United States Naturalization and Citizenship: Difference between revisions

=== Naturalization From 1790-1906<ref name="Newman" /> ===

The first naturalization law was enacted in 1790. Over the years, naturalization laws changed numerous times, but generally speaking the process required a [[Portal-United States Naturalization. Naturalization Records-Declaration of Intention|Declaration of Intention]] and a [[Portal-United States Naturalization. Naturalization Records-Petition|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.  

The immigrant also had to be a resident in the United States 5 years and 1 year resident in the the state before becoming a citizen. In 1795, there was a 3 year waiting period - later changed to 2 years in 1824 - between filing the declaration and the petition.  

:#'''[[Portal-United States Naturalization. Naturalization Records-Declaration of Intention|Declaration of Intention.]]''' The immigrant filed a declaration of intention (also called first papers) to renounce allegiance to foreign governments and in order to later prove he or she had resided in the country long enough to apply for citizenship. Residency laws changed consistently over time ranging from no residency requirement (meaning they could declare right after they "came off the boat") to 14 years residency. However, generally speaking, an immigrant filed a declaration of intention up to two years after he immigrated to the United States. The immigrant also 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 [[#Exceptions_to_the_Naturalization_Process|exceptions]] to the naturalization process where the immigrant was not required to file a declaration.  

:#'''[[Portal-United States Naturalization. Naturalization Records-Petition|Petition.]]''' The immigrant had to wait anywhere between one 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 [[Portal-United States Naturalization. Naturalization Records-Oath of Allegiance|Oath of Allegiance]] was also signed to pledge the immigrants allegiance to the Untied States and signa written oath.  

==== <u>'''Report and Registry, 1798-1828'''</u> ====

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.