Visa Application Records: What They Are and Who Can See Them
Visa application records are the documents and information the U.S. government holds about an individual visa applicant. Under section 222(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), the State Department treats them as confidential.
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What they include
The State Department's Foreign Affairs Manual says a visa record covers information or documents about an individual applicant. That can include documents the applicant presented that the visa section kept after the interview, items submitted about the application by the applicant, other agencies or the Department, and items the visa section created itself, such as correspondence and refusal worksheets. General instructions and manuals are not visa records.
Why they are confidential
The manual explains that visa records are protected from release, which is different from being security classified. They may be used only to formulate, amend, administer or enforce immigration, nationality and other U.S. laws. Visa sections generally cannot give applicants original records or let them inspect them, except for civil documents. Information from other agencies that appears in a visa file needs the originating agency's written authorization before it is shared with a third party.
Records you supply yourself
The civil documents an applicant submits, such as birth and marriage certificates, come from the issuing vital records office. If you need a certified copy again, contact that office. Requirements for visa civil documents are set by the State Department and differ by country.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a copy of my own visa file?
The Foreign Affairs Manual says access is limited to uses that administer or enforce U.S. law, with very few exceptions. Ask the State Department about its official request process.
Are my birth and marriage certificates part of the visa record?
Documents you present can become part of the record. The manual makes an exception for civil documents when it limits what can be returned or inspected.
Does INA 222(f) cover every visa document?
It covers records about individual visa applicants. It does not cover general instructions or manuals.
Sources
US Records is a private company and is not a government agency. Government agencies issue certified records; we help you order them.
Written By
US Records TeamThe US Records Team writes and reviews guides on birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates, using state statutes, agency instructions and court records as sources.
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