Can I visit him while the K1 is in progress???

[Flames9_RN 358]

MAybe give them the other evidence first, and if that doesnt work, pull out the NOA's!! I'm sure it will go well anyway!!

[spauldingjeffrey 0]

If you just give them simple evidence you will just blend in with the other thousands of Canadians who cross into Buffalo for shopping and to use the aiport you will be just fine. Honestly the CBP officer is not intrested in your story about your visa journey. Complacency of the officer is on your side here use it to your advantage. Im sure you will be fine in any way you choose just giving you a heads up and some facts about CBP.

Good Luck!

[SonoranSongbird 3]

Have a wonderful visit, Laura!

[zyggy 9]

Thats the thing with POE crossings, it all varies from each one!!

Thats the thing with POE crossings, it all varies from each one!!

flames is right not only varies form POE but also varies from the CBP officer. Little fact here a CBP officer is on probation for two years once they are hired and can be fired for breathing wrong. So if you get a young one or a newbie and you start pulling out all of these immigration papers like your NOA1 & NOA2 you are likely going to start raising red flags. Remember every person at a POE is a potential immigrgant in the eyes of an CBP officer. Because look at it yes the officer may see that you are going the leagle route but he might also suspect that maybe you have been denied your visa at your interview. Look at your NOA2 if the date has expired because you are going through montreal you start waving that around you could be in for trouble. And yes you can still make it through your interview if you were denied entry but this is already a stressful process do you realy want to add that to your list? Better leave all your important immigration documents at home where they should be. Your flight Itinerary and some pay stubs should be sufficient. Remember KISS.. Keep It simple stupid.

Actually it's more like 18 months. The probation period is a year after you complete your training, which takes about 6 months. Unless they've changed it since I've been in... I'll have to ask my friends who are still there... If they have a stripe on their shoulder, they've passed the probation period.

Edited March 14, 2008 by zyggy

[Flames9_RN 358]

So if ya walk up to them and see no stripe, maybe say something like "How is it going Rookie?"

[spauldingjeffrey 0]

So if ya walk up to them and see no stripe, maybe say something like "How is it going Rookie?"

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Gypsyangel 11]

I would say to just be honest and be ready to show whatever proof you have of ties to Canada. I went through the Peace Bridge many times saying I was visiting my fiance and that we had filed for a K1 and there was no problem.

There was a time when I wasn't working and that seemed to cause more concern. At that point I was pulled over into secondary. It was kinda daunting but in the end they let me in after fingerprinting and going through my wallet and purse. He asked me a lot of questions and I told him I had proof of ties to Canada in my bag, but he didn't want to see them, but told me to always bring them with me when I travelled across the border. The good thing about being pulled into secondary was that every time after that, when I drove through they barely asked me anything -- sometimes nothing. Maybe the guy in secondary gave me a green light.

The only time I was asked for proof of ties was at Pearson and when I pulled out my mortgage and everything else, the guy just looked overwhelmed and rushed me through.

[CDAgirlMI 51]

Hey...

Glad to hear you're going over to see your man!

Have a great time(I'm sure you will....)

I'm sure everything will be fine regarding crossing over...just think about the fact that you get to visit him!

Have fun!!! :)

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Wow, thanks for all the suggestions and hints guys!

I'm just going to say I'm going to visit my Fiance for a few days and go from there.

I'll bring all the documents I have and only use NOA1 as a last resort.

I really have never heard that being counted against you, if anything it shows you are doing it the legal way.

But whatevs.

Thanks again!!!!

So if ya walk up to them and see no stripe, maybe say something like "How is it going Rookie?"

Nice tip Flames!!!

I'll be getting right on that!

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Flying out of Buffalo!!! Wooohooo!!! Does this mean I can finally stalk you in person???? Its true what they say - dreams do come true!

Seriously, would love it if we could meet up one day! Have a super duper trip and a great time with your sweetie!

I'm sure we'll get together!!!

Maybe when I move down Nick and I can stop in on our drive home!!

We'll figure something out

[SapphireDreams 71]

Let me know how it goes. I have the same amount of proof as you as I live at home right now and don't have a lease.

I will still continue to visit bi-monthly when we apply!

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Let me know how it goes. I have the same amount of proof as you as I live at home right now and don't have a lease.

I will still continue to visit bi-monthly when we apply!

I don't have a lease either, I live with my folks

[MrsCat 6]

LOL . . . the only time that I had trouble traveling the US in the last few years was when we were getting married. We decided last minute to get married in Vegas (didn't apply for a visa, since I would just lie that the purpose of my trip was for a vacation). I would head home and we'd apply for CR-1. Rest of my family was traveling a few days later. Chris and I would meet up in Seattle for a couple days, then head to Vegas with our families.

My mom was taking the wedding dress in her truck to Vegas, and the rest of my family was traveling separately the next day. So I get to the border, and have no intention of telling them that I am getting married in a couple days to a USC. At this time, I was totally ignorant about bringing any evidence that shows my ties back home. I figured we haven't filed any paperwork, so they really don't care (just like the other 12 trips in the past year and a half).

I remember this like it was yesterday, since it was the first time that I realized visiting to US was going to change drastically.

Custom Officer (CO): Purpose of your trip?

Me: Visiting my fiancee for a week.

CO: Your fiancee? Is he American or Canadian?

Me: American.

CO: Where do you work?

Me: Ahhhh . . . . for an insurance company.

CO: Is that full time or part time?

Me: Full time. 8-4 every week day.

CO: Do you have a letter from your employer?

Me: No, why would I need that?

CO: How many trips have you made to the United States in the past year?

Me: Ah, I dunno . . . . 10 . . . 8 . . . . 11 maybe . . . not really sure. What does it say on your computer screen? I am sure that the info is right there.

CO (looks at me coyly): Where have you been traveling to the past year?

Me: Ketchikan, Alaska. . . . . actually I fly into Ketchikan, but have to take a ferry to the island Reservation of Metlakata.

CO: And why are you traveling there?

Me: I guess because the Department of Commerce has decided to put the weather station for Southeast Alaska there. My fiancee is a weatherman.

CO: Again, what is the purpose of this trip. I notice that you're not traveling to Alaska this time?

Me: Well as I said I am seeing my fiancee and meeting his parents for the first time. They live in Seattle. Then I am taking him to Vegas for his birthday.

CO: You haven't met his parents yet?

Me: Well, I met his mom once on a layover in Seattle for dinner, but that's a long story. Anyways, I haven't met the rest of his family like his dad, brothers, grandma . . . you know how it is.

CO: Ma'am are you aware that you have been flagged as an intending immigrant?

Me: Well, no. I mean I figured it would happen sometime, probably when we filed our paperwork, but I didn't think that was already on there.

CO: Ma'am you have to prove to the person allowing you entry into the United States that you are here for visitation purposes and not an intending immigrant. And you haven't provided me anything at this point.

Me: Well how about this? My fiancee works for the National Weather Service in Alaska. I love Alaska, its nice to visit but I am always happy to leave. To make matters worse, my husband works on the ONLY INDIAN RESERVATION in the state of Alaska - AND it's on an island in the middle of nowhere. On crappy weather days you cannot go anywhere, ferry doesn't run and planes don't take off. There are 14 kms of roads total that lead to NOWHERE. There is only one grocery store, and I use that term loosely. Food only comes in on Tuesday, and you can bet that lettuce shipped from Seattle 2 weeks before is a little spoiled once it arrives. The girls are mean there, they think I've snatched one of the marriageable bachelors. I have two University degrees and would have to go back to school to be a teacher if I wanted to work at anything more than pumping gas.

I like my life in Edmonton. I just wish my fiancee was here too. But you damn Americans love your country, and he really isn't interested in moving here. So we're still negotiating what is going to happen once we get married.

CO: Can you blame us for loving our country?

Me: Of course not. I love my country too and that's why I'm not ready to move yet. I haven't resigned myself to wilted lettuce yet.

CO (laughing at this point): Well, I can say that you've managed to prove that you're not immigrating yet. But just so you're aware, next time a letter from your employer would be advisable. And just so you're aware, once you file your paperwork, you may be denied entry to the United States until the paperwork is complete. Welcome to the United States.

Me (sheepishly): thank you.

PS: 3 days before the wedding, my husband got a job in Hilo, Hawaii. No more wilted lettuce for Cat.

[~Laura and Nick~ 5]

Ha!

That's funny!!!

Thanks for sharing Cat!!!!

I'm sure I'll be fine, I'm only going for 5 days.

Gonna be honest and to the point, short, sweet and simple!

[Carlawarla 1]

Have fun on your visit Laura! I didn't take your post about visiting seriously...oops, maybe you were? I know you know what you need to bring.