Problem finding Grandfather's naturalization documents

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legnoduro
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Re: Problem finding Grandfather's naturalization docume

Post by legnoduro »

Mayber I am approaching this question the wrong way. Since I have my father's birth certificate proving he is the son of my grandfather and the 1920 census shows my father as my grandfather's son before my grandfather was naturalized in 1923, does the mistake on the naturatlization petition of my grandfather carry more or less weight in proving ancesrty. In view of all the other evidence the information on the petition is obviously wrong and with a little effort it can be seen that the names and dates were inverted as well as the male childs name "Joseph" was written as "Josephine". Are the official reviewers of these documents "literalists" or do they understand that these types of mistakes happened and accept evidence proving otherwise.

Thank you,
Joseph
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Re: Problem finding Grandfather's naturalization docume

Post by mler »

It much depends on the consulate and the reviewer.

Are you using the NARA documents in lieu of the naturalization certificate? That's what I did, and I had a similar problem; my dad's name on the petition was incorrect as was his birthdate.

I simply removed the petition from the packet and submitted only the Oath and the Declaration of Intent. New York and New Jersey did not comment on the omission; they were only interested in the Oath. Don't know about Philly, though.
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Re: Problem finding Grandfather's naturalization docume

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A call to NARA this morning confirmed VaDeb's opinion. The naturalization documents cannot be corrected. Is it possible to get a copy of the naturalization certificate, my grandfather's original is lost, and does a copy of this certificate satisfy the requirement or does it have to be the original?

Joseph
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Re: Problem finding Grandfather's naturalization docume

Post by mler »

Seriously, Joseph, you may only need the Oath.
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Re: Problem finding Grandfather's naturalization docume

Post by legnoduro »

mler,
How does the oath prove he is my grandfather?
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Re: Problem finding Grandfather's naturalization docume

Post by mler »

It doesn't; the birth and marriage certificates prove this. Consulates look to the birth certificates to trace parentage in the line. The Oath is proof of his date of naturalization.

I suggested the Oath because of the error on the Petition. Check with Philadelphia; they may, like NY, accept the Oath in lieu of an actual naturalization certificate. Since you have that already, you would be good to go.

BTW, the census in not important. Most consulates will not even look at them.
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Re: Problem finding Grandfather's naturalization docume

Post by legnoduro »

Gotcha! Thanks, that is the way I will pursue it.

Joseph
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