Maine, Alien Arrivals - FamilySearch Historical Records

What is in This Collection?
This publication is a collection of alien arrivals in Maine between the years 1906-1953 and includes records from the following National Archives Microfilm Publications which are part of Record Group 85 Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
 * A3401 Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Eastport, Fort Kent, Lubec, and Madawaska, Maine, ca. 1906-December 1952. NAID 4492740
 * A3428: Manifests of Alien Arrivals at Bangor and Houlton, Maine, ca. 1906-1953. 3 Rolls NAID 4499046
 * M2042: Alphabetical Manifest Cards of Alien Arrivals at Calais, Maine, ca. 1906-1952. 5 rolls NAID 2042
 * M2046: Alphabetical Manifest Cards of Alien Arrivals at Jackman, Maine, ca. 1909-1953. 3 Rolls NAID 4534635
 * M2064: Alphabetical Manifest Cards of Alien and Citizen Arrivals at Fort Fairfield, Maine, ca. 1909-April 1953.1 Roll NAID 4534653
 * M2065: Alphabetical Manifest Cards of Alien Arrivals at Van Buren, Maine, ca. 1906-1952. 1 roll. NAID 4489128
 * M2071: Alphabetical Manifest Cards of Alien Arrivals at Vanceboro, Maine, ca 1906-December 24, 1952. 13 rolls. NAID 4489134

What Can These Records Tell Me?
The following information may be found in these records:


 * Name
 * Age
 * Sex
 * Marital Status
 * Occupation
 * Language
 * Race
 * Nationality


 * Have been in United States before
 * People accompanied by
 * Last residence
 * Name and address of family or friend in county they left
 * Date of arrival and place
 * Destination and address of person
 * Physical description
 * Purpose of visit

How Do I Analyze the Results?
Compare each result from your search with what you know to determine if there is a match. This may require viewing multiple records or images. Keep track of your research in a research log.

I Found the Person I Was Looking For, What Now?

 * Learn an immigrant’s place of origin
 * Confirm their date of arrival
 * Learn foreign and “Americanized” names
 * Find records in his or her country of origin such as emigrations, port records, or ship’s manifests
 * Look for the Declaration of Intent soon after the immigrant arrived, and then look for the Naturalization Petition five years later, when the residency requirement would have been met
 * Look for naturalization records in federal courts and then in state, county, or city courts
 * An individual may have filed the first and final papers in different courts and sometimes in a different state if the person moved. Immigrants who were younger than 18 when they arrived did not need to file a Declaration of Intent as part of the process
 * If your ancestor had a common name, be sure to look at all the entries for a name before you decide which is correct
 * Continue to search the naturalization records to identify siblings, parents, and other relatives in the same or other generations who may have naturalized in the same area or nearby
 * The witnesses named on naturalization records may have been older relatives of the person in the naturalization process. Search for their naturalizations
 * You may want to obtain the naturalization records of every person who shares your ancestor’s surname if they lived in the same county or nearby. You may not know how or if they are related, but the information could lead you to more information about your own ancestors

I Can't Find the Person I'm Looking For, What Now?

 * Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for alias names, nicknames and abbreviated names
 * Search the indexes and records of nearby counties

Research Helps
The following articles will help you in your research for your family in the state of Maine.
 * Beginning Research in United States Immigration and Emigration Records
 * Beginning Research in United States Naturalization Records
 * Maine Guided Research
 * Research Tips and Strategies
 * Step-by-Step Research

Related FamilySearch Historical Record Collections

 * United States Border Crossings from Canada to United States, 1895-1956.
 * United States, Border Crossings from Canada to United States, 1894-1954.
 * Vermont, St. Albans Canadian Border Crossings, 1895-1954.

Citing This Collection
Citations help you keep track of places you have searched and sources you have found. Identifying your sources helps others find the records you used.