Waiting in the Registry Room
The National Park Service estimates about 5,000 people went through inspections on days ships came in. Ferries brought immigrants from ships to the entrance to Ellis Island, hundreds, even thousands at a time. Then they had to wait. The wait could be hours at a time, depending on how many ships arrived that day. It was tedious, it was boring, but for most, it was more bureaucratic than terrifying.
Immigrants were asked if they had money and a specific destination address to ensure they would not be without resources for immediate needs upon entering the mainland. Officials asked them why they left their homeland. But for most, it was just a few hours of boredom before officials released them to the United States mainland. But for others, it was an anxiety-riddled, multi-day wait while Ellis Island officials decided their fate.
