I found the following naturalization index card for my grandfather on Familysearch.org:

http://www.jewishgen.org/viewmate/viewmateview.asp?key=VM83502

What do the different numbers mean? There is a number in the 7015983 in the upper right corner, then a petition number of 195616 in the lower left, then an alien registration number also in the lower left. There is also a date in which 'the certificate was issued' of 4/8/1952.

Which, if any, of these numbers can I use to request his naturalization papers from the Genealogy service in the US Citizen and Immigration Services in DHS? Will I still need to have this Genealogy service do an Index search first? I often read on this discussion board that a person has the 'C' number or certificate number; is that any of the numbers on this index card?

It also looks like my grandfather Philip Leapman originally filed under his Yiddish nickname and surname Paska Leibman, then requested this name change in 1952. I don't know when he made the original petition/declaration.

And finally - this naturalization took place in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Has anyone had any luck finding the actual naturalization declarations/petitions online, for this district? On Familysearch.org, they only go up to 1930.

Thanks for any input you may all have.

Michele Lock
Alexandria, Va

Searching for Lock/Lak/Lack from Zagare/Joniskis, Lithuania
Olitsky from Alytus, Suwalki, Lithuania
Leapman/Lipman/Leibman from Dotnuva, Lithuania
Lavine from Trenton, New Jersey, originally from Minsk Gubernia.

Michele,

7015983 is your grandfather's citizenship certificate number, which was issued 4/8/1952.  You can skip the initial index search and go straight to a request (for a fee) for his "C File" from USCIS (https://www.uscis.gov/history-and-genealogy/genealogy/requesting-records ) by asking for C-7015983.

195616 is his Petition for Naturalization and was filed in US District Ct @ Philadelphia prior to the issuance of his certificate, so early 1952 or late 1951.

Based on the date, I don't think that his naturalization papers are available from any source other than USCIS.

All non-citizens were required to register and were issued an A-Number starting in 1940 as part of the Alien Registration Program (https://www.uscis.gov/history-and-genealogy/genealogy/historical-record-series/a-files-numbered-below-8-million).  For many individuals, these became A-Files, which can also be requested (for a fee) through USCIS.

Regards,
David Oseas

In my opinion, the most important document is the Petition. It enumerates the vital information like date and place of birth, date of arrival, name and date of birth of spouse and children. 

I take it that if I ask for his C file from the Certificate number, then that would include his Petition, correct?

Correct, you can request the C-file from USCIS using the C-number.  That file will contain the duplicate petition for naturalization, as well as all other paperwork and forms related to the naturalization.  Because it was a 1952 naturalization the C-file should contain all records of that immigrant from before or after the naturalization.   

If you are considering ordering the C-file, know that USCIS is raising the fee in less than 60 days.

Marian Smith