Search for content in message boards

How did Italian alien ancestors travel to and from US?

How did Italian alien ancestors travel to and from US?

Posted: 21 Oct 2014 6:06PM GMT
Classification: Query
Some of my Italian ancestors were what is called "Birds of passage" - they went back and forth between the United States and Italy. This was around 1905 - 1920. How did they do this? As aliens I understand that passports weren't required, but wouldn't there have to be some kind of documents for them to travel out of the country and back in?

Re: How did Italian alien ancestors travel to and from US?

Posted: 22 Oct 2014 10:28PM GMT
Classification: Query
Immigrant aliens did have passports to enter the US, these would have been issued in their home country

If they went back to Italy, there would be no departure record. But there would be a ship manifest when they returned to the US. Often times those manifests would be stamped "non-immigrant alien" Who are you looking for? What are their birth dates?

Robert

Re: How did Italian alien ancestors travel to and from US?

Posted: 23 Oct 2014 3:18AM GMT
Classification: Query
My g grandfather Giuseppe Tamburrini (born 1886) arrived in US from Italy the 1st time in 1903. I also found him a couple of times coming into the US from Canada with his brother Nicola (born 1874). I know Nicola went to and from Italy a number of times but can't find any record of it except for 1907.

Re: How did Italian alien ancestors travel to and from US?

Posted: 25 Jun 2015 3:39AM GMT
Classification: Query
I'd have to say they took the boat and landed at Ellis Island like everyone else if they came directly to America. I believe many Italians did come to America in the early 20th Century as per a PBS special on Italian-Americans I seen many months ago.

Re: How did Italian alien ancestors travel to and from US?

Posted: 25 Jun 2015 8:58AM GMT
Classification: Query
Ellis Island was the immigrant processing station for the port of New York from 1892 until 1924. There were other ports of entry located at Philadelphia, Boston, Baltimore, just to name a few

Robert
per page

Find a board about a specific topic