mNo edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
''[[Portal:United States of America|United States of America]] > United States Naturalization Records'' <br> | ''[[Portal:United States of America|United States of America]] > United States Naturalization Records'' <br> | ||
== <br> == | |||
== Why Use This Record?<br> == | == Why Use This Record?<br> == | ||
| Line 53: | Line 55: | ||
=== <br>Types of Colonial Naturalization <br> === | === <br>Types of Colonial Naturalization <br> === | ||
'''Denization'''-- | '''Denization'''--A type of naturalization used to obtain land. You could buy and sell land, but could not hold public office. There were no political privileges associated with denization. <br>'''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.<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 and all those living in the country (except Native Americans and African Americans) were collectively and automatically made US citizens.<br><br> | ||
=== Naturalization Process After 1790 <br> === | === Naturalization Process After 1790 <br> === | ||
| Line 73: | Line 75: | ||
<br> Online sources <br>FHL<br> Repositories<br>INS <br> | <br> Online sources <br>FHL<br> Repositories<br>INS <br> | ||
== Before Searching | == Before Searching For Naturalization Records You Must Know...<br> == | ||
<br>Before you search for your ancestor’s naturalization records, you should have an idea of when they immigrated to the United States. | <br>Before you search for your ancestor’s naturalization records, you should have an idea of when they immigrated to the United States. | ||
Evidence that an immigrant completed citizenship requirements can be found in censuses, court minutes, homestead records, passports, voting registers, and military papers. Even if an immigrant ancestor did not complete the process and become a citizen, he may have begun the process and filed a declaration of intention<br> | Evidence that an immigrant completed citizenship requirements can be found in censuses, court minutes, homestead records, passports, voting registers, and military papers. Even if an immigrant ancestor did not complete the process and become a citizen, he may have begun the process and filed a declaration of intention<br> | ||
<br>If you immigrant lived until after 1900, you should locate them on as many censuses as you can: | <br>If you immigrant lived until after 1900, you should locate them on as many censuses as you can: | ||
=== Census Records – 1900 to 1930<br> === | === Census Records – 1900 to 1930<br> === | ||
<br>The 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 Censuses each ask the year an immigrant arrived to the United States. It also asks if the individual was naturalized or not. The codes for naturalization are as follows:<br>PA: this abbreviation means the individual began the naturalized process and has submitted a declaration of intention.<br>NA: this abbreviation means that the individual has completed the naturalization process and is a US Citizen. Both a declaration of intention and a petition should be located for the individual.<br>AL: this abbreviation means the immigrant had not yet naturalized or even begun the process. Not every immigrant naturalized.<br>NR: this abbreviation means the census taker did not report the citizenship information. | <br>The 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 Censuses each ask the year an immigrant arrived to the United States. It also asks if the individual was naturalized or not. The codes for naturalization are as follows:<br>PA: this abbreviation means the individual began the naturalized process and has submitted a declaration of intention.<br>NA: this abbreviation means that the individual has completed the naturalization process and is a US Citizen. Both a declaration of intention and a petition should be located for the individual.<br>AL: this abbreviation means the immigrant had not yet naturalized or even begun the process. Not every immigrant naturalized.<br>NR: this abbreviation means the census taker did not report the citizenship information. | ||
=== 1920 Census<br> === | === 1920 Census<br> === | ||
<br>The 1920 Census also asks the year the individual naturalized. | <br>The 1920 Census also asks the year the individual naturalized. | ||
| Line 91: | Line 93: | ||
<br>It is also helpful to know if your ancestor naturalized. Documents found in your family’s possession may indicate if your ancestor naturalized. | <br>It is also helpful to know if your ancestor naturalized. Documents found in your family’s possession may indicate if your ancestor naturalized. | ||
=== Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship:<br> === | === Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship:<br> === | ||
<br>Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship indicates that your ancestor completed the process and was a naturalized citizen of the United States. | <br>Certificate of Naturalization or Certificate of Citizenship indicates that your ancestor completed the process and was a naturalized citizen of the United States. | ||
=== Passport: <br> === | === Passport: <br> === | ||
<br>If you ancestor had a United States passport, your ancestor completed the naturalization process and was a US Citizen. | <br>If you ancestor had a United States passport, your ancestor completed the naturalization process and was a US Citizen. | ||
| Line 105: | Line 107: | ||
There are exceptions to naturalization records that one should keep in mind while searching these records. | There are exceptions to naturalization records that one should keep in mind while searching these records. | ||
Do not use naturalization records to locate the immigrant’s parent’s names. You will not find them. <br> | Do not use naturalization records to locate the immigrant’s parent’s names. You will not find them. <br> | ||
=== Exceptions<br> === | === Exceptions<br> === | ||
| Line 113: | Line 115: | ||
Immigrant children - even today - receive their citizenship from their parents. Starting in 1790, children recieved derivative citizenship from their father (or mother in some cases). Derivative citizenship is defined as getting one's citizenship from another person.<ref name="Schaefer">Schaefer, Christina K. ''Guide to Naturalization Records of the United States'' (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1997).</ref> When the child's father became naturalized, his children under 16 (or 18, depending on the year) automatically became citizenship. There was no paperwork that was created. To prove his or her citizenship, the child would need his or her father's certificate of citizenship (or certificate of naturalization). | Immigrant children - even today - receive their citizenship from their parents. Starting in 1790, children recieved derivative citizenship from their father (or mother in some cases). Derivative citizenship is defined as getting one's citizenship from another person.<ref name="Schaefer">Schaefer, Christina K. ''Guide to Naturalization Records of the United States'' (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1997).</ref> When the child's father became naturalized, his children under 16 (or 18, depending on the year) automatically became citizenship. There was no paperwork that was created. To prove his or her citizenship, the child would need his or her father's certificate of citizenship (or certificate of naturalization). | ||
In 1855, derivative citizenship was also available for immigrant women marrying US citizens or if their husbands gaiedn their citizenship during their marriage. The wife's proof that she was a US 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, between 1907 to 1922, a woman could lose her US citizenship if she married an alien - even if she was born in the United States. For more information, read Marion L. Smith's article, [http://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1998/summer/women-and-naturalization-1.html Women and Naturalization, ca. 1802-1940.] <br> | |||
<br> | <br> | ||
Until 1906 immigrants under the age of 21 (whose parents did not naturalize) could be naturalized without filing a declaration of intent after they reached the age of 21 and had met the residency requirements. ??????????????????????<br><br> | |||
==== Military <br> ==== | ==== Military <br> ==== | ||
| Line 127: | Line 131: | ||
==== <br>Collective Naturalization <ref name="Schaefer" /><ref name="Greenwood">Greenwood, Val D. ''The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy'', 3rd ed. (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2000)</ref><br><br> ==== | ==== <br>Collective Naturalization <ref name="Schaefer" /><ref name="Greenwood">Greenwood, Val D. ''The Researcher's Guide to American Genealogy'', 3rd ed. (Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2000)</ref><br><br> ==== | ||
Collective naturalization is defined as a group of people all receiving their citizenship through an act of congress or treaty. | 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> | ||
In 1868, African-Americans made citizens by the Fourteenth Amendment of the Unites States Constitution. In 1924, Native Americans made finally made citizens - although some chiefs of tribes became citizens before this date. The Native Americans were not included in the Fouteeneth Amendment because they were considered a seperate nation. | |||
Collective naturalization also occurred for residents of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, Texas in 1845, and Hawaii in 1898. | |||
== Naturalization Laws == | == Naturalization Laws == | ||
<br>Important Naturalization Legislation included the following: | <br>Important Naturalization Legislation included the following: | ||
<br>'''1790'''–The first federal law regarding naturalization required residency in the United States for two years and in a state for one year, but each state continued to provide naturalization under a variety of requirements and procedures until 1906. <br>'''1802 to 1868'''-An individual had to prove residency in a state for one year and in the country for five years. A declaration of intention (see below) had to be filed at least two years before the final papers or petition could be filed. <br>'''1906'''–Created INS, fixed fees, made all forms uniform and required English language for naturalization. <br>'''1907'''–Women lost US Citizenship when they married an alien. <br>'''1922'''–Women no longer eligible for derivative citizenship. <br>'''1940'''–All aliens living in the United States were required to fill out an Alien Registration form and be fingerprinted at their local police station or post office within 30 days of arriving in the United States. <br>FamilySearch has a summation of some of the naturalization laws. <br>The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has a full discussion of all naturalization laws in PDF format.Portal: United States Naturalization <br> | <br>'''1790'''–The first federal law regarding naturalization required residency in the United States for two years and in a state for one year, but each state continued to provide naturalization under a variety of requirements and procedures until 1906. <br>'''1802 to 1868'''-An individual had to prove residency in a state for one year and in the country for five years. A declaration of intention (see below) had to be filed at least two years before the final papers or petition could be filed. <br>'''1906'''–Created INS, fixed fees, made all forms uniform and required English language for naturalization. <br>'''1907'''–Women lost US Citizenship when they married an alien. <br>'''1922'''–Women no longer eligible for derivative citizenship. <br>'''1940'''–All aliens living in the United States were required to fill out an Alien Registration form and be fingerprinted at their local police station or post office within 30 days of arriving in the United States. <br>FamilySearch has a summation of some of the naturalization laws. <br>The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services has a full discussion of all naturalization laws in PDF format.Portal: United States Naturalization <br> | ||
== Naturalization Terms <br> == | == Naturalization Terms <br> == | ||
*'''1st Papers'''--Another name for Declaration of Intention. | *'''1st Papers'''--Another name for Declaration of Intention. | ||
| Line 149: | Line 153: | ||
*'''Census Abbreviations''' for census records 1900-1930: | *'''Census Abbreviations''' for census records 1900-1930: | ||
AL—Alien | AL—Alien | ||
NA—Naturalized citizen | NA—Naturalized citizen | ||
PA–1st papers or declaration submitted | PA–1st papers or declaration submitted | ||
NR—Not reported | NR—Not reported | ||
| Line 159: | Line 163: | ||
*'''Certificate Files or C-Files'''--Duplicate copies of naturalization papers kept by the INS from 1906–1956. | *'''Certificate Files or C-Files'''--Duplicate copies of naturalization papers kept by the INS from 1906–1956. | ||
*'''Certificate of Arrival-'''-INS certificate stating an immigrant's port and date of arrival. | *'''Certificate of Arrival-'''-INS certificate stating an immigrant's port and date of arrival. | ||
*'''Certificate of Citizenship:''' Another name for Certificate of Naturalization | *'''Certificate of Citizenship:''' Another name for Certificate of Naturalization | ||
*'''Certificate of Naturalization'''--Final document given to the immigrant proving new citizenship. Also known as Certificate of Citizenship. | *'''Certificate of Naturalization'''--Final document given to the immigrant proving new citizenship. Also known as Certificate of Citizenship. | ||
*'''Certificate of Registry'''--INS certificate confirming immigrant's entry to the US when the port and date cannot be verified. | *'''Certificate of Registry'''--INS certificate confirming immigrant's entry to the US when the port and date cannot be verified. | ||
| Line 167: | Line 171: | ||
*'''Derivative Citzenship'''--Citizenship obtained by wife or children through the naturalization of a husband or father. | *'''Derivative Citzenship'''--Citizenship obtained by wife or children through the naturalization of a husband or father. | ||
*'''Final Papers'''--Another name for the Naturalization Petition. (after 1906 example) | *'''Final Papers'''--Another name for the Naturalization Petition. (after 1906 example) | ||
*'''Genealogy Program'''-- | *'''Genealogy Program'''-- | ||
*'''INS'''--Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1906-2001, changed to BCIS, now called CIS. | *'''INS'''--Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1906-2001, changed to BCIS, now called CIS. | ||
*'''NA'''--An abreviation used in the 1900–1930 Census to indicate that the immigrant has been naturalized as a US citizen and completed the naturalization process. | *'''NA'''--An abreviation used in the 1900–1930 Census to indicate that the immigrant has been naturalized as a US citizen and completed the naturalization process. | ||
edits