POE questions

[CBR 0]

We will be crossing at Sarnia/Port Huron most likely (land crossing, not flying) and I'm wondering what happens at that time? Will they give my fiance an I-94 since he'll be on a k-1? We've never been given an I-94 before when we visited because Canadians don't need them. I'm just wondering if it's an automatic thing, or do we need to ask them for it. They will give him his passport back I would assume too. What else are we supposed to get from them? I don't have a whole lot of faith in the officers at the border (one once told me that they "don't even know what the laws are themselves" when I was asking about immigration stuff).

[payxibka 10,045]

Yes, make sure you fill out an I-94 as you will need it later

[trailmix 77]

We will be crossing at Sarnia/Port Huron most likely (land crossing, not flying) and I'm wondering what happens at that time? Will they give my fiance an I-94 since he'll be on a k-1? We've never been given an I-94 before when we visited because Canadians don't need them. I'm just wondering if it's an automatic thing, or do we need to ask them for it. They will give him his passport back I would assume too. What else are we supposed to get from them? I don't have a whole lot of faith in the officers at the border (one once told me that they "don't even know what the laws are themselves" when I was asking about immigration stuff).

Also, he will have his passport, which he will present to them and they will return it, it is not in the 'sealed brown envelope'.

[Krikit 1,164]

Yes, make sure you fill out an I-94 as you will need it later

Just as a point of clarification, CBR, neither you nor your fiancé will fill out the I-94.... the officer will. The only time the immigrant fills one out is when they are flying. It's a small white card which they will insert into his passport when they are processing the entry. They will stamp the page behind it and fill in the blanks with the A#, etc. Normally you will be standing there and will see them do this, but if you don't, just take a look inside his passport before you leave to make sure it is there.

Unless he is importing his car, there is nothing further he need do. If he did not receive a copy of his DS-3025 vaccination supplement when he did his medical, now would be a good time to ask for one.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

We crossed at Sarnia-Port Huron and it was very straight forward and uneventful. When you pull up at the border guard advise him that you wish to activate a K-1 visa. He/she will put a sticker on your windshield and direct you to secondary inspection. When you pull into secondary inspection they will tell you to leave the car unlocked and the keys in the car, then go inside. Go up to the counter and tell them you wish to activate a K-1 visa. They will request all of your paperwork and your passport. Your fiance will hand them his sealed envelope which they will open and go through. They will verify information on the computer - and I believe that they now do fingerprinting as well, but I am not sure - they didn't when I crossed 4 years ago. They will fill out and staple the I-94 into your fiance's passport, stamp it with the date 90 days in the future, and then also stamp his passport and write K-1 and the date on it as well. It took about 20 minutes in all to process the K-1 visa, for the officer to talk with us and remind us we needed to get married within 90 days and to tell me NOT to come back into Canada until I had an AP or my green card or I wouldn't be allowed back into the States without having to go through a whole new immigration process.

We had a van full of my belongings and 6 cats and I don't even think they did more than a cursory glance at them.

Everyone was very polite and friendly while being quietly efficient. It is a high traffic border crossing station so I expect they are well experienced:-). We crossed late morning - around 11 - and there were only a handful of people being processed. I think I only had one person ahead of me in line. We were the first finished - the others who were already there were still waiting when they wished us good luck and sent us on our way.

Good luck! You'll be fine.

Edited June 2, 2008 by Kathryn41

[CBR 0]

Thanks so much you guys! Jeremy did get a copy of that vaccination supplement from the medical (being sent today actually). Sounds like we're all set. Kathryn, I know that office very well (Sarnia/Port Huron) so I could visualize the entire process as I read what you wrote.

thanks