US immigration alien files to be made public

June 05 2009 by Gareth McConnell

Retired American visas archived online

US visa and immigration files are to be made available to the public online as early as next summer.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will work in conjunction with the National Archives and Records Administration to electronically index the 135,000 US immigration files for personal, historical and genealogy research.

The files contain information on hundreds of Jews and Chinese who fled their countries during World War II and even details of artist Salivdor Dali.

“Immigration is one of the most significant aspects of the American experience,” said Gregory B. Smith, Associate Director of USCIS.

The transfer of the alien registration files (A-files) will draw on comprehensive personal information concerning US immigration visa applications.

A-files are a series of records containing documents relating to the complete history of the interaction between an immigrant and US immigration officials.

“These A-files are a key to unlocking the fascinating stories of millions of people who traveled to the United States in search of opportunity,” said Adrienne Thomas, Acting Archivist at the National Archives.

“The National Archives is delighted that it will be able to safeguard the unique and important stories of brave men and women who left their homelands in search of a better life,” she added.

A-files can also contain photographs, foreign birth certificates, marriage licenses, interview transcripts or actual recordings. USCIS currently takes care of around 53 million A-files, with around 21 million at a Federal Records Centre and waiting to be elctronically archived.

See the latest Immigration News