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Naturalization is the process of granting citizenship privileges and responsibilities to foreign-born residents. Naturalization papers are an important source of information about an immigrant's nation of origin, his foreign and “Americanized” names, residence, and date of arrival. <br> | Naturalization is the process of granting citizenship privileges and responsibilities to foreign-born residents. Naturalization papers are an important source of information about an immigrant's nation of origin, his foreign and “Americanized” names, residence, and date of arrival. <br> | ||
Immigrants to the United States have never been required to apply for citizenship. An immigrant could become a citizen anytime after they arrived | Immigrants to the United States have never been required to apply for citizenship. An immigrant could become a citizen anytime after they arrived in the United States. Of those who applied, many did not complete the requirements to become a citizen. <br> | ||
== Record Content<br> == | == Record Content<br> == | ||
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== Coverage<br> == | == Coverage<br> == | ||
Naturalization records | Naturalization records began in Colonia times. The requirements and process of naturalization have changed many times over the years. The basic requirements have been residency in the country for a given period of time, good moral character, and an oath of loyalty or allegiance given in a court of record.<br> | ||
=== Colonial Naturalization (Pre-1790) <br> === | === Colonial Naturalization (Pre-1790) <br> === | ||
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:'''Oath of Allegiance'''--This type of naturalization during the colonial period was used to renounce all former country loyalties. This gave the immigrant full privileges, including voting and holding public office. | :'''Oath of Allegiance'''--This type of naturalization during the colonial period was used to renounce all former country loyalties. This gave the immigrant full privileges, including voting and holding public office. | ||
:'''Collective citizenship'''--This naturalization process was used to naturalize a group of people without using documents. Collective naturalization happened when the United States became a country and all those living in the country (except Native Americans and African Americans) were collectively and automatically made US citizens.<br> | :'''Collective citizenship'''--This naturalization process was used to naturalize a group of people without using documents. Collective naturalization happened when the United States became a country in 1776 and all those living in the country (except Native Americans and African Americans) were collectively and automatically made US citizens.<br> | ||
=== Naturalization From 1790-1906<ref name="Newman" /> === | === Naturalization From 1790-1906<ref name="Newman" /> === | ||
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The first naturalization law was enacted in 1790. Over the years, naturalization laws changed numerous times, but generally speaking the process required a Declaration of Intention and a Petition to be filed to become a citizen (Except during the years 1798 to 1828. see [[United States Naturalization Records#Report_and_Registry.2C_1798-1828|Report and Registry]] listed below). After 1906, several other documents were created during the naturalization process. | The first naturalization law was enacted in 1790. Over the years, naturalization laws changed numerous times, but generally speaking the process required a Declaration of Intention and a Petition to be filed to become a citizen (Except during the years 1798 to 1828. see [[United States Naturalization Records#Report_and_Registry.2C_1798-1828|Report and Registry]] listed below). After 1906, several other documents were created during the naturalization process. | ||
The immigrant also had to be a resident in the United States 5 years and 1 year resident in the the state before becoming a citizen. In 1795, there was a 3 year waiting period | The immigrant also had to be a resident in the United States 5 years and a 1 year resident in the the state before becoming a citizen. In 1795, there was a 3 year waiting period, later changed to 2 years in 1824, between filing the declaration and the petition. | ||
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. | 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. | ||
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The typical naturalization process involved three steps: | The typical naturalization process involved three steps: | ||
:#'''Declaration of Intention.''' The immigrant filed a declaration of intention (also called first papers) to renounce allegiance to foreign governments and | :#'''Declaration of Intention.''' The immigrant filed a declaration of intention (also called first papers) to renounce allegiance to foreign governments and to later prove he or she had resided in the country long enough to apply for citizenship. Residency laws changed consistently over time ranging from no residency requirement (meaning they could declare right after they "came off the boat") to 14 years residency. However, generally speaking, an immigrant filed a declaration of intention up to two years after he immigrated to the United States. The immigrant could declare any time after he arrived after fulfilling the residency requirement. Some immigrants waited as late as 20 years after coming to the United States to begin the process to become a citizen. There are some [[#Exceptions_to_the_Naturalization_Process|exceptions]] to the naturalization process where the immigrant was not required to file a declaration. | ||
:#'''Petition.''' The immigrant had to wait anywhere between one to three years after he filed his declaration to file his petition for citizenship (also called second or final papers). Most often the petition was filed in a court nearest to the town where the immigrant settled. An Oath of Allegiance was also signed to pledge the immigrants allegiance to the Untied States and | :#'''Petition.''' The immigrant had to wait anywhere between one to three years after he filed his declaration to file his petition for citizenship (also called second or final papers). Most often the petition was filed in a court nearest to the town where the immigrant settled. An Oath of Allegiance was also signed to pledge the immigrants allegiance to the Untied States and sign a written oath. | ||
:#'''Certificate.''' After all requirements were completed, the immigrant was sworn in as a citizen and issued his or her certificate. The certificate is given from the same court the petition is filed in. | :#'''Certificate.''' After all requirements were completed, the immigrant was sworn in as a citizen and issued his or her certificate. The certificate is given from the same court the petition is filed in. It is called the Certificate of Citizenship or Certificate of Naturalization. | ||
==== <u>'''Report and Registry, 1798-1828'''</u> ==== | ==== <u>'''Report and Registry, 1798-1828'''</u> ==== | ||
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=== Naturalization After 1906<br> === | === Naturalization After 1906<br> === | ||
When the INS was created in 1906, other naturalization records were created | When the INS was created in 1906, other naturalization records were created to process naturalizations and keep track of immigrants in the United States. Copies of these documents are only in the possession of the former INS, now [http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)]. A summary of some of these documents are listed below: | ||
:<u>'''Certificate of Arrival, 1906 to the present'''</u>--After 1906 an immigrant was required to submit a certificate of arrival when he petitioned for citizenship in order to prove the length of his residency. This document gives the place of entry, manner of arrival, and the date of arrival. This was kept in the file with the petition. | :<u>'''Certificate of Arrival, 1906 to the present'''</u>--After 1906 an immigrant was required to submit a certificate of arrival when he petitioned for citizenship in order to prove the length of his residency. This document gives the place of entry, manner of arrival, and the date of arrival. This was kept in the file with the petition. | ||
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