Types of Naturalization Records

A naturalization might have been initiated in nearly any court in any state. The immigrant first went to court to declare the intent to become a citizen. A court record was then initiated. Next, the person reappeared in a court, though not necessarily the same one, once the requirements of citizenship had been met. Finally, the court would award citizenship. At all three stops, records were produced. Locating the correct court is not always easy. Many naturalization records (mostly federal) are now held by the regional centers of the National Archives.

Declaration of Intention (First Papers): Usually, the declaration of intention was the first step in the naturalization process. Normally, the first papers were completed soon after arrival in the United States, depending on the laws in effect at the time. Certain groups, such as women and children, were exempt in early years. After 1862, those who were honorably discharged from U.S. military service were excused from this initial procedure. Most petitions created before September 27, 1906 offer very little in terms of personal information.  After this 1906 date, extensive information might be found (see Petition).

Petition (Second or Final Papers): Naturalization petitions were formal applications submitted to the court by individuals who had met the residency requirements and who had declared their intention to become citizens. Informational content varied dramatically from court to court. Most petitions created before September 27, 1906 offer very little in terms of personal information.  After this 1906 date, extensive information might be found, such as address, occupation, birthplace, birth date or age, name and age of spouse, names of children, ages of children, last foreign residence, port of entry, name of ship, date of entry, and more.  After 1940 a photograph might be present in the file.

Naturalization Depositions: Document which contains statements made by witnesses in support of an applicant's petition.

Certificates of Arrival: This form lists the immigrant's  port name, date and ship of arrival. Copies of this form were sent to the port of entry and checked by a clerk, who located the immigrant's passenger list. If a record was found, the INS issued a "certificate of arrival"  and then sent it to the naturalization court. Certificates of arrival began being issued under the Basic Naturalization Act of 1906, which went into effect on 27 September 1906. These certificates are generally included in a naturalization records file.


Records of Naturalization and Oaths of Allegiance: The document granting US citizenship to petitioners. Sometimes called the Certificate of Naturalization.

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NOTE:

• You will not always find every type of record listed for your ancestor. Different records were kept during different time periods. Under certain periods or cases, depending on how the specific court maintained records, these records can be combined together in a single petition and record file.

• Act of July 17, 1862, 12 Stat. 597, section 21 allowed an honorably discharged Civil War veteran (who fought for the Union) to apply for citizenship without filing a declaration of intention and without the usual residency requirement. It did not grant him automatic citizenship,  he still had to apply, but the naturalization process was expedited.

• When it comes to Women, naturalization practice and procedure have not always been as they are today.  There were certain legal and social provisions governing which women did and did not go to court to naturalize. In general, immigrant women have always had the right to become U.S. citizens, but not every court honored that right. Since the mid-nineteenth century a succession of laws worked to keep certain women out of naturalization records. You may  spend may spend valuable time searching for a nonexistent record, but at the same time, many genealogists have found naturalization records for women.  When it comes to Naturalization records, the only rule one can apply to all U.S. naturalization records prior to September 1906 is that there was no rule.  Before you go out spending valuable time  searching for your women ancestor's records I recommend you read this article first which contains valuable information on the laws and social provisions.