Historical Records Services Request

OMB 1615-0096; Expires 04/30/09

Instructions for G-1041A, Genealogy
Records Request

Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Instructions
Read all instructions carefully before completing this form.

What Is the Purpose of This Form?
Use Form G-1041A to obtain copies of U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) historical records. (To request
an index search of USCIS historical records, use Form
G-1041, Genealogy Index Search Request.)

Who Should Use This Form?
Use this form if you are a:
1. Researcher requesting a copy of a USCIS historical record
by file number. (See descriptions of USCIS historical
records on Page 2 of these instructions.);

How Are Historical Records
and Files Identified?
Records and files are identified by file numbers.
To help identify historical USCIS file numbers, review the
chart on Page 2 of these instructions, which lists available
series of USCIS historical files and shows sample file
numbers.
Requests for copies of USCIS historical records or files must
identify the record by the file number or another file identifier.
No record can be retrieved without a file number. If you do
not have the file number as described in the chart on Page 2,
you should submit Form G-1041, Genealogy Index Search
Request.

2. Researcher who has received file numbers resulting from
the Genealogy Index Search Request (G-1041); or
3. Researcher seeking records for genealogical/family history
purposes or heir location, and who can provide a precise
historical record series file number and can identify the
immigrant by name and/or other information.

When Should This Form Not Be Used?
Do not use this form to request:
1. Records of naturalization prior to September 27, 1906. For
such records, consult Federal court records stored at the
National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
Record Group 21, or write to the clerk of the court where
the naturalization occurred;
2. Copies of sea, land, or air manifest lists prior to December,
1982. For these lists, write to NARA;
3. The return of original documents. For such documents, use
Form G-884, Request for Return of Original Documents.
NOTE: For any records not specifically mentioned in this
Form G-1041A or not available through any other USCIS
program, use Form G-639, Freedom of Information/Privacy
Act Request.

Where Should You Mail the Request?
Mail your request to:
USCIS Genealogy Program
PO Box 805925
Chicago, IL 60680-4120

Address Changes
You may change your address on-line at www.uscis.gov, click
on "Change your address with USCIS" and follow the
prompts, or you may complete and mail Form AR-11, Alien's
Change of Address Card, to:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Change of Address
P.O. Box 7134
London, KY 40742-7134
For commercial overnight or fast freight services only, mail to:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Change of Address
1084-I South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744

G-1041A Instructions (Rev. 09/10/08)Y

Identifying USCIS Historical Records and File Numbers
If you are requesting a...

Then...

Examples...

Naturalization Certificate File (C-File)

Provide:

Records relating to all U.S. naturalization certificates,
replacement certificates and Certificates of Citizenship
issued between September 27, 1906, and March 31,
1956. The majority of C-Files exist only on microfilm.

(1) The certificate number; and

C-1234567, Supreme Ct.,
Kings Co., NY, March
1922.

(2) The name of court, location,
and date of naturalization.

Non Standard C-Files

Provide:

Repatriation - Certificates issued to persons who
regained U.S. citizenship between 1918 and 1956.

The certificate number obtained
from the original certificate or
from prior Genealogy Search
Request (G-1041).

Military Naturalization - Certificates issued to persons
who served in the U.S. Armed Forces from 1942 to
1956.

BDOMOS-

Derivative - Certificates issued to persons who derived
U.S. citizenship through the naturalization of a parent
while they were a minor, or through birth abroad to U.S.
citizen parent(s).

AAADA-

Old Law - Replacement certificates issued to persons
who naturalized prior to September 27, 1906 (i.e., under
the Old Law), and who applied for a replacement
certificate during or after 1929.

OL-

Alien Registration Form (AR-2).

Provide:

Microfilmed copies of Form AR-2 completed by all
aliens age 14 years and older residing in or entering the
United States between August 1940 and March 31, 1944.

The Alien Registration Number.

A-1234567, A-0002345,
A-001234
AR-1234567, A 1 234 567
AR-0002345

or
A-file numbered below 8 million.
Visa File

Provide:

Original arrival records of immigrants admitted for
permanent residence between July 1, 1924, and March
31, 1944. The Visa File number does not appear on a
ship passenger list.

The visa number and arrival
information as obtained from
prior Genealogy Search Request
(Form G-1041).

Visa 2046367, 12/17/1933;
(land port)-Detroit, MI.

Registry File

Provide:

R-12345, R-1234567, R-123

March 2, 1929 to March 31, 1944. Original records
documenting the creation of immigrant arrrival records
for persons who entered the United States prior to July
1, 1924, and for whom no arrival record could be found.

The Registry file number as
obtained from prior Genealogy
Search Request (Form G-1041).

Visa 2025432, 04/29/1933;
(seaport)- Boston, MA; SS
Brittanic.

Do not provide Certificate
of Registry number (i.e.,
CR-12345).

G-1041A Instructions (Rev. 09/10/08)Y Page 2

What Are the Fees?

Privacy Act Notice

You must submit the appropriate fee with this form for a
genealogy records request. The fee for a copy from microfilm
is $20 per request. The fee for a copy of a hard copy file is
$35 per request.
If the file number provided does not match the immigrant
named on this form, and there is no previous Genealogy Index
Search case identification number provided, we will not
refund any fee.

We ask for the information on this form, and associated
evidence, to determine if you have established eligibility for
the immigration benefit for which you are filing. Our legal
right to ask for this information can be found in the
Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. We may
provide this information to other government agencies. Failure
to provide this information, and any requested evidence, may
delay a final decision or result in denial of your Form
G-1041A.

Use the following guidelines when you prepare your check or
money order for filing the fee:

USCIS Forms and Information

1. The check or money order must be drawn on a bank or
other financial institution located in the United States and
must be payable in U.S. currency; and
2. Make the check or money order payable to U.S.
Department of Homeland Security, unless:
A. If you live in Guam, make it payable to Treasurer,
Guam.
B. If you live in the U.S. Virgin Islands, make it payable
to Commissioner of Finance of the Virgin Islands.
NOTE: Please spell out U.S. Department of Homeland
Security; do not use the initials "USDHS" or "DHS."
Notice to Those Making Payment by Check. If you send us
a check, it will be converted into an electronic funds transfer
(EFT). This means we will copy your check and use the
account information on it to electronically debit your account
for the amount of the check. The debit from your account will
usually take 24 hours, and will be shown on your regular
account statement.
You will not receive your original check back. We will
destroy your original check, but we will keep a copy of it. If
the EFT cannot be processed for technical reasons, you
authorize us to process the copy in place of your original
check. If the EFT cannot be completed because of insufficient
funds, we may try to make the transfer up to two times.

To order USCIS forms, call our toll-free forms line at
1-800-870-3676. You can also get USCIS forms and
information on immigration laws, regulations, and procedures
by telephoning our National Customer Service Center at
1-800-375-5283 or visiting our Internet website at
www.uscis.gov.

Paperwork Reduction Act
An agency may not conduct or sponsor an information
collection and a person is not required to respond to a
collection of information unless it displays a currently valid
OMB control number. The public reporting burden for this
collection of information is estimated at 30 minutes per
response, including the time for reviewing instructions, and
completing and submitting the form. Send comments
regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this
collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden, to: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
Regulatory Management Division, 111 Massachusetts
Avenue, N.W., 3rd Floor, Suite 3008, Washington, DC 20529,
OMB No. 1615-0096. Do not mail your application to this
address.

G-1041A Instructions (Rev. 09/10/08)Y Page 3