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USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) is the US government agency that holds naturalization records and issues 'no record' letters for CBD cases.
In depth
USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) is the US government agency responsible for immigration and citizenship services. It holds naturalization records for US naturalizations after 1906 and issues 'no record' letters (via the USCIS Index Search) for CBD cases.
For CBD cases involving ancestors who emigrated to the United States, the USCIS Index Search is the standard first step. The search costs $65 and takes 4-6 months. If no naturalization record is found, USCIS issues a 'no record' letter. If a record is found, USCIS provides a certified copy.
USCIS also holds other records relevant to CBD cases: Alien Files (A-Files), visa files, registry files, and naturalization certificates. These can be requested through the USCIS Genealogy Program.
Related terms
A naturalization record is a government document certifying that a person acquired citizenship by naturalization, critical for CBD cases to determine if the citizenship chain was broken.
A 'no record' letter is an official document certifying that a search of naturalization records found no evidence that the person naturalized, used to prove the citizenship chain was not broken.
NARA (National Archives and Records Administration) is the US national archives, holding federal court naturalization records and other documents relevant to CBD cases.
A long-form birth certificate is a detailed birth certificate that includes the child's and parents' full information, required for most CBD applications.
A short-form birth certificate is a simplified birth certificate showing only the child's basic information, typically not accepted for CBD applications.
A certified copy is a copy of a document that has been verified as a true and accurate copy by the issuing authority, typically required for CBD applications.