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Naturalization and Citizenship: Difference between revisions

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Guide to locating citizenship or naturalization records for ancestry, family history, and genealogy research.
Guide to locating citizenship or naturalization records for ancestry, family history, and genealogy research.
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==What are citizenship or naturalization records?==
==What Citizenship or Naturalization Records Are==
===United States===
===United States===
*Naturalization is the '''''legal process''''' our immigrant ancestors went through to become citizens of the United States.  Becoming naturalized meant our foreign-born ancestors could vote, run for a government office, serve on a jury, pay taxes, receive the protection of the law.   
*Naturalization is the '''''legal process''''' our immigrant ancestors went through to become citizens of the United States.  Becoming naturalized meant our foreign-born ancestors could vote, run for a government office, serve on a jury, pay taxes, receive the protection of the law.   
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While most countries had a process for immigrants to become citizens, some countries (such as Germany) kept citizenship listings for all their citizens and provided proof of citizenship documents for all. Interestingly, citizenship for families in Switzerland was held by town as documented in the [http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/famn/?lg=e Register of Swiss Surnames].
While most countries had a process for immigrants to become citizens, some countries (such as Germany) kept citizenship listings for all their citizens and provided proof of citizenship documents for all. Interestingly, citizenship for families in Switzerland was held by town as documented in the [http://www.hls-dhs-dss.ch/famn/?lg=e Register of Swiss Surnames].


==What can you find in citizenship or naturalization records?==
==Found in Citizenship and Naturalization Records==
===United States===
===United States===
*Before 1906, a '''declaration of intent''' will give name, the home country, and the date.
*Before 1906, a '''declaration of intent''' will give name, the home country, and the date.
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Content varies for other countries, but may include some or most of the above items.
Content varies for other countries, but may include some or most of the above items.


==How do you find citizenship or naturalization records?==
==How to Find Citizenship and Naturalization Records==
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===United Sates Nationwide Collections===
===United Sates Nationwide Collections===
*[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10024/us-naturalization-records?s=275764761 U.S. Naturalization Records], index & images ($)
*[https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10024/us-naturalization-records?s=275764761 U.S. Naturalization Records], index & images ($)
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1174 U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925] index and images ($). Also at [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10720/united-states-passport-applications-1795-1925?s=275764761 MyHeritage.comn], index and images ($)
*[http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1174 U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925] index & images ($). Also at [https://www.myheritage.com/research/collection-10720/united-states-passport-applications-1795-1925?s=275764761 MyHeritage.comn], index & images ($)
*[https://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/aliens Alien Registration, 1940-1944]
*[https://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/aliens Alien Registration, 1940-1944]
===Sidebar Links to Wiki Articles for U.S. Individual States and Other Country Collections===
===Sidebar Links to Wiki Articles for U.S. Individual States and Other Country Collections===
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===Online Genealogical Records Pages===
On the main page for each U.S. State page and country page, a blue button leads to a listing of '''online record collections.'''


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<center> <span style="color:DarkViolet">'''Look for the blue button on each state and country '''<br>'''main page to link to the Online Genealogy Records page.'''</span><center>
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<center> <span style="color:DarkViolet">'''A typical Online Genealogy Records page. '''
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*'''Also, all the available Online Genealogy Records pages are linked at''' [[Online Genealogy Records by Location|'''Online Genealogy Records by Location.''']]
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===FamilySearch Catalog===
*Naturalization and citizenship records collected by FamilySearch, usually digitized and online, are listed in the [https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog '''FamilySearch catalog'''.] Enter the name of the country in the "Place Field" and click "Search". A list of record categories will be provided.
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[[Category:Naturalization and Citizenship Records by Country]]
[[Category:Naturalization and Citizenship Records by Country]]