Wajngort → Diaz — Polish Citizenship by Descent
Concrete next steps, with pre-filled USCIS data and direct links to every form and office you need.
Your case is documentarily strong but legally borderline. The pivot point is whether Polish authorities accept that Berek Lejb Wajngort retained Polish citizenship after his father Elias naturalized US in May 1928. Confirming Bessie's US naturalization status is the single most valuable next data point — everything else flows from there.
| When | Action | Where & how | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
01/2022-05-27_PolishArchives_CertifiedOriginals_8records...pdf. Pajączkowska sworn-translation PDFs still pending but content transcribed into Polish Archive Records page. | — | Free | Done | |
| health.ny.gov/vital_records | ≈ $60 | 8–12 wk | ||
| When death certs arrive | USCIS Genealogy Index Search (G-1041) for Bessie / Basza Weingart | genealogy.uscis.dhs.gov — pre-filled answers in §03 below | $65 | 3–6 mo |
| When death certs arrive | USCIS G-1041A — order paper Visa File V-1331441 for Berek | Same site. File # already known. | $65 | 3–6 mo |
| When death certs arrive | NY State vital records — remaining certs: Berek + Marjorie marriage; Eliot Sr. marriage | health.ny.gov/vital_records | ≈ $60 | 8–12 wk |
05/1928-05-23_NaturalizationPetition...) | — | Free | Done | |
| Next 2 weeks | Verify father's DOB discrepancy (4/26 vs 4/30 1974) | Ask father; check 2008 long-form vs 1974 original. May need amended BC. | $0–30 | Call |
| Next 2 weeks | Engage a Polish citizenship attorney | Brief them with the Status Report + Legal Theory. Get their read on the Elias-1928 issue before paying for apostilles. | $2k–5k | 1 wk |
| After attorney | Apostille every US vital record | apostille.dos.ny.gov for NY docs; US Dept. of State for federal/USCIS docs. | $10–20 each | 1–4 wk |
| After apostille | Sworn Polish translations of all US documents | Try Teresa Pajączkowska, Toruń — already did your Polish-side translations. | $30–60/pg | 2–4 wk |
| When complete | File the wniosek with the Mazowieckie Voivode | Directly, via Polish Consulate NY, or via attorney with PoA. | PLN 219 + atty | 6–18 mo |
Use these when you submit the Index Search Request for your great-great-grandmother at genealogy.uscis.dhs.gov.
| Form field | Value to enter |
|---|---|
| Subject's name | Basza Sura Tofel (also: Bessie Weingart, Basza Weingart, Basha Weingart) |
| Date of birth | 20 July 1882 (also recorded as 8 July 1882, Old Style) |
| Place of birth | Ostrów Mazowiecka, Poland (Russian Partition at the time of birth) |
| Date of US arrival | 28 August 1928 |
| Vessel | SS Paris (departed Le Havre 22 Aug 1928) |
| Port of entry | New York |
| Address(es) in US | Brooklyn, NY (per 1930 + 1940 US Census) |
| Spouse | Elias Weingart (Ela Wajngort) — naturalized 23 May 1928, NY Sup. Ct., Cert #2557490 |
| Children (US) | Phillip (Froim Fiszel), Tillie (Trajna), Gertrude (Gita), Berek / Ben |
| Death date | Unknown — please search broadly |
| Reason for request | Confirmation of any naturalization record (or absence thereof) for use in a Polish citizenship-by-descent application before the Mazowieckie Voivode. |
| Office | Contact |
|---|---|
| USCIS Genealogy Program | Genealogy.USCIS@uscis.dhs.gov · reference case GEN-10319396 if relevant |
| NARA NYC (Kelly McAnnaney) | kelly.mcannaney@nara.gov · 212-401-1620 |
| NY State Vital Records | health.ny.gov/vital_records |
| NY County Clerk | nycourts.gov (for Bronx Co. naturalization records) |
| NY Naturalizations index | nynaturalizations.com (for Elias's full Bronx Co. file) |
| Polish State Archives | szukajwarchiwach.gov.pl (for any additional Ostrów records) |
| Mazowieckie Voivode | gov.pl/web/uw-mazowiecki (filing authority — or via Polish Consulate NY) |