| Along with birth records and death records, if you | | | | While making your family tree online, you may |
| trace your family history genealogy back far | | | | also want to fill out an online request for |
| enough, you'll be able to find immigration records. | | | | immigration records too. This can be done at the |
| Between the late 1800s and early 1900s, a mass | | | | National Archives at Eservices Archives. First click |
| exodus of Europeans flooded into America, | | | | on "Order Reproductions" and then "Immigration." |
| arriving from Germany, Italy, Britain, Scotland, | | | | You must then enter your family member's |
| Ireland, Poland, Russia, Greece and other lands. | | | | personal information to locate the record and pay |
| According to Ellis Island records, the peak year of | | | | a small fee to order. Naturalization records with |
| immigration was 1907, with 1,004,756 souls | | | | the petition, declaration of intention and certificate |
| received. Some days, over 11,000 foreign citizens | | | | of arrival cost $7.50 and the Passenger Arrival |
| were processed, hoping for a new life. By looking | | | | Record costs $25, including shipping and handling. |
| up these records, you can find out what countries | | | | You can order a copy on a CD or on certified |
| your relatives came from, where they worked | | | | paper. |
| and where they lived. | | | | If you're having trouble finding immigration |
| To begin your free search of online naturalization | | | | records, then you can file a Freedom of |
| and immigration documents, start at Home Att, | | | | Information Act form (G-639) with the U.S. |
| where resources are listed by state. These | | | | Citizenship and Immigration Services at Uscis. If |
| records usually include first papers, which is where | | | | your ancestor is still alive, you'll need their |
| an alien renounces foreign citizenship to become a | | | | notarized permission to obtain the records and if |
| US citizen. Before 1906, immigrant information | | | | your ancestor died within the last 100 years, you'll |
| included the person's name, country of birth or | | | | need proof of death. Once you're granted access, |
| allegiance, application date, the port of arrival and | | | | you'll get the first 100 pages of information free, |
| a signature. After 1906, family genealogy | | | | although you will also have to wait months to get |
| information also included the applicant's age, | | | | a response. Finding out where and when your |
| occupation, personal description, current address, | | | | relatives migrated to the United States is a |
| last foreign address, the vessel and the port from | | | | valuable part of the familytree that can lead you |
| which it embarked. | | | | to other countries in search of far-off relatives! |