Your safety and health are our priority. Census Bureau interviewers, or field representatives, are trained and equipped to safely, professionally, and courteously conduct in-person and phone interviews. As part of our safety protocols, all Census Bureau interviewers undergo background investigation checks as part of their employment process.

We provide different ways to complete a survey, including by phone.

The Census Bureau conducts surveys over the phone, online, or by paper whenever possible. If we’re not able to collect your response, we may visit in person. For example, we may need to confirm in person if a residence is vacant or to confirm an address is valid.

If your household has been asked to participate in a survey, you may receive a letter inviting you to call a Census Bureau field representative to complete the survey. We may also call to schedule a phone interview for these surveys.

The Census Bureau conducts over 100 surveys every year that collect statistics on the health, finances, employment, and other important attributes of the country. These surveys support governments, officials, and policymakers by providing important information that cannot be found elsewhere. Your response is key.

Here are some ways you can verify a Census Bureau employee:

The field representative will present an ID badge that includes:
- their name,
- their photograph,
- a Department of Commerce watermark, and
- an expiration date.
They will have an official bag and Census Bureau-issued electronic device, such as a laptop or smartphone, bearing the Census Bureau logo.
Field representatives conduct their work between the hours of 9am and 9pm, local time every day of the week.

Your information is strictly confidential.

The Census Bureau is committed to safeguarding the information of survey participants so that we can provide the country with high quality statistics.

All information that you provide in answer to a Census Bureau survey or census is strictly confidential. We do not share your information with anyone, including other federal agencies, and do not publish any information about individual households or businesses. The data we collect is only used to create statistics. The Census Bureau has legal, procedural, technological, and statistical safeguards to ensure your information will not be disclosed to anyone.