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<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial>Interesting article: <FONT
color=#000000 face="Times New Roman">"A government genealogy service lets family
history leap off the page"</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#000000 face="Times New Roman"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial><A
href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-genealogy17-2010jan17,0,5618865.story?track=rss">http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-genealogy17-2010jan17,0,5618865.story?track=rss</A></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV>A little-known program of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
provides information that bridges oceans.....</DIV>
<DIV>In the past, genealogy researchers had to file document requests under the
Freedom of Information Act and sometimes waited years for a
response.<BR><BR>Under the <A href="http://www.uscis.gov/genealogy">genealogy
program</A>, which started in 2008, requests are usually completed within 90
days. For $20, the government will run a search of the name, as long as the
person is deceased. If there are records available, the government charges
additional fees for the files.<BR><BR>In fiscal year 2009, more than 5,300
requests were made, fewer than expected. In addition to relatives, historians or
researchers can also request files....</DIV>
<DIV><BR>For more information about the program, check out <A
href="http://www.uscis.gov/genealogy">www.uscis.gov/genealogy</A>. </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<P>which takes you to:</FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV>The USCIS Genealogy Program is a fee-for-service program providing family
historians and other researchers with timely access to historical immigration
and naturalization records. Click the links at right and below to learn
about our services and records.<BR><BR><BR>Choose the Correct Form or Request
Type: Please read the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), form
instructions, and other information on this website before sending any
money.<BR><BR><BR>The USCIS Genealogy Program offers two services:<BR><BR>•Index
Search: Using biographical information provided by the researcher, USCIS
searches its historical immigration and naturalization record indices for
citations related to a specific immigrant. Search results (record citations) are
returned to the researcher, along with instructions on how to request the
file(s) from USCIS or the National Archives. Fee: $20.00.<BR>•Record Copy
Request: Researchers with valid record citations (USCIS file numbers), gained
through a USCIS Genealogy Program index search or through independent research,
may request copies of historical immigration and naturalization records.
Fee: $20.00/$35.00 (depending on the record type).<BR>Records available
through the USCIS Genealogy Program:<BR><BR>•Naturalization Certificate Files
(C-files) from September 27, 1906 to April 1, 1956<BR>•Alien Registration Forms
from August 1, 1940 to March 31, 1944<BR>•Visa files from July 1, 1924 to March
31, 1944<BR>•Registry Files from March 2, 1929 to March 31, 1944<BR>•Alien Files
(A-files) numbered below 8 million (A8000000) and documents therein dated prior
to May 1,
1951<BR><BR><BR>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<BR><BR>We
are currently answering requests received in early October 2009 (a few
earlier) Some Record Requests received earlier remain active, in most
cases awaiting the requested file.<BR><BR>Questions about the USCIS Genealogy
Program may be sent to <A
href="mailto:Genealogy.USCIS@dhs.gov">Genealogy.USCIS@dhs.gov</A>.<BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>