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United States Naturalization and Citizenship (view source)
Revision as of 16:18, 8 May 2023
, 8 May 2023→Naturalization From 1790-1906Newman, John J. American Naturalization Records 1790-1990. (Bountiful, UT: Heritage Quest, 1998).
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The typical naturalization process involved three steps:<br> | The typical naturalization process involved three steps:<br> | ||
:#'''Declaration of Intention.''' The immigrant filed a declaration of intention (also called first papers) to renounce allegiance to foreign governments and to later prove he or she had resided in the country long enough to apply for citizenship. However, generally speaking, an immigrant filed a declaration of intention up to two years after he immigrated to the United States. The immigrant could declare any time after he arrived after fulfilling the residency requirement. Some immigrants waited as late as 20 years after coming to the United States to begin the process to become a citizen. There are some [[United_States_Naturalization_and_Citizenship#Exceptions_to_the_Process|exceptions]] to the naturalization process where the immigrant was not required to file a declaration. | :#'''[https://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/naturalization/history-dec-of-intent Declaration of Intention.]''' The immigrant filed a declaration of intention (also called first papers) to renounce allegiance to foreign governments and to later prove he or she had resided in the country long enough to apply for citizenship. However, generally speaking, an immigrant filed a declaration of intention up to two years after he immigrated to the United States. The immigrant could declare any time after he arrived after fulfilling the residency requirement. Some immigrants waited as late as 20 years after coming to the United States to begin the process to become a citizen. There are some [[United_States_Naturalization_and_Citizenship#Exceptions_to_the_Process|exceptions]] to the naturalization process where the immigrant was not required to file a declaration. | ||
:#'''Petition.''' The immigrant had to wait anywhere between two to three years after he filed his declaration to file his petition for citizenship (also called second or final papers). Most often the petition was filed in a court nearest to the town where the immigrant settled. An Oath of Allegiance was also signed to pledge the immigrants allegiance to the United States and sign a written oath. | :#'''Petition.''' The immigrant had to wait anywhere between two to three years after he filed his declaration to file his petition for citizenship (also called second or final papers). Most often the petition was filed in a court nearest to the town where the immigrant settled. An Oath of Allegiance was also signed to pledge the immigrants allegiance to the United States and sign a written oath. | ||
:#'''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. | :#'''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. | ||