United States Border Crossings from Canada to United States - FamilySearch Historical Records

Collection Time Period
This collection contains records from 1895 to 1956.

Record Description
This collection is an indexed database of individuals crossing into the United States from Canada.

This database contains an index of aliens and citizens crossing into the United States from Canada through various ports of entry along the U.S.-Canadian border between 1895 and 1956.

Citation for This Collection
The following citation refers to the original source of the data and images published on FamilySearch.org Historical Records. It may include the author, custodian, publisher and archive for the original records.

Information about creating source citations for FamilySearch Historical Collections is listed in the wiki article Help:How to Create Source Citations For FamilySearch Historical Records Collections.

Record Content
A variety of Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) forms were used to record information about individuals entering the United States. Types of forms used included: Primary Inspection Memorandum; Manifest; Record of Registry; and Land Border Departure Record. Due to the variety of forms, the amount of information available for an individual in this database will vary according to the form used and the questions asked on it.

The database generally includes the following:


 * Name
 * Age
 * Date of birth
 * Birth country
 * Gender
 * Race or ethnicity
 * Ship name
 * Departure contact
 * Arrival contact

How to Use the Record
This is an indexed database. To search the database, go to the collection cover page

In the search box, type the name of the individual for whom you are looking, and click Search. The system displays a list of possible matches.

You can also acess more search options and adjust the parameters of your search.

Why the Record Was Created
These records contain a listing of individuals crossing the border from Canada into the United States.

Record Reliability
These records are generally reliable depending on the information provided by the individual. Transcription and other errors can be found on occasion. Because a variety of forms were used to gather an individual’s information, not all of the records contain the same types of information.

Related Websites
This section of the article is incomplete. You can help FamilySearch Wiki by supplying links to related websites here.

Related Wiki Articles

 * Canada Emigration and Immigration
 * US Immigration Canadian Border Crossings

Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections
When you copy information from the record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find th record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you do not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records.

A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched in found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections.

Citation Example for Records Found in This Collection
Border Crossings From Canada to United States, 1895-1956, database. FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 4 March 2011), Dan Franklin Peterson, 28 November 1917; citing Immigration Records, reference NARA publication number A3402 roll 6; District of St. Alban's, Vermont, United States National Archives.