United States Naturalization Records: Difference between revisions

The first naturalization law was enacted in 1790 and new naturalization laws were created throughout the subsequent years. The 1790 law was the beginning of the naturalization process which required a [[Portal-United States Naturalization. Naturalization Records-Declaration of Intention|Declaration of Intention]] and a Petition to naturalize. <br>The naturalization process is completed in a court of law. The process usually required several steps to complete and various documents related to naturalization may be found in the court records described below. <br>The typical naturalization process involved three steps: <br>  

#'''Declaration of Intention.''' The immigrant filed a declaration of intention (first papers) to renounce allegiance to foreign governments and in order to later prove he or she had resided in the country long enough to apply for citizenship. Declarations were filed many places. Some were filed in a court at the port of arrival, some en route to a new home, and some in the immigrant's new home.  

#'''Petition.''' After two to five years the immigrant filed a petition for citizenship (second or final papers). Most often the petition was filed in a court nearest to the town where the immigrant settled.  

#'''Certificate.''' After all requirements were completed, the immigrant was sworn in as a citizen and issued his or her certificate.<br>

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