Visiting the US while Visa pending

[Caladan 19]

Oh, this all makes me feel much better. Since March, when we started this process, I have been paranoid about traveling, so I just haven't. I was sure that if I tried, and they denied me, that my visa would get denied too.

Anybody have any experiences about traveling through the Windsor/Detroit poe by car?

The only time I did the guy barely looked at my passport. I'm the USC. Just wanted to let you know that C. flew down here while our K-1 was in process for a short visit and had no problems. It seems to be a bit of a dice roll.

[samaci 0]

Im my experiences, and like the others said, I bring recent pay stubs, my latest phone bills, and my folder with all my copies of my immigration stuff. This was recommended to me, by a customs officer. They just want proof that you aren't going down to the US to stay, and are coming back. I go down 2-3 times a month, never had a problem, , and actually, never had to show any proof that I have ties in Canada. I also tell them that I'm going to visit my husband. I go through a border in BC.

In two weeks I'm driving to the US to visit a friend, not my husband. Do I have to tell the border that I have an immigration visa pending?

The last couple of weekends, I have gone down to visit a good friend in mine, who lives in Seattle. and thats exactly what I told them at the border. They never asked me anything, and let me through. Just answer what they ask you. This past summer, my family has a summer place in the US too. I went down quite a few times, and told them thats where I was going. I was never asked anything. Just be honest. "I'm going to visit my friend for the weekend", or whichever.

[MandE 0]

hmmm, heres a thought. What if the officer I get at the Ambassador bridge feels I don't have sufficient proof of "ties to Canada"? Perhaps I could go over to the tunnel, and try there? Cause isn't it subjective to each officer?

[djc 0]

They have computer systems that connect to each other, I'm sure. If you don't have enough "ties" then they will tell you what else you can bring to prove yourself. Go home, get them and try again. Tunnel or bridge, some officers are really nice, some are really mean!

hmmm, heres a thought. What if the officer I get at the Ambassador bridge feels I don't have sufficient proof of "ties to Canada"? Perhaps I could go over to the tunnel, and try there? Cause isn't it subjective to each officer?

[neiks 19]

hmmm, heres a thought. What if the officer I get at the Ambassador bridge feels I don't have sufficient proof of "ties to Canada"? Perhaps I could go over to the tunnel, and try there? Cause isn't it subjective to each officer?

That is what is call "port shopping" and is highly frowned upon and will cause you considerable amount of grief. If the officer feels you do not have sufficient ties ask if you can return to Canada to gather more evidence of your ties and return back to prove it.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

They have computer systems that connect to each other, I'm sure. If you don't have enough "ties" then they will tell you what else you can bring to prove yourself. Go home, get them and try again. Tunnel or bridge, some officers are really nice, some are really mean!

hmmm, heres a thought. What if the officer I get at the Ambassador bridge feels I don't have sufficient proof of "ties to Canada"? Perhaps I could go over to the tunnel, and try there? Cause isn't it subjective to each officer?

I have been through the find the "nice" officer game. Refused at Blue Water, admitted at the Ambassador Bridge. Port shopping only comes into play if you do not admit the earlier refusal. Finding the nice officer these days is becoming a real nightmare. The admission is at the discretion of the particular officer. Realistically a refusal frequently means that the subject bears the mark of Caine. Additional documentation guarantees nothing, it can help (if the officer hasn't made up his or her mind)but the only thing that really helps is the I-551 stamp. It's a tragedy and an outrage but what can you do?

[MandE 0]

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who posted their experiences on going through the border.

I decided to take the plunge, and went to visit my fiance in Kentucky for the first time since February. Luckily, I had every bit of documentation that you all suggested I have, because the officer I had asked about everyone. He never actually looked at anything (I had a huge folder sitting in my lap), but kept asking if I had copies of this and that.

Eventually he asked me if I had spoken to someone before travelling to the States, to find out what I needed to bring. I said I had, and he said that was good and let me on it. Needless to say, I was sure he wasn't going to, and I was shaking when I went to pay the toll.

But I had a great time and glad that I made the trip. We managed to get a lot of wedding plan done in the 10 days I was there!

[vanee 13]

I decided to take the plunge, and went to visit my fiance in Kentucky for the first time since February. Luckily, I had every bit of documentation that you all suggested I have, because the officer I had asked about everyone. He never actually looked at anything (I had a huge folder sitting in my lap), but kept asking if I had copies of this and that.

Eventually he asked me if I had spoken to someone before travelling to the States, to find out what I needed to bring. I said I had, and he said that was good and let me on it. Needless to say, I was sure he wasn't going to, and I was shaking when I went to pay the toll.

But I had a great time and glad that I made the trip. We managed to get a lot of wedding plan done in the 10 days I was there!

That's good to hear.

I crossed the border twice while my K-1 was pending. The first time, I got lots of questions, and the pile of documentation I had with me helped. The second time, I had even more documentation with me, and the officer didn't ask about any of it. Most of the time, I think they don't ask, but it's always good to have it with you for the times that they do. Or that they want to know that you have it even if they don't look at it.