If the naturalization took place in a Federal court, the declaration of intention (with accompanying certificate of arrival) and petition for naturalization will usually be in the National Archives facility serving the state in which the Federal court is located (https://www.archives.gov/research/court-records).
Normally, the National Archives will not have a copy of the certificate of citizenship. Depending on the date of naturalization, there are two places where a copy of the certificate can appear:
If the naturalization occurred September 27, 1906 - March 31, 1956, the certificate should appear within a Certificate File (C-File) that can be obtained through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Genealogy Program (www.uscis.gov/genealogy).
If the naturalization occurred April 1, 1956 - present, the certificate should appear within an Alien File (A-File) that can also be obtained through USCIS. For information on requesting copies of records from USCIS, you will need to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with USCIS. Please go to their webpage at: https://www.uscis.gov/records/request-records-through-the-freedom-of-information-act-or-privacy-act.
If the naturalization took place in a Federal court, the declaration of intention (with accompanying certificate of arrival) and petition for naturalization will usually be in the National Archives facility serving the state in which the Federal court is located (https://www.archives.gov/research/court-records).
Normally, the National Archives will not have a copy of the certificate of citizenship. Depending on the date of naturalization, there are two places where a copy of the certificate can appear:
If the naturalization occurred September 27, 1906 - March 31, 1956, the certificate should appear within a Certificate File (C-File) that can be obtained through the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Genealogy Program (www.uscis.gov/genealogy).
If the naturalization occurred April 1, 1956 - present, the certificate should appear within an Alien File (A-File) that can also be obtained through USCIS. For information on requesting copies of records from USCIS, you will need to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request with USCIS. Please go to their webpage at: https://www.uscis.gov/records/request-records-through-the-freedom-of-information-act-or-privacy-act.
