POE experiences you've had

[antda 13]

Hi Krikit,

I had no "visa" when I crossed over for a "visit" (as Canadians are exempts from such). I just showed them my Canadian passport at the border as Canadian ID for my visit to the USA, and hoped that they let me and my boyfriend/husband over without any problems. I guess not then, as they "forced" me to get a "visitor's visa" and "I-94", after they "interrograted and questioned" us and "searched" belongings non-stop for 2 hours.

Ok, I can understand that it takes some time for processing (maybe 1/2 hour or so for others who have "visas" ahead of time), but 2 hours of a non-stop nightmare for the both of us is not right!

Needless to say, that horrible experience "forced" us to move our "marriage timeline" ahead, and we got married here in the USA and I moved here and "immigrated" instead...

And now we live, "Happily ever after in the USA..."..(oh there are always good endings to bad experiences, indeed!)....And ever since then I've had no other major problems crossing the US/Canada border ever again!

Ant ("Happily ever after...")

Ant, it will take them longer to cross because they are coming through on a visa and will have to go through secondary processing.

Edited October 13, 2008 by AntandD

[Kathryn41 3,205]

We crossed at Sarnia/Port Huron - you need to look for Port Huron to find out the reviews, not Sarnia as Sarnia is Canada.

I highly recommend this POE. They were efficient, relatively friendly, experienced and our total processing time actually at the border was about 20 minutes. They didn't want to check my paperwork for the belongings I was bringing in, including my 6 cats and equal number of houseplants. They are a busy POE especially for commercial traffic so you might want to time your crossing to make sure you don't go during a rush hour period. You can check border crossing times by doing a google search on US/Canada border and find the official US and Canadian websites.

We originally had tried to enter at one of the ferry crossing from Sombra at Algonac or Marine City - don't recall which one it was now - had even gone there the week before to verify that we could activate a K-1 there and were reassured we could as well as given advice on paperwork for the plants, etc. Well, when we arrived, a different agent was on the border and she didn't want to be bothered doing any processing on a visa and refused to do it. So, we ended up having to drive the additional distance to Sarnia and cross there. They said there was no reason why Marine City couldn't have done the K-1, except that they were too lazy to do the work (my words, that - the POE didn't give any reason, just wondered why they wouldn't do it as they could have and should have).

So, long and short of it is yes, Port Huron is a reasonable POE and you shouldn't have any problems or hassles activating a K-1 or an immigration visa there. Good luck!

Edited October 13, 2008 by Kathryn41

[Pandora01 0]

Thanks, Kathryn. I'll definitely do a search to find the crossing times. Hadn't thought about checking that out and it might have an impact on where we'll decide to cross the border.

[antda 13]

As I metion before: For other land crossings (and border wait times), you can see the following US CBP government website link for more information: <a href="http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/index.asp"'>http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/index.asp" target="_blank">http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/index.asp

</a>

Hope this helps too, Pandora01!

Ant

Edited October 13, 2008 by AntandD

[Pandora01 0]

Thanks, Ant. Bookmarking right away!

[antda 13]

As I metion before: For other land crossings (and border wait times), you can see the following US CBP government website link for more information: http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/index.asp

Uggh...it looks like the Peace Bridge and Rainbow Bridge are experiencing "construction" according to this (from Oct 14-18). Hmmm...you might have to take an alternative route if travelling then. And plan ahead and give yourself plenty of time, I suppose....

Hope this helps too, Pandora01!

Ant

You're welcome...

Thanks, Ant. Bookmarking right away!

Edited October 13, 2008 by AntandD

[Pandora01 0]

That's the same link, Ant

I saw that about the work but it should be over on October 18 and I'm not crossing before the beginning of November so that shouldn't be a problem

[antda 13]

Hi Pandora01

Lol...sorry for the reposting the same/similar post twice, as my dial-up internet disconnected on me on my computer and I had to reconnect, thinking that the post before didn't work, but it did...Oh well...deja vu?

Glad to hear that you'll be ok crossing at a time when there shouldn't be any construction in November, (if you decide to choose to cross those bridges, that is).

Good luck on your November POE bridge crossing. And good luck too, on the rest of your immigration journey!

Ant (Has a computer with a "deja vu" problem...)

That's the same link, Ant

I saw that about the work but it should be over on October 18 and I'm not crossing before the beginning of November so that shouldn't be a problem

Edited October 13, 2008 by AntandD

[Pandora01 0]

No problem, Ant. I'm on high speed internet here and it has glitches too once in a while. And thanks for the good luck wishes Still have to do my interview next Friday though. I'm keeping my fingers tightly crossed that everything will go fine.

I did some more map checking and I found another route that would be more direct. Anyone who's had experience crossing through Sault Ste.Marie?

[JillA 2]

I'm crossing at Queenston/Lewiston and plan to arrive about 5am to hopefully avoid the Saturday rush... I believe that's where Laura and Nick crossed and it was smooth!

[antda 13]

Hi Pandora01,

Lol..I used to have "high speed internet" in Canada, and likewise, didn't have too many glitches.

And now that I'm in the USA...I'm broke (partly due to increasing immigration costs!)....and have to "downgrade" to "dial-up internet". It took awhile to get used to at first, but I don't mind now, as it's a lot more affordable and for the most part pretty reliable for a few hours and then I have to re-dial up all over agian. The only thing is that if I'm on the internet too long, my husband keeps on bugging me to: "Get off the internet, so as to not tie up the phone line for Mom! (aka my MIL, who has health problems)" So sometimes I have to work offline too, as to not "tie up the phone" for emergencies.

Hope everything goes well on your K1 interview on Friday! Meanwhile, you can start planning and packing ahead of time for your POE coming up in November (wherever bridge crossing that may be, and yes do keep up up to date as to your POE experience)! Keeping my fingers and toes crossed for you for a successful interview too...

By the way, if it makes you feel better (and laugh about it... ), I didn't even "pack and plan" for my POE. Lol...we just had a carload of stuff for a "two week visit" (and other stuff that we were bringing back and forth during our "long distance relationship days"...yes, even "our Christmas tree" in April, which we got questioned for). And the rest of my stuff that I have left behind in Canada while I "immigrated here" I had to pick up over several carloads of "moving trips" back to Canada (which I didn't get questioned for, luckily I didn't have too much stuff to begin with before there).

Ant (lol.. ..about "not packing and planning"...)

No problem, Ant. I'm on high speed internet here and it has glitches too once in a while. And thanks for the good luck wishes Still have to do my interview next Friday though. I'm keeping my fingers tightly crossed that everything will go fine.

Edited October 13, 2008 by AntandD

[Galateia 1]

I will refer you to my siggy as grounds NOT to go through the Detroit Tunnel POE.

Unless you want to spend 1.5 hrs as they bungle your processing and interrogate you on your sexual history.

After all, the only reason men message women on the internet is for sex, and I was informed of how naive I am to think my USC messaged me for any other reason than trolling for sex. (Because men think it's so much easier/cheaper to try to pick up Canadian women who have identified themselves as 'taken' and shell out a retarded amount of money on immigration costs bringing them there instead of wandering into a local bar and buying women drinks.)

Oh, and a K-1 is a multiple-entry visa until it expires.

It's a sad day when you know more about the visa than the POE staff who are processing it.

So unless you want to enjoy being interrogated by an incompetent, misinforming, bumbling twit who thinks it's his job to prevent marriage scams, I would recommend you avoid the Detroit Tunnel POE.

Not that I'm bitter about him thinking he knows more about family visa fraud than, y'know, the freaking Consular Officer who conducted my interview in MTL.

Edited October 13, 2008 by Galateia

[Pandora01 0]

JillA - On what date are you planning to cross?

Ant - Most of my stuff is already packed and in storage. I moved back in with my dad at the end of my lease. So there's really not much left to pack. My computer, my clothing and a few things here and there. Shouldn't take me more than a day.

Once in the US, I'll be on a satellite connection. We'll be living out in the country and it's all we can get there. Speeds will be a little lower than high speed but not too bad I guess. I'll have to get used to it though.

Galateia - I feel for you, having to go through that trouble. I'd go nuts I'm putting the Detroit Tunnel on my black list right this instant. Thanks for the heads up, Galateia!

[antda 13]

Hi Pandora01,

I will refer you to my siggy (Ant: "and VJ timeline") as grounds NOT to go through the Detroit Tunnel POE (Ant: "NOT to go through the "Rainbow Bridge" POE").

Unless you want to spend 1.5 hrs (Ant: "2 hours") as they bungle your processing and interrogate you...

So unless you want to enjoy being interrogated by an incompetent, misinforming, bumbling twit who thinks it's his job to prevent marriage scams, I would recommend you avoid the Detroit Tunnel POE (Ant: "Also avoid the "Rainbow Bridge" POE)".

Not that I'm bitter about him thinking he knows more about family visa fraud (Ant: And yeah, 2 years later I'm still bitter about my POE experience, but on the "bright side" at least it "forced us to move our marriage timeline ahead", and to sooner live "happily ever after" here in the USA, "together forever"...)

(Ant: On the other hand after our "2 hour interrogration", I got to see the US side of "Niagara Falls"...oh how a "beautiful rainbow" can be next to an "ugly rainbow" indeed!)

Ant (Seeing "beautiful rainbows" of "happily ever after"...)

Edited October 13, 2008 by AntandD

[antda 13]

Hi Pandora01,

Wow! I'm impressed that you packed your stuff already! It's nice of your dad too, to be supportive as family to help you out with your move too. Just a few more things here and there as "final touches" on "moving day" and you're good and ready to "experience the POE"!

You're lucky too, that you're able to get satellite connection (DSL?) when you are here in the USA, so you shouldn't have any problems with your internet connection speeds t all. Don't worry, you'll get used to a somewhat slower internet speeds. And you'll get used to the "slower pace" of country/rural living too (as it certainly took me awhile to get used to that, having to go from city to country living here in the USA). Ahh...the process of immigration...it's all about "getting used to things", indeed!

Ant (Still getting used to things....and enjoying "country living"!)

Ant - Most of my stuff is already packed and in storage. I moved back in with my dad at the end of my lease. So there's really not much left to pack. My computer, my clothing and a few things here and there. Shouldn't take me more than a day.

Once in the US, I'll be on a satellite connection. We'll be living out in the country and it's all we can get there. Speeds will be a little lower than high speed but not too bad I guess. I'll have to get used to it though.