POE Immigrant Visa Experiences

[meauxna 15]

I posted this in the DCF Forum, but it applies equally to you CR/IR visa folk. Please add your story when it is time, or if you've already been through, don't be shy!

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=19229

[meauxna 15]

It would be great to get some more stories added to the Arriving in America thread!

Don't be shy--cut -n- paste is good!

[MaryandMian 1]

My husband came thru Atlanta GA in May of this year and it was hell. He arrived and was taken to a back room and interrogated. They accused him of marrying me for a green card and tried to get him to admit to it. They asked him all kinds of questions and he kept answering them and said to call me and verify them if they did not believe him. Finally he needed to go to the restroom and they allowed him and an officer called my home. My oldest son answered the phone and the officer said are you Mary? He said no wait. The officer asked me when I married, how long ago, when was my husband due to arrive, and the date I originally filed our I -130. I answered all and said I -130 was filed in January and I would give him exact date if he would wait on sec. He got the answers and I said is anything wrong and he hung up the phone on me without giving me any reply. I was not even sure my husband would be at the last destination and it was upsetting and stressful evening until I saw him coming to me in the airport.

Mary

[Savanphil 3]

My husband came thru Atlanta GA in May of this year and it was hell. He arrived and was taken to a back room and interrogated. They accused him of marrying me for a green card and tried to get him to admit to it. They asked him all kinds of questions and he kept answering them and said to call me and verify them if they did not believe him. Finally he needed to go to the restroom and they allowed him and an officer called my home. My oldest son answered the phone and the officer said are you Mary? He said no wait. The officer asked me when I married, how long ago, when was my husband due to arrive, and the date I originally filed our I -130. I answered all and said I -130 was filed in January and I would give him exact date if he would wait on sec. He got the answers and I said is anything wrong and he hung up the phone on me without giving me any reply. I was not even sure my husband would be at the last destination and it was upsetting and stressful evening until I saw him coming to me in the airport.

Mary

Geez, that was awful....

[meauxna 15]

shameless bump

[Mononoke28 135]

This has nothing to do with a CR-1/IR-1 visa, but my mom is a US Citizen (born in Colombia). Last February her POE was Houston, TX and it was a nightmare. Just because airport staff knew she was coming in from Colombia, they opened up all of her luggage, they took everything out and put it on the table, they asked her a ton of stupid questions, took her high blood pressure medicine away from her, treated her really badly, and kept asking her over and over again if she had any "special" stuff in her luggage. After a while a manager came over to this guy and told him he was going overboard, the guy said ok and left my mom's stuff all over the table and even the floor. She then had to re-pack everything and almost missed her connecting flight to Denver because of this jerk!

Houston sucks!

[Saddle Bronc 124]

Due to the title, I'm going to post as well (as I had gotten an EB-3 GC, and not a CR-1, at Montreal in Dec. 1999).

Rescheduled my return flight (from Montreal) to Atlanta in order to let me clear the PFI, then went there. Was directed into a separate room where I handed over the brown envelope, and after 15 minutes got prints taken and a stamp in my passport--after which I proceeded through air-security.

Edited March 22, 2007 by CherryXS

[meauxna 15]

bump time!

[dougyceci 0]

I guess this is as good as any place to post this. Ceci came through Atlanta on Wednesday this week and she said everyone was so nice and helpful. It took her 2 hours to get through customs. Most of the time in line with everyone else as customs was extremely busy that day. Nothing negative about the entire day for her. No nasty treatment or searching of bags, a few questions and a welcome to America. She was so happy to see me waiting, a familiar face always helps. Since then life has been great. She is adjusting to Las Vegas just fine and both of us could not be happier. I am more than happy to share more if you have particular questions but all in all everything was smooth and great in Atlanta. I have no complaints through this whole process, 7 months in all but nothing I can really complain about.

Doug

[hampster 0]

Hi All

I am flying into LAX from Sydney - Taipei China,

With China Airlines, arriving in LAX @ 7.35PM Wednesday 9th May

then a connecting flight to,

Cleveland then to Providence Rhode Island.

via Continental,departing LAX @11.15pm

Arriving Finally @ 9.17am Thursday 10th May

BASICALLY HAVE JUST OVER 3 + 1/2 HOURS

BETWEEN CONNECTING FLIGHTS

TO GET FROM IMMIGRATION (POE)

TO CONTINENTAL DESK CHECK IN,

WITH 3 BAGS IN TOW .

AND FIND SOMEWHERE TO HAVE A SMOKE OR 5

My Question is has anyone had a POE through LAX?

I am going through on my CR1 VISA

And how far is the Continental Check in for Domestic Airlines,

from Where I fly into LAX with China Airlines?

Any help would be muchly appreciated thanks.

Cheers

Paul

Edited April 23, 2007 by hampster

[miker32us 6]

We came into Detroit 4/10 from Taiwan with a CR-1. My wife had been here since September on a K-3. They process you in 2 "Special Immigration" lines, 37 and 38, there is no separate room. The officer fingerprinted her and asked me our wedding date and that was it, probably took 10 minutes. We were at the front of the plane so were the 1st off and first in line 37. There were 10 or so people behind us in the 2 special lines, Detroit is a major hub for NWA from Asia and our flight stops in Osaka on the way to Detroit. After that we got our luggage, one of them was inspected because it was so full of food we bought in Taiwan but all of it was legal so the customs officer was very pleasant.