Immigration and Naturalization FAQs
You can view a list of our Immigration and Naturalization on our Finding Aids page.
- How do I request copies of naturalization records?
- What information is needed to locate a naturalization petition?
- I lost my certificate of naturalization. Can you provide a copy of it?
- I had my name legally changed when I became a naturalized U.S. citizen. How do I find the record of my name change?
- Can the National Archives issue a letter of verification of citizenship?
- What naturalization records do you have?
- My ancestor was naturalized in a county court. Do you have county records at the National Archives?
- Can the National Archives contact other Federal government offices to discuss the status of my citizenship?
- Does your facility maintain alien registration ("A" files) of the INS/USCIS?
- I'm a genealogist, what information is contained within a naturalization petition?
Q. How do I request copies of naturalization records?
A. All requests for naturalization records must be made in writing.
We accept inquiries in person,
through postal mail,
e-mail, fax or you can
order online.
Q. What information is needed to locate a naturalization petition?
A. To conduct an effective search of our records the following information is necessary: the
naturalized person's (1) full name, (2) home address and/or city/town when naturalized, (3)
approximate date of naturalization. Also useful are (4) date of birth, (5) date of U.S. arrival,
(6) country of origin, (7) the name of the court that conducted the naturalization.
Q. I lost my certificate of naturalization. Can you provide a copy of it?
A. No. Only U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly the Immigration and
Naturalization Service) has the legal authority to issue replacement copies of certificates of
citizenship. Download their request form.
Q. I had my name legally changed when I became a naturalized U.S. citizen. How do I find the record
of my name change?
A. If you petitioned to have your named changed in the U.S. District Court, Chicago, between
November 1991 to January 13, 1999, we may be able to assist you. For all other courts, contact
the Clerk of Court for the court in which your name change was administered.
Q. Can the National Archives issue a letter of verification of citizenship?
A. No. Only the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly the Immigration and
Naturalization Service) has the legal authority to verify a person's citizenship.
Q. What naturalization records do you have?
A. A list of our naturalization holdings can be seen on our
Finding Aids page.
Q. My ancestor was naturalized in a county court. Do you have county records at the National
Archives?
A. No. For naturalization records created at the municipal, county or state level of government,
contact the appropriate county courthouse or state archives.
Q. Can the National Archives contact other Federal government offices to discuss the status of
my citizenship?
A. No. However, the Federal agency requiring naturalization documentation can directly contact the
National Archives-Great Lakes Region and request photocopies of select naturalization petitions which
may assist in establishing an individual's U.S. citizenship for the purpose of obtaining employment,
entitlements or a temporary U.S. passport.
Q. Does your facility maintain alien registration ("A" files) of the INS/USCIS?
A. No. The USCIS is the sole agency responsible for providing access to these records.
Q. I'm a genealogist. What information is contained within a naturalization petition?
A. Generally pre-1906 naturalization petitions have little biographical data. Naturalization
records after September 25, 1906, generally include: the address of the person naturalized, the
city of birth, occupation, immigration information, and the names and birthdates of spouses and
children. Occasionally records from the 1930's and 1940's have a photograph on the Declaration of
Intention. In the early 1960's, the recording of the names and birthdates of children was
discontinued.
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