If the claimant is an alien who arrived in the U.S. before 7/1/24, an arrival record or alien registration record may be obtained from INS.

Information from the arrival record can be obtained from the following Verification Centers of INS:

The age information on arrival records is taken from the “List of Manifest of Alien Passengers for the U.S. Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival” prepared by the ship's purser. (In the case of some arrivals from Canada and Mexico, documentary evidence of age was required from the alien). Age, not DB, is shown on this record.

Arrival records may show the marital status of an immigrant. However, they will show other information about a spouse or children only if they accompanied the immigrant.

Most of these records are arranged by soundex code. The reason that an arrival record has not been located in a significant number of cases is that the individual failed to furnish correct or sufficient information regarding his/ her arrival. It is getting more difficult to locate arrival records because many current claimant's were children at the time of arrival and they, of course, may not be as sure of the facts of their arrival as therr parents were.

To assure greater success in obtaining the arrival record:

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  Assist the claimant in completing Form G-639 in duplicate, and

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  Retain the duplicate copy in file as it may be useful if additional information is needed for a successful research.

To solicit accurate information regarding date of arrival

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  It may frequently be necessary to discuss various aspects of the claimant's life history, e.g.,

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    How old claimant believes he/she was at time of arrival

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    The relation between date of arrival and World War I, schooling, or other significant events

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  In some cases advise the claimant to discuss the matter thorougly with members of his/her family or other relatives or friends who may be able to supply required information regarding arrival.

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  In other cases it might be advisable for claimant to seek assistance of the local INS district office which has the alien registration file. The information furnished by the claimant in the 1940 alien registration (see H. below) regarding arrival may possibly be more accurate than current recollection.

The INS will contact additional searches for the arrival records at not additional fee if amended or additional arrival data is furnished. Thus, if the Verification Center was unable to locate the arrival record based upon the information initially furnished, and arrival record is still necessary, reinterview the claimant to determine whether more accurate information would possibly permit a successful research.

The extent and nature of the additional assistance possible depends to some extent on whether the initial request was made with the assistance of the DO, through an INS district office, or whether submitted directly by the claimant.

To request an additional search, do the following:

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  Specifically refer to the previous, unsuccessful search.

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  Include all the information required on the Form G-639.

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  Attach a special tag to permit INS to give first priority to such requests.

Age information from alien registration records made pursuant to the provisions of the Alien Registration Act of 1940 can be obtained from the INS local district office having jurisdiction over immigration matters at the alien's place of residence.

Additionally, when the Alien Registration Act went into effect, the emphasis was placed on registration of those aliens in the U.S. Thus, the age on the card issued to such an alien may have been based solely on his/her allegation.