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Our History

Agency History

• Organizational Timeline
• Overview of INS History
  • Early American
    Immigration Policies
  • Origins of the Federal
    Immigration Service
  • Origins of the Federal
    Naturalization Service
  • Mass Immigration
    and WWI
  • Era of Restriction
  • World War II
  • Post-War Years
  • Late Twentieth Century
  • Post-9/11

  INS History

Commissioners and Directors

• William Owen
• Herman Stump
• Terence V. Powderly
• Frank P. Sargent
• David J.Keefe
• Anthony J. Caminetti
• William W. Husband
• Harry E. Hull
• Richard K. Campbell
• Raymond E. Crist
• Daniel MacCormack
• James Houghteling
• Lemuel Schofield
• Earl G. Harrison
• Ugo Carusi
• Watson B. Miller
• Argyle Mackey
• Joseph M. Swing
• Raymond Farrel
• Leonard Chapman
• Leonel J. Castillo
• Alan C. Nelson
• Gene McNary
• Doris Meissner
• James W. Ziglar
• Eduardo Aguirre
• Emilio T. Gonzalez
• Alejandro Mayorkas

Historians Mailbox

Research Guidance

Topics and Events

• INS Case, Correspondence, Policy and Administrative Records Overview.

Individuals

Family History Research

Searching the Index

Requesting Records

• Overview of all five available historical records
  • Certificate Files, September 27, 1906 - March 31, 1956
    • C-Files Image Gallery
    • Certificate Series Table

    • Where do I find a C-File number?

  • Alien Registration Forms on Microfilm, 1940 - 1944
    • A-Files Image Gallery
  • Visa Files, July 1, 1924 - March 31, 1944
    • Visa Files Image Gallery
  • Registry Files, March 2, 1929 - March 31, 1944
    • Registry Files Image Gallery

  • A-Files Numbered Below 8 Million

Genealogy Notebook

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Frequently Asked Questions

• Genealogy
• Record Requests
• Request Status

Genealogy Request

• Order On-line
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• How to make a case status request?

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More Help and Resources

• Sample File Numbers
• Avoid Common Errors
• Does my Request Qualify?
• What about USCIS records not available through the Genealogy Program?