By Parviz Malakouti-Fitzgerald, Esq.
You can request a certified copy of a World War I draft card (i.e. “draft registration card”) record from the U.S. National Records Archive (“NARA”). This can be useful for certain European citizenship by descent applications because the card has certain information on it such as:
The applicant’s country of citizenship
The applicant’s race
The applicant’s date of birth
The applicant’s nearest relative (oftentimes the wife)
Proving the things above can sometimes be critical and difficult for a successful citizenship by descent application.
To request the record, the first step is to go to The National Records Archive website. Create an account and sign in.
→ Then click “Order Reproductions.”
→ Then click “World War I Draft Registration Cards.”
→ Then Click “World War I Draft Registration Card” again
→ Then, from the Select a Delivery Format drop down menu, a) click “Certified or Paper Copy (Additional $15), then b) “Add to cart”
→ Fill out the personal identifying information of the Draft Registration then click “Continue to Pay & Ship”
→ Enter your Billing & Shipping Information then click “Continue to Pay.”
Once you’ve placed your order, you’ll get a confirmation email from OrderOnlinePM@nara.gov with your 1) order number, 2) order total, 3) submission date and 4) delivery method.
Below is a picture of a certified copy of a World War I draft registration card with a big beautiful red ribbon on the front. Good luck!
Red authentication ribbon from NARA on top of the WWI draft registration card
Redacted copy of the official NARA WWI draft registration card
Each immigration and citizenship case is particular and you should consult with a qualified immigration and citizenship lawyer about your case before taking any steps. The Law Office of Parviz Malakouti does not guarantee the accuracy of information presented nor assume responsibility for actions taken in reliance of this information. The information in this page could become outdated. Attorney marketing.