In the Nutshell
Reviewing the contents of a refugee case file and broader immigration file can be an important and helpful step while preparing for possible USCIS interviews. A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request (or for lawful permanent residents (LPR), a Privacy Act (PA) request) will usually be the only way to obtain a copy of the file because refugee applicants generally do not receive a copy of the refugee application (I-590) or other documents prepared during U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) processing. However, due to a number of recent policy changes impacting U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) FOIA processing that were made public in a recent whistleblower complaint, FOIA requesters have faced new challenges, including an increasing number of initial rejections of requests and more widespread withholdings of refugee file documents that should be released under FOIA.