The author's attention is focused on the American immigrant legislation and its influence on immigration of Slovenes to the USA during the period of mass emigration at thè break of the 2С№ Century. The Erst contact of Slovenes with America happened at their arrivai when they met either of the two receiving immigrant centres, Castle Garden (1855-1890) or Ellis Island (1892-1954). The author quotes some personal experiences of the emigrants at their arrivai to thè New York port in the 19th and at thè beginning of thè 2CF1 centuries. New York inspired with its greatness, vivaciousness and modernism on the one hand and on thè other brought fear because of bad experiences of immigrants with various frauds. The New York Society of St. Rafael in which a Slovene Franciscan Kazimir Zakrajšek had a leading role, after 1908 also helped Slovene immigrants.