Declaration of intention

From 1795 on, an immigrant usually began naturalization by filing a declaration in a court some years before asking for citizenship. In it he swore that he intended to become a citizen and to give up allegiance to his former ruler. A declaration alone did not make anyone a citizen.

Declarations made before September 27, 1906 were written on each court's own forms and often give little beyond name, country and date. The standard federal forms used from that date add birth date and place and the port and date of arrival, and those issued after July 1, 1929 also carry a photograph.