| Line 39: | Line 39: | ||
| Contains links to other online records; [[United_States_Naturalization_and_Citizenship#Online_Naturalization_Records|About Online Searchable Naturalization Indexes & Records]] | | Contains links to other online records; [[United_States_Naturalization_and_Citizenship#Online_Naturalization_Records|About Online Searchable Naturalization Indexes & Records]] | ||
|} | |} | ||
==== Naturalization Overview ==== | ==== Naturalization Overview ==== | ||
Naturalization is the process of granting citizenship privileges and responsibilities to foreign-born residents. The naturalization process in the United States creates records about the immigrant seeking to become a citizen. These records can contain information about the immigrant but the content varies depending on the time period and from court to court.<br> | Naturalization is the process of granting citizenship privileges and responsibilities to foreign-born residents. The naturalization process in the United States creates records about the immigrant seeking to become a citizen. These records can contain information about the immigrant but the content varies depending on the time period and from court to court.<br> | ||
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 as long as they were residents in the United States for the required period of time. Of those who applied, some did not complete the requirements to become a citizen. <br> | 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 as long as they were residents in the United States for the required period of time. Of those who applied, some did not complete the requirements to become a citizen. <br> | ||
=== Record Content === | === Record Content === | ||
edits