Justice Department Seeks Comments on Voluntary Appeal File Application Update
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The Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), is asking for public comments on changes to the Voluntary Appeal File (VAF) Application Form. This is a notice from the Criminal Justice Information Services Division.
People have 60 days to send comments, ending November 17, 2025.
The FBI wants to hear more about:
- Whether the new information the form collects is useful.
- If the time it takes to fill out the form makes sense.
- Ways to make the form clearer.
- How to make the form easier to use, including online options.
About the Voluntary Appeal File (VAF):
If a person is delayed or told “no” when trying to buy a firearm, but they appeal and win, the FBI cannot keep a record of that decision or supporting documents. If the person tries to buy a firearm again, there can be more delays or denials. The person may need to submit documents again for each appeal. The VAF was created to help with this problem.
People can ask the FBI to keep their information in the VAF. This can stop delays or wrong denials in the future. If accepted, the person gets a Unique Personal Identification Number (UPIN). They give their UPIN when buying a firearm, using the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).
The VAF UPIN may help in other situations too, like for National Firearms Act gun checks or upcoming “firearm handler background checks.” People who have never been in a NICS check can also apply to the VAF to avoid problems later.
Details of the Information Collection:
- Type of Collection: Revision of an approved collection.
- Form Title: Voluntary Appeal File (VAF) Application Form.
- Form Number: 1110-0043.
- Who Responds: Individuals. Response is voluntary.
- Time to Complete: About 30 minutes per person, not including travel for fingerprints or postage.
- Number of Respondents: About 11,073 people may apply each year.
- Total Time Spent Each Year: 5,536.5 hours total, based on all applicants.
Some applications are resolved quickly. If fingerprints show the person is not restricted, it may take one day. If the person matches a possible restriction, the FBI might take up to 60 days, as they may need help from other agencies. Because of this, it is hard to estimate how long it will take to process all applications every year.
For more information or to comment, contact Jill Montgomery at the FBI NICS Section, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg, WV 26306, or call 304-709-1476.
Official contact at the Department of Justice: Darwin Arceo, Justice Management Division, Two Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE, 4W-218, Washington, DC.
This notice was dated September 15, 2025.
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This article includes content collected from the Federal Register (federalregister.gov). The content is not an official government publication. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For case-specific consultation, please contact us. Read our full Legal Disclaimer, which also includes information on translation accuracy.
