INS did not create ship passenger lists. The forms were completed by steamship companies, who then submitted the forms to the government. In some cases immigration officials annotated the lists to clarify or correct information. In other cases immigration officials later added information to the records as a cross-reference to certain naturalization papers.
Annotations made at time of arrival:
Annotation | Meaning |
| “X” at far left, before or in name column = Subject was temporarily detained, see list of detained aliens at end of manifest. |
![Glossary of Passenger List Annotations 3 Example of S.I. Annotation](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIxODAiIGhlaWdodD0iMTg4IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMTgwIDE4OCI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgZmlsbD0iI2ZmZmZmZiIvPjwvc3ZnPg==) | “S.I.” or “B.S.I.” at far left, before name = Subject was held for Board of Special Inquiry hearing, see list of aliens held for Special Inquiry at end of manifest. |
![Glossary of Passenger List Annotations 4 Example of USB Annotation](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIyNzAiIGhlaWdodD0iMTQ3IiB2aWV3Qm94PSIwIDAgMjcwIDE0NyI+PHJlY3Qgd2lkdGg9IjEwMCUiIGhlaWdodD0iMTAwJSIgZmlsbD0iI2ZmZmZmZiIvPjwvc3ZnPg==) | “USB” = US-Born, sometimes found on records of returning citizens. |
![Glossary of Passenger List Annotations 5 Example of USC Annotation](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHdpZHRoPSIzMDAiIGhlaWdodD0iNzgiIHZpZXdCb3g9IjAgMCAzMDAgNzgiPjxyZWN0IHdpZHRoPSIxMDAlIiBoZWlnaHQ9IjEwMCUiIGZpbGw9IiNmZmZmZmYiLz48L3N2Zz4=) | “USC” = United States Citizen, sometimes found on records of returning citizens. |
| C-###### = Naturalization certificate number, sometimes found on records of returning citizens. |
Annotations made after arrival:
Collection: