WITHDRAWAL OF APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION RECORDS
When CBP permits a traveler to withdraw an application for admission, the incident is commonly documented on Form I-275, Withdrawal of Application for Admission/Consular Notification. The traveler can request the CBP inspection and withdrawal records through FOIA.
Form I-275 records that the traveler’s admissibility was questioned and that the traveler requested permission to withdraw the application for admission and return abroad instead of receiving a formal admissibility determination through the alternative procedure described on the form.
The I-275 can be one of the most important records for determining exactly what happened during a prior border refusal.
Current CBP FOIA guidance identifies records regarding an inspection or examination upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry as records that should be requested from CBP.
An I-275 may be accompanied by other records that provide much more detail about the border incident.
The form contains the reason CBP questioned admissibility. That wording can affect later visa applications, ESTA eligibility and future inspections.
Form I-275 should not be confused with Form I-860. An I-275 ordinarily documents withdrawal of the application for admission, while an I-860 documents an expedited-removal order.
As of January 22, 2026, CBP directs FOIA requesters to use SecureRelease or FOIA.gov rather than ordinary mail, fax or email.
A first-party CBP FOIA request can seek the withdrawal and inspection records associated with the incident.
Not by itself. Form I-275 ordinarily reflects withdrawal of the application for admission and should be distinguished from Form I-860 expedited removal.
The supporting records may explain what evidence CBP reviewed and why the officer questioned admissibility.
These government materials provide the principal CBP records and FOIA procedures discussed on this page.
The form itself may be brief; the related inspection narrative, statement and visa records often provide the facts needed for a future-entry strategy.