Important information on US immigrant records

[veramiller]

I have noticed several posts on this forum are about lack of information on relatives who immigrated to the USA.

The US government has great information on immigrants called Alien Files. These files are compiled on immigrants when they request immigration to the USA and up until the immigrant is naturalized. The files have information on parents, birth, marriage, children, residences, employment, etc. These files cannot be found on any website, including ancestry.com.

I know a lot of people here want to research back in time. I have learned to go forward in time to make sure I have the right information. I thought my grandmother's brother was born in the same town as my grandmother. I learned he was born in Kiev with his birth certificate in his Alien File. The Alien Files could have birth and marriage records that are missing from Ukrainian archives.

I explain the importance of these files and how to get these files on my blog- Documents that open doors to information | Find Lost Russian & Ukrainian Family

Seven months worth waiting | Find Lost Russian & Ukrainian Family

[Beverly]

My family immigrated to the U.S. between 1900 and 1909. Are you saying that they had to first request permission from the U.S. to immigrate? If not, and they failed to become naturalized once they arrived here, there would be no alien file?

I would love to look into it, but some of my ancestors did not become naturalized.

I look forward to your reply.

Beverly

[veramiller]

I have always understood that US immigrants needed sponsors - a church organization, employer, relatives or people known abroad now living in the USA. Several of my relatives did not get naturalized but they still have Alien Files. Immigrants had to wait five years after their arrival to become citizens. You really should e-mail Elizabeth Burnes at Elizabeth.Burnes at nara.gov. She can look up your relatives and see what records are available on them.

[ABanks]

vera,
thank you very much for the info regarding "alien files" I will certainly follow up ... you say I can email "Elizabeth Burnes at nara for assistance...right?
Aaron

I've also bookmarked you blog and start to check out Alien Files with USCIS,

sounds like a great source!

thanks again

[veramiller]

ABanks, Thanks. Anyone can e-mail Elizabeth. She is wonderful. I usually get a response within 24 hours from her.

I would first check here to see if your relatives' Alien Files can be found here- Online Public Access. The site should have Alien File listings for those born up to 1909. It is much cheaper to get files from Elizabeth than USCIS. If Elizabeth can find the files in Kansas City, you'll save a bunch of money.

Those born later than 1909 would have files with the USCIS program. My mother's family arrived four months past the May 1951 cut-off for record storage through USCIS. USCIS requires proof of death of obtain records (Social Security index, death certificate, etc.) but someone can get their personal file. I assume living people would need to send scans or copies of their license or passport.

I got one file so far through a Freedom of Information request. If you cannot find your file on the archives.gov site and your relatives were born by 1909, still e-mail Elizabeth. She knows how to tinker with names to find records. I had to make a FOIA request because my mother's family came later than May 1951 and were born after 1909.