The United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri has retained exclusive jurisdiction to conduct naturalization ceremonies for applicants seeking citizenship. The ceremonies are presided over by a United States District Judge, Magistrate Judge, or Bankruptcy Judge and are primarily held in the Kansas City courthouse.

Procedures
The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) should be contacted directly for procedures on becoming naturalized. Visit the Immigration and Naturalization web site, www.uscis.gov for answers to common questions, copies of forms, and general information about the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Applicants seeking citizenship will receive their ceremony date and time from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Proposed 2008 Naturalization Ceremony Dates (to be held in Kansas City unless otherwise noted):

• Thursday, January 17
• Thursday, February 21
• Thursday, March 20
• Friday, April 11
• Thursday, May 15
• Friday, May 30, Jefferson City, Missouri
• Friday, June 13, Springfield, Missouri
• Thursday, June 19
• Thursday, July 17
• Thursday, August 21
• Thursday, September 18
• Thursday, October 16
• Thursday, November 13
• Thursday, December 11

Dates are subject to change. Please contact the courthouse to verify ceremony information.

Naturalization Records

All naturalization records of persons naturalized in this court prior to 1998 are stored at and are available through:

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)
2312 East Bannister Road
Kansas City, MO 64106
(816) 926-6934

Basic information regarding records of naturalizations since 1998 may be obtained by contacting the Clerk's Office.

Lost Certificate
If you wish to replace a lost Certificate of Naturalization, you must complete form N-565, Application for Replacement Naturalization Citizenship Document, and pay the appropriate fee. The form and additional filing information is available at http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/n-565.htm.