Last verified: September 30, 2026. Official procedures can change; use the linked agency pages when you file.
NARA describes A-Files as consolidated case files that may document immigration, inspection, residence, naturalization and other interactions with INS/USCIS. The contents vary enormously from person to person.
Records NARA says may appear
NARA lists examples including visas, photographs, affidavits and correspondence, with files potentially documenting events leading to naturalization, permanent residence, death or deportation. Some files also contain foreign civil records or translations that were placed into the immigration case.
What our request produced
USCIS identified 66 responsive pages in our family request. The final response said 29 pages were released in full, 26 in part and 11 withheld in full. The release therefore included both historical records and modern FOIA redactions.
Our final response is a useful reminder that “the A-File” can arrive as a mixed release rather than one neat certificate.
Why the surrounding correspondence matters
For family-history or citizenship research, the most useful page is not always the obvious certificate. Addresses, dates, petitions, cross-references, internal notes and correspondence can help reconstruct the sequence of events and point to another repository or record series.
Keep the agency letter with the download
We saved the USCIS response letter together with the released file because it documents the scope of the agency search and explains what was released or withheld. We also printed the entire set for our appointment rather than printing only the pages we thought would matter.
Related guides
Understand a partial release
How to read “released in full,” “released in part,” exemptions and appeal language.
Read guide →Firsthand caseOur A-File request
The complete sequence from failed request to online release.
Read guide →A-numberFind an A-number
Where to look for the file identifier in old family records.
Read guide →Official / primary sources
We separate current source-based guidance from our own family’s experience. Agency custody, forms, fees and procedures can change.