March 29, 2024
Many family historians want to locate their ancestors’ naturalization papers. Before they can begin, they need to know exactly what they’re looking for.
For most of its history, the United States has had a two-step naturalization program. Would-be citizens first had to file a declaration of intent and later a naturalization petition. Both forms are usually referred to collectively as naturalization papers. They are, however, two separate forms that were filed at different times. To have a full picture of their ancestor’s naturalization story, genealogists need to locate both forms.
Declarations of Intent were filed at any time after an immigrant arrived in the United States. Some people filed them immediately; others waited decades. The forms merely indicate someone’s intent to become a citizen. Until 1906, they could be filed in any court in any state or county. After 1906, they were filed in federal courts.
Declarations of Intent by themselves did not confer citizenship. They were often referred to as First Papers because they were the first step in becoming a citizen. Just because you find a Declaration of Intent for someone does not mean that he ever became a citizen.
Petitions for Naturalization, or Final Papers, were filed after someone had resided in the U.S. for a prescribed time – usually three or five years. Until 1906 these papers could also be filed in any court. After 1906, they were only filed in federal courts.
Petitions for Naturalization and Declarations of Intent did not need to be filed in the same court. Immigrants tended to move around after they first came to the United States. This can make it difficult to locate these forms, but it’s worth trying to obtain both for an ancestor. Each form may contain different information.
After a Petition for Naturalization was accepted, an applicant was issued a Certificate of Naturalization. These Certificates are sometimes found in family records but are rarely found in court records.
Digitized copies of Declarations of Intent and Naturalization Petitions can be found on various online websites such as Ancestry and FamilySearch. Indexes to them are also frequently found on State Archive websites, as well.
Remember that Declarations of Intent do not necessarily lead to Petitions for Naturalization. Many people never filed the second form. They do not mean someone was naturalized. Petitions for Naturalization were usually preceded by Declarations of Intent.
Carol Stetser
Researcher
Larimer County Genealogical Society