Declan, I don't know if this is what you are looking for but I had just saved this article a few days ago, "just in case" I ever needed it. Sandy Requesting U.S. Passport Applications Using Ancestry.com Boston Passenger Lists I discovered my great-grandfather returned to Ireland in 1932, at the age of sixty. On the passenger manifest, next to his name and address, was a United States passport number and its issue date. I was intrigued. Why did he go to Ireland at the height of the depression? How long was he there? I wrote to the U.S. Department of State's Office of Information Resources Management requesting a copy of his passport application under the Freedom of Information Act (5 USC 552). By doing this, I saved the $60 fee the Department of State normally charges for this service. The downside is I had to wait five months for the document. But it was worth it! I received a copy of his application today and it contains his birth date, place and country of birth; the location and date of his naturalization; his current address; the name of his father and his father's country of birth; the countries he planned to visit with the passport, the reason for his visit; how long he was traveling for, the port he was sailing from, the name of the ship, the date he was departing; his height, age, hair and eye color; his occupation; his signature; a signature and address for an identifying witness (his brother-in-law in this case); and best of all, a copy of his photograph! There is space on the application for names of a wife and children, with personal data, but these were left blank. So for those of you with U.S. naturalized immigrants in your ancestry, don't stop searching for a passenger manifest just for their first trip to the USA. Look for a possible trip home later in life. If you find a passport number and date of issue, you can submit a request for a copy under the Freedom of Information Act (5 USC 552). You will need to provide credible evidence to indicate the person is deceased, in order to overcome the Privacy Act restrictions. (I used photocopies of his Irish birth certificate and obituary.) You will also need to provide the following information: The passport applicant's name; passport number; year of birth; naturalization date; place of residence at the time of the application; approximate year of travel; and your name, mailing (postal) address, and telephone number. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Declan Barron" <newparkhouse.ennis@eircom.net> To: <irl-clare@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 2:52 PM Subject: [IRL-CLARE] Clareman who fled the US > Hi, > Thank you Alanna for flagging the US Imigration site at Ancestry, > I found my grandfather, James Barron, of Ennis, listed on three occasions. > 1. His arrival from Australia to San Francisco on board SS Tahiti on 17 June 1926. (With my grandmother and father). > 2. His arrival from Cobh to NY on board SS Laconia on 14 Oct 1929. > 3. His arrival from Cobh to NY on board SS Laconia on 4 Oct 1931. > > I was hoping to find his first visit to NY circa 1911 but had no luck. > On this occasion he fled the US under an assumed name in 1917 to avoid conscription ( the horror of fighting alongside the old enemy - the English). > > On his arrival in 1931 it mentions U.S.P.P. No.40123? (possibly 401239) - I assume this is his passport number. > It says it was issued in Washington 26 June 1931. > Can someone tell me if I can find more information from this passport number ? > I would be interested to see if this mentioned his earlier flight from conscription. > Also are there files on those wanted for evasion of conscription in WWI ? > Thank you, > Declan > P.S. He was probably very lucky files were not computerized, as now, when he arrived in San Fran in 1926 - he got in OK. > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to IRL-CLARE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >