GN 00302: Proof of Age
BASIC (09-87)
A. General
If the claimant is a naturalized citizen, the INS records available depend on the date of naturalization. (See GN 00302.910B..)
B. Naturalization process
Individuals become naturalized citizens through the following process:
| Stage | Who Does It | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Petitioner for naturalization |
Files an application to petition for naturalization with the INS district office. |
|
2 |
INS |
|
|
3 |
Petitioner for naturalization |
Files a petition for naturalization |
|
4 |
Maintains copies of petition and application in its files |
|
|
5 |
Court |
|
|
6 |
INS |
Retains a copy of the court decision granting citizenship |
C. Information on records
The age on the naturalization certificate is based upon the month, day, and year of birth the individual alleged under oath when he/she filed a petition for naturalization with the court. The age on the naturalization record is always as of the last birthday.
An individual's arrival record will not show information concerning names and ages of spouse or children unless they accompanied the immigration when he/she entered the U.S. This information may be shown on other INS records. (See GN 00302.970 for special information regarding certain Chinese immigrants.)
D. How the DO may obtain information from records
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Obtain the Petition for Naturalization or Declaration of Intention number, if available |
| 2 | Using this number, obtain the information from the naturalization records (or arrival or alien registration records) maintained by INS (see E. and F. below). NOTE: Alternatively, you may examine the naturalization record at the U.S. District Court or other court of record where they are filed. These records may contain information not only regarding the individual's DB and place of birth, but also that of his/her spouse and children. |
E. Location of records: alien naturalization before 4/1/56
Use the table below to find the location of records for aliens who were naturalized before 4/1/56.
| Record | Location | Further Information |
|---|---|---|
|
Arrival information (not including the ship's manifest) |
Washington D.C. INS office |
—- |
|
Arrival information from ship's manifest |
INS Verification Center (see GN 00302.920) |
If the Verification Center can not locate the requested information, the information in the Washington, D.C. files would be used in locating or furnishing the arrival information, providing the claimant includes on the Form G-639 completed initially or subsequently a statement along the following lines: “Age at time of arrival is desired; if (as) entry cannot be found on the basis of these facts, please check facts furnished at time of naturalization and (re)check for arrival record.” |
|
Alien and naturalization records |
INS district office having jurisdiction over immigration matters at the claimant's place of residence |
|
F. Location of records: alien naturalization after 3/31/56
Follow this general procedure to locate an obtain age information.
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
|
1 |
Request age information from the files of the INS district office servicing the area where the individual was naturalized NOTE: Such files include:
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|
2 |
Was the requested arrival information found and obtained from the files of the INS district office?
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|
3 |
Obtain the arrival information from the INS Verification Center (see GN 00302.920). |