Dual Citizenship MUST DO

[CaputoBruno]

Good Morning,

Regardless of how you are applying for dual citizenship, you'll need several items. For most applications, you will need the Birth, Marriage, and Death certificates for the entire Italian line. Additionally, you will need the Declaration, Petition, and Oath documents of your Italian-born ancestors who immigrated to the United States. If they never naturalized, you will need a letter from NARA and a letter of non-existence from USCIS. This is well documented, so I’ll save you from reading a lengthy post. One of the most critical items required is documentation from USCIS.

If you're certain your ancestor naturalized, you can simply request the documents, and you should be good to go. However, if you're unsure or need a document proving that your ancestor never naturalized, you'll need to contact USCIS and obtain what is known as a Certificate of Non-Existence.

I mention this because if you have not located the naturalization records for your ancestor, do this while you are collecting all of your other documents rather than waiting until the end and having to still request this, further delaying your application process.

As of the date of this post (5/30/2024), the process to obtain a Certificate of Non-Existence takes 30 weeks and costs $330. The good news is that USCIS has just launched a new online portal to make these requests, and I wanted to share that link with everyone: https://midas.uscis.dhs.gov/#/cne/request.

Good luck with your applications!

[CaputoBruno]

I have been getting some communications requesting where to send the information for National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). I only have the info for New York and Pennsylvania. If you need a negative search letter for your ancestor, you will send the request to newyork.archives@nara.gov for New York, or philadelphia.archives@nara.gov for Pennsylvania. In the request, please be sure to include any names and variants you want included in the negative letter. Also include any information about your ancestor such as Date of Birth, Parents Names, Locations they lived and when they arrived into the country and through what date you want the search to take place. If they do not locate Naturalization Records, they will generate a negative search letter with the information that was searched. Keep in mind this is not certified, but the consulates and communes will accept it. Be sure to also keep the enveolope that the letter arrives in.

Likely no matter what process you are going through, you willl need both a letter from NARA and a letter from USCIS.

I hope this helps someone out there!

[cuhnkedrik]

Thanks for this useful info! The Certificate of Non-Existence timing is surprising, so request early. The new web gateway sounds useful. Wishing everyone well with dual citizenship!

[afecad]

For my case, ICA needed NARA and USCIS info and a letter from the county in Pennsylvania where my great-grandparents were married and resided. The letter from the county was stamped with a seal and noted no records existed that my ggm naturalized, thus the pathway for a 1948 case.

[CaputoBruno]

For my case, ICA needed NARA and USCIS info and a letter from the county in Pennsylvania where my great-grandparents were married and resided. The letter from the county was stamped with a seal and noted no records existed that my ggm naturalized, thus the pathway for a 1948 case.

That is correct! The NARA letter is always first step when doing your research, then the county clerk, and USCIS. My only recommendation is to get that USCIS process going ASAP because it is such a long wait, but you are correct you want to ensure you get the naturalization records or the No Record of Naturalization to complete your process.

[mariatuzzio]

Can you tell me if I need the NARA letter if I have a certificate of No Naturalization / A-file?

[CaputoBruno]

If you have a certificate of No Naturalization from USCIS, you should be good to go, however a letter from NARA from the regeion your ancestors lived is a double stamp should you get any challenges. I would put in the request and move forward with your letter from USCIS but queue it up. Consult with your attorney though because they may be ok with just the USCIS letter. ICA wanted both when I did mine.