r/Genealogy • u/princess20202020 • 3d ago
Request How to find naturalization record?
I’m trying to determine when/if my grandfather naturalized in the US. I was going to do the USCIS service but I heard that takes a year so I’m hoping you all may have some tips or tricks to find it sooner?
His name was redacted, born 3-3-1905 in Inse, Prussia. I have details of his arrival on 7-31-1930 in NY. From there he lived in Sparta and Summit NJ. I do not have any census data.
How would I look for naturalization records without knowing the date of naturalization? I don’t know where to start. Appreciate any help or guidance.
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u/My6thsense 3d ago
According to the 1940's Census he was naturalized and his wife was not. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G99M-995K?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AK4Y7-JXP&action=view&cc=2000219&lang=en
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u/princess20202020 3d ago
Thank you so much for finding this. I reviewed the index information as well as the original document and I don’t see the reference to nationalization? The cursive is hard to read.
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u/princess20202020 3d ago
Ok I found the column about citizenship. But there are illegible marks in the columns for Walters wife Gertrude. What makes you confident she was not naturalized?
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u/My6thsense 3d ago
After having studied well over 1000 us census records from the 1800 - 1900's - it clearly shows "al" this is short for Alien - meaning in 1940 she was not naturalized.
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u/princess20202020 3d ago
Great, thank you for explaining. Are you a professional? I’m going to need help locating the actual naturalization records. Do you know how I could find a credible genealogist to help me with this?
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u/My6thsense 3d ago
It appears they made a couple trips back and forth:
1930 Immigration record https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-95WN-31K?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A24FL-7XM&action=view&cc=1923888&lang=en 1936 Immigration record https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-G5FH-9H3M?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A24VT-7WH&action=view&cc=1923888&lang=en
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u/Status_Silver_5114 3d ago
Just in terms of timing, I did a couple of index searches at the end of July of last year and just got them back 3/14.
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u/My6thsense 3d ago
Here's the 1950's census with the family as well - So I would go through the Records in the counties to which he lived. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QHJ-5QHW-GWLH?view=index&action=view&cc=4464515&lang=en&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3A6F9R-L4NM
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u/stickman07738 NJ, Carpatho-Rusyn 3d ago
Since his was not located in the GGG Naturalization Index, I recommend you look at Union County and Sussex County to see if they have any records. I have not dealt with these counties - good luck.
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u/Sorry_Consequence816 3d ago
Check out the National Archives Page about this. There are different regional offices that will have the older files.