From 1795 to 1952, seeking citizenship was a two-step process. An individual who had lived in the United States for at least three years could file a declaration of intention to be naturalized. Two years after filing a declaration of intention, the individual could petition for naturalization. These two steps did not have to take place in the same court. At the time the petition for naturalization was filed, depositions by two witnesses attesting to the length of residence and character of the applicant may also have been filed. The new citizen was granted a certificate of naturalization.
Effective September 27, 1906, federal naturalization law changed substantially (32 Stat. 596). Standardized forms were created to be filed both with courts and with the new Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization. Certificates of arrival were now required when a petition for naturalization was filed in order to ensure legal entry into the United States. For the first time, the federal government became the central repository for all naturalization records.
During World War I beginning May 9, 1918 (40 Stat. 542) and World War II beginning March 27, 1942 (56 Stat. 182), the federal government temporarily eliminated the requirement to file a declaration of intention for those serving in the military. Civilians generally filed their paperwork close to their residence, but soldiers’ records are more often found near where they were stationed.
Otherwise, the naturalization process remained substantially unchanged until 1952 (66 Stat. 163), when a declaration of intention was no longer required. Five years' residency remained a requirement, including a final six months in the state in which the petitioner would reside. However, an immigrant who was married to a citizen needed only eighteen months’ residency if he or she had been married for at least three years.
Records of naturalizations after September 27, 1906, are held by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS houses two important naturalization collections: C-Files, which consist of naturalization records created between September 27, 1906 and March 31, 1956; and A-Files, which include naturalization records created starting April 1, 1956. C-Files may also exist for those naturalized prior to September 27, 1906; for example, if a replacement certificate was requested.
C-Files and many A-Files may be requested directly from USCIS; however, A-Files for individuals born at least 100 years ago may have been transferred to the National Archives. These A-Files may be searched by the immigrant's name in the National Archives catalog.
The USCIS houses the most complete set of naturalization records; however, some naturalization records were also retained in the courthouses where they were filed. Beginning September 27, 1906, the federal government issued bound volumes containing standardized forms. These volumes remained in the courthouses, while copies of the records were forwarded to the federal government. In addition to completed forms, the volumes may also contain Certificates of Arrival, correspondence, or other documentation. For individuals who began but did not complete the naturalization process, copies of Declarations of Intention sent to the federal government were destroyed after seven years; courthouses may be the only source for these records.
Some naturalization records filed in Virginia’s local courts are available in courthouses, while others have been transferred to the Library of Virginia. Naturalization records filed in federal courts through October 1991 are housed at the National Archives; some of these are available through the Ancestry or FamilySearch databases.
