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

Record Description
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.

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.

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

Coverage Table
In many cases, the index cards are the only record of the crossing.


 * Ancestry.com has indexes with image links to the index cards. A study was not done at this time to determine if all four sets of indexes are included in this collection.
 * Online index is also available at Border Crossings from Canada to United States, 1895-1956 (FamilySearch Historical Records)
 * The Family History Library has on microfilm all four sets of indexes of the records:

Manifests for Pacific and Atlantic ports provide two types of lists: the traditional passenger lists on U.S. immigration forms and monthly lists of names of aliens crossing the border on trains. These monthly lists are arranged by month, then alphabetically by name of port, and then by railway.

How to Use the Record
When searching: As you are searching it is helpful to know such information as your ancestor's given name and surname, some identifying information such as residence, age, estimated immigration year, and/or family relationships.

Search the Collection
This is an indexed database. To search the database, go to the collection search 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. Compare the information about the ancestors in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to compare the information about more than one person to find your ancestor.

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

For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line video at FamilySearch Search Tips and Tricks.

Related Websites

 * National Archives
 * Library and Archives of Canada

Related Wiki Articles

 * Canada Emigration and Immigration
 * US Immigration Canadian Border Crossings

Citations for this Collection
When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information; that is, cite your sources. This will help people find the record again and evaluate the reliability of the source. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. Citations are available for the collection as a whole and each record or image individually.

Collection citation:

Record citation (or citation for the index entry):