USCIS · Official form

Form G-639: Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Request

Form G-639 is the optional USCIS form for requesting copies of immigration records, such as your A-file, under the Freedom of Information Act or the Privacy Act.

This is the genuine USCIS PDF, unmodified. Source: USCIS official page.

What is G-639?

Form G-639 organizes a records request to USCIS: who is asking, whose records are sought, and which documents or time periods are needed. People commonly use it to obtain a copy of their alien file (A-file), prior applications, or entry and status records, often while preparing a new filing or working with an attorney on case history.

The form is optional; a written request with the same information also works, and USCIS encourages filing FOIA requests online through its FIRST system. Requests for another person's records generally require that person's consent or proof of death, and some records held by other agencies must be requested from those agencies instead.

Who files G-639?

  • Individuals requesting a copy of their own A-file or immigration history
  • Attorneys and accredited representatives gathering records for a client's case
  • Family members or heirs requesting records of a deceased person with proof of death
  • Requestors seeking specific USCIS documents, decisions, or policy records under FOIA

How to fill out G-639

  1. Decide what you need; describing specific documents or date ranges gets faster, more complete responses than asking for everything.
  2. Fill out the requestor and subject-of-record sections, including identity details that help USCIS locate the file.
  3. If you are requesting someone else's records, include their signed consent or the documentation the instructions require.
  4. Sign the form; requests for your own records require a verified signature, so follow the current instructions on notarization or sworn declaration.
  5. Submit the request online through USCIS FIRST or send it to the USCIS FOIA office address in the current instructions, then track it with the number USCIS assigns.

Quick fill G-639 on this page

Prefer to see the form itself while you type? Open G-639 in the editor to fill it on the actual pages, add a signature, and download.

These are the form's own fields, in the order they appear on the pages. Fill in what you know; anything left blank stays a fillable field in the PDF, so you can finish it in any PDF reader. Nothing you type here is sent to USCIS.

Page 3 31 fields
Page 4 10 fields
Page 5 30 fields
Page 6 21 fields
Page 7 18 fields
Page 8 15 fields
Page 9 4 fields
Page 10 20 fields

Processed on our own servers, never sent to a third-party service. Files are deleted automatically after two hours, and you can delete them sooner from the result screen.

Frequently asked questions

Does a FOIA request to USCIS cost anything?

Most first-party requests are processed without charge, but FOIA allows fees in some situations, such as very large or commercial requests. USCIS will notify you if fees apply; check current details at uscis.gov.

Do I have to use Form G-639 to get my records?

No. The form is optional. You can file online through the USCIS FIRST system, which is generally the fastest route, or send a written request containing the same information.

Will a FOIA request show my current case status?

Not really. FOIA provides copies of existing records, not live status updates. For a pending case, use the USCIS case status tools instead; for records of past filings and entries, FOIA is the right tool.