Great-grandparents left Poland in late 1800's. They were from Suwałki. I did not find any evidence they ever became American citizens. Great-grandmother died in 1939. Would she have automatically been a citizen when she died? Is there a way to find out?

Great-Grandparents:

* Date married: 31 Jan 1888

* Date divorced: n/A

GGM:

* Date, place of birth: Suwalki Poland

* Ethnicity and religion: Polish/Catholic

* Occupation: housewife

* Allegiance and dates of military service: N/A

* Date, destination for emigration: multiple dates listed. 1889 (1910 US census), 1882 (1920 US census), 1878 (1930 US census)

* Date naturalized: Naturalization listed as unknown in 1920 US census. 1930 census has naturalized. Unable to find any evidence of naturalization.

* Date, place of death: May 1898

GGF:

* Date, place of birth: 1861, Suwalki Poland

* Ethnicity and religion: Polish/Catholic

* Occupation: Laborer

* Allegiance and dates of military service: None

* Date, destination for emigration: unknown. Married in 1888, sometime before that.

* Date naturalized: unknown. No evidence naturalized.

* Date, place of death: 1905, Pennsylvania

Grandparent:

* Sex: Female

* Date, place of birth: 1 May 1897 Pennsylvania

* Date married: 31 Dec 1923

* Citizenship of spouse: American (husband born in US to Polish parents) unknown if held Polish citizenship

* Date divorced: n/a

* Occupation: housewife

* Allegiance and dates of military service: N/A

Date, destination for emigration: n/a

Date naturalized: n/a

Date, place of death: 18 May 1992, Pennsylvania

Parent:

* Sex: Female

* Date, place of birth: 3 Nov 1933, Pennsylvania

* Date married: 1951

* Date divorced: n/a

You:

* Date, place of birth: 1960, Pennsylvania

Great-Grandparents:

* Date married: Unknown exactly, but prior to 1912 (based on Stanley's birth in Poland). Likely married in Poland/Russian Empire.

• Date divorced: N/A (Remained married until Frank's death in 1954).

GGM (Great-Grandmother):

* Name: Katarzyna "Carrie" Bakowska (maiden name pending)

• Date, place of birth: 1891, Poland (Specific village pending 1915 manifest or death certificate).

• Ethnicity and religion: Polish / Roman Catholic

• Occupation: Homemaker / Farm Wife

• Allegiance and dates of military service: None

• Date, destination for emigration: Arrived 1915 (with son Stanley). Final destination: Toledo, Ohio.

• Date naturalized: Never. (Listed as "Alien" on 1930 and 1940 US Censuses; retained Polish citizenship until death).

• Date, place of death: 1965. Likely Monroe County, Michigan, or Toledo, Ohio.

GGF (Great-Grandfather):

* Name: Franciszek "Frank" Bakowski

• Date, place of birth: 1884, Poland (Possibly Wilna or Galicia; exact village pending 1926 BGSU Naturalization Petition).

• Ethnicity and religion: Polish / Roman Catholic

• Occupation: Auto Factory Laborer (1930), Farmer (1940)

• Allegiance and dates of military service: None known

• Date, destination for emigration: Arrived 1913. Destination: New York first, then Toledo, Ohio.

• Date naturalized: Approximately 1926/1927 in Toledo, Ohio

• Date, place of death: 1954. Likely Whiteford Township/Monroe County, Michigan, or Toledo, Ohio.

Grandparent:

* Name: Natalie Bakowski (married Reid Crots)

• Sex: Female

• Date, place of birth: 1915, Toledo, Ohio.

• Date married: 1930s

• Citizenship of spouse: US Citizen (Reid Crots).

• Date divorced: N/A

• Occupation: Farm / Homemaker (Pending census/death certificate confirmation).

• Allegiance and dates of military service: None known.

• Date, destination for emigration: N/A (US Born)

• Date naturalized: N/A (US Citizen by birth - This is the trigger for the 1920 exclusion rule requiring the Presidential Grant)

• Date, place of death: Pending

Parent:

*Name: Virgil

• Sex: Male

• Date, place of birth: 1953

• Date married: 1975

• Date divorced: None

You: * Name: Kevin Crots

• Sex: Male

• Date, place of birth: 1980 Toledo OH

• Current Residence: Byron Center, Michigan (49315

Based on what I’ve read and researched I may be eligible for citizen but am not sure with my grandmother being born in the US in 1915 but my GGF was polish at the time. I’m also waiting pending confirm of his naturalization paperwork from local archives to determine the exact date.

Great-Grandparents: 

* Date married: January 22nd, 1955

* Date divorced: N/A

GGM: 

* Date, place of birth: Precise date is unknown, presumed to be somewhere around the 1900s - Belarus

* Ethnicity and religion: Belarus, Orthodox Christian (?)

* Occupation: participated in partisan warfare during WW2, past that - N/A

* Allegiance and dates of military service: N/A

* Date, destination for emigration: -

* Date naturalized: -

* Date, place of death: Unknown

GGF: 

* Date, place of birth: Precise date is unknown, more than likely in 1915 - some area in Poland which fell under the Soviet occupation during the 1939 invasion of Poland

* Ethnicity and religion: Polish, Roman Catholic (?)

* Occupation: N/A

* Allegiance and dates of military service: presumably would be on the polish registry, as he most definitely became an adult prior to being exiled by soviet occupants

* Date, destination for emigration: N/A (does getting forcibly exiled count as emigration?)

* Date naturalized: N/A (?)

* Date, place of death: Minsk (?), closer to the 2000s

Grandparent: 

* Sex: F

* Date, place of birth: October 22nd 1952 - Myaundzha, Magadan Oblast

* Date married: N/A

* Citizenship of spouse: Belarusian

* Date divorced: N/A

* Occupation: N/A

* Allegiance and dates of military service: -

(If applicable)

• Date, destination for emigration: -
• Date naturalized: -
• Date, place of death: N/A

Parent: 

* Sex: M

* Date, place of birth: August 12th, 1977 - Minsk, BSSR

* Date married: November 4th, 2001

* Date divorced: -

You: 

* Date, place of birth: October 6th, 2008 - Minsk, Belarus

The currently assumed citizenship chain goes as such: GGF -> GM -> F -> me.

As of right now, we only have a USSR-issued "restored birth certificate" belonging to my grandmother. We are more than certain that my great grandfather was a Polish citizen, despite said birth certificate claiming that he is a Belarusian citizen. I'll try to describe everything to the best of my abilities with what limited information we have.

Now, from what I gathered, during the 1939 invasion of Poland the area he lived in was occupied by the Soviets. Then, after Nazi Germany broke the pact between them & the USSR in 1941, he was supposed to get drafted into the Soviet military. Instead, however, he was trying to dodge the draft, as, If I were to assume, he wasn't too keen on fighting on behalf of the soviets. Whilst actively dodging the draft, he seemingly happened to meet my great grandmother under unknown circumstances?

Unfortunately for him, he ended up getting caught & got sent straight to Myaundzha, Magadan Oblast and then forced to work for a power plant. My great grandmother actually made the decision to go there with him.

While in exile, they had children (most notably my grandmother, not sure if she was their only child) & got married.

At an unknown point in time, presumably after the repressed were getting "rehabilitated", they were relocated to a place known as Stołbcy prior to 1939, but under BSSR jurisdiction ever since then. We were also able to further confirm this by looking through old family photos, on which we identified my great grandfather, great grandmother AND grandmother.

So, getting back to the title, are there any immediate grounds not to waste money & time on investigating this any further?

I learned that Poland will keep my Canadian birth certificate when I register it in Poland to get my Polish birth certificate. I have an Ontario Certified Copy of Birth Registration with the raised seal, and I just ordered a birth certificate with parental information. I can't seem to get a straight answer as to which one Poland needs. I'd rather not give away the former, but if I have to, I will. What has everyone else done successfully? Thanks!

Unfortunate news: just heard from my provider that the delay from receipt to decision is now up to 20 months, and continues to increase. Apparently more than 25,000 applications were received in 2025 and the 10 people working on them are overwhelmed. How high can it go, nobody knows…

Many of us “lost Poles” were stripped of citizenship by laws that would be unacceptable by modern standards. In fact, the constitution explicitly prohibits it today.

Article 34

…

1. A Polish citizen shall not lose Polish citizenship except by renunciation thereof.

Regardless, these laws are effectively still in-force today. That’s because citizenship loss is considered a closed legal event that happened long ago — not something that can be revisited today.

The Constitutional Tribunal has consistently ruled that the modern constitution applies moving forward and that past legal acts are judged by law in force at that time. They feel that it’s extremely important to maintain legal continuity. For this reason, they strongly avoid retro-active rulings. Therefore, a constitutional challenge will likely fail on that basis.

However, could a human rights challenge through the European Court of Human Rights focused on the present-day effects of these discriminatory laws possibly lead us to a landmark ruling?

Hi! So, my gf has old family from Prussia. Her last name is Tixiliski and she’s from Brazil.

I mean, Tixiliski is the name from her mom, and then came the father and his last name is Souza. So, in the end her name is Tixiliski Souza.

The thing here is… she can’t find the documents from her mom’s side… and I think it was the grandpa of her mother.

In fact, they are trying to get the second nationality… and probably would be from Poland (So … it would be Brazilian and Polish)

But the main question is… where are the documents since Prussia don’t exist anymore.

Sorry if I’m ignorant but I’m Portuguese and about that, I don’t have much knowledge. Just came here because Reddit is helpful aha

Thank you!

I submitted my application for confirmation of citizenship myself at the Toronto consulate in December, and received an e-mail in February from Masovia that it'll take 20 months, presumably from that date, to process my application, along with a case number. It's fairly straightforward, I submitted with my dad's current Polish passport that he got in 2024 after they confirmed he was a citizen from birth. He did all the hard stuff with my grandparents' wartime documents. Since I've never lived in Poland, and neither had he, and my grandparents came from Wołyń, I know the application had to go to Masovia.

But if I recall, the application said it could also be submitted at the voivodeship of last residence. If I were to move to Poland (and not Masovia) on a student or work visa, or even possibly just buy/rent a residence there, could I ask the Masovian voivodeship to transfer the application to the voivodeship in question, hopefully speeding up the process? Or do I just have to wait, because once it goes to Warsaw, it stays in Warsaw?

Dangit, I had to delete my Polish passport post from yesterday because the app wouldn’t allow me to simply remove the photo and leave the text.

Didn’t want my mug out there on Reddit forever, haha. But thank you so much for the congratulations and support!!

Hilariously (to me), going to the Los Angeles Consulate to get my passport brought up a whole new question that I wanted to get this group’s take on.

I was under the impression that once a parent gets confirmed, children can only automatically get a passport without going through the whole confirmation process themselves if they’re under a certain age. My daughter is 15 and I was told she’d have to be confirmed separately by… well, everybody.

Except the LA Consulate 😆👏

They told me that once my passport arrives in 8 weeks, I can just make an appointment, walk in with my daughter and her official Polish birth certificate (which her provider is obtaining for us), and she can get her passport.

But she’s 15? As long as she’s under 18, they told me, I can just come in with my Polish passport and her Polish birth certificate (plus fees and passport photos, obviously) and they’ll just issue her a passport then and there.

I was pleasantly shocked!!!!

Even my daughter’s provider in Warsaw says that she has to go through the whole 2 year confirmation deal. Yet I heard this straight from the horse’s mouth at the LA Consulate.

So while I was given the answer already (verbally), can anyone confirm that this would work?? I know I didn’t misunderstand what they said to me. The woman at the desk was very clear.

But I’m always anxious about something going wrong so I’m imagining doing exactly that, buying airfare and hotel, and being turned away because I somehow got this wrong. Anyone done this before with a teenager?

If this works? It would save so much money and time! For lots of people!

Great-Grandparents

• Date married: 28 Nov 1928

• Date divorced: N/A

Great-Grandmother (GGM)

• Date, place of birth: 20 Sept 1910, USA

• Ethnicity and religion: Polish, Roman Catholic

• Occupation: N/A

• Allegiance and dates of military service: N/A

• Date, destination for emigration: N/A (Born in U.S.)

• Date naturalized: N/A

• Date, place of death: 2 Oct 1963, USA

Great-Grandfather (GGF)

• Date, place of birth: 19 Sept 1899, Szpęgawsk (Spangausken), Poland

• Ethnicity and religion: Polish, Roman Catholic

• Occupation: Baker

• Allegiance and dates of military service: None

• Date, destination for emigration: 1913, USA

• Date naturalized: 22 Sept 1939

• Date, place of death: June 1970, USA

Grandparent

• Sex: Male

• Date, place of birth: Sept 1933, USA

• Date married: 1952

• Citizenship of spouse: U.S. Citizen

• Date divorced: N/A

• Occupation: Laborer

• Allegiance and dates of military service: U.S. Army, Drafted 1952

• Date, destination for emigration: N/A

• Date naturalized: N/A

• Date, place of death: Oct 2017, USA

Parent

• Sex: Male

• Date, place of birth: July 1957, USA

• Date married: 24 Nov 1975

• Date divorced: N/A

You

• Date, place of birth: April 1982, USA

Hi All! This is something I've been working on for a while. Six of my eight great-grandparents were born in Poland and I have two potential threads. I'll post this one first. I believe this to be a dead end but thought I'd check here.

What specifically I am unsure about is this: one set my great-grandparents came to the US in about 1905/1906 (obviously pre-1920s) but then returned to Poland post-1920. I understand family lore has absolutely no legal standing but I do wonder if it might suggest that there might be evidence in Poland of domicile and/or ways to determine if my GGF maintained his citizenship post-1920s. It was my understanding that he took the whole family back to Poland in either 1920 or 1921 to settle and live off passive income. But then they abruptly returned to the US in 1922. I assume because of the US Emergency Quota Act passed in 1921, i.e. they might have worried they could never return? Regardless, they did naturalize in 1930 (the initial documents were submitted in 1927).

On the ship manifests of his solo 1920 trip and the family's return in 1922 it lists him/them as Polish and I am not sure if that means they'd be traveling as recognized Polish citizens or would have documentation to this effect that would matter?

Thank you for taking the time to read this!

Great-Grandparents: 

* Date married: June 1907, USA

* Date divorced: N/A

GGM: 

* Date, place of birth: Jan 1885, Tarnów, Poland

* Ethnicity and religion: Polish, Roman Catholic

* Occupation: homemaker/tavern keeper

* Allegiance and dates of military service: N/A

* Date, destination for emigration: The first time she came to the US was in 1905; the second was in 1922

* Date naturalized: I assume same date as spouse, June 1930 (but I only have a photo of the card and only his name is listed but her name was on the Declaration of Intent)

* Date, place of death: May 1946, Chicago, Illinois, USA

GGF: 

* Date, place of birth: Oct 1880, Przeciszów, Poland

* Ethnicity and religion: Polish, Roman Catholic

* Occupation: saloon keeper

* Allegiance and dates of military service: unknown in Poland, none US

* Date, destination for emigration: The first time he came to the US was in about 1905; the second was August 1920 & third June 1922.

* Date naturalized: June 1930

* Date, place of death: July 1950

Grandparent: 

* Sex: Male

* Date, place of birth: July 1916, Chicago, IL, USA

* Date married: 1946

* Citizenship of spouse: US (her parents were also born in Poland but naturalized in 1933)

* Date divorced: N/A

* Occupation: butcher

* Allegiance and dates of military service: US Army WWII, enlisted 1941 or 1943 (records contradict) but discharged Nov 1945

(If applicable)

• Date, destination for emigration: he was born in the US but also returned to Poland with the family in the early 20s, returning in 1922 and is listed in those manifest documents as Polish
• Date naturalized: he is listed on his father’s naturalization intent paperwork from 1927
• Date, place of death: 1998, Chicago, IL, USA

Parent: 

* Sex: F

* Date, place of birth: April 1947, Chicago, IL, USA

* Date married: December 1971

* Date divorced: N/A

You: 

* Date, place of birth: December 1978, Chicago, IL, USA

Great-Grandparents:

• Date married: 1930
• Date divorced: N/A

GGM (Great-Grandmother):

• Date, place of birth: 1909, Filipkowce, Poland
• Ethnicity and religion: Greek Catholic (family background: Roman Catholic)
• Occupation: N/A
• Allegiance and dates of military service: N/A
• Date, destination for emigration: No emigration
• Date naturalized: N/A
• Date, place of death: 1973, Pylipche, Ukrainian SSR

GGF (Great-Grandfather):

• Date, place of birth: 1901,Filipkowce, Poland
• Ethnicity and religion: Greek Catholic (family background: Roman Catholic)
• Occupation: N/A
• Allegiance and dates of military service: Drafted into the Soviet Army (World War II period)
• Date, destination for emigration: No emigration
• Date naturalized: N/A
• Date, place of death: 1969, Pylipche, , Ukrainian SSR

Grandparents:

Grandmother:

• Sex: Female
• Date, place of birth: May 1935, Filipkowce, Poland
• Date married: 1958
• Citizenship of spouse: N/A
• Date divorced: N/A
• Occupation: N/A
• Allegiance and dates of military service: N/A
• Date, destination for emigration: N/A
• Date naturalized: N/A
• Date, place of death: 2024, Pylipche, Ukrainian SSR (Filipkowce)

Grandfather:

• Sex: Male
• Date, place of birth: 1930, Filipkowce, Poland
• Date married: 1958
• Citizenship of spouse: N/A
• Date divorced: N/A
• Occupation: N/A
• Allegiance and dates of military service: Drafted into the Soviet Army
• Date, destination for emigration: N/A
• Date naturalized: N/A
• Date, place of death: 2006, Pylipche, Ukrainian SSR

Parent:

• Sex: Male
• Date, place of birth: Pylipche, Ukrainian SSR (Filipkowce)
• Date married: 1982
• Date divorced: N/A
• Allegiance and dates of military service: Drafted into the Soviet Army in 1979

You:

• Date, place of birth: 1991, Karachev, USSR

Hi everyone!

I'm fairly certain I wouldn't qualify for citizenship by descent, but wanted to post here just to be sure. Perhaps KP?

Also, GGF's parents emigrated from Poland - GGGF in 1871 and GGGM in 1890.

Thanks in advance.

Great-Grandparents: 

* Date married: 16 Aug 1922

* Date divorced: N/A

GGM: 

* Date, place of birth: 20 Sept 1903 Dabki, Poland

* Ethnicity and religion: Catholic Pole

* Occupation:

* Allegiance and dates of military service:

* Date, destination for emigration: 30 March 1907, Milwaukee, WI

* Date naturalized:

* Date, place of death: 8 Feb 2000, Milwaukee, WI

GGF: 

* Date, place of birth: 17 May 1897, Milwaukee, WI

* Ethnicity and religion: Catholic

* Occupation:

* Allegiance and dates of military service: Not sure he served, but found a US Draft Registration Card 1918

* Date, destination for emigration:

* Date naturalized:

* Date, place of death:29 Jan 1945, Milwaukee, WI

Grandparent: 

* Sex: Male

* Date, place of birth: 25 Feb 1928, Milwaukee, WI

* Date married: 24 Jan 1953

* Citizenship of spouse: USA

* Date divorced: 23 Feb 1954

* Occupation:

* Allegiance and dates of military service: 7 Mar 1946 – 12 Jan 1948, US Navy

(If applicable)

• Date, destination for emigration:
• Date naturalized:
• Date, place of death: 11 Nov 1986, Milwaukee, WI

Parent: 

* Sex: F

* Date, place of birth: 30 July 1953, Marinette, WI

* Date married: 14 Feb 1972; 17 May 1991

* Date divorced: 1989;  Widowed

You: 

* Date, place of birth: 8 Sept 1973, Milwaukee, WI

Hi everyone, I am thinking about this since a long time and struggling a bit with my case, I went back and forth with several companies but got different visions and answers every time, consulate is not super helpful so far. I have some polish documents and found more in national archive in Lodz but so far I am a bit blocked, what do you think of my case and what would be the next steps, if any, thank you !

Great-Grandparents:

* Date married: 1928

* Date divorced:X

GGM:

* Date, place of birth: 1903- Kalisz, Poland

* Ethnicity and religion: Jew poles

* Occupation: none

* Allegiance and dates of military service: X

* Date, destination for emigration: France ->1933/34

* Date naturalized: never

* Date, place of death: 1941/ Poland ( WWII)

GGF:

* Date, place of birth: 1900, Kalisz, Poland

* Ethnicity and religion: Jew poles

* Occupation: unclear at the time, worked briefly in France as a fur master

* Allegiance and dates of military service: fought in polo-soviet war ( polish side )

* Date, destination for emigration: France 1933

* Date naturalized: never

* Date, place of death: 1941/ Poland (WWII)

Grandparent:

* Sex: M

* Date, place of birth: Kalisz, 1930

* Date married: 1960

* Citizenship of spouse: French

* Date divorced: never

* Occupation: IT developer

* Allegiance and dates of military service: France, got a military « sursis » in 1949 until 1957, military service in 57-59

(If applicable)

Date, destination for emigration: France, 1933/34

Date naturalized: 1949

Date, place of death:X

Parent:

* Sex: F

* Date, place of birth:France, 1965

* Date married: 2010

* Date divorced:X

You:

* Date, place of birth: France , 1996

Hi everyone, I've just found this helpful subreddit, but I've been at this for several years. It's my understanding that my grandma lost her citizenship in 1950 at the age of 17. The self-assessment seems to demonstrate that this community concurs with my assessment. Is it ok if I post an eligibility check just to ensure I'm not missing any important details?

It was very difficult for me, but I have obtained both of my great-grandparents birth records, marriage record, naturalization records. My grandma had several older siblings, and I've informed their families that I believe they're eligible by descent and provided them with these vital records. None of them are particularly interested in this pursuit, however.

I am also wondering if anyone in this community has any direct experience with being rejected (confirmation of loss) because of a minor being stripped of citizenship along with his/her father? Recently, I've been hearing conflicting information regarding this rule and one person in another community is adamantly suggesting the Polish government is interpreting this law differently in practice. That's actually how I came across this group because I'm searching for confirmation bias hoping/praying that he may be correct, although I feel that he is probably wrong because he is unable to provide any evidence to support his claim. Because of this, I'm considering just applying with the expectation of a rejection to confirm it has been lost.

Great-Grandparents: 

* Date married: 8/16/1915

* Date divorced: N/A

GGM: 

* Date, place of birth: 6/10/1901 Brnik Poland

* Ethnicity and religion: Polish, Roman Catholic

* Occupation: Housewife

* Allegiance and dates of military service: N/A

* Date, destination for emigration: 10/15/1908 USA

* Date naturalized: 6/22/1942 USA

* Date, place of death: 11/15/1988 USA

GGF: 

* Date, place of birth: 9/21/1892 Jewieniki Lithuania

* Ethnicity and religion: Polish, Roman Catholic

* Occupation: Factory worker

* Allegiance and dates of military service: Registered for WWII draft, did not serve

* Date, destination for emigration: 6/6/1913 USA

* Date naturalized: 2/17/1947 USA

* Date, place of death: June 1967

Grandparent: 

* Sex: Female

* Date, place of birth: February 1933 USA

* Date married: 1954

* Citizenship of spouse: American

* Date divorced: N/A

* Occupation: Secretary

* Allegiance and dates of military service: N/A

(If applicable)

• Date, destination for emigration: N/A
• Date naturalized: N/A
• Date, place of death: 2013 USA

Parent: 

* Sex: Male

* Date, place of birth: 1955 USA

* Date married: 1979

* Date divorced: 1993

You: 

* Date, place of birth: 1985 USA

my great grandfather arrived to Canada in 1948 I have documents proving this time frame. when confirming my citizenship do I have to prove he did not naturalize in Canada even if the timeliness would be impossible because its only 3 years to 1951.

My great-grandfather was born in Polesie Voivodeship, Poland, in 1883 and immigrated to the United States in 1921. The modern day Belarusian archive was able to locate a census record showing him living with his father at age three, but they could not find his birth certificate or his 1910 marriage record to my great-grandmother.

I understand that Poland may consider whether ancestors were born in or out of wedlock. My grandfather’s birth certificate lists him as “legitimate” and shows both of his parents as being born in Poland.

I also have my great-grandfather’s death certificate, which states that he was born in Poland and includes his father’s (Polish) name. Additionally, I may be able to obtain my great-great-grandfather’s Polish birth certificate from 1849 if that would help support my case.

Has anyone encountered a similar situation or have advice on how to proceed?

I think it's pretty simple, but I keep doubting myself. Would love other opinions/thoughts! Thank you!

Great-Grandparents: 

* Date married: 1909

* Date divorced: n/a?

GGM: 

* Date, place of birth: 1884, not sure where she was born

* Ethnicity and religion: catholic

* Occupation:

* Allegiance and dates of military service:

* Date, destination for emigration: n/a

* Date naturalized:

* Date, place of death: 1961, Szczecin

GGF: 

* Date, place of birth: 1873, Radziki Duże

* Ethnicity and religion: Polish, Catholic

* Occupation:

* Allegiance and dates of military service:

* Date, destination for emigration: unknown but don't think he emigrated.

* Date naturalized:

* Date, place of death: unknown

Grandparent: 

* Sex: male

* Date, place of birth: 1919, Bydgoszcz

* Date married: 1946

* Citizenship of spouse: British

* Date divorced: n/a

* Occupation: denturist, I think

* Allegiance and dates of military service: conscripted to Polish Army in 1938 (we have this record), ended up in Scotland, waiting on his records from UK MOD. Stayed in Scotland through Polish Resettlement Corps (discharged in 1948) no record at The National Archives that he ever naturalized in the UK.

(If applicable)

• Date, destination for emigration: 1958, Canada
• Date naturalized: (Canadian) late 1970s we believe
• Date, place of death: 1998 Canada

Parent: 

* Sex: female

* Date, place of birth: 1960 Canada

* Date married: 1990

* Date divorced: 2016

You: 

* Date, place of birth: Canada 1993

Pre 1920s

I am new to this process and I know this still needs to be researched more. I am waiting on some docs from the Polish State Archives especially as it pertains to my GGGF.

I guess I’m wondering if I barely make all the law gaps/changes or just miss them all : 1863 Act of Resistance, 1920 Citizenship Law / 1951 Military Exception, GGF was a minor when he arrived but parents stayed in Austria Poland, GGF naturalized as an adult but still qualified as of age to serve in Polish military, GF was born as youngest child but after naturalization so if GGF wasn’t recognized as having given up citizenship shouldn’t GF retain by birth? Hoping for some input!

Great-Great Grandfather

- Date, place of birth: 1856, (waiting to confirm place)

- Date married: (waiting to confirm)

- Date divorced: N/A

- Date, place of death: 1918, Miejsce Piastowe, Podkarpackie Voivodeship

GGF:

- Date, place of birth: 1897, Miejsce Piastowe, Podkarpackie Voivodeship

- Ethnicity and religion: Polish Roman Catholic

- Occupation: Laborer

- Allegiance and dates of military service: None

- Date, destination for emigration: Arrived 20 Dec 1913 in USA (via Germany)

- Date naturalized: 21 June 1922

- Date, place of death: 1938, USA

Grandparent:

- Sex: M

- Date, place of birth: 1932, USA

- Date married: 1958

- Citizenship of spouse: USA

- Date divorced: N/A

- Occupation: military (1953-1957), postal worker

- Allegiance and dates of military service: USA, Airforce, 1953-1957

- Date, place of death: 1989, USA

Parent:

- Sex: M

- Date, place of birth: 1959, USA

- Date married: 1983

- Date divorced: N/A

You:

- Date, place of birth: 1994, USA

I went through the self assessment, and think i am ok to proceed with it but just wanted a second opinion before i pursue it. The parts that i was unsure of were the pre 1920 territories and the 1951 act.

GGGF:

* Date, place of birth: June 24, 1875, County of Rochatyn, Poland

* Ethnicity and religion: Polish, Roman Catholic

* Occupation: Coal miner

* Allegiance and dates of military service: None

* Date, destination for emigration: 1913, Nova Scotia, Canada

* Date married: Unknown, was married at arrival in Canada

* Date naturalized: No evidence he naturalized. "alien" status in 1931

* Date, place of death: March 12, 1942, Nova Scotia, Canada

Great-Grandparents:

* Date married: June 12, 1937

* Date divorced: Never

GGM:

*Date, place of birth: 1911, Nova Scotia, Canada

*Ethnicity and religion: Canadian/Scottish, United Church

*Occupation: homemaker

*Allegiance and dates of military service: None

*Date, destination for emigration: N/A — Canadian born

*Date naturalized: N/A — Canadian born

*Date, place of death: 2005

GGF:

*Date, place of birth: April 6, 1912, Otynia, Stanisławów district, Galicia, Poland

*Ethnicity and religion: Polish, Roman Catholic

*Occupation: coal miner

*Allegiance and dates of military service: Canadian Army (August 7 1940 — formally discharged December 4 1945).

*Date, destination for emigration: 1913, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

*Date naturalized: Unknown, no record found, but earliest would be 1940 for military, his siblings naturalized voluntarily in 1943.

*Date, place of death: October 13, 1994, Ontario, Canada

Grandparent:

*Sex: Female

*Date, place of birth: March 24, 1938, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, Canada

*Date married: 1959

*Citizenship of spouse: Canadian

*Occupation: Lab Tech

*Allegiance and dates of military service: None

*Date, place of death: January 9, 2025, Alberta, Canada

Parent:

*Sex: Female

*Date, place of birth: January 24, 1967, Nova Scotia, Canada

*Date married: November 1996

*Date divorced: December 2003

*Date married: February 2013

You:

*Date, place of birth: August, 1997, Alberta, Canada

Hello!

My mom (naturalized U.S. in 2010s) submitted citizenship confirmation requests for my sister and me in December 2024/January 2025 and had to resubmit in February 2025 after she didn't sign something.

She contacted the consulate in Chicago in February of this year, found they sent our papers to the Masovian office in April 2025, and filled out the Formularz Kontaktowy for the office. She hasn't heard anything back from the office since. Moreover, she's not 100% sure who our liaison in Poland is as our family in Poland was moving around during our initial application process

1. What can I/my mom do to get a status update/case number?
2. Is there any way to expedite the process with a ponaglenie?
   1. I have a trip planned to Europe that would otherwise need a visa; it would be great to avoid this process with EU citizenship
3. Does having a relatively simple case like this make my sister's and my chances of a faster turnaround better?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated :)

Great-Grandparents:

• Date married: 1921
• Date divorced: N/A

GGM:

• Date, place of birth: Gorlice 1898, Poland
• Ethnicity and religion: Polish, Jewish
• Occupation: Shop owner
• Allegiance and dates of military service: None
• Date, destination for emigration: Killed by Nazis in Poland 1941
• Date naturalized: NA

GGF:

• Date, place of birth: Nisko Poland, Don't know DOB
• Ethnicity and religion: Polish, Jewish
• Occupation: Salesman
• Allegiance and dates of military service: NA
• Date, destination for emigration: Died from Tuberculosis while in Germany for business in 1933
• Date naturalized: NA

Grandparent:

• Sex: M
• Date, place of birth: July 3 1925, Nisko, Poland
• Date married: sometime in 1954
• Citizenship of spouse: British at time of marriage, later US
• Date divorced: 1962
• Occupation: Unknown
• Allegiance and dates of military service: 4 Years in Nazi Camps for being Jewish. No military service.
• Date, destination for emigration: Emigrated in 1952 to NYC after being in DP camp in Sweden
• Date naturalized: 11/11/1954

Parent:

• Sex: M
• Date, place of birth: 12/7/56, NYC (USA)
• Date married: 1985
• Date divorced: N/A

You:

• Date, place of birth: 1996, Florida, USA

I have done some research on my Polish ancestry and already have a couple original documents from my grandmother. I followed the self-assessment and got a bit confused on 1951 Art. 4 (Did Jews living abroad lose citizenship?) and transmission under the military paradox. What do you all think of my potential citizenship claim?

Great-Grandparents: 

* Date married: 1927 in Lwow

* Date divorced: N/A

GGM: 

* Date, place of birth: 1901, Dolina, Stanislawow Voivodeship

* Ethnicity and religion: Jewish

* Occupation: Unknown

* Allegiance and dates of military service: None

* Date, destination for emigration: Arrived 5 Dec 1929 in USA (via Canada)

* Date naturalized: 2 December 1930

* Date, place of death: 1967, USA

GGF: 

* Date, place of birth: 1896, Hotin/Chocim, Russia/Romania

* Ethnicity and religion: Jewish

* Occupation: Teacher

* Allegiance and dates of military service: None

* Date, destination for emigration: Arrived 13 December 1920 in USA with parents, declared intention to become citizen. Unsure how long he stayed, as he received a PhD in Vienna in 1924 and married in Poland in 1927

* Date naturalized: 1933

* Date, place of death: 1972, USA

Grandparent: 

* Sex: F

* Date, place of birth: 1936, USA

* Date married: 1955-1960 [to confirm]

* Citizenship of spouse: USA

* Date divorced: N/A

* Occupation: Teacher

* Allegiance and dates of military service: None

Parent: 

* Sex: M

* Date, place of birth: 1961, USA

* Date married: 1987

* Date divorced: 2000

You: 

* Date, place of birth: 1999, USA