I have been watching this thread about the various points of entry into the US from Canada, and thought that I remembered someone telling me that regardless of the crossing point, that all records were kept at the St.Albans Vt. list, web site ???? See below........... Edd Sinnett in Florida http://shipslists-online.rootschat.net/usa/saint-albans.html St. Albans Lists FAQ: from http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~holdenclan/index.htm What are St. Albans Lists? St. Albans Lists are lists of immigrants who crossed the border from Canada into the U.S. between 1895 and 1954. There is a St. Albans, Vermont. Isn't this just those who crossed the border in St. Alban's, Vermont? No. While they're collectively known as St. Albans, Vermont district records, they also contain records of immigrants crossing over in Washington, Montana, Michigan, New York, North Dakota, and Minnesota, in fact all along the U.S. Canadian border. Do St. Albans Lists index ALL entries into the U.S. through Canada in 1895 until 1954? No. After 1917, anyone entering WEST of the Montana/North Dakota State line were filed in Seattle, Washington. A reader also has this to say: "People of Canadian birth were not recorded on the St. Albans lists until 1906". Are there any lists for people leaving the U.S. and crossing the border into Canada? I'm sorry, again, not that I know of. One reader of this FAQ said that records were kept after 1906 and these records are available in Canada. You could try National Archives of Canada. Prior to 1906, I am not aware of any records. There was no need to keep them. (Read further). Why were St. Albans Lists' records kept? In the beginning there were no border crossing inspectors. Then, as the U.S. government ordered certain requirements for U.S. entry, the government noticed a certain trend. Immigrants realized that they could "bypass" the U.S. inspectors by entering Canada then crossing the border into the U.S. As the U.S. government took notice of the trend, they in turn asked Canada to assist them by requesting documentation. Canada agreed in 1894. What documentation? The steamships crossing the border were to keep a passenger manifest form. Railroads were "to carry only those immigrants who were legally admitted to the United States to U.S. destinations". The U.S. inspectors, stationed along the borders, collected the manifests. Are these records transcribed, or are they the originals? The original records no longer exist. The soundex index was transcribed in the 1930's. I'm not yet positive on how the manifests came to be put on film. Are there any other records in St. Albans Lists? Yes. In 1895 the U.S. inspectors required that those entering the U.S. via Canada through sea ports to obtain a Certificate of Admission after passing a health inspection and quarantine. Railroads required a Certificate of Admission if the passenger arrived in Canada within the previous 30 days. At land border "ports", inspectors prepared the List (or) Manifest of Alien Passengers Applying for Admission to the United States from Foreign Contiguous Territory also called Form 1-Canada. This list refers to two sets of people. The first set are immigrants who may have lived in Canada for months/years prior to entering the U.S. and who came from a nation other than Canada up to October 1, 1906. After October 1, 1906 the list then refers to the second set which then included Canadians in addition to those from another nation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users. It has removed 28 spam emails to date. Paying users do not have this message in their emails. Try SPAMfighter for free now!