The answer to this question is a bit complicated, but briefly, here it is. The alien individual had to first file a Declaration of Intention to become an American citizen. This document basically was a renunciation of the alien's allegiance to any foreign government of potentate. This declaration would, in most cases, preceed the petition to become a citizen by two years or more. However, five years of residency in the US was required, except for a very short time when the law was changed. There were many, many aliens who waited much longer than the five years as required by law, and there was also a good many aliens who filed Declaration of Intention documents, but never followed up with the petition to become a US citizen. The short answer to the question is five years, but becoming a US citizen was a fairly involved process in the 19th and early 20th centuries. -B ============================================================ At 09:23 PM 08/31/1999 -0700, you wrote: >Can anyone tell me how many years residency would have been required in >the 1850s in order to become a U.S. citizen? Many thanks. Ed