Genealogy Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Questions and answers about the Program, Making Requests, Fees, and Further Research.

About the Program

• What records are included in the USCIS Genealogy Program?

Records are available from five series of agency records.  Click the "historical records series" link at top right.

• How do I submit a question about my request results?

Questions about index search results or record copies that you have already received should be directed to genealogy.uscis@dhs.gov. Please include your case identification number in your message.

• Should I submit an index search request before I submit a records request?

All record requests require a valid file number.  If you do not have the appropriate file number an index search will be necessary. For more information about file numbers follow the "Sample File Numbers" link in the "related links" column of this page.

• How long will it take to get a response?

Our mission is to provide a timely response to all requests, and our initial goal is to respond to all Index Search Requests within four to six weeks, and all Record Requests within six to eight weeks.  Once the program begins operation this answer will be updated to reflect actual program operational time frames.

• Why can’t I search the historical indices myself?

Access to USCIS records and indices is restricted for purposes of both law enforcement and privacy.  While described as “historical,” the oldest indices include information dated as recently as 1975.  Open access to such personal information about living persons would constitute a clear violation of the Privacy Act that protects us all.

Making Requests

• How do I submit a request for an index search and/or a copy of a record?

Requests may be submitted online using a credit card, or by mail using a money order or cashiers check.  Click one of the "Make a Genealogy Request" links for forms and more information.

• What information am I required to provide for a search of the historical indices, and what do I get in return?

You must provide at least the immigrant’s full name (including variant spellings and/or aliases), his or her date of birth (if you don’t have exact month and/or day, the year is needed) and country of birth.  For a fully successful search, you should also provide information on where the immigrant lived in the United States (for example, "lived in New York in 1920's, then in CT in 1930 to death").  Other information can be helpful, such as names of spouse and children, marriage dates, military service, etc.

In return you will receive a report of search results, which will vary on a case by case basis depending on the biography of the immigrant.  A typical index search response will include a file number, information about the file series, and additional information as follows:

• What information am I required to provide to retrieve a copy of a historical record, and what will I get in return?

To request a record, you  must identify the file by the correct file number and name the immigrant named in the record.  In return, you will receive the best possible copy of the record.  File numbers may be learned from an Index Search Request or, in some cases, through independent research.  There are four series of file numbers (five series of files) available through a Record Request:

C-File number for a naturalization or citizenship certificate file, 1906-1956.  These numbers are found on original certificates and occasionally on other documents.  See the section on this record series for more information.

Alien Registration Number (A-number) for a Form AR-2 and/or an A-File numbered below 8 million.   These 7 digit numbers may be found among an immigrant's personal papers, or after about 1942, on some court naturalization papers.  See the section on this record series for more information.  Important:  Alien Registration Forms AR-2 are only available for A-numbers 1 million to 5 980 116, A6 100 000 to 6 132 126, A7 000 000 to 7 043 999, and A7 500 000 to 7 759 142.

Visa File number for a Visa File.   These numbers were assigned internally by the immigration agency and are not available outside an index search request.  Note well the Visa File number does not appear on a ship passenger list.  See the section on this record series for more information.

Registry File number (R-number) for a Registry File.   Some Registry File numbers are found on land border card manifests now available on National Archives Microfilm.  Occasionally a researcher will find an immigrant's Certificate of Registry or Certificate of Lawful Entry among personal papers, and those cards may or may not include the R-number.  The majority of Registry File numbers will only be available through an Index Search Request.   See the section on this record series for more information.

• Do I need to include proof of death with my request? What are acceptable forms of proof of death?

If the subject of your request was born less than 100 years before the date of your request, you must provide documentary proof of death with your request.  Acceptable forms of proof of death include:

• Death certificate
• A printed obituary, funeral program, or photograph of gravestone
• Bible, church, or other religious record
• U.S. Social Security Death Index record (individual records, not lists)
• Records related to the payment of death benefits
• Other documents demonstrating that the subject of the request is deceased.

Please submit copies of these records with your request. Do not submit original documents as these documents will not be returned.

• Should I make a Genealogy or FOIA/PA request--how do I decide?

For most researchers, the answer to this question will be determined by the records they seek.  If requesting records of an immigrant who naturalized prior to April 1, 1956, or who arrived prior to ca. 1945, submit a Genealogy request.  Anyone searching for records of a naturalization on or after April 1, 1956, or arrival after May 1, 1951, will submit a FOIA request.

There is an area of overlapping dates (1944-1956) where researchers will not know which program applies.  In such doubtful cases, a Genealogy Index Search Request (G-1041) that identifies records outside the scope of the Genealogy Program will provide search results identifying the records and providing instructions for requesting them under FOIA.  Similarly, if a FOIA request identifies records covered by the Genealogy Program, the FOIA Program will provide instructions for requesting those records using the Genealogy Record Request Form (G-1041A).

Note:  FOIA requests of an obviously genealogical nature (i.e., born more than 100 years ago, naturalized prior to 1956, etc.) will be returned to the requester with instructions for re-submitting the request through the Genealogy Program.

• Several months ago I submitted a FOIA request for records now included in the Genealogy Program, should I also submit a genealogy request?

If you submitted a request to the USCIS FOIA program prior to August 13, 2008, the FOIA program will process your request and questions regarding its status should be directed to the FOIA program.

If you wish, you can abandon your FOIA request in favor of a Genealogy Program request.  Do so by contacting the USCIS FOIA Program and instructing them to cancel your request.  Be sure to provide the FOIA case number.  Then submit a Genealogy Program request.

FOIA requests for historical records included in the USCIS Genealogy Program submitted to the USCIS FOIA Program on August 13, 2008 or later will be returned to the requester with instructions for re-submitting the request through the Genealogy Program.

About the Fees

• How do I pay the fees?

Fees for online requests are paid by credit card using the Treasury Department's Pay.Gov service.  One can submit a request online and choose to pay the fee by mail (see below), but the request will not be processed until the fee is received.

Fees for postal mail requests or online requests (see above) are paid by money order or cashier's check (no personal checks will be accepted) submitted and mailed with request form G-1041 or G-1041A.  Requests mailed without payment will be held while the requester is contacted to submit the fee.  If payment is not received within 30 days of submitting the request, the request will be canceled.

• What is the refund policy?

There are only two instances where any fees will be refunded by the Genealogy Program.  They are:

1. When an Index Search Request provides a file number, the researcher uses that number to submit a Record Request with case ID (the prior index request), and the Genealogy Program is then unable to locate the file previously identified.  The Genealogy Program will complete a Form G-266, Request for Refund of Fee, and notify the researcher accordingly.

2. When a G-1041 or G-1041A is submitted by postal mail and includes an overpayment of fee (for example, if someone submitted form G-1041 ($20)  but attached a fee of $35).  The Genealogy Program will process the request and complete Form G-266, Request for Refund of Fee, to cover the overpayment (in this example, $15).  Please pay fees in the exact amount only.

• Why do copies of textual records cost more than copies of microfilm records?

All fees cover the costs incurred in providing a service, and there are additional costs involved in providing textual files.  Among these expenses are the fees paid by USCIS to a Federal Records Center to retrieve and return a textual file from storage.  The program also incurs additional time and effort on shipping, handling, and duplication of textual files.  Finally, most textual files contain a larger number of pages to be duplicated.

About Further Research

• Where can I find naturalization records from before September 27, 1906?

Naturalization activity prior to September 27, 1906, was under the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts.  Naturalization records may be found in Federal, State, or local court records.  Practice and procedure varied greatly over time and geographical location, and as a result the best information on how to find pre-1906 naturalization records is usually available from local sources.  For more information on State and local courts, contact the State or county historical or genealogical society in the location where you believe the immigrant naturalized.  For Federal court records, contact the National Archives or see their webpage at http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/naturalization/.

• Where can I find immigration passenger manifests?

Land, sea, and air manifests dated prior to December, 1982 are now maintained by the National Archives. For more information about these passenger lists, see the National Archives webpage: www.archives.gov/genealogy/immigration.

Many historical passenger manifests are also available online through services such as ancestry.com and ellisisland.org.

• How do I get copies of USCIS records that are not included in the Genealogy Program?

Any USCIS records not included within the scope of the Genealogy Program, and not covered by any other rule or request form, may be requested under the Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act (FOIA/PA).

• Can the USCIS Genealogy Program provide me with documents to support a foreign application for dual citizenship?

A Genealogy Index Search Request can provide you with information about a naturalization record found, or the failure to locate any naturalization for a given subject.  A “no record” response does not serve as a certification of nonexistence.

A Genealogy Record Request can provide an information copy of a naturalization record.  The Genealogy Program does not provide certified copies.

If you need only a copy of the naturalization certificate to satisfy requirements for your foreign application for dual citizenship, you may submit a G-1041A Record Request for the naturalization certificate only.  Doing so will eliminate any additional processing delay resulting from information about the immigrant's children that may need review under the Privacy Act.  To request only the certificate, write "Dual Citz--Natz Certificate Only" on your request form G-1041A or in the "optional information section" of your online request.

• How do I get certification of nonexistence of a record?

A certification of non-existence requires an agency decision prepared by the USCIS Office of Records Management. Requests for this service should be addressed to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, ATTN: Records Operations Branch, 111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, 4th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20529.