<P> Generally , those immigrants who were approved spent from two to five hours at Ellis Island . Arrivals were asked 29 questions including name , occupation , and the amount of money carried . It was important to the American government that the new arrivals could support themselves and have money to get started . The average the government wanted the immigrants to have was between 18 and 25 dollars ( $600 in 2015 adjusted for inflation ) . Those with visible health problems or diseases were sent home or held in the island 's hospital facilities for long periods of time . More than 3,000 would - be immigrants died on Ellis Island while being held in the hospital facilities . Some unskilled workers were rejected because they were considered `` likely to become a public charge . '' About 2 % were denied admission to the U.S. and sent back to their countries of origin for reasons such as having a chronic contagious disease , criminal background , or insanity . Ellis Island was sometimes known as `` The Island of Tears '' or `` Heartbreak Island '' because of those 2 % who were not admitted after the long transatlantic voyage . The Kissing Post is a wooden column outside the Registry Room , where new arrivals were greeted by their relatives and friends , typically with tears , hugs , and kisses . </P>
how long did it take most immigrants to pass through ellis island
two to five hours