Home < General Information < Naturalization

IMPACT OF WEATHER CONDITIONS ON SCHEDULED NATURALIZATION CEREMONY

During the winter season, it is possible that weather conditions may require the delay or cancellation of a scheduled Naturalization Ceremony. In the event of a delay or cancellation, the court will provide notice of that decision on the court's homepage under the icon entitled "Weather Bulletin" as well as on the court's main telephone number (603 225-1423) by 6:30 am on the morning of the ceremony. If no inclement weather announcement is made by that time, persons attending that ceremony should arrive at the courthouse as instructed at 8:00 a.m.

CEREMONIES

Naturalization ceremonies are held at the Warren Rudman U.S. Courthouse located at 55 Pleasant Street, Concord, New Hampshire. These ceremonies are scheduled at the request of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Citizenship and Immigration Services ("CIS") approximately once a month during the months of January through July and September through December.

The U.S. District Court is responsible only for the court proceeding. Any inquiries about the naturalization process should be directed to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS).

LOCAL CIS OFFICE

The New Hampshire office, open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., is located at 803 Canal Street, Manchester, NH 03101. This office is considered a "walk-in-service" office, so you should visit them in person. The toll-free telephone number is 1-800-375-5283, but this is only an automated answering service for general information and form requests. You cannot be connected to anyone in the office unless you know an individual extension number.

APPLICATIONS

Applications for citizenship are available at the U.S. CIS Manchester office and here at the court or may be mailed upon request. Naturalization form #N400 and other related forms are also available online at http://www.uscis.gov. That site also gives tips and instructions on assembling the application.

When completed, applications should be mailed, with a certified bank check or money order (personal checks are not accepted) for $400 payable to Citizenship and Immigration Services, to the regional center serving New Hampshire: USCIS Vermont Service Center, Attention N-400 Unit, 75 Lower Welden Street, St. Albans, VT 05479-0001.

RECORDS AND GENEALOGY SEARCHES

See the CIS web page History, Genealogy and Education

The only documents that the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire keeps on file are the original lists of applicants, from 1999 to present, provided by the CIS on the date of the naturalization ceremony. This information is limited to the name of the applicant, any name changes effectuated on that date, alien identification numbers, and certificate numbers. No personal information is on file at the court.

Prior to September, 1906: The CIS Service was established on September 26, 1906, therefore, any records that exist on individuals who petitioned to become citizens prior to that date are stored at the National Archives Center located at 380 Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452-6399.

1906 to 1975: Both the U.S. District Court and the New Hampshire Superior Courts were authorized to handle naturalization during this period. Limited information about applicants may be available at either place.

After 1975 naturalization ceremonies were held only at the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire.

In all instances, all primary records are maintained by the CIS in their Boston office. However, if you know that New Hampshire was the place of naturalization, the Manchester, New Hampshire field office has a free service available. If you file a completed CIS form #G639 (available on line or at the CIS office) with them, they will forward it to the National Archives and Records Administration Center to obtain the information requested; if information is found, it will be sent directly to you. (Note: In some instances old records may be stored at the Missouri Center, but the National Archives Center will inform you if that is the case.) Once the place of naturalization has been established, all inquiries should be made to the US CIS, JFK Federal Building, Room 1700, Government Center, Boston, MA 02203-0701.

CIS naturalization files, known as C-Files, include a duplicate copy of all naturalization records dated after September 26, 1906. C-Files include all naturalizations from all states and territories and from all courts (federal, state, and local). CIS maintains an index to the C-Files and can retrieve individual records based on name, date of birth, and place of birth. C-Files from 1906 to 1956 have been microfilmed and are available via the Freedom of Information/Privacy Act. For searches of naturalization records under the Act, requests should be sent in writing to the appropriate CIS field office.

REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATES

If a certificate of Naturalization is lost or stolen, a replacement certificate may be obtained from the CIS office in Manchester by filing for a new certificate using form #N565 along with a filing fee of $220, payable to Citizenship and Immigration Services, in the form of a money order or certified bank check. No personal checks will be accepted.

PUBLIC ACCESS POLICY

For information about the policy, visit Public Access to Naturalization Records.

CIS WEB SITE

For all other questions regarding Citizenship and Immigration Services, go to http://www.uscis.gov. This site provides information regarding necessary forms, online and by mail, and answers to frequently asked questions regarding naturalization application, procedure, and genealogy searches.