Rootsweb apparently never sent this message out to the list, so I am re-sending it > Bill Tarkulich > Here is my info on USA Alien Registration info most valuable to > genealogical researchers. > In 1940, the US Government, getting jittery about a war breaking out, > required all aliens to register. It contains a boatload of information. > Even if your immigrant never became a naturalized citizen, as long as > he/she resided in the US in 1940, he/she was required to complete this > document. The document contains when/where/how they immigrated, where > they immigrated from (*village name* , most important), date of birth > and port of departure in most cases. You may petition the INS for a > copy of this document. This is a treasure trove of information. > See http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/aboutins/history/ImmRecs/AREG.htm > . > Q: How do I go about ordering one? > A: Fill out this form: > http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/g-639.htm > It's a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Then determine where > to send it. Make sure you send documentation that attests how you are > related and proof of death (death certificate, obituary) if the death > occurred less than 100 years ago. This will speed things up immensely. > Read the info at > http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/aboutins/foia/index.htm > I started by sending it to the National Archives in D.C./Maryland. > Though no info was found there, they did know which office was correct > (my case, INS, Buffalo, NY) and forwarded it. It's been my experience > that you may have to petition multiple offices before you succeed, as > rules for immigration and naturalization archives changed quite a bit in > the early days. DO expect it to take several months, and DO NOT be > surprised if you are shuttled around from office to office. > The Alien Registration Act passed by Congress on 29th June, 1940, made > it illegal for anyone in the United States to advocate, abet, or teach > the desirability of overthrowing the government. The law also required > all alien residents in the United States over 14 years of age to file a > comprehensive statement of their personal and occupational status and a > record of their political beliefs. Within four months a total of > 4,741,971 aliens had been registered. The main objective of the act was > to undermine the American Communist Party and other left-wing political > groups in the United States. Source > http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk > Designed as a national defense measure, the Act required all aliens > (non-U.S. citizens) within the United States to register with the U.S. > Government. They registered at Post Offices, and their registration > forms were forwarded to the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) > for processing. After processing, a receipt card (Form AR-3) was mailed > to each registrant as proof of their compliance with the law. Source: > http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/aboutins/history/articles/Green.htm > Bill Tarkulich It's a Freedom of Information Act = > (FOIA) request. Then determine where to send it. Make sure you send = > documentation that attests how you are related and proof of death (death = > certificate, obituary) if the death occurred less than 100 years ago. = > This will speed things up immensely. Read the info at > http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/aboutins/foia/index.htm I started by sending it to the National = > Archives in D.C./Maryland. Though no info was found there, they did know = > which office was correct (my case, INS, Buffalo, NY) and forwarded = > it.   It's been my experience that you may have to petition = > multiple offices before you succeed, as rules for immigration and = > naturalization archives changed quite a bit in the early days. DO = > expect it to take several months, and DO NOT be surprised if you are = > shuttled around from office to office. > The Alien Registration Act passed by > Congress on 29th June, 1940, made it illegal for anyone in the United = > States to advocate, abet, or teach the desirability of overthrowing the = > government. The law also required all alien residents in the United = > States over 14 years of age to file a comprehensive statement of their = > personal and occupational status and a record of their political = > beliefs. Within four months a total of 4,741,971 aliens had been = > registered. The main objective of the act was to undermine the American = > Communist Party and other left-wing political groups in the United = > States. Source http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk > Designed as a national defense measure, > the Act required all aliens (non-U.S. citizens) within the United States = > to register with the U.S. Government. They registered at Post Offices, = > and their registration forms were forwarded to the Immigration and = > Naturalization Service (INS) for processing. After processing, a receipt = > card (Form AR-3) was mailed to each registrant as proof of their = > compliance with the law. http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/aboutins/history/articles/Green.htm