Question about FOIA

H

Hhemc

Registered Users (C)
Guys,
Some of you might remember of our situation, I discussed it about two months ago. My aunt has her asylum application pending since September 2003 (!) when she got her recommended approval. Since that ime we had no news from CIS, we went to San Francisco asylum office for many many times and always the same response - the are waiting for the results of bachground check or overseas investigation. So, whatever, in Dec 2004 we sent FOIA request to SF Asylum office to find out what's going on (however I knew it wouldn't help much). Yesterday we received a pretty big envelope with 112 pages of information about her application, but the problem is that only 40 pages represent full copies of documents and the rest are blank pages with small red stamp stating the provision of law according to which they didn't released that information. So they sent only different copies of her asylum application and recommended approval letter and copies of case status request forms we fill every time we go to CIS. Did anybody have similar expirience with FOIA request? I know they can't disclose all information they have, but wI wonder why they keep these 60 pages? They even didn't send the interview documents with questions and answers, althought one of our friends received almost all documents regarding his case.
Guys, if you have any idea about all this, I would really appreciate all your posts.
 
I strongly strongly suggest you obtain legal counsel to deal with the situation. Do not think about handling this on your own.


Hhemc said:
Guys,
Some of you might remember of our situation, I discussed it about two months ago. My aunt has her asylum application pending since September 2003 (!) when she got her recommended approval. Since that ime we had no news from CIS, we went to San Francisco asylum office for many many times and always the same response - the are waiting for the results of bachground check or overseas investigation. So, whatever, in Dec 2004 we sent FOIA request to SF Asylum office to find out what's going on (however I knew it wouldn't help much). Yesterday we received a pretty big envelope with 112 pages of information about her application, but the problem is that only 40 pages represent full copies of documents and the rest are blank pages with small red stamp stating the provision of law according to which they didn't released that information. So they sent only different copies of her asylum application and recommended approval letter and copies of case status request forms we fill every time we go to CIS. Did anybody have similar expirience with FOIA request? I know they can't disclose all information they have, but wI wonder why they keep these 60 pages? They even didn't send the interview documents with questions and answers, althought one of our friends received almost all documents regarding his case.
Guys, if you have any idea about all this, I would really appreciate all your posts.
Click to expand...
 
thankful said:
I strongly strongly suggest you obtain legal counsel to deal with the situation. Do not think about handling this on your own.
Click to expand...


Agreed. You would be crazy to deal with this on your own. Get an attorney.
 
thanks for your posts,
Yes, I guess we really need a good lawer, a couple of days ago I contacted an attorney here in San Francisco and he told me that in our case the only thing he can is to directly contact Emilia Bardini, the director of SF Asylum office and to ask her to find out what's wrong. So I am going to do it. By the way, the most interesting thing is that in FOIA I discovered that my aunt's asylum officer was changed three times ! after her interview. I am not sure, but I think it could be the reason of this "delay".
 
Hi HHEMC,

How do you file FOIA request at asylum office? Please share procedures and process. Thanks in advance.
 
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