L. Francis Cissna from October 8, 2017 to Present Day containing the non-case-sensitive key-string "EB-5"

Taylor Scott Amarel filed this request with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of the United States of America.
Tracking #

COW2018000252

Est. Completion None
Status
Fix Required

Communications

From: Taylor Scott Amarel

To Whom It May Concern:

This is a request under the Freedom of Information Act. I hereby request the following records:

I would like to obtain all emails sent to, from, or copied to L. Francis Cissna from October 8, 2017 to Present Day containing the non-case-sensitive key-string "EB-5" or "Money Laundering".

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 20 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Taylor Scott Amarel

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

An acknowledgement letter, stating the request is being processed.

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Per our records, this request was created on February 26, 2018 under COW2018000252. The acknowledgement letter was printed on this same date and mailed to the address provided to us. The current average processing timeframe for Track 2 requests is 124 days business days, which excludes weekends and Federal holidays. You may wish to continue to check the status of your request by visiting https://egov.uscis.gov/foiawebstatus/index.jsp#main-content and entering your control number.
Best regards,
FOIA Program Branch
United States Citizenship & Immigration Services
[cid:image002.jpg@01D1A9DF.1072B890]
JL

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

I have checked the status of your case and your request is currently listed as 571 of 689 pending cases.

Karl Bloom
Government Information Specialist
FOIA/PA Division
National Records Center
150 Space Center Loop, Lee's Summit, MO 64064
Immigration Records and Identity Services (IRIS)
e-mail: karl.d.bloom@uscis.dhs.gov

Telework Days Monday-Wednesday
In the office Thursday
WARNING This document is FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO). It contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). This document is to be controlled, handled, transmitted, distributed, and disposed of in accordance with DHS policy relating to Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) information and is not to be released to the public or other personnel who do not have a valid "need-to-know" without prior approval from the originator. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the originator for disposition instructions.

From: Taylor Scott Amarel

Thank you very much! I am very excited that my request is moving along and can't wait to get the documents! Cheers! Happy Thursday!

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

This is the current status of your request:

[cid:image001.png@01D44420.F0169100]

Karl Bloom
Government Information Specialist
FOIA/PA Division
National Records Center
150 Space Center Loop, Lee's Summit, MO 64064
Immigration Records and Identity Services (IRIS)
(816) 350-5621
e-mail: karl.d.bloom@uscis.dhs.gov

Telework Days Monday-Wednesday
In the office Thursday
WARNING This document is FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO). It contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). This document is to be controlled, handled, transmitted, distributed, and disposed of in accordance with DHS policy relating to Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) information and is not to be released to the public or other personnel who do not have a valid "need-to-know" without prior approval from the originator. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the originator for disposition instructions.

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Your request is currently:
[cid:image001.png@01D4A3FF.0095EB00]
You may check the status of your request at time by going to the following website: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/freedom-information-and-privacy-act-foia/foia-request-status-check-average-processing-times/check-status-foia-request.

Karl Bloom
Government Information Specialist
FOIA/PA Division
National Records Center
150 Space Center Loop, Lee's Summit, MO 64064
Immigration Records and Identity Services (IRIS)
(816) 350-5621
e-mail: karl.d.bloom@uscis.dhs.gov<mailto:karl.d.bloom@uscis.dhs.gov>

Telework Days Monday-Wednesday
In the office Thursday

WARNING This document is FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO). It contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). This document is to be controlled, handled, transmitted, distributed, and disposed of in accordance with DHS policy relating to Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) information and is not to be released to the public or other personnel who do not have a valid "need-to-know" without prior approval from the originator. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the originator for disposition instructions.

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Your request is currently:
[cid:image001.png@01D4D3E6.F6172DC0]
You may check the status of your request at time by going to the following website: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/freedom-information-and-privacy-act-foia/foia-request-status-check-average-processing-times/check-status-foia-request.

Karl Bloom
Government Information Specialist
FOIA/PA Division
National Records Center
150 Space Center Loop, Lee's Summit, MO 64064
Immigration Records and Identity Services (IRIS)
(816) 350-5621
e-mail: karl.d.bloom@uscis.dhs.gov<mailto:karl.d.bloom@uscis.dhs.gov>

Telework Days Monday-Wednesday
In the office Thursday

WARNING This document is FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO). It contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). This document is to be controlled, handled, transmitted, distributed, and disposed of in accordance with DHS policy relating to Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) information and is not to be released to the public or other personnel who do not have a valid "need-to-know" without prior approval from the originator. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the originator for disposition instructions.

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Your request is currently:
[cid:image001.png@01D503DC.D18DFE90]

You may check the status of your request at time by going to the following website: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/freedom-information-and-privacy-act-foia/foia-request-status-check-average-processing-times/check-status-foia-request.

Karl Bloom
Government Information Specialist
FOIA/PA Division
National Records Center
150 Space Center Loop, Lee's Summit, MO 64064
Immigration Records and Identity Services (IRIS)
(816) 350-5621
e-mail: karl.d.bloom@uscis.dhs.gov<mailto:karl.d.bloom@uscis.dhs.gov>

Telework Days Monday-Wednesday
In the office Thursday

WARNING This document is FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO). It contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). This document is to be controlled, handled, transmitted, distributed, and disposed of in accordance with DHS policy relating to Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) information and is not to be released to the public or other personnel who do not have a valid "need-to-know" without prior approval from the originator. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the originator for disposition instructions.

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Your request is currently:
[cid:image001.png@01D51B79.1FFA5570]

You may check the status of your request at time by going to the following website: https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/freedom-information-and-privacy-act-foia/foia-request-status-check-average-processing-times/check-status-foia-request.

Karl Bloom
Government Information Specialist
FOIA/PA Division
National Records Center
150 Space Center Loop, Lee's Summit, MO 64064
Immigration Records and Identity Services (IRIS)
(816) 350-5621
e-mail: karl.d.bloom@uscis.dhs.gov<mailto:karl.d.bloom@uscis.dhs.gov>

Telework Days Monday-Wednesday
In the office Thursday

WARNING This document is FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO). It contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). This document is to be controlled, handled, transmitted, distributed, and disposed of in accordance with DHS policy relating to Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) information and is not to be released to the public or other personnel who do not have a valid "need-to-know" without prior approval from the originator. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the originator for disposition instructions.

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Good Morning Taylor,

The above request is for the following information "all emails sent to, from, or copied to L Francis Cissna from October 8 2017 to Present Day containing the non-case-sensitive key-string "EB-5" or Money Laundering" The above sentence reasonably describes the information that you are seeking, but the request is still very broad overall. The EB-5 Program is very broad and vast and will likely return a lot of emails that are technically responsive going off of the above request, but they may include a multitude of other emails that are not really what you are looking for. Would there be any other keywords that you would like included in the search to possibly narrow the scope of the above records? For instance, we could search within the EB-5 records for records containing the words EB-5 AND X (money laundering, fraud, enforcement, etc.) to possibly provide you with records that are more tailored to what you are looking for. As we stand right now, there are records that contain EB-5 or money laundering, but in certain records those phrases are not the main topic of discussion and might only be mentioned in passing. If we were to narrow, it might give you a more clear and concise set of records to go through. We could also do the same with money laundering if that is something you are interested in. As a courtesy, I have attached the original request letter for you to look over. Please let me know how we can assist you further.

Best,

[Image result for USCIS icon]
Adam P. Kengor MPA
Government Information Specialist
National Records Center * FOIA Operations
Significant Interest Group (SIG)
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services
Department of Homeland Security

WARNING: This document is FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO). It contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). This document is to be controlled, handled, transmitted, distributed, and disposed of in accordance with DHS policy relating to Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) information and is not to be released to the public or other personnel who do not have a valid "need-to-know" without prior approval from the originator.

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Good Morning Taylor,

This is a formal follow up to the below email. We have yet to receive a reply to the below clarification email. Until we receive clarification on the matters below, we are unable to begin processing the records. Please get in contact with us at your earliest convenience.

Best,

[Image result for USCIS icon]
Adam P. Kengor MPA
Government Information Specialist
National Records Center * FOIA Operations
Significant Interest Group (SIG)
U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services
Department of Homeland Security

WARNING: This document is FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO). It contains information that may be exempt from public release under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). This document is to be controlled, handled, transmitted, distributed, and disposed of in accordance with DHS policy relating to Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) information and is not to be released to the public or other personnel who do not have a valid "need-to-know" without prior approval from the originator.

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Good afternoon Mr. Amarel,

I am following up on a FOIA request received by this office on 2/22/18 regarding all emails sent to L. Francis Cissna from 10/8/2017 to present containing EB-5 or Money Laundering.
" On February 16, 2023, USCIS sent you the attached letter asking if you were still interested in the request. As of today’s date, we have not received a response from you. As more than 30 days have now passed, I am providing you with another copy of the letter as a final attempt to contact you regarding your FOIA request. If I do not hear from you within 3 business days, your request will be administratively closed.

Tembra Greenwood

Senior Government Information Specialist

USCIS/FOIA/Significant Interest Group

National Record Center

Tembra.A.Greenwood@uscis.dhs.gov"

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Get Your USCIS Immigration Records Faster, Online (https://first.uscis.gov/favicon.ico)

Hello,
You recently requested information from us under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
In response to COVID-19, we must temporarily reduce our capacity for processing paper FOIA requests and delivering records by mail.
We strongly recommend that you https://first.uscis.gov to receive a faster response and to help keep our workforce safe. (https://first.uscis.gov)
Step 1: Create a USCIS account to receive information online

* Visit the USCIS online account page at https://first.uscis.gov, and click "Create an Account". (https://first.uscis.gov)
* Set up your email address login, two-step verification, and the security question answers.
* Once you have fully logged in, select FIRST to find your FOIA request.

Step 2: Link Your Request to Your Online Account

* After you login, click the "View My Requests" button.
* A message will appear, asking if you have a new request to register. Click "Yes".
* Enter the FOIA control number and PIN we mailed to you and click the "Register Case" button.
* Success! You will see your request on the "My Requests" page in your account.

Step 3: Use the My Requests Page

* Now you can check the My Requests page to see the status of your request.
* We will notify you by email to check this page when the information you requested is ready.
* Once we post the information here, you can view or download anytime.

Thanks for helping us provide you with a more efficient service!
USCIS
If you have troubles logging into your account, please call the USCIS Contact Center toll-free at 800-375-5283.
For people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability: TTY 800-767-1833.

THIS RESPONSE HAS BEEN AUTO GENERATED. PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE.

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Get Your USCIS Immigration Records Faster, Online (https://first.uscis.gov/favicon.ico)

Hello,
You recently requested information from us under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
In response to COVID-19, we must temporarily reduce our capacity for processing paper FOIA requests and delivering records by mail.
We strongly recommend that you https://first.uscis.gov to receive a faster response and to help keep our workforce safe. (https://first.uscis.gov)
Step 1: Create a USCIS account to receive information online

* Visit the USCIS online account page at https://first.uscis.gov, and click "Create an Account". (https://first.uscis.gov)
* Set up your email address login, two-step verification, and the security question answers.
* Once you have fully logged in, select FIRST to find your FOIA request.

Step 2: Link Your Request to Your Online Account

* After you login, click the "View My Requests" button.
* A message will appear, asking if you have a new request to register. Click "Yes".
* Enter the FOIA control number and PIN we mailed to you and click the "Register Case" button.
* Success! You will see your request on the "My Requests" page in your account.

Step 3: Use the My Requests Page

* Now you can check the My Requests page to see the status of your request.
* We will notify you by email to check this page when the information you requested is ready.
* Once we post the information here, you can view or download anytime.

Thanks for helping us provide you with a more efficient service!
USCIS
If you have troubles logging into your account, please call the USCIS Contact Center toll-free at 800-375-5283.
For people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability: TTY 800-767-1833.

THIS RESPONSE HAS BEEN AUTO GENERATED. PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE.

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Good afternoon,

I am writing to you in regards to your USCIS Freedom of Information Act request under control number COW2018000252. We attempted to mail you our correspondence via the United States Postal Service, but the mail was returned undeliverable. Can you please confirm your mailing address?

Thank you,
Samantha

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Get Your USCIS Immigration Records Faster, Online (https://first.uscis.gov/favicon.ico)

Hello,
You recently requested information from us under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
In response to COVID-19, we must temporarily reduce our capacity for processing paper FOIA requests and delivering records by mail.
We strongly recommend that you https://first.uscis.gov to receive a faster response and to help keep our workforce safe. (https://first.uscis.gov)
Step 1: Create a USCIS account to receive information online

* Visit the USCIS online account page at https://first.uscis.gov, and click "Create an Account". (https://first.uscis.gov)
* Set up your email address login, two-step verification, and the security question answers.
* Once you have fully logged in, select FIRST to find your FOIA request.

Step 2: Link Your Request to Your Online Account

* After you login, click the "View My Requests" button.
* A message will appear, asking if you have a new request to register. Click "Yes".
* Enter the FOIA control number and PIN we mailed to you and click the "Register Case" button.
* Success! You will see your request on the "My Requests" page in your account.

Step 3: Use the My Requests Page

* Now you can check the My Requests page to see the status of your request.
* We will notify you by email to check this page when the information you requested is ready.
* Once we post the information here, you can view or download anytime.

Thanks for helping us provide you with a more efficient service!
USCIS
If you have troubles logging into your account, please call the USCIS Contact Center toll-free at 800-375-5283.
For people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability: TTY 800-767-1833.

THIS RESPONSE HAS BEEN AUTO GENERATED. PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE.

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Get Your USCIS Immigration Records Faster, Online (https://first.uscis.gov/favicon.ico)

Hello,
You recently requested information from us under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
In response to COVID-19, we must temporarily reduce our capacity for processing paper FOIA requests and delivering records by mail.
We strongly recommend that you https://first.uscis.gov to receive a faster response and to help keep our workforce safe. (https://first.uscis.gov)
Step 1: Create a USCIS account to receive information online

* Visit the USCIS online account page at https://first.uscis.gov, and click "Create an Account". (https://first.uscis.gov)
* Set up your email address login, two-step verification, and the security question answers.
* Once you have fully logged in, select FIRST to find your FOIA request.

Step 2: Link Your Request to Your Online Account

* After you login, click the "View My Requests" button.
* A message will appear, asking if you have a new request to register. Click "Yes".
* Enter the FOIA control number and PIN we mailed to you and click the "Register Case" button.
* Success! You will see your request on the "My Requests" page in your account.

Step 3: Use the My Requests Page

* Now you can check the My Requests page to see the status of your request.
* We will notify you by email to check this page when the information you requested is ready.
* Once we post the information here, you can view or download anytime.

Thanks for helping us provide you with a more efficient service!
USCIS
If you have troubles logging into your account, please call the USCIS Contact Center toll-free at 800-375-5283.
For people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability: TTY 800-767-1833.

THIS RESPONSE HAS BEEN AUTO GENERATED. PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE.

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Get Your USCIS Immigration Records Faster, Online (https://first.uscis.gov/favicon.ico)

Hello,
You recently requested information from us under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
In response to COVID-19, we must temporarily reduce our capacity for processing paper FOIA requests and delivering records by mail.
We strongly recommend that you https://first.uscis.gov to receive a faster response and to help keep our workforce safe. (https://first.uscis.gov)
Step 1: Create a USCIS account to receive information online

* Visit the USCIS online account page at https://first.uscis.gov, and click "Create an Account". (https://first.uscis.gov)
* Set up your email address login, two-step verification, and the security question answers.
* Once you have fully logged in, select FIRST to find your FOIA request.

Step 2: Link Your Request to Your Online Account

* After you login, click the "View My Requests" button.
* A message will appear, asking if you have a new request to register. Click "Yes".
* Enter the FOIA control number and PIN we mailed to you and click the "Register Case" button.
* Success! You will see your request on the "My Requests" page in your account.

Step 3: Use the My Requests Page

* Now you can check the My Requests page to see the status of your request.
* We will notify you by email to check this page when the information you requested is ready.
* Once we post the information here, you can view or download anytime.

Thanks for helping us provide you with a more efficient service!
USCIS
If you have troubles logging into your account, please call the USCIS Contact Center toll-free at 800-375-5283.
For people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability: TTY 800-767-1833.

THIS RESPONSE HAS BEEN AUTO GENERATED. PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE.

From: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Good afternoon,

I am writing to you in regards to your USCIS Freedom of Information Act request under control number COW2018000252. We attempted to mail you our correspondence via the United States Postal Service, but the mail was returned undeliverable. Can you please confirm your mailing address?

Thank you,
Samantha

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