United States Naturalization and Citizenship: Difference between revisions

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

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&nbsp;to become a citizen. <br>  

Before 1906, the information recorded on naturalization records differed widely. Naturalization records before 1906 are not likely to give town of origin or names of parents. However, naturalization records after 1906 contain more information than earlier records. Information in post-1906 records is more detailed and may include birth dates, birth places, and other immigration information about the immigrant and members of his family.<br>  

:*Marital status<br>

Naturalization records began in Colonial 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&nbsp;oath of loyalty or allegiance given in a court of record.<br>  

British immigrants were automatically citizens of the colonies (British Empire). Seven of the original colonies had their own laws for naturalizing foreigners as citizens of the British Empire colony. After the Revolutionary War, the individual states established their own naturalization laws and procedures. <br>  

:'''Collective citizenship'''--This naturalization process was used to naturalize a group of people without using documents.&nbsp; 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>

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.  

:#'''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.

From 1798 to 1828, a new immigrant was required to appear before a local court and register his arrival in the United States. This was usually recorded in the court minutes. Sometimes a separate document, a report and registry or aliens' register, was created instead. The immigrant could obtain a certificate showing that he had registered in order to prove his residency later when he applied for citizenship. The Report and Registry could take place at a different time and different court than the immigrant's declaration.  

:*Occupation

When the INS was created in 1906, other naturalization records were created&nbsp;to process naturalizations and keep track of immigrants in the United States.&nbsp; 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)].&nbsp; A summary of some of these documents are listed below:  

:*Date and place of registration<ref>United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, :Alien Registration Forms on Microfilm, 1940-1944</ref>

{{Naturalization States}}  

Naturalization records before 1790 differ vastly from later naturalization records.&nbsp; Colonial naturalizations consist mostly of lists of those that took the oath of allegience. The colony where the immigrant was living had jurisdiction over naturalizations.  

*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.  

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>  

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.&nbsp; However, naturalizations were still taking place in local county courts as well as federal courts and the records of any court still naturalizing should be consulted to locate your ancestor's records.&nbsp;&nbsp;  

Immigrants could naturalize in any court that performed naturalizations.&nbsp;That included city, county, state and federal courts. After 1906, federal courts naturalized many immigrants, however, other local courts continued&nbsp;to&nbsp;naturalize as late as 1985.&nbsp;Check all possible courts in the area your ancestor lived.  

Because immigrants were allowed to naturalize in any court, they often selected the most convenient court.&nbsp; If they lived in New Jersey but worked in New York City, also check the courts of New York City for the naturalization records.&nbsp; If an immigrant lived on the border of a county, they may have naturalized in the adjacent county because the courthouse may have been closer.&nbsp;  

One federal court that may contain your ancestor's naturalization records is the District Court.&nbsp; However, to search the&nbsp;these records you must&nbsp;first determine the correct district court.&nbsp;&nbsp;Click on [[United States District Court Jurisdictions|United States District Court Jurisdictions]]&nbsp;to help you identify the correct District Court.&nbsp;&nbsp;You must know the county your ancestor resided in.  

There are many online resources available for researching naturalization records.&nbsp; These online resources include naturalization indexes as well as digital images of naturalization records.&nbsp; ''<br>''  

:'''[http://www.germanroots.com/naturalization.html ''Online Searchable Naturalization Indexes and Records'']'''''--''This website contains links to naturalization indexes and records.&nbsp; It is arranged by state and gives the statewide indexes and records first.&nbsp; It then gives the countywide indexes and records.&nbsp; This website is updated regularly and is a great source to begin searching for naturalization records on the Internet.