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Mr. Ogbonna: Please be advised this Office requires proper authorization from the subject of the request in order to beginprocessing your July 14, 2021, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. § 552) request regarding visa records for Ocheoha Damian Ogbonna.  Valid forms of authorization follow: (1) A completed and signed DS-4240, Certification of Identity (available at thefollowing web address: https://foia.state.gov/_docs/DS-4240.pdf). (2) A request that includes a notarized signature of the subject of the request. (3) A valid signed and dated penalty of perjury statement that declares thefollowing verbatim: “I declare, certify, state, or affirm under the laws of theUnited States of America, that the following is true and correct.”

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Please resubmit the DS-4240 ensuring that it is accurately dated you may submit option 2 or 3 listed above or or additional informationconcerning requests for visa records, pleaserefer to the following web address: . https://foia.state.gov/Request/Visa.aspx Please reply to this email with one of the above valid forms of authorization.  To ensure prompt attention, pleaseinclude the subject reference number along with a valid form ofauthorization.

**THIS EMAIL BOX IS NOT MONITORED, PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.** Mr.Ogbonna: This email responds to your July 14, 2021, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. § 552) requestreceived by the U.S. Department of State,Office of Information Programs and Services on October 29, 2021, regarding visa records for Ocheoha Damian Ogbonna This Office assigned your request the subject reference number Becauseyour FOIA request does not include valid authorization from the subject of therequest, this Office cannot provide any information in response to yourrequest. Visa records are confidentialunder section 222(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1202(f)). Consequently, disclosing the existence orabsence of such records in response to your request would reveal informationexempt from disclosure under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(3). In addition, disclosing the existence orabsence of such records would reveal information in which the subject of therequest’s privacy interest outweighs any public interest in disclosure, makingthat information exempt from disclosure under 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(6). Youmay submit another request with one of the following valid forms ofauthorization from the subject of the request: (1) acompleted and signed DS-4240, Certification of Identity (available at thefollowing web address: please refer to the following web address: https://foia.state.gov/_docs/DS-4240.pdf), (2) arequest that includes a notarized signature of the subject of the request, or(3) a valid signed and dated penalty of perjury statement that declares thefollowing verbatim: “I declare, certify, state, or affirm under the laws of theUnited States of America, that the following is true and correct.” For additional information concerningrequests for visa records, https://foia.state.gov/Request/Visa.aspx. Please note, however, that even if youprovide such authorization, the Department would still be required by section222(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1202(f)) to keep confidentialany visa records that were not previously received from or sent to the subjectof the request. If you are not satisfied withthis Office’s determination in response to your request, you mayadministratively appeal to: Appeals Officer, Office ofInformation Programs and Services, U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street, NW, Room B266, Washington, D.C. 20520; or facsimile at 202-485-1718. Your appeal must be postmarked orelectronically transmitted within 90 days of the date of this email. If you have any questions regardingyour request, please contact our FOIA Requester Service Center or our FOIAPublic Liaison by email at FOIAstatus@state.gov or telephone at 202-261-8484. Additionally, you may contact the Office of Government InformationServices (OGIS) at the National Archives and Records Administration to inquireabout the FOIA mediation services they offer. The contact information for OGIS is as follows: Office of GovernmentInformation Services, National Archives and Records Administration, 8601Adelphi Road-OGIS, College Park, Maryland 20740-6001, email at ogis@nara.gov;telephone at 202-741-5770; toll free at 1-877-684-6448; or facsimile at202-741-5769. Sincerely, J. Turman, for Kellie N. Robinson Chief, Requester Liaison Division (Acting) FOIA Program Manager/FOIA Public Liaison U.S. Department of State Office of Information Programs and Services **THIS EMAIL BOX IS NOT MONITORED, PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.**