Finding Naturalization Records Created before Sept. 27, 1906
- FamilySearch: Some naturalization records can be found on digitized microfilm from FamilySearch. Try a search in the FamilySearch Catalog for the place (the county, but sometimes the city or even the state) where your ancestors were living at the time they were naturalized. Then look for the topic called "Naturalization and citizenship." You may also see a topic called "Naturalization and citizenship - Indexes" -- you might check both topics. If a listing in the catalog has a camera icon next to it, that means that microfilm roll is available online in digitized form. Click on the camera icon to see the images. For some items you may have to be at a Family History Center or the Family History Library in Salt Lake City to view the images.
Finding Naturalization Records Created Sept. 27, 1906 and later
- FamilySearch See the FamilySearch section above.
- USCIS - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly the INS - Immigration and Naturalization Service)
The USCIS has copies of Naturalization records from 27 September 1906 and later. Records available through the USCIS Genealogy Program include Naturalization Certificate Files from September 27, 1906 to April 1, 1956, along with some Alien Files, Alien Registration Forms, and other records. There are restrictions and fees.
- See the USCIS website for instructions for making genealogy requests: USCIS - U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services - Genealogy
- If the person was born less than 100 years ago you must provide proof of death or, if the person is still living, you must provide notorized permission from the living person to obtain the records
- If the person was born more than 100 years ago you do not need to provide proof of death
- The Court Where the Naturalization Occurred (or an archive where the records may now be stored)
If your immigrant ancestor was in the U.S. military during World War I you might try:
Passport Applications and Records
U.S. Passport Applications 1795-1925 - Online Collection at Ancestry (requires payment) digitized passport records from National Archives microfilm publications M1371, M1372, M1490 and M1834.
United States Passport Applications, 1795-1925 from FamilySearch; from NARA microfilm publicatons M1490 and M1372
Passport Applications - Information a guide from the National Archives about these records
The Naturalization Process and Types of Records
Types of Naturalization Records briefly describes the kinds of records created in the naturalization process
Women and Naturalization a helpful article by INS historian Marian Smith
Alien Case Files (A-Files)
U.S., Index to Alien Case Files at the National Archives at Kansas City, 1944-2003 (at Ancestry/requires payment) indexes A-Files from 1944-2003 for immigrants born before 1909 who were not U.S. citizens; some files from certain locations are not included
United States Index to Alien Case Files, 1940-2003 from FamilySearch; Index to Alien Case Files at the National Archives Regional Branch in Kansas City, Missouri; some files from certain locations are not included
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