A-Files: The Permanent National Archives Immigration Case Records (est. 1944)

To the point

A-Files are permanent immigration records created since 1944 for people born in 1925 or earlier who have not yet naturalized, centralized mainly at the National Archives in Kansas City (with holdings in San Francisco) and searchable in the National Archives Catalog, with in-person viewing by appointment or paid copies available to order by mail, email, or fax; requests require the person’s full name, Alien Registration number, and National Archives Identifier and, if possible, birth and entry details.

Alien Files (A-Files)
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Alien Files (A-Files)

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) and the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) signed an agreement on June 3, 2009, to make the Alien Files (A-Files) a permanent series of records, eligible for transfer to NARA custody 100 years after the immigrants year of birth. Created by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) beginning in April 1944, A-Files contain all records of any active case of an alien not yet naturalized as they passed through the United States immigration and inspection process.