United States Naturalization Records: Difference between revisions

<br>An individual 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. Since 1929 most (but not all) naturalizations have been handled by federal circuit or district courts. <br>You may need to search the records of each place where your immigrant ancestor lived. He may have filed an application in one county or state and completed the requirements several years later in another county or state. <br><br>  

<br>You may need to search the records of each place where your immigrant ancestor lived. He may have filed an application in one county or state and completed the requirements several years later in another county or state. <br><br>  

==== <br>  ====

==== Records Before September 1906 <br><br> ====

Begin by looking for naturalization records in the courts of the county or city where the immigrant lived. Look first for the petition (second papers) because they are usually easier to find in courts near where an immigrant settled. The petition usually tells where the declaration (first papers) was filed, which could have been almost anywhere in the United States. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of many of these records. If the library does not have copies, contact the county clerk to determine which courts handled naturalizations and where the records are presently located. The records of the federal courts may still be in the custody of the court, at branches of the National Archives, or at the National Archives. <br><br>  

==== Records Since September 1906 <br> ====

<br>Beginning in September 1906, the federal government began regulating the naturalization process. The Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (now the Citizenship and Immigration Services or CIS) 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>The Declaration of Intent (Form 2202) was completed in triplicate. The court kept the original and gave copies to the applicant and the Bureau. The Petition for Naturalization (Form 2204) was kept by the court and a duplicate was sent to the INS. The Certificate of Naturalization (Form 2207) was given to the new citizen. A duplicate was sent to the INS and the court kept the stub. <br>In 1929 the INS changed the forms and required photographs of the applicants. Because the new forms were not distributed immediately, many state courts ceased naturalizing. Since 1929, most new citizens have naturalized at federal courts. <br><br>

 

<br>  

<br>Naturalization records at the library are listed in the Place Search of the Family History Library Catalog under one of the following: <br>[STATE] - NATURALIZATION AND CITIZENSHIP <br>[STATE], [COUNTY] - NATURALIZATION AND CITIZENSHIP <br>[STATE], [COUNTY], [TOWN] - NATURALIZATION AND CITIZENSHIP <br>The library has also acquired large collections of naturalization records from the National Archives branches in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle. <br>In some states, naturalization records are included in other court records and are not separately identified. The state research outlines will help you locate these records. <br>A key reference book about naturalizations is: <br>• Schaefer, Christina K. Guide to Naturalization Records in the United States. Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997. (FHL book 973 P4s.) 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. <br><br>

<br>  

<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 branches. Records at these branches are described in The Archives and Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Archives (see the “Archives and Libraries” section of this outline). <br>Naturalization records for Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont from 1791 to 1906 have been gathered into the National Archives—New England Region and indexed in: <br>• United States. Immigration and Naturalization Service. Index to New England Naturalization Petitions, 1791-1906. Washington, DC: National Archives, 1983. (FHL films 1429671-787.) <br>[edit] Records Since September 1906 \<br>  

<br>Beginning in September 1906, the federal government began regulating the naturalization process. The Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (now the Citizenship and Immigration Services or CIS) 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>The Declaration of Intent (Form 2202) was completed in triplicate. The court kept the original and gave copies to the applicant and the Bureau. The Petition for Naturalization (Form 2204) was kept by the court and a duplicate was sent to the INS. The Certificate of Naturalization (Form 2207) was given to the new citizen. A duplicate was sent to the INS and the court kept the stub. <br>In 1929 the INS changed the forms and required photographs of the applicants. Because the new forms were not distributed immediately, many state courts ceased naturalizing. Since 1929, most new citizens have naturalized at federal courts. <br><br>

Genealogy Program <br><br>  

The Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) has adopted a new Genealogy Program as of 13 Aug 2008. This program will be used to access all records created by this agency, formerly Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). The following records can be requested: <br>Naturalization Certificate Files <br>Alien Registration Forms <br>Visa Files <br>Registry Files <br>Alien Files <br>Forms G-1041 and G-1041A will be used and can be mailed with a money order or cashier's check. A personal check will not be accepted. The mailing address is: <br>USCIS Genealogy Program <br>P.O. Box 805925 <br>Chicago, Illinois 60680-4120 <br>The fee schedule will be as follows: <br>Index Search--$20 <br>Microfilm copies--$20 <br>Paper copies--$35 <br>Form G-639, the FOIA form will still be used for later searches. <br><br>  

<br>