Planning Your Strategy
Here are some tips for planning your FOIA request -

Try to limit your request to what you really want. If you simply ask for "all files relating to" a particular subject (including yourself), you may give the agency an excuse to delay its response, and you risk needlessly running up search and copying costs.

If you know that your request involves a great volume of records, try to state both what your request includes and what it does not include.

Be as specific as possible. Cite relevant newspaper clips, articles, congressional reports, etc. If the records have already been released, let the agency know the date, release number, and name of the original requester.

Let the agency know if you'd like to receive information in a particular order. Materials could be reviewed and released to you in chronological or geographical order - or you may simply not want to wait for all the records to be reviewed before any are released.

Let the agency know if you'd like to receive information in a particular format. If they are available electronically, for instance, it may help lower response time and fees.