POE at a (not) busy land border

[KnJ 0]

Considering my choice for POE.

1. Queenston-Lewiston: A lot of reviews, but it's the busiest border, google takes everyone through Q-L. Some people have had some difficulty, or it just took a long time. I went to secondary once at Q-L, that wasn't pleasant. Meh.

2. Peace Bridge (Erie): generally better traffic-wise, but still a busy border. Reviews are positive, it seems. I could check border wait times as I'm driving, and if Erie is better, go there.

3. Thousand Islands Bridge: I'm thinking here, in part because of potential weather events (travelling north of Lake Ontario). But it's also.. less busy, right? I can't find any reviews on VJ for this POE.

I know that busyness is a factor somewhat, and this is linked to time of day? But also coming to mind is maybe how often the POE processes these kinds of visas?

I'm not sure what else. I'm not taking a big u-Haul or trailer or anything.

Thoughts appreciated.

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

Hmm...I wonder if less busy also equates to less familiar with the immigration process for a K-1? And more time to grill you over details, go through your stuff etc.?

That sounds rather cynical, I know, but that's the question that pops up in my mind.

[Missa 0]

i actually asked super CO about this. he said that less busy POE's may take a little longer because they're not used to K1s but with that said they're all trained to process them and should all know how to do it.

[antda 13]

Hi KnJ,

Congrats about passing your interview and good luck at your POE coming up.

In answer to your question:

If I were you, I would take the Peace Bridge (Fort Erie/Buffalo) to the USA for your POE. This is the least busiest bridge, the one with the least amount of problems, and probably process a lot of visas (which they are more likely familiar with). I usually cross this bridge (I cross the border a lot) when I travel between Canada and the USA, and find that this is the best to cross on. Lol...in and out in usually 10 mins or less (at most times of the day, not processing visas, not sure how long visas take)..no problems.

Whatever you do...Do not cross the Rainbow Bridge for a POE! (unless you want to be interrogated there for a long time...that's another story..lol..)

As well, if you are travelling from Toronto to Boston, this is the easiest way to go. Just go on the QEW from Toronto to Buffalo. And then from Buffalo travel on the I-90 to get to Boston (note: it's a toll road, about $15 to Boston from Buffalo...but it's the fastest way and has lots of rest stops in between too...timmies..anyone..lol...). Two highways...no problem. Just don't travel during rush-hour times (lol..especially on the QEW in Toronto), and don't go when it is a holiday (don't want to get stuck at the border then). From Toronto to Buffalo it takes 1-2 hours, and from Buffalo to Boston it takes 8 hours.

Weather-wise, be prepared for a bit of snow during this time of year, but other than that...you shouldn't expect much else than that.

Hope this helps. Good luck at your POE and with the rest of your journey too.

Welcome to America, KnJ..

Ant

Considering my choice for POE.

1. Queenston-Lewiston: A lot of reviews, but it's the busiest border, google takes everyone through Q-L. Some people have had some difficulty, or it just took a long time. I went to secondary once at Q-L, that wasn't pleasant. Meh.

2. Peace Bridge (Erie): generally better traffic-wise, but still a busy border. Reviews are positive, it seems. I could check border wait times as I'm driving, and if Erie is better, go there.

3. Thousand Islands Bridge: I'm thinking here, in part because of potential weather events (travelling north of Lake Ontario). But it's also.. less busy, right? I can't find any reviews on VJ for this POE.

I know that busyness is a factor somewhat, and this is linked to time of day? But also coming to mind is maybe how often the POE processes these kinds of visas?

I'm not sure what else. I'm not taking a big u-Haul or trailer or anything.

Thoughts appreciated.

Edited November 8, 2009 by Ant+D+A

[Anh map 2,098]

Considering my choice for POE.

1. Queenston-Lewiston: A lot of reviews, but it's the busiest border, google takes everyone through Q-L. Some people have had some difficulty, or it just took a long time. I went to secondary once at Q-L, that wasn't pleasant. Meh.

2. Peace Bridge (Erie): generally better traffic-wise, but still a busy border. Reviews are positive, it seems. I could check border wait times as I'm driving, and if Erie is better, go there.

3. Thousand Islands Bridge: I'm thinking here, in part because of potential weather events (travelling north of Lake Ontario). But it's also.. less busy, right? I can't find any reviews on VJ for this POE.

I know that busyness is a factor somewhat, and this is linked to time of day? But also coming to mind is maybe how often the POE processes these kinds of visas?

I'm not sure what else. I'm not taking a big u-Haul or trailer or anything.

Thoughts appreciated.

Congrats on the visa. Glad nothing complicated the interview.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I am sure there have been others who have crossed there but there may not be an option in the review section that lists it - I crossed at Sarnia/Port Huron but it wasn't an option listed for review so I entered it under Detroit.

I've crossed at Ivy Lea as a visitor a number of times - they are actually a fairly busy POE and I expect would be knowledgeable. I know we have had short waits when crossing due to the volume of traffic but I don't know how fast secondary goes. Yes, in winter weather could definitely be a factor not just at the POE but also on the US roads south of the POE which can get very snowbound. The scenery, however, is awesome!

Good luck.

[KnJ 0]

Hmm...I wonder if less busy also equates to less familiar with the immigration process for a K-1? And more time to grill you over details, go through your stuff etc.?

That sounds rather cynical, I know, but that's the question that pops up in my mind.

This is partly what I'm thinking, or that a less experienced POE, like Missa said are trained to process the K-1 but may be more thorough thus longer wait.

Hi KnJ,

Congrats about passing your interview and good luck at your POE coming up.

In answer to your question:

If I were you, I would take the Peace Bridge (Fort Erie/Buffalo) to the USA for your POE. This is the least busiest bridge, the one with the least amount of problems, and probably process a lot of visas (which they are more likely familiar with). I usually cross this bridge (I cross the border a lot) when I travel between Canada and the USA, and find that this is the best to cross on. Lol...in and out in usually 10 mins or less (at most times of the day, not processing visas, not sure how long visas take)..no problems.

Whatever you do...Do not cross the Rainbow Bridge for a POE! (unless you want to be interrogated there for a long time...that's another story..lol..)

As well, if you are travelling from Toronto to Boston, this is the easiest way to go. Just go on the QEW from Toronto to Buffalo. And then from Buffalo travel on the I-90 to get to Boston (note: it's a toll road, about $15 to Boston from Buffalo...but it's the fastest way and has lots of rest stops in between too...timmies..anyone..lol...). Two highways...no problem. Just don't travel during rush-hour times (lol..especially on the QEW in Toronto), and don't go when it is a holiday (don't want to get stuck at the border then). From Toronto to Buffalo it takes 1-2 hours, and from Buffalo to Boston it takes 8 hours.

Weather-wise, be prepared for a bit of snow during this time of year, but other than that...you shouldn't expect much else than that.

Hope this helps. Good luck at your POE and with the rest of your journey too.

Welcome to America, KnJ..

Ant

thanks, Ant! I'm sooooo eager to get there!

My concern with driving south of the lake is the snow. I'll have to check weather. I did the drive March 2008, and went through Q-L or Erie, I think. I've also done north of the lake, and this was a February 2007 when the snowbanks in NY were as high as the houses. I'm familiar enough with the drive along 90.

I'll also have cats. Yeep. Feliway, yes I know

I am sure there have been others who have crossed there but there may not be an option in the review section that lists it - I crossed at Sarnia/Port Huron but it wasn't an option listed for review so I entered it under Detroit.

I've crossed at Ivy Lea as a visitor a number of times - they are actually a fairly busy POE and I expect would be knowledgeable. I know we have had short waits when crossing due to the volume of traffic but I don't know how fast secondary goes. Yes, in winter weather could definitely be a factor not just at the POE but also on the US roads south of the POE which can get very snowbound. The scenery, however, is awesome!

Good luck.

I'm trying to figure out where Ivy Lea is, out Huron way?

Anyway, this helps.

I too like the Peace Bridge. In my experience the wait is usually shorter.

I'm too excited!!!

And I have too much to do

woohoo!

[antda 13]

Yes, in winter weather could definitely be a factor not just at the POE but also on the US roads south of the POE which can get very snowbound. The scenery, however, is awesome!

Good luck.

Oh yaeh, definitely the scenery is awesome, along the way (especially travelling down rural country roads.)

Bring your camera along too, to capture your scenic adventures on your way home to America!

As for the snow..lol..being Canadian..you probably know how to deal with that.

Nevertheless, be prepared for snow along the way...(shovel, anyone?....lol...might have to declare that..lol....)

Happy travels!

Ant

[antda 13]

Hi KnJ,

As for the snow south of the lake....

Oh yeah, I definitely know about those here in NYS, since I live around here and have been buried in snowbanks before..lol....!

We get a lot of lake-effect snow (even more than in Canada, gasp!), as we get all that snow blown across the lake down here from up north. What I find surprising is that the weather in Toronto is 80-90% the same as it is in Buffalo, except there is more snow in Buffalo than Toronto. So if you can handle winter weather in Toronto, you should be ok with weather here in the northern USA.

So far, there's been barely any snow yet in November, though it has snowed a couple of times (a few inches..and we got most of that during Thanksgiving in October..), which is not much, compared to what it is during the real winter time in the next few months. So if you are travelling over the border, might as well do it sooner than later, before the real snowy weather hits!

And even if there is snow, the highways (especially the major ones) are plowed and pretty clear to get through, so you should be ok there with driving along the major highways.

Nevertheless, be prepared! Dress warmly! Check the weather and border crossing reports!

And allow yourself plenty of time to travel too (lol..especially with those cats and in activating your visa)!

Hope this helps too. Happy travels!

Ant

thanks, Ant! I'm sooooo eager to get there!

My concern with driving south of the lake is the snow. I'll have to check weather. I did the drive March 2008, and went through Q-L or Erie, I think. I've also done north of the lake, and this was a February 2007 when the snowbanks in NY were as high as the houses. I'm familiar enough with the drive along 90.

I'll also have cats. Yeep. Feliway, yes I know

Edited November 8, 2009 by Ant+D+A

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

It has less to do with 'where' vs. 'when'. If you cross at 4am or even before 5am.... you will be the only person in there...literally....with no vehicle line up or secondary.... my delays were based on 'lack of knowledge' on their part.

And do not go when shifts are changing over....they get lazy and will make you wait till shift change lol... like if you show up at 7:30am...they change over at 8am at Lewiston....they made us wait till 8:30 for the new crew to deal with us lol....

[Flames9_RN 358]

When i did my cr-1 back in dec 2004, I went thru a small POE in Maine and they had no clue on what to do! They had to get out the binder, and eventually had to cal another POE to see how to do it. Still it didnt take that long and it all worked out

[KnJ 0]

It has less to do with 'where' vs. 'when'. If you cross at 4am or even before 5am.... you will be the only person in there...literally....with no vehicle line up or secondary.... my delays were based on 'lack of knowledge' on their part.

And do not go when shifts are changing over....they get lazy and will make you wait till shift change lol... like if you show up at 7:30am...they change over at 8am at Lewiston....they made us wait till 8:30 for the new crew to deal with us lol....

This is really helpful. Shift change. Didn't think of that.

I might stay at a friend's and do the trip in two legs. I ideally want to head out Really D&mn Early, but who knows.

[Sam and Ben 2]

Definitely good to know about the shift change. Never would've thought of that, but not surprising.

[antda 13]

Interesting advice too, about the shift change....

I knew that there are shift changes in hospitals and places like that, but not at border crossings....

Never knew about that before at the peace bridge..Now I know...

Hmm..besides 8am are there any other shift changes too?

Someone should make a note of that, to warn those who are crossing the border to not cross at those times...

Oh well, they are only human, I suppose..they work in shifts..and need breaks...lol...understandable..

So yeah, don't go during a shift change..unless you want to wait!

Ant

[KnJ 0]

But, strategically going before a shift change *could* mean that they push it through so that they don't leave it to the next person... like, maybe an hour before shift change? Just a wild thought.

Not sure what time I'll go. It'll take basically 2 hrs to get to whatever POE I go to. Last time I did a POE with cats I went waay early to cross the border before sunrise. Not sure I can do that this time.