Easy Way To Tell If USA Naturalization NEVER Completed?

[hallsandgrants]

I am a US citizen and I am just beginning the process of trying to see if I can apply for Italian citizenship because my grandfather was born in Italy in 1904. He emigrated to the USA in 1910 with his parents and siblings. After some background I have three questions below because I am not certain he was ever naturalized in the USA

It is easy to prove my father was born in BEFORE my grandfather started the naturalization process. That is because I have my father's 1929 USA birth record. And, I found my grandfather's naturalization declaration from 1935 and other naturalization records up to 1940 on Ancestry.com. So, my father clearly was born before my grandfather even started the naturalization process.

What is also clear from the naturalization records is that in 1940 my grandfather's initial application was denied because he was not truthful during the interview process (he did not tell them about an arrest that they found out about). Because of that the 1940 records say he had to wait for a 5-year probationary period and then re-apply for citizenship. However, I find no other naturalization records for my grandfather on-line through Ancestry. My grandfather died in 1983, he is in the social security death index and he did have a social security number.

I realize I will have to contact the US Government about this but I just wanted to get some preliminary feedback about this situation. Unless I am missing something, I may still be eligible to apply for Italian citizenship if my grandfather DID become a US citizen because he obviously did so AFTER my father was born. What I don't know is if my eligibility to apply for Italian citizenship would be impacted if my grandfather never became a legal US citizen. So here are my three questions:

Question #1: If I do not find any other naturalization records on Ancestry.com, is it a good indication that there are not any more for my grandfather and that he did not become a US citizen?

Question #2: If my grandfather has a social security number does that mean he did eventually become a US citizen?

Question #3: Would my application for Italian citizenship be negatively impacted if my grandfather never became a legal US citizen?

Ciao, Eric

[mler]

1. Ancestry is a good starting point, but you should ask USCIS for confirmation.

2. The Social Security number tells you nothing about his citizenship status.

3. No impact whatsoever. You qualify whether he did, or did not, naturalize.

I should add that, despite your gf's attempt to naturalize on his own behalf, since he arrived as a minor, the consulate may also insist on records from your ggf.

[hallsandgrants]

Thank you "MLER' for the information, especially the advice about my great grandfather.

The 1910 passenger ship record does show my GF as a minor child of my GGF. And my GF is listed as a child of my GGF on his naturalization papers (successfully completed 1926).

I already have my GGF's 1969 Italian birth record and his 1967 USA death record. I am in the process right now of obtaining my GF's Italian birth record from 1904. I have the name of the town and a request has been sent. At the same time I requested my GGF's 1902 marriage record because it too is supposed to be in the same town (a note beside his 1869 birth record in one town gives the name of the other town and reported marriage date - generally coincides with info on naturalization papers). Finally, I also requested my GGM's birth record because it too is supposed to be in the same town as the other records. My hopes are up, and I will just have to wait and see if the Italian records can be found.

[mler]

if your ggf naturalized in 1926, your gf was already an adult and could not have naturalized with him. This is all good. I assume his birth record is from 1869.

[hallsandgrants]

Thank you again "MLER" for more important information - and your sharp eyes! YES, my GGF was born in Italy in 1869 NOT 1969, and I have that 1869 Italian birth record. And yes again, by the time my GGF was USA naturalized in 1926, my GF was a 22 year-old adult man. My GF was born in Italy in 1904, came to the USA as a child in 1910, and was NOT USA naturalized as of his 1940 denial (latest record available on-line). Ciao, Eric