13,456
edits
United States Naturalization and Citizenship: Difference between revisions
United States Naturalization and Citizenship (view source)
Revision as of 15:45, 30 December 2013
, 30 December 2013no edit summary
No edit summary |
|||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United_States_Naturalization_and_Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]]'' [[Image:{{Naturalization Photo}}|thumb|right]] | ''[[United States|United States]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]] [[United_States_Naturalization_and_Citizenship|Naturalization and Citizenship]]'' [[Image:{{Naturalization Photo}}|thumb|right|{{Naturalization Photo}}]] <br> | ||
{{NatDC}} | |||
= U.S. NATURALIZATION RECORDS = | = U.S. NATURALIZATION RECORDS = | ||
== Most Popular Websites for Naturalization Records | == Most Popular Websites for Naturalization Records == | ||
| | ||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
== Why Use This Record?<br> == | == Why Use This Record?<br> == | ||
[[Image:Flag and gavel.jpg|thumb|right]]<br> | [[Image:Flag and gavel.jpg|thumb|right|Flag and gavel.jpg]]<br> | ||
<u>'''Naturalization Overview <br>'''</u> | <u>'''Naturalization Overview <br>'''</u> | ||
| Line 234: | Line 234: | ||
The clerk of the court where the immigrant was naturalized may still have the original records. Some copies of court naturalization records have been transferred to National Archives regional branches. Check these Regional Branches for Federal Court Records as they charge less than the [http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/ USCIS]. | The clerk of the court where the immigrant was naturalized may still have the original records. Some copies of court naturalization records have been transferred to National Archives regional branches. Check these Regional Branches for Federal Court Records as they charge less than the [http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/ USCIS]. | ||
National Archive regional branches have websites that often state which naturalization records they have available. To locate the regional branch covering the location of the court where the naturalization document was filed, click [http://www.archives.gov/locations/ here]. | National Archive regional branches have websites that often state which naturalization records they have available. To locate the regional branch covering the location of the court where the naturalization document was filed, click [http://www.archives.gov/locations/ here]. | ||
==== Using the Genealogy Program at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services <br> ==== | ==== Using the Genealogy Program at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services <br> ==== | ||
| Line 299: | Line 299: | ||
'''<u>Names of Parents</u>'''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1281456402678_512" /> | '''<u>Names of Parents</u>'''<span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1281456402678_512" /> | ||
Names of parents are not regularly found associated with naturalization records. Late 19th and 20th century passenger list immigration records may reveal the name of a parent if they are shown as the closest relative left behind in the old country or the person to whom the immigrant was destined. Immigrants admitted from July 1, 1924 to March 31, 1944 will have their parent's names shown in their [http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1e429e4e78157310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=b5f56782d3c37310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD Visa file]. Copies of [http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextchannel=d21f3711ca5ca110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD&vgnextoid=8d6bfd262fa4b110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD visa files] can only be obtained from the [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/United_States_Naturalization_and_Citizenship USCIS.] Immigrants who arrived prior to 1924 but who underwent Registry proceedings between 1929 and 1944 usually name their parents in their [http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=de8d7e1d89157310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=b5f56782d3c37310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD Registry File], also available from [http://www.uscis.gov/genealogy USCIS]. Only if the immigrant naturalized after March 31, 1944, will the Visa File or [http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=de8d7e1d89157310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=b5f56782d3c37310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD Registry File ]be found in the [http://www.uscis.gov/genealogy USCIS] naturalization Certificate File. | Names of parents are not regularly found associated with naturalization records. Late 19th and 20th century passenger list immigration records may reveal the name of a parent if they are shown as the closest relative left behind in the old country or the person to whom the immigrant was destined. Immigrants admitted from July 1, 1924 to March 31, 1944 will have their parent's names shown in their [http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1e429e4e78157310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=b5f56782d3c37310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD Visa file]. Copies of [http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextchannel=d21f3711ca5ca110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD&vgnextoid=8d6bfd262fa4b110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD visa files] can only be obtained from the [https://wiki.familysearch.org/en/United_States_Naturalization_and_Citizenship USCIS.] Immigrants who arrived prior to 1924 but who underwent Registry proceedings between 1929 and 1944 usually name their parents in their [http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=de8d7e1d89157310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=b5f56782d3c37310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD Registry File], also available from [http://www.uscis.gov/genealogy USCIS]. Only if the immigrant naturalized after March 31, 1944, will the Visa File or [http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=de8d7e1d89157310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=b5f56782d3c37310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD Registry File ]be found in the [http://www.uscis.gov/genealogy USCIS] naturalization Certificate File. | ||
=== Exceptions to the Naturalization Process<br> === | === Exceptions to the Naturalization Process<br> === | ||
| Line 309: | Line 309: | ||
Immigrant children, even today, receive their citizenship from their parents. Starting in 1790, children received derivative citizenship from their father (or mother in some cases). Derivative citizenship is defined as obtaining one's citizenship from or through another person. When the child's father became naturalized, his children under 16 (or 18, depending on the year) automatically became citizens. No paperwork was created at that time. From 1790 to 1929, to prove his or her citizenship, the child would need his or her father's certificate of naturalization. | Immigrant children, even today, receive their citizenship from their parents. Starting in 1790, children received derivative citizenship from their father (or mother in some cases). Derivative citizenship is defined as obtaining one's citizenship from or through another person. When the child's father became naturalized, his children under 16 (or 18, depending on the year) automatically became citizens. No paperwork was created at that time. From 1790 to 1929, to prove his or her citizenship, the child would need his or her father's certificate of naturalization. | ||
Under the Act of March 2, 1929, individuals who derived citizenship through a parent's naturalization could apply for and receive a Certificate of Citizenship in their own name. Applicants age 21 or older applied to the Bureau of Naturalization, later the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS, now [[ | Under the Act of March 2, 1929, individuals who derived citizenship through a parent's naturalization could apply for and receive a Certificate of Citizenship in their own name. Applicants age 21 or older applied to the Bureau of Naturalization, later the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS, now [[Www.uscis.gov/genealogy|USCIS]]), and that agency issues such certificates without any involvement of the courts. For this reason records of certificates of derivative citizenship are available only from [[Www.uscis.gov/genealogy|USCIS]]. Many immigrants who derived citizenship in the 1870's, 1880's, or 1890's later applied for derivative certificates in the 1930's and 1940's. Certificates of Citizenship issued between 1929 and 1956 are among the [http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=80cc499275c47310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=b5f56782d3c37310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD USCIS Certificate Files (C-Files)], while those issued after 1956 are among the [http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=9f594b185a157310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=b5f56782d3c37310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD USCIS Alien Files (A-Files)]. | ||
The Act of May 26, 1824 allowed immigrants who arrived before their 18th birthday to, upon reaching age 21, petition for naturalization without filing a prior declaration of intention. Petitions filed under this provision are usually called "'''Minor Naturalizations'''" because they relate to individuals who arrived as a minor (but who were an adult, age 21 or older, when actually naturalized). They are also examples of "one paper naturalizations" because no declaration was required. Many courts combined the declaration and petition documents into a form for this document which may or may not include the word "minor" in the title. Regular forms will cite the 1824 Act. The minor naturalization provision was often abused and was repealed in 1906.<ref name="Newman">Newman, John J. ''American Naturalization Records 1790-1990.'' (Bountiful, UT: Heritage Quest, 1998).</ref> | The Act of May 26, 1824 allowed immigrants who arrived before their 18th birthday to, upon reaching age 21, petition for naturalization without filing a prior declaration of intention. Petitions filed under this provision are usually called "'''Minor Naturalizations'''" because they relate to individuals who arrived as a minor (but who were an adult, age 21 or older, when actually naturalized). They are also examples of "one paper naturalizations" because no declaration was required. Many courts combined the declaration and petition documents into a form for this document which may or may not include the word "minor" in the title. Regular forms will cite the 1824 Act. The minor naturalization provision was often abused and was repealed in 1906.<ref name="Newman">Newman, John J. ''American Naturalization Records 1790-1990.'' (Bountiful, UT: Heritage Quest, 1998).</ref> | ||
==== Women<br> ==== | ==== Women<br> ==== | ||
| Line 317: | Line 317: | ||
In 1855, derivative citizenship (obtaining one's citizenship from another person) was also available for immigrant women marrying U.S citizens, or if their husbands obtained their citizenship during their marriage. The wife's proof that she was a U.S. citizen was her husband's certificate of citizenship (or certificate of naturalization) and her marriage certificate. | In 1855, derivative citizenship (obtaining one's citizenship from another person) was also available for immigrant women marrying U.S citizens, or if their husbands obtained their citizenship during their marriage. The wife's proof that she was a U.S. citizen was her husband's certificate of citizenship (or certificate of naturalization) and her marriage certificate. | ||
In 1922, citizenship was no longer available to women through marriage. However, from 1907 to 1922, a woman could lose her U.S. citizenship if she married an alien, even if she was born in the United States. For more information, read Marian L. Smith's article, [http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1998/summer/women-and-naturalization-1.html ''Women and Naturalization, ca. 1802-1940''.] | In 1922, citizenship was no longer available to women through marriage. However, from 1907 to 1922, a woman could lose her U.S. citizenship if she married an alien, even if she was born in the United States. For more information, read Marian L. Smith's article, [http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1998/summer/women-and-naturalization-1.html ''Women and Naturalization, ca. 1802-1940''.] | ||
==== Military <br> ==== | ==== Military <br> ==== | ||