US Canada Border Crossing records online!

Ancestry.com has added more than 4 million names of individuals who crossed the U.S.-Canadian border between 1895 and 1956. These records add to their Immigration Records Collection, which also includes more than 100 million names from the largest online collection of U.S. passenger lists, from 1820 to 1960.

An Explanation of the St. Albans Border Crossing Records

by Lorine of Olive Tree Genealogy

Many immigrants came to US via Canada as fares were generally much cheaper that way.

In 1895 Canada and USA established a joint inspection system. Passengers arriving in Canada who intended to go on to United States were inspected by US Officials at the
Canadian Port of Arrival, then enumerated on US immigration lists. Immigrants were also given inspection cards which they turned in to US Officials once they were on board trains going to United States. Two sets of records were created - passenger lists and compiled inspection cards.

These CANADIAN BORDER CROSSING records were microfilmed by INS. They cover 1895-1954 and are indexed. They do NOT include Canadians before 1906. After September 30, 1906 both Canadians and non-Canadians are included on these lists.

More information on the St Albans (Canadian Border Crossing) Lists including film numbers is found on Olive Tree Genealogy