USCIS Genealogy Program - US Immigrations & Naturalisations

[thady]

At last (!) ....From 13th August the USCIS Genealogy Program will go "live".

This is a new online  fee-for service program for genealogy requests for US immigration and naturalisation records and replaces the previous service whereby requests had to be made in writing under the Freedom of Information Act and could take anything up to 18 months. The USCIS hold the records for all of the US.

The records available include Naturalisation Certifcate files from 1906-1956.  As well as the Naturalisation certificate these files (C-files) contain Declaraton of Intention and Petition for Naturalisation therefore may contain much genealogcal info such as date and place of birth, occupation, arrival details as well as addresses and famly names.

 The requests are to made in two stages.  Firstly an index search, which will cost $20 (subject must be born over 100 yrs ago or else submitter must provide proof of death).  Then when info is found a request can be made for copies of the immigration and naturalisaton records. The published fees  are:    Copy of Document from Microfilm: $20 and Copy of Textual File: $35.

Here is a link to the USCIS web page whch provides some more informaton:

Click here for link



Angela

[pjbuk007]

That sounds very useful!

But a shame there are no records pre-1906.

I want some from late 19th century, wonder if they will ever be available?

[aghadowey]

Got quite excited as we have misplaced some relatives in the U.S. and know that the son was naturalized in U.S. before returning to Ireland but afraid it's too expensive for me to start looking for them.

[thady]

Yes unfortunately the USCIS does not hold anything before 1906 as there was no central body at that time.  Pre-1906 records are held at state archive and regional archive level as well as with the particular court at which naturalization took place.  So not quite so straight forward.   You could have a look at the  US National Archives website (under NARA) and search under Naturalisation where they provide some information re looking for pre-1906 records.  Some have an online request form which you can input details for a search.  I tried this with one of mine previously but nothing turned up as they only held info for particular courts. (Luckily they did not make a charge for the search when nothing was found) Also Ancestry and Footnote.com have Indexes but these are not complete and not for all states. 

Aghadowey, yes it is quite expensive, particularly if those amount are per page of a document or microfilm (surely not?).  But I guess it depends on whether the information that it would contain is worth it.  I'm thinking particularly of those 'but where in Ireland' stumbling blocks.  Could be invaluable for some.

Angela

[aghadowey]

In the case of the person whose records I would like to see I know the 'where in Ireland' bit since he returned there after many years in U.S. but from the information I have he was a child when he left Ireland and it's his parents and siblings I need to find in the U.S. Have looked for them for years but will just have to keep looking.

[pjbuk007]

I know where the naturalization papers are - in Denver, but they do not reply.

This was some time ago - I will have to try again.