Naturalization Descendants

[kleocatra]

I am trying to find out naturalization works for Sicilian descendants.
Giuseppe Mingoia
Arrived in the United States around 1903 - 1907 (Lived with his brother Salvatore in Cleveland, Ohio)
Born: January 19, 1886 in Sicily
Died February 23, 1934 and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio
His daughter Mary was born in Sicily (I remember her traveling back and forth and she still spoke the language ) she never worked outside the house and did not drive either.
His son Fred Joseph Mingoia Sr. was born in Cleveland, Ohio December 19, 1915 Died: Feb 17, 1996 and had a social security card.
He has a son Fred Joseph Mingoia Jr if great grandfather never naturalized would that make him a dual citizen?
I tried the NARA database and could not find anything. Where else would I look?
If my great grandfather never naturalized would that make my grandfather a Citizen of Sicily?

[qualdom]

Sources say that it is harder to prove that the ancestor did not naturalize.

From my reading, it seems that the consulates want the following evidence to support a claim that your ancestor did not naturalize.

1. Certificate of non-existence from USCIS

2. Letter of no record from NARA (federal courts)

3. Letter of no record from all local county courts where your ancestor lived in the USA

4. Certified copies of the census preceding and following the birth of your first American born ancestor.

[afecad]

You should check the records at the Cuyahoga County Courthouse, due to the below:

"Prior to September 27, 1906, any "court of record" (municipal, county, state, or Federal) could grant United States citizenship. Often petitioners went to the court most geographically convenient for them. As a general rule, the National Archives does not have naturalization records created in state or local courts."

[kleocatra]

I did find the 1930 Census and it has him listed as an alien at that time. Guisppee died in 1934 and his brothers naturalized in 1952. He came over on S.S. Anacona in 1912 I do have the manifest as well from that stating he was from Italy. I searched NARA and could find nothing on him naturalizing his wife naturalized after she remarried. His mother Maria Fratelli immigrated in 1913 and died in the US. in 1938 without naturalization either.

[afecad]

I did find the 1930 Census and it has him listed as an alien at that time. Guisppee died in 1934 and his brothers naturalized in 1952. He came over on S.S. Anacona in 1912 I do have the manifest as well from that stating he was from Italy. I searched NARA and could find nothing on him naturalizing his wife naturalized after she remarried. His mother Maria Fratelli immigrated in 1913 and died in the US. in 1938 without naturalization either.

Did you also request a records search from USCIS?

https://www.uscis.gov/records/genealogy

Just to let you know, they are backlogged due to Covid, up 90 to 180 days after time of request. I'm still waiting for a record search from September of last year.

The courthouse would be the first place I'd check, that is if it's even open, many are not currently.

[kleocatra]

I will check that page out see if they can help.

[qualdom]

I did find the 1930 Census and it has him listed as an alien at that time. Guisppee died in 1934 and his brothers naturalized in 1952. He came over on S.S. Anacona in 1912 I do have the manifest as well from that stating he was from Italy. I searched NARA and could find nothing on him naturalizing his wife naturalized after she remarried. His mother Maria Fratelli immigrated in 1913 and died in the US. in 1938 without naturalization either.

Did you also request a records search from USCIS?

https://www.uscis.gov/records/genealogy

Just to let you know, they are backlogged due to Covid, up 90 to 180 days after time of request. I'm still waiting for a record search from September of last year.

The courthouse would be the first place I'd check, that is if it's even open, many are not currently.

What does it say when you check the case status of your USCIS index search? Does it just say "active"?

[afecad]

What does it say when you check the case status of your USCIS index search? Does it just say "active"?

I have two separate requests currently and they both say "Active" with the dates of submission.

I did send a message to them last month to check on the status and received a response:

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We process our requests on a first in-first out basis. Index searches take an average of 80 business days to complete and you will receive your results via e-mail.

A records request requires more time and normally takes an average of 125 business days to complete. If your file not digital, and located at another facility, it may take longer as several of our facilities are still partially closed due to COVID-19. You will receive the record results in the mail.

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[kleocatra]

Yes I have marked 100 business days in my calendar for the results to be returned meanwhile I am working on gathering birth, death and marriage certificates locally. I found where his brother Antonio attempted naturalization but was denied due to him be considered an enemy alien and he did not try again till later on. I am fairly confident that checking local sources and knowing the family history he might have filed an intention to naturalize but due to economic restraints of travel did not pursue the path. His other brother did not get naturalized until he was age 69 and more economically stable. They did not immigrate to the United States till 1911 so naturalization was already a federal process so the local court houses would not have it. Both brothers had to travel to New York to naturalize after he was deceased in 1934.
Date Submitted: 1/28/2021 7:42:07 PM
Current Status: Active
Sub-Status: (Blank)

[qualdom]

Many online sources say that naturalization did not transition smoothly to a federal process and many local courthouses continued to process naturalizations well after 1906. From my research, it's clear that many military naturalizations in the wake of WWI took place in local courthouses. So as afecad mentioned, I still think it's a good idea to start locally. They also seem to have much better response times than USCIS or NARA - I've contacted 2 local county records offices in PA and both responded very quickly.

[afecad]

Not available in Ohio unfortunately, but I also used LANDEX for document searches which covers many counties in PA and a couple in NY, though what you find can be saved as PDFs (pay by the page) and are not "official", it's still a great resource. Not sure if an alternate exists in Ohio?

I found many on my relatives including there marriage certificates (not official), land deeds and etc.. but this will speed up the process with local Court Houses in obtaining the official docs since it often has the book number listed.