accessibility & help

Missing in the USA

Are you looking for someone in the USA?

Birth, marriage, and death certificates

Vitalrec.com
This site provides information by state on how to order copies of birth, marriage, and death records.

Genealogical research

Ancestry.com
Genealogy.com
International Soundex Reunion Registry - Resource for inquirers who seek relatives from whom they were separated as a result of international adoption.

Social Security Administration

The Social Security Administration (SSA) will provide a letter forwarding service for strong humanitarian purposes when all other possibilities have been exhausted. The SSA does not provide translation services, so the letter to the SSA must be written in English; however, the enclosed letter to be forwarded to the sought person may be written in another language.

The request must be submitted in writing providing as much information on the sought person as possible:

  • Name and social security number (if known)
  • Date and place of birth
  • Names of both parents
  • Name and address of last known employer with dates of employment (if known)
  • Relationship of inquirer to sought person
  • Reason for wanting to contact the sought person (SSA will only accept requests for humanitarian reasons)
  • Date of last contact

Send a letter with the required information along with a letter to be forwarded on your behalf to the sought person to: 

Social Security Administration
Office of Public Disclosure
3-A-6 Operations Building
6401 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, Maryland 21235

You should also provide:

  • Your name
  • Your address
  • e-mail address if you have one
  • Mark your request : "Freedom of Information Request"

Tracing U.S. military veterans

MilitaryUSA.com - Searchable database of 2.7 million Vietnam veterans who served in Southeast Asia
MilitaryCity.com - Retiree and veteran database and registry
ShipMates.com - Searchable database of active duty and retired U.S. military personnel

Tracing active duty military members

Worldwide locators for the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps charge $3.50 for unit of assignment or forwarding letters to active duty military personnel. The Coast Guard does not generally charge a fee. A written verification of active duty status is $5.20 for all branches, including the Coast Guard. Checks or money orders should be made payable to "U.S. Treasurer". The Air Force requests their checks be made payable to "DAO-DE-RAFB".

Active duty and retired military, immediate family members, and county, state, or federal agencies are not required to pay the $3.50 fee. All civilians or civilian businesses must request information in writing and pay the appropriate fee. 

Send your request to:

Army

Enlisted and Officers 
Army World Wide Locator
Enlisted Records & Evaluation Center
8899 East 56th Street
Indianapolis, IN 46249-5301

Air Force

Airmen and Officers
Air Force World Wide Locator
AFPC-MSIMDL
550 C Street West, Suite 50
Randolph AFB, TX 78150-4752

Navy

Enlisted and Officers 
Department of Navy
Navy Personnel Command
NPC Integrity Drive
Millington, TN 38055-0212

Marine Corps

Enlisted and Officers 
US Marine Corps - CMC
(MMSB-10)
2008 Elliot Road, Room 201
Quantico, VA 22134-5030

Coast Guard

Enlisted and Officers 
Commandant
(CGPC-ADM 3)
U.S. Coast Guard
2100 Second Street, S.W.
Washington, DC 20593-0001

War Babes

Shirley McGlade
15 Plough Avenue
South Woodgate
Birmingham 
B32 3TQ

Advises the children of US servicemen who were stationed in the UK during WWII how to search for their fathers.

Enquire by letter, enclosing a stamped self-addressed envelope.

Trans-Atlantic Children's Enterprise (TRACE)

Pamela Winfield
28-30 Langley Avenue
Surbiton
Surrey 
KT6 6QP

Advises the children of US servicemen who were stationed in the UK during WWII how to search for their fathers.

Enquire by letter, enclosing a stamped self-addressed envelope.

US Immigration & Naturalisation Service

Helps to search for people who emigrated to the US. Inquirers may also write to the US Immigration and Naturalisation Service (I&NS) and request assistance in locating a close relative. The address is:

National Records Center, FOIA/PA Office
P. O. Box 648010
Lee's Summit, MO 64064-8010

Inquirers should include the country from which the sought person emigrated and the date of arrival in the USA, as well as the following basic information

  • Sought person's name and Social Security number (if known)
  • Date and Place of birth
  • Last known address
  • Name of parents
  • Name and address of last know employer, and period of employment (if known)
  • Relationship to sought person
  • Reason for wanting to contact the person
  • Last time seen
  • Other contacts that have been exhausted

The letter should ask for the last known address held in the I&NS records of the sought person under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. The inquirer may also ask the I&NS to forward a copy of the inquirers letter to the sought person if necessary. The humanitarian grounds for the request should also be stated.

Other internet resources

The Ultimate White Pages - Residential telephone and address listings.
Dogpile.com - Telephone and address directory with reverse look-up capabilities.
Zip Code Lookup - U.S. Postal Service site – helpful for checking addresses for accuracy and zip codes.
Melissa Data - Databases searched include real property records, voters' registration, current and historical phone records, magazine subscriptions, changes of address, national drivers and other proprietary databases.
Socail Security Death Index
US Search

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