Ellen has been exploring the new Ancestry.com immigration database and writes:

I just found two of my relatives emigrating from Havre to NY in 1929. I believe they are husband and wife but traveling about two months apart. On the manifest for each is a number that may be some sort of a visa tag that was issued by France. The first is N.I. 1293 issued in Paris on 10-18-1929. The second is N.I. 2050 issued in Paris on 12-21-1929. Do you know what these are and whether it is worth my while to persue these? I'm thinking they are some kind of passport or visa tag that may be recorded along with some personal data. I've never seen this type of number before.

The Immigration Act of 1924 established immigration quotas and, as of July 1, 1924, required everyone arriving at a U.S. port of entry to have some sort of entry document. For immigrants coming to the United States with plans for permanent residency, this meant an Immigrant Visa. To receive an immigrant visa, prospective immigrants applied at a U.S. embassy abroad. In your case, this was the U.S. Embassy in Paris and the date is the date on which the visa was issued. Upon arrival in the United States, the immigrant presented their visa to an immigrant inspector who forwarded it to INS (Immigration & Naturalization Service, now USCIS, U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services).

These immigrant visas contain valuable genealogical information, including the exact date and place of birth, names of parents and children, all places of residence for five full years prior to immigration, and a photograph. Visas often also have supporting documents and vital records attached. Immigrant Visa Files for aliens admitted for residence after July 1, 1924 can be obtained by making a Freedom of Information Act request through USCIS. Your request should include the name, date and place of birth, and the date, port and ship of arrival. You don't need to provide the visa number from the passenger list - this is a U.S. Department of State number and is not really useful in locating the actual application.