US-ILLINOIS NAT RECORDS
This is the 3rd batch that had the OOA in 2 different images. They are duplicate documents. Is there any reason I should index it twice?
Answers
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Do not index a second, duplicate OOA. Like this batch, Image 2 could contain a DEC or a PET.
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Newbie here…could you tell me what a DEC and a PET are?
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A DEC is a DEClaration of Intention. This is the first step in the Naturalization project. The applicant is declaring his/her intent to become an US Citizen. The will have the earliest date in the Naturalization process and will have the earliest date.
A PET is a PETition for Naturalization. This is Part 1 of the second step in the Naturalization process. A DEC is usually filed a few years after the DEC and will have the "middle" date.
An OOA is an Oath Of Allegiance, which is Part 2 of the second step. This is when the applicant becomes a naturalized citizen. The OOA date is the final—most recent—date in the process.
The entire naturalization process took 3-7 years, on average from DEC to OOA, and the applicant had to live stateside for a period of time (I think it was 1-3 years) before starting the process and without leaving the country. The only exemptions were during, and right after, both WWI and, to a lesser extent, WWII. WWI was a boon for immigration, since the US Government pretty much told immigrants that were in the US "hey, come fight for us and we'll fast-track your citizenship." The military was in dire need of personnel at the time and a lot of immigrants took advantage of this. WWII wasn't that great for citizenship, both civilian and military, because the government had crazy quotas and restrictions, especially those who came from Germany, Japan, Italy or were an Eastern European Jew.1
