B29: How can I obtain the information in my ancestor's application for naturalization?

Naturalization [to include Alien Registration]

An application for Italian citizenship may require copies of immigration and naturalization documents from the US Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service [INS] or from a US Federal or state court or other federal or state agency. This file describes the procedures to follow to obtain immigration and naturalization documents and other documents. The file also decribes the steps necessary to obtain INS documents to be used for purposes of genealogical research apart from any application for Italian citizenship.

Here are the instructions for requesting the Declaration of Intention and Naturalization papers.

• Step 1: Get the citizenship date from the 1920 or earlier census information for your immigrant ancestor. [Or, your ancestor's arrival date if he or she did not become a citizen].
• Step 2: Be able to prove that you are a direct descendant of the immigrant by using copies of death, birth or marriage certificates. (Usually, the immigrant's death certificate plus birth certificates leading to you are enough.)
• Step 3: Fill out the Freedom of Information Act Form (from the US Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service). The form is Form G-639.

This form may be obtained at the nearest Immigration and Naturalization Service Office. You can also obtain Form G-639 by telephone. The number is 1-800-870-3676. Be prepared to give the number of the form, your name, address, and telephone number. You should receive the form in about 2 weeks.

If you intend to use the document to apply for Italian citizenship, you would request the Certificate of Naturalization. [Or, when appropriate, a declaration of no record found.] The Certificate of Naturalization is the end-product of the application for citizenship process and confirms that your relative is now a US citizen. If you want to use the documents to search your Italian roots, be sure to request the Declaration Of Intention.

The Declaration Of Intention is the first paper filed, the application, which should contain detailed information about date of birth, town and Province of birth, names of parents, etc. If in doubt, order a copy of the entire file. In this way you will never have to deal with this Agency again! Each document to be submitted to Italian government - birth certificates, marriage certificates, naturalization papers, etc.- for the purpose of applying for citizenship must have Apostille applied to them.

Apostille is the equivalent of an international certification. In the USA, it can be only applied by the United States Department of State or the local state government that issued the specific document. You will need to contact the Department of State or the state agency that issued the documents to find out the steps to obtain Apostille. The costs generally run from $5 to $25 per document.

If you intend to use the documents to apply for Italian citizenship, be sure to so advise the INS and ask that the document be prepared suitably for application of Apostille. Once you receive your naturalization papers or documentation of no record found, you will need to send it the US Department of State for application of Apostille. See Step 6 below.

• Step 4: Mail the form to the INS Office, 425 NW I Street, Washington DC. Clearly mark the outside of the envelope "Freedom of Information Request"
• Step 5: You will be billed for the copies.
• Step 6 OPTIONAL: If you intend to use the INS or other documents as part of the application for Italian citizenship, Apostille must be applied to the document.

Apostille is the equivalent of an international certification or authentication. In the USA, it can only be applied by the United States Department of State or the local state government that issued the specific document.

For INS documents:

• A. Send the naturalization documents or the document stating no record found to The United States Department of Justice, Attn. Susan Smallwood, 10th Street & Constitution Avenue NW, Washington DC 20530 for their certification. The INS is an agency of the Justice Department.
• B. When the documents are returned, send them to The United States Department of State, Authentication Office, 2400 M Street NW, Room 101, Washington DC 20520. Enclose a check in the amount of $8.00 for each document.

When writing to each agency, be sure that your letter indicates that you intend to submit the documents in application for Italian citizenship.

For documents issued by a State:

The procedures may differ from state to state. In California, the document is certified by the issuing agency, usually the county clerk. The certification is a rubber stamp or seal stamped on the document. The document is then sent to the California Secretary of State for application of Apostille. You should contact the Secretary of State for your State. Better yet, contact your local representative and let him or her figure out who you write to!

NOTE:

You may be able to obtain the documents you need without having to make application to the INS. If you can identify the Court that issued the Certificate of Naturalization, you may be able to obtain the records from that Court. Until the 1950's petitions for naturalization could be heard EITHER in Federal District Court OR in an appropriate State Court.

The State Court may be known by different names. In California it is called the Superior Court in each of the counties. In New York it is called the Supreme Court. In other States it may be called the District Court or the Court of Common Pleas. You would contact the Clerk of the court for further information.

You may be able to locate and view copies of court records through the Family History Center system.