Alien Files Valuable Genealogy Records-Easy Access

A few weeks ago I was researching an immigrant who arrived in the United States from Mexico in 1916.  While searching for the name, the following record was suggested:

U.S., Index to Alien Case Files at the National Archives at Kansas City, 1944-2003

The record included Name, Birth Date, Arrival Date, Country of Origin, and Registration Number.

A-Files are an incredible source of information so I began the process of requesting this record.   Only A-Files with numbers less than 8 million can be requested by genealogists.   In order to request higher record numbers, a request has to be submitted via the USCIS Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Program.   If you are not able locate the A-File number, it can be researched and might be in an immigrant’s personal papers or on court naturalization records index card.  A-numbers above 8 million can be researched by submitting an Index Search Request on form G-1041.

To begin the process of requesting the record (if the A-File number is less than 8 million), go to National Archives Catalog Search and type in the name of the person you are searching.  You might have to try different spelling variations of the name to find the person you want.  When you find them, there will be information about the records they have and the location of the records.  The record I was researching gave me the email address to the Kansas facility and the following information:

I emailed them at: Afiles.KansasCity@nara.gov and included the name of the person I was researching and the numbers listed above.  The next day I received an email letting me know who the case was assigned to.  Within a week, I received an email indicating the record they had pulled with a few tidbits of information to make sure they had the correct person.  I was instructed to reply to the email if I wanted this record and was told to call the researcher to arrange payment of $40.00.  Approximately two days later, I received a link to 68 pages of detailed information.  All of the information was in PDF format and readily downloadable.  The entire process took less than ten days.