the authority of both the Privacy Act and the Freedom of Information Act in order to ensure the maximum possible disclosure for the requester.