Immigration and Naturalization FAQs
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, 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 the 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. We have Petitions for Name Change for select court locations and time periods. Please contact us to request a search.
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 Archive at Chicago 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, our office in Chicago does not maintain any alien files. However, some A-Files have been accessioned by other National Archives offices.
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 birthdays of children was discontinued.