 This video will show you how to determine when you may need to file a FOIA request, how to file, and what you can expect from the National Archives facilities in the Washington, D.C. area during this process. It is important to note that access to most records at the National Archives doesn't require a FOIA request. Simply send us an email, letter, fax, or come to one of our facilities, and we will provide you access to the files. For congressional, legislative, and judicial records, and records before the year 1920, you don't need to file a FOIA request. However, for archival records that contain potentially sensitive information, classified information, or any records identified as restricted in the National Archives catalog, you may need to file a FOIA request. All FOIA requests for archival records in the Washington, D.C. area can be submitted to our office, special access in FOIA and College Park, Maryland. Requests must be made in writing, either by email, letter, or fax. If you submit your request to our office, please make sure to keep our office updated with your most current contact information, especially your mailing address. To ensure that you receive a response, a proper FOIA request should include your full name, contact information, and a reasonable description of the requested records. Within 20 business days of our office receiving your request, you'll receive an initial response that includes the following information, a FOIA case number that we will use to track your request, an assessment of the responsiveness of the records, and an estimate of how long it will take to fulfill the request. After thorough review, you'll receive a final response from our office with instructions on how to access the records. To access records, all requesters have the option of viewing the records in our reading room in College Park, Maryland, or ordering reproductions of the records for a fee based on the National Archives fee schedule. Once you have received your records from the National Archives, you can enjoy your piece of history. For further information, please visit our website or feel free to contact our office. You may contact our FOIA public liaison if you'd like to discuss our office's responses to your request and attempt to resolve a dispute without initiating the appeals process. The Office of Government Information Services is the federal FOIA ombudsman. OGIS offers mediation services to help resolve disputes between FOIA requesters and federal agencies.