ByAll There Is To Know About the OBIM FOIA Program
The Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM) provides biometric services to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). OBIM is dedicated to securing fast and accurate biometric analysis and contributing to national security.
If you are interested in filing an OBIM FOIA request, look no further. DoNotPay will explain the best and easiest method of writing a compelling FOIA request letter!
FOIA OBIM Requests Explained
DHS is a federal agency that holds the most relevant immigration-related documentation. It contains several components dedicated to immigration purposes, such as:
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- Office of Biometrics Identity Management (OBIM)
The Freedom of Information Act of 1966 grants you access to any of the departments’ public records.
Before you file a FOIA request, you have to confirm which component holds the documents you seek. If you are having trouble determining where to submit your request, you can use the official DHS website. It provides the list of records and agencies that are most likely to have the desired information.
If you are looking for documents related to interaction with border officials—such as removals or voluntary returns at the border—you should file a FOIA request to the OBIM.
Before you do, check out the OBIM FOIA logs to make sure the records have not been published already.
What Are the Costs of Submitting an OBIM FOIA Request?
DHS has established FOIA request fees that apply to all of its components. The cost of FOIA-related services depends on the category you belong to and the complexity of your request. Here is the overview of categories and corresponding fees:
- News media representatives and educational and scientific requesters typically pay for duplication after 100 pages
- Commercial requesters must cover the charges of searching, reviewing, and duplicating documents
- Other requesters pay for search after the first two hours and duplication after 100 pages
The services fees are as follows:
| DHS FOIA Request Processing Service | Fee |
|
Search and review | Clerical search and review— $4/15 min
Professional search and review— $7/15 min Managerial search and review—$10.25/15 min |
|
Duplication | $0.10 per page |
How To Make an OBIM FOIA Request on Your Own
You can submit your OBIM FOIA requests in several ways. Check out the table below for more detailed information about submission methods:
| OBIM FOIA Request Methods | Details |
|
| Mail your request to the following address:
The Privacy Office Office of Biometric Identity Management U.S. Department of Homeland Security 245 Murray Lane SW STOP-0655 Washington, DC 20528-0655 |
|
Fax | Send your submission to (202) 343-4011 |
|
| Email your request to foia-obim@hq.dhs.gov |
| Use the DHS online submissions form to file your request |
What Should an OBIM FOIA Request Letter Look Like?
The most reliable method of obtaining the OBIM public documents is submitting a FOIA request letter. DHS provides instructions on what information you should include for a quick response.
Take a look at the most important DHS FOIA request letter requirements:
- Personal information—include your name, address, email address, and a phone number if you want to receive information about your request process
- A brief but specific description of the desired record—try to provide as many details of the document as possible. A vague description can result in DHS denying your request or taking more time to process it. Details such as the title, type of document, subject area, or date of creation can come a long way
- Fee category—Indicate the category you belong to and the purpose of your request so that DHS can establish the fee
- Expedited treatment option—request for an expedited treatment if someone’s life or physical safety is in danger or there is an urgent need to inform the public of government’s activity
- Perjury statement— add one to your request if you are seeking documents about yourself
- A third-party release statement—submit it when you are requesting information about another person
File an OBIM FOIA Request With the Help of DoNotPay
If you want to submit your OBN FOIA request online, DoNotPay can help. We provide exceptional service by:
- Giving you access to not only federal but also local and state agency databases
- Collecting the relevant info about the records you’re looking for
- Using that information to write and submit the request letter in your name
We will take care of everything once you perform a few simple steps first:
- Visit DoNotPay in your
- Select our FOIA feature
- Type in the OBIM FOIA keyword
- Choose to apply for a fee waiver or expedited processing
After OBIM receives our FOIA request letter, we guarantee your desired records will reach you in no time.
can help you with many FOIA-related processes. You can visit our learning center for more info on how to check your FOIA status or file a FOIA appeal. Understanding the meaning of FOIA will help you establish which public records are available and which are deemed exemptions. If you want to know where to find the best FOIA request letter templates, we have the answer!
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