Voluntary Appeal File - VAF

Voluntary Appeal File process:

Individuals attempting to purchase firearms through a federally licensed dealer (FFL) sometime experience an erroneous denial or delay by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).  Denials and delays based on faulty information can be appealed; however the NICS Section cannot retain a record of a successful appeal.  Without an updated record, a purchaser will likely face the same denial or delay the next time they attempt to make a purchase requiring a NICS background check.

In order to avoid the appeal process in the future, a Voluntary Appeal File can be created.  Voluntary Appeal Files permit applicants request that NICS maintain information about themselves in the file to prevent future erroneous denials or extended delays of a firearm transfer.