I am looking to find more history on my East Indian ancestry. My grandfather came to San Francisco about 1909? Or later. His name was Ghulam mohammed khan

Question

Patti Schulte · Answer

Pegfish, 
 Found immigration in 1910 for Ghulam mohammed Khan (born about 1880) Malakand, India? link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:C665-4T2M 
 Let me know if this is him and i'll keep looking. 
 Patti

History Hub Info · Answer

Thank you for posting your question on History Hub! 
 You did not provide a clear identification of what types of information you are seeking that you do not already have. Therefore, we will provide generic information about researching, genealogical, immigration and naturalization records for the United States. 
 For general advice, we suggest reading the web page How to Begin Genealogical Research and the History Hub Blog titled Suggestions and Advice for Family History Researchers . 
 Additional guidance and lists of resources are provided on the Archives Library Information Center Genealogy page , the FamilySearch Research Wiki , the Library of Congress pages on Frequently Asked Questions: Local History & Genealogy and Local History and Genealogy Research Guides , and the webpage of the National Genealogical Society . 
 The CDC's National Center for Health Statistics website tells how to obtain birth, death, marriage, and divorce records from state and territorial agencies. For more information and resources on vital records please visit our Vital Records webpage. 
 
 Please see Resources for Genealogists for an overview of National Archives records commonly used for genealogical research. The most popular records for genealogy include military service records, military pension application records, census records, ship passenger arrival lists, and land entry records (for federal public lands only). We also have passport applications (for certain time periods) and naturalization records. For information about the U.S. Census records, see the Decennial Census of Population and Housing Technical Documentation as well as NARA&rsquo;s page on Census Records . The web page Search Census Records Online and Other Resources provides information about accessing these records online. There may be a fee for using Ancestry. Please check for access at your local library as many library systems subscribe to these sites, making them free for their patrons. FamilySearch can be accessed with a free account. 
 
 The web page Browse Available Records by Port of Entry provides a list of ports of entry from this time period for which there are ship passenger arrival lists. In addition, we suggest that you review the information and resources available on the National Archives website, including Immigrant Records at the National Archives , Immigration Records , and Passenger Arrival Records . We also suggest that you review the History Hub blogs Passenger Arrival Records at the National Archives , Passenger Arrival List Research Tips , and Immigration and Naturalization Records: Where are they? . 
 
 Some of the arrival records have been digitized and are available online using the National Archives Catalog. Please note that these records are usually NOT name searchable using the National Archives Catalog. Others are available from sites like Ancestry and FamilySearch, which often provide an option for searching by name. The &ldquo;Browse by Port of Entry&rdquo; page provides links to Catalog descriptions and digitized records. 
 
 In general, naturalization was a two-step process* that took a minimum of five years. After residing in the United States for two years, an alien could file a "declaration of intention" ("first papers") to become a citizen. After three additional years, the alien could "petition for naturalization" (&rdquo;second papers&rdquo;). After the petition was granted, a certificate of citizenship was issued to the alien. These two steps did not have to take place in the same court. [* Exceptions can include cases of derivative citizenship, processes for minor aliens 1824-1906, and special consideration for veterans.] 
 
 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. However, a few indexes and records have been donated to the National Archives from counties, states, and local courts. Researchers should contact the National Archives facility serving the state in which the petitioner resided to determine if records from lower courts are available. In certain cases county court naturalization records maintained by the National Archives are available as microfilm publications . Records from state and local courts are often at state archives or county historical societies . 
 
 Beginning September 27, 1906, the responsibility for naturalization proceedings was transferred to the Federal courts. It took time for the lower courts to let go of the practice, so researchers may need to look at lower courts if the National Archives does not maintain a record of naturalization from the early-mid 20th century. 
 
 If a naturalization took place in a Federal court, naturalization indexes, declarations of intention (with any accompanying certificates of arrival), and petitions for naturalization will usually be in the National Archives facility serving the state in which the Federal court is located. No central index exists. To ensure a successful request with the National Archives, your email should include: the name of petitioner (including known variants); date of birth; approximate date of entry to the US; approximate date of naturalization; where the individual was residing at the time of naturalization (city/county/state); and country of origin. 
 
 In most cases, the National Archives will not have a copy of the certificate of citizenship. Two copies of the certificate were created &ndash; one given to the petitioner as proof of citizenship, and one forwarded to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). 
 
 Certificates of citizenship were issued by the Federal courts until October 1991 when INS took over responsibility for naturalization proceedings. Certificates may be requested through the USCIS Genealogy Program . 
 
 All INS records are now overseen by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS maintains duplicate copies of court records (including the certificate of citizenship) created from September 27, 1906 through March 31, 1956 within Certificate Files (C-Files). Beginning on April 1, 1956, INS began filing all naturalization records in a subject&rsquo;s Alien File (A-File). C-Files and certain A-Files may be requested through the USCIS Genealogy Program . 
 
 For more information about San Francisco immigration records see San Francisco INS Office Records . Also, be aware that the racial discrimination of the laws may have prevented naturalizations. See Race, Nationality, and Reality: INS Administration of Racial Provisions in U.S. Immigration and Nationality Law Since 1898 . 
 
 We hope this is helpful with your research!