How do we enter USA from Canada with approved IR-1 visa in passport ?

[user786 0]

Hi all.

Our case for immigrant visa IR-1 is complete at NVC and we are waiting for Montreal interview.

We are trying to plan ahead for our travel back to the USA after we get the IR-1 visa in passport following the interview in Montreal. We are a family of 5 so flying will be expensive.

We will be heading from Canada to Florida and it is very expensive ($200 - $300 each one way) at this time of year to fly from Toronto to Florida but very very cheap ($89 one way each) to fly domestically from Buffalo Airport to Florida on Southwest Airlines.

Will it be OK to cross Canada / USA border at Buffalo/Niagara by rental car with IR-1 visa and then fly domestically from Buffalo to Florida ? Any possible issues to be aware of ?

Which POE point (bridge) at Buffalo would be best to use to activate I-551 ?

Any experience about which entry points will give the I-551 stamp in the passport upon entry ?

[riblet 0]

Congratulations

There should be no trouble driving across and then flying, as long as you are able to find a one-way rental. There has been some discussion of this on the Canada forum recently.

I'm not sure about which entrance would be best - but any of them at Buffalo should be able to activate the IR1. If no one on has any suggestions for you here, definitely check out the Canada forum.

Congrats again!

[misa 2]

No problem at all activating at a land crossing in a rental car and then flying from BUF. Once you're in the U.S. doesn't matter that you're dropping off the car across the border and hopping on a domestic flight. It's what I'll be doing with my K3 (aside from the flying, we're picking up a second rental car at BUF).

Look around for the cheapest place to rent a car one way. Most rental companies here I've learned do not charge an additional fee for this if you pickup in Toronto and drop off at BUF (going pretty much else in the U.S. with a one way from Toronto gets you a hefty $1,000 non-refundable drop off charge).

Actually I'd be interested in the best (i.e., not busy, knowledgable staff) crossing from Toronto to Buffalo as well. I'm going to post in the Canada forum about this.

Edited February 25, 2007 by misa

[sStiXx 0]

I came across awhile back (May 23 2005) but I had no problems at all.

I spent about 15-20minutes going through customs got asked a few questions got electronically finger printed and photographed and that was about it maybe a total 5min. The rest of it was waiting in line.

That was flying from Toronto to Texas.