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Archiver > NYC-ROOTS > 2002-06 > 1023208750


From: "dayne" <>
Subject: Re: [NYC] Naturalization
Date: Tue, 4 Jun 2002 12:40:53 -0700
References: <001801c20b4d$8e0d0340$69168bd1@mzatorsk>


To the List per request:

I obtained copies of Natz papers: Intent, Petition and Final, by requesting
the C-Files for the individual involved by writing to the Dept of Justice,
INS. This applies to NATZ SINCE 1906. You do not need to know where the
documents were originally filed or when, or even if they were ever filed.
It was free. Response time was about 2 months but some took over 3 months.
The documents I received were definitely not the clearest but good enough
for me to read about dates, port of entry, name of ships, spouses,
witnesses, residence, name of court and Natz #s etc. Lots of good
information. (One could always get better copies from the original source
now that you knew what court etc to go to.)

Check this site out for basic informaion:
http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/aboutins/history/
then click on that page
Naturalization Records (what they are, about INS copies since 1906 . . .)
then read about C-Files (which I copied below for you)

--------------------
Naturalization Certificate Files (C-Files)

INS naturalization certificate files, known as C-Files, include a duplicate
copy of all naturalization records dated after September 26, 1906. All
C-Files contain at least a copy of the Declaration of Intention (184k) to
become a US Citizen (to 1952), Petition for Naturalization (279k), and
Certificate of Naturalization (223k). Occasional files contain additional
documents or correspondence.

C-Files include all US naturalizations from all States and Territories, and
from all courts (Federal, State, and local). INS maintains an index to the
C-Files, and can retrieve individual records based on name, date of birth,
and place of birth. C-Files from 1906 to 1956 have been microfilmed, and are
available via Freedom of Information/Privacy Act request to INS Headquarters
in Washington, D.C. For naturalization records after 1956, Freedom of
Information requests should be sent to the appropriate INS District Office.
-----------------------------------

I sent for these in writing. Below you will find an example of the letter I
used. Any dates I used were either my best est or better if I had it. For
names I also gave alternative spellings if I though I needed to. Place of
birth was as best as I could do and often was as simple as the name of the
country. For individuals less than 100 years old you will need proof of
death (copy of obituary, copy of death certificate, in my case I used a
printout of the SSDI for the person on Rootsweb.com (
http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi ) and that was
acceptable) or permission of the individual. I rec your including your phone
number because I did in fact get a call from someone processing one of my
requestes looking for clarification and proof of death-he accepted the SSDI
printout. With in about a month after I submitted my request I got a form
letter response informaing me of certain rules and fees, (but not always)
but none of the fees applied. Of the 13 I have now sent for I got 7
postives returned, 2 no files found, and waiting on 4 I sent for this year
in mid-April.

Dayne
-------------------------
This is an example of my letter:

--------------------------

Director
Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act Program
Immigration and Naturalization Service
Department of Justice
425 Eye Street, N.W., 2nd Floor
ULLICO Building
Washington, D.C. 20536
(202) 514-1722

I am requesting a copy of the Naturalization Certificate Files (C-Files)
for;

Name: Souren MOZIAN
DOB 28 Oct 1901 according to SSDI
Place of Birth Armenia/Turkey


Thank you

(signature)

(your typed name) (date)

Address
(your address)

(your eMail addres)
(your telephone number)





----- Original Message -----
From: "Mary Zatorski" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, June 03, 2002 3:25 PM
Subject: [NYC] Naturalization


> Dear Barbara, Nancy, Ron, et al, and list:
> Regarding NARA and Naturalization, I have a question.
> I have always known WHERE my grandfather came from (Szrensk,
> Poland/Russia) and after Ellis Island opened their records
> last year, I found my grandfather's exact immigration date.
> Now, from the 1920 census it does not state immigration,
> papers, or naturalization, as I suspect my grandmother's
> sister gave the information and she was 'right off the boat'
> as the elders used to say. So, I took that info with a grain
> of salt. Now, in the 1930 census, it states, he came over in
> 1910, wrong!- Feb 1907 from the manifest.
> Looked through ALL records at the county clerk's office, and
> even helped transcribe some of these records (LOL!!), but
> still no grandpa.
> Do I re-try a NARA request and enclose a copy of the
> manifest, and his social security application to show his
> signature next??
> Or, do I go to the other courts to see if he's there.
> Also, cannot find 'grandma' as her name was BARCIKOWSKA and
> we all know how someone can 'kill' the spelling of that one!
> Needless to say, can't find her, even when her sister's
> manifest info in 1909 states she came to see her sister, my
> grandmother. Also, grandma's 1930 census info states that
> she came over in 1916, even when she married in 1912 in
> Brooklyn. Go figure.
> Where should I go from here.
> HELP
>
> ______________________________

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