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JillA

My border crossing experience

By JillA in Canada

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JillA Experienced

JillA   2

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Hi everyone, I have seen alot of posts asking questions about crossing into the USA while your K-1 Visa is pending. I went to see my honey for Easter, I went out of Pearson to Philly. So I was all prepared and rather nervous, I had a letter from my boss, my lease, all of my bills with my address, etc. Expecting to be questioned. Lo and behold, I have crossed SO many times and this was my EASIEST time!! Usually they at least ask where I am going, why, how long, etc. This time, they guy did not even TALK to me besides to say hello. He scanned my passport, stamped my boarding card, looked over my customs declaration card, and let me on my way without uttering a word! I was pretty shocked. My airport experience got even better when I saw TWO celebs in Terminal one past security - Maria from WWE and Ben Mulroney!! LOL

K-1

I-129F sent to Vermont: 2/19/08

NOA1: 2/21/08

NOA2: 3/10/08

Packet 3 recd: 3/25/08

Packet 3 sent: 4/18/08

Appt letter recd: 6/16/08

Interview at Montreal Consulate: 7/10/08 **APPROVED!!**

K1 recd: 7/15/08

US Entry at Buffalo, New York: 11/15/08

Wedding in Philadelphia: 11/22/08

AOS

AOS/EAD/AP filed at Chicago Lockbox: 12/17/08

NOA: 12/29/08

Case transferred to CSC: 1/7/09

AOS Approval: 4/2/09

Biometrics appt: 1/16/09

EAD received: 3/12/09

AP received: 3/13/09

AOS approval notice sent: 4/2/09

GC received: 4/9/09

ROC

Sent package to VSC: 1/5/11

NOA1: 1/7/11

Biometrics: 2/14/11

Approval letter received: 8/1/11

GC received: 8/11/11

Citizenship:

N-400 sent to Dallas lockbox: 3/1/12

NOA1: 3/6/12

Biometrics: 4/9/12

Interview: 5/25/12

Oath Ceremony: 6/4/2012

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Flames9_RN Grand Master

Flames9_RN   358

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

glad it went well!!!

Canadians Visiting the USA while undergoing the visa process, my free advice:

1) Always tell the TRUTH. never lie to the POE officer

2) Be confident in ur replies

3) keep ur response short and to the point, don't tell ur life story!!

4) look the POE officer in the eye when speaking to them. They are looking for people lieing and have been trained to find them!

5) Pack light! No job resumes with you

6) Bring ties to Canada (letter from employer when ur expected back at work, lease, etc etc)

7) Always be polite, being rude isn't going to get ya anywhere, and could make things worse!!

8) Have a plan in case u do get denied (be polite) It wont harm ur visa application if ur denied,that is if ur polite and didn't lie! Refer to #1

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carslo Community Regular

carslo   0

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

I too went to the USA to visit at Easter - Vancouver to Calgary to Los Angeles. I also carry all the essential paperwork, plus my travel insurance for multiple trips to the US and just like you the Customs Officer didn't ask any questions. I figure if I cover all the bases, just maybe I will not have any trouble. However, we have not filed any paperwork due to the longest divorce in the history of California. Motto is "Be Prepared."

Carslo

Met online playing pinochle in late Feb or March 2001

Married in San Luis Obispo - July 18, 2008

Sent application CR-1/IR-1 on August 26, 2008 to Chicago lock box

September 4, 2008 - Touch #1

Approval email sent January 5, 2009 after 4 months and 2 days

NVC Journey Begins....

NVC Case officially in AVR - January 13, 2009

DS-3032 / AOS Bill Generated - January 16, 2009

AOS Bill snail mailed - January 24, 2009

Emailed DS-3032 - January 26, 2009

DS-3032 emailed read in NH January 30, 2009

DS-3032 accepted at NVC 0n February 2, 2009 via email

AOS Bill Shows as PAID - February 3, 2009

I-864 Package Generated - March 21, 2009

Mailed I-864 Package - March21, 2009

IV Bill Generated - February 3, 2009

Paid IV Bill - March 6, 2009 - snail mail

IV Bill Show as PAID - March 21, 2009

Mailed IV Package - March 21, 2009

REF - April 1, 2009 - Transfered to a supervisor

Case Completed at NVC - April 7, 2009

Medical completed May 27/09 in Vancouver

Interview Date - June 22 - SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED

POE -Vancouver @ YVR- June 28

Permanent resident card received July 20,2009

Social Security Card arrived August 2, 2009

April 2011 started ROC - May 27 biometrics - July 30 received 10 year green card!

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MrsCat Experienced

MrsCat   6

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted
I too went to the USA to visit at Easter - Vancouver to Calgary to Los Angeles. I also carry all the essential paperwork, plus my travel insurance for multiple trips to the US and just like you the Customs Officer didn't ask any questions. I figure if I cover all the bases, just maybe I will not have any trouble. However, we have not filed any paperwork due to the longest divorce in the history of California. Motto is "Be Prepared."

Carslo

Ugh . . . . waiting for a divorce to be finalized . . . .yuck. That must really really suck. Glad you're able to visit in the meantime. Hope the paperwork goes through quickly so you can get your paperwork in asap.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23648083@N07/
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CDAgirlMI Proficient

CDAgirlMI   51

Posted
Filed: Citizen (pnd) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Yeah, you never know how hard they're going to question you.

There have been times where I expected to be really questioned, and crossing was a breeze!

Then there were times when I thought it would be smooth, and I was there getting the third degree!

All depends I guess...

8/2/2021:  Mailed N-400

8/4/2021: N-400 received

8/6/2021:  Biometrics to be reused
3/15/2022:  Interview (successful)

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SaysWho Enthusiast

SaysWho   3

Posted
Filed: K-3 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

We have a long history of visiting back and forth between Vancouver BC and Tacoma WA, before and since we have been married and in the Immigration process. The vast majority of the border crossings have been completely easy and trouble free. However both of us have had crossings (entering the US and entering Canada) where we have been called into secondary, grilled and been very thankful we had our file folders full of our proof of ties to our home country. It can happen anytime crossing the border, and it usually goes well...as long as you are prepared with your proof and you are completely honest and patient with the questioning, car searches, etc.

We read of spouses in other countries who cannot ever get visas to visit their US spouse and feel very blessed that our two countries allow us to visit with very little scrutiny.

Annie & Tim

N-400 Citizenship

Sept. 13, 2011 N-400 sent to Phoenix Lockbox

Sept. 20, 2011 Check cashed

Sept. 23, 2011 NOA rec'd for N-400

Oct. 17, 2011 Biometrics appointment

Nov. 29, 2011 Interview - PASSED! 3yr anniversary not until 12/09/11

Dec. 13, 2011 Status update received "Oath Scheduled"

Dec. 15, 2011 Letter received with Oath date

Dec. 27, 2011 OATH! US Citizen

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