Immigration Emigration & Naturalization
Online ships passenger lists, passport records, border crossing records, and more. Plus lessons and how-to articles on locating your immigrant ancestor and information and resources for U.S. and Canada naturalization and citizenship records.
Popular U.S. Migration Routes
While our ancestors had fewer options for transportation than we enjoy today, they did not stay in the same place very long. Therefore, migration patterns can often help solve genealogical problems. Learning about the commonly used migration trails in the localities where your ancestors resided can often help to determine their previous place of residence.
While our ancestors had fewer options for transportation than we enjoy today, they did not stay in the same place very long. Therefore, migration patterns can often help solve genealogical problems. Learning about the commonly used migration trails in the localities where your ancestors resided can often help to determine their previous place of residence.
Alien Registration Records
Alien registration records are an excellent source of family history information on U.S. immigrants who never became naturalized citizens. Learn more about the genealogical value of alien registration records, how to determine if an alien registration record exists for your ancestor, and how to obtain a copy of your ancestor's alien registration record.
Alien registration records are an excellent source of family history information on U.S. immigrants who never became naturalized citizens. Learn more about the genealogical value of alien registration records, how to determine if an alien registration record exists for your ancestor, and how to obtain a copy of your ancestor's alien registration record.
World War II Internment Records
world war ii internment records
world war ii internment records
Make a FOIA Request for Records from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Learn how to request naturalization records, immigrant visa files, border crossing records and alien files from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Servies - formerly INS - by making a Freedom of Information Act - FOIA - request.
Learn how to request naturalization records, immigrant visa files, border crossing records and alien files from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Servies - formerly INS - by making a Freedom of Information Act - FOIA - request.
Passenger Lists 101
Learn how to locate ancestors on ship passenger lists and manifests with this guide to passenger lists around the world. Includes what types of information you can expect to learn, locations and time periods for passenger lists and indexes, and links to online passenger lists.
Learn how to locate ancestors on ship passenger lists and manifests with this guide to passenger lists around the world. Includes what types of information you can expect to learn, locations and time periods for passenger lists and indexes, and links to online passenger lists.
Ellis Island Records Online - Tips for Successful Searching
Having trouble locating your Ellis Island ancestor? Don't miss these tips for conducting a successful search at Ellis Island Records online.
Having trouble locating your Ellis Island ancestor? Don't miss these tips for conducting a successful search at Ellis Island Records online.
American Family Immigration History Center
This family genealogy facility at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum allows researchers to access passenger manifests and ship histories for immigrants who arrived at Ellis Island.
This family genealogy facility at the Ellis Island Immigration Museum allows researchers to access passenger manifests and ship histories for immigrants who arrived at Ellis Island.
How to Find an Immigrant Ancestor - Pre 1820
Prior to 1820, the United States government made no effort to require lists of immigrants arriving in this country, but don't give up! Learn about the many other sources for colonial immigration records available for research.
Prior to 1820, the United States government made no effort to require lists of immigrants arriving in this country, but don't give up! Learn about the many other sources for colonial immigration records available for research.
Connecting Your Ancestor to a Location in the Old Country
A article is geared toward people searching for Irish ancestors, but the helpful techniques apply to all of us.
A article is geared toward people searching for Irish ancestors, but the helpful techniques apply to all of us.
Emigration and Immigration FAQ
A wonderful primer to the basic terms and techniques of immigration research.
A wonderful primer to the basic terms and techniques of immigration research.
How to Obtain Documents
This file on Compuserve's Genealogy Forum describes the procedures to follow to obtain copies of immigration and naturalization documents.
This file on Compuserve's Genealogy Forum describes the procedures to follow to obtain copies of immigration and naturalization documents.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service provides a great deal of genealogical and historical information, including historical articles and research tools and details on immigrant arrival records and naturalization records.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service provides a great deal of genealogical and historical information, including historical articles and research tools and details on immigrant arrival records and naturalization records.
Immigration and Passenger Lists Research Guide
The goal of this Guide is to help in research of immigration records and ship's passenger lists, both on-line and off-line. A wonderful resource for beginners, with tips for the more advanced.
The goal of this Guide is to help in research of immigration records and ship's passenger lists, both on-line and off-line. A wonderful resource for beginners, with tips for the more advanced.
Passenger Ships into New York
This helpful article outlines the steps to take in locating a passenger list for your ancestor who arrived in New York.
This helpful article outlines the steps to take in locating a passenger list for your ancestor who arrived in New York.
Passenger Ships into Ports other than New York
A method for locating ship manifests for passenger arrivals into ports other than New York using your local Family History Center.
A method for locating ship manifests for passenger arrivals into ports other than New York using your local Family History Center.
Primer on Emigration, Immigration, and Associated Subjects
A wonderful resource for people new to immigration research, courtesy of the Polish Genealogical Society of America.
A wonderful resource for people new to immigration research, courtesy of the Polish Genealogical Society of America.
Search for Fatherland Origins
Michael John Neill uses his own family as an example of the difficulties encountered in the search for ancestral origins.
Michael John Neill uses his own family as an example of the difficulties encountered in the search for ancestral origins.
Thirteen Reasons Our Ancestors Migrated
Thirteen prominent reasons why ancestors might have migrated from one place to another. From George G. Morgan in "Along Those Lines..."
Thirteen prominent reasons why ancestors might have migrated from one place to another. From George G. Morgan in "Along Those Lines..."
Tracing Immigrant Origins
This outline, from the Family History SourceGuideTM of the LDS church, introduces the principles, search strategies, and various record types you can use to identify an immigrant ancestor's original hometown.
This outline, from the Family History SourceGuideTM of the LDS church, introduces the principles, search strategies, and various record types you can use to identify an immigrant ancestor's original hometown.