United States Naturalization and Citizenship: Difference between revisions

== U.S. Naturalization Records  ==

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=== Why Use This Record?  ===

<u>'''Naturalization Overview <br>'''</u>  

*Bockstruck, Lloyd deWitt. ''Denizations and Naturalizations in the British Colonies in America, 1607-1775''. Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2005. {{FHL|1210002|item|disp=FHL Book 970 P4b}}.

An immigrant may have completed naturalization proceedings through any of 5,000 federal, state, or local courts that had the authority to grant citizenship. Naturalization proceedings were most often completed in county, superior or common pleas courts, or in state and U.S. circuit and district courts. Because some municipal, police, criminal, probate, and other courts also provided this service, you may need to search the records of all local courts.  

You may need to search the records of each place where your immigrant ancestor lived to locate both naturalization records. He may have filed the declaration of intention in one court in one state and filed the petition several years later in another court and state. Begin first by looking for naturalization records in the courts of the county or city where the immigrant settled. Most likely the petition (second papers) was filed in that county or city.  

Beginning in September 1906, the federal government began regulating the naturalization process. The Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (now the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services or USCIS) required specific forms for declarations and petitions. Only these forms could be used and the Bureau controlled the number of courts able to naturalize by controlling distribution of the forms. However, both state and federal courts were allowed to naturalize.<br>  

A key reference book is: <br>• Schaefer, Christina K. ''Guide to Naturalization Records in the United States''. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997. (FHL book 973 P4s.) It identifies records at both the National Archives and the Family History Library. It also describes many state and county courthouse collections. This book was published in 1997 and has not been updated. The Family History Library has added naturalization records to their collection since the&nbsp;publication.<br>  

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].&nbsp;  

Names of parents are not regularly found associated with naturalization records. &nbsp;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. &nbsp;Immigrants admitted from July 1, 1924 to March 31, 1944 will have their parent's names shown in their&nbsp;[http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1e429e4e78157310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=b5f56782d3c37310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD Visa&nbsp;file].&nbsp; Copies of [http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextchannel=d21f3711ca5ca110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD&vgnextoid=8d6bfd262fa4b110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD visa files] can only be obtained from the [http://www.uscis.gov/ 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]. &nbsp;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.  

There are exceptions to the naturalization process&nbsp;that can determine whether you find a declaration of intention&nbsp;and a petition for your ancestor, or not.  

'''''Army'''''--Beginning in 1862, the Declaration was waived, and the residency requirement was reduced to one year, for a soldier with an honorable discharge. <br>'''''Navy &amp; Marines'''''--Beginning in 1894, with an honorable discharge, the Declaration was waived and the residency requirement was reduced to one year. <br>'''''World War I'''''--In 1918, during WWI, the residency requirement was waived and the Declaration was also waived. Soldiers were naturalized at military posts.<br>  

In some instances, entire groups have been collectively granted U.S. citizenship. Collective naturalization is defined as a group of people all receiving their citizenship through an act of congress or treaty. In these cases you will not find individual naturalization papers. <br>