No passports or visas were needed to enter the United States through Ellis Island at this time. In fact, no papers were required at all. More than 12 million immigrants passed through Ellis Island between 1892 and 1954—with a whopping 1,004,756 entering the United States in 1907 alone.

During their crossing, they were required to complete 29 Questions and hand them in at Ellis Island.

• Your manifest number (from your ship)
• What is your full name?
• How old are you?
• Are you male or female?
• Are you married, single, widowed, or divorced?
• What is your occupation?
• Are you able to read and write? (yes or no)

Ellis Island doctors were particularly watching for signs of contagious diseases like trachoma, tuberculosis, diphtheria, and other states of health such as poor physique, pregnancy and mental disability.

Many thousands of immigrants came to know Ellis Island as “detained petitioners to the New World.” These determined individuals had crossed oceans, under the burden of fear and persecution, famine and numbing poverty, to make a new life in America.

In general, naturalization was a two-step process* that took a minimum of five years. After residing in the United States for two years, an alien could file a “declaration of intention” (“first papers”) to become a citizen. After three additional years, the alien could “petition for naturalization” (”second papers”).

You can request a search of USCIS’ comprehensive index to all granted naturalizations since 1906 by submitting a USCIS Genealogy Index Search Request. Each Certificate of Citizenship case is a C-File indexed by USCIS and available through the USCIS Genealogy Program.

Under the act, any individual who desired to become a citizen was to apply to “any common law court of record, in any one of the states wherein he shall have resided for the term of one year at least.” Citizenship was granted to those who proved to the court’s satisfaction that they were of good moral character and who …

In general, immigrants become eligible for citizenship after five years of residence.

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Illegal entry is the act of foreign nationals arriving in or crossing the borders into a country in violation of its immigration law. Human smuggling is the practice of aiding people in crossing international borders for financial gain, often in large groups.

People who entered illegally have a much slimmer chance of being able to get a green card. Another option to become a permanent resident as an illegal immigrant is to apply for asylum. If you meet all of the requirements and are approved, you may later apply for a green card.

As a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you’re free to marry a foreign national or non-citizen immigrant – but you’ll need to consider immigration laws to move your new spouse to the U.S. permanently.