POE Review

[Peachey 10]

Things are starting to settle down a bit, other than my nuptials tomorrow. My mom's still here helping me unpack n stuff, but i snuck away for 2 minutes to give my POE review.

We were all in different cars (3 to be exact) and I pull into the most empty lane at 8AM in the morning. I open my passport to my Visa and give it to the Border Guard. We shall call him BG McNoob. I honestly think I got the same guy as Spoom and ScooterMac. He looks at the Visa, looks at me and here is the dialog:

BG: Where you going?

Me: Lancaster PA

BG: Why?

Me: I'm getting married, as per my visa.

BG: You're GETTING married?

Me: Yes

BG: What are you bringing?

Me: All my things, the 2 cars behind me have the rest of them, I am moving.

BG: When was the last time you were in the US?

Me: November x to x

BG: And you had your visa then?

Me: No officer, I got my Visa on November x.

BG (examines the visa some more): How long are you staying in the United States Ma'am?

Me: Well, I have to adjust my status after I get married to a Permanent Resident.

BG (looks extremely confused now): So when you coming back to Canada?

Me: Do you mean when am I moving back?

BG: Yes

Me: That's a very good question...

So at this point he closes his door and talks to another BG that's patrolling the cars. He gets the info he needs, but it takes like 5 minutes and finally he opens his door again:

BG: I just had to check the stamp in your passport.

Me: Ok, thanks!

BG (puts my passport in an envelope and gives me a little piece of paper and steps out of his booth to the front of my car): Please put your four ways on and, see where that car is? Go there.

(he is much more friendlier now as he knows what kind of visa I have and what to do with it).

Me: The people in the 2 cars behind me have the rest of my things, I believe they have to accompany me (I describe the cars).

BG: Well they're not suppose to but I will see what I can do.

Ok, so I go to where the car is, park and go into Door #2, they were very adamant that I had to go in that door.

I sit down and wait for my name to be called. Finally (after about 5 minutes) they called "Peachey to window 15, all the way down at the end through the glass doors." So I had the hardest time finding this window, then realized that I am LOCKED in this room. Oh well, I'm no threat to anyone. So I get officer Jeff and say "I think you need this" and give him my "Do not seal, do not pack" envelope. Jeff was very friendly and said "You sure you want to do this, after I open this envelope it's all over". I said of course and he opened it.

We joked around for a bit, while he filled out the paperwork and took my fingerprints. The people in the window next to me were having a real hard time proving their ties to Canada.

He said I was good to go and found someone to do the car import. BTW, they don't care if your daytime running lights don't conform to standards.

In total, I was in secondary for 45 minutes, and when I got out I found out that they let my fiance and mom park outside of secondary to wait for me

Overall great experience, other than officer McNoob.

[Krikit 1,164]

Jeff was very friendly and said "You sure you want to do this, after I open this envelope it's all over".

Great review, Peachey. Welcome to America!

[Rhiannercakes 14]

Welcome to the US of Eh

[trailmix 77]

Glad it was such a good experience Peachy! Welcome to that other country

[Dan and Ali 3]

Thanks for posting your review, Peachy! I'm so glad you had a great POE (minus BG McNoob). Congrats!

[Sam and Ben 2]

Glad it was a good POE for you! Welcome and an early congrats to your marriage tomorrow.

[antda 13]

Hi Peachy,

Congrats on a successful POE! Thanks for sharing about that detailed experience about the Peace Bridge here on vj (lol..I guess I'm not the only one around here taking detailed notes about such border crossings...)

Welcome to America, Peachy!

Congrats too, on getting married tomorrow (New Year's Eve..cool!), and may you enjoy the happiness that married life brings!

Lol...Yeah..there have been Noob-like BGs at the Peace Bridge (and the Rainbow Bridge too)....

Think it's because of the snowy and cold weather that we have up here....With those open booths..bound to make any border guard cranky..lol....

Though take note BGs....We VJers are watching and reporting you an VJ...Anything you say can be used against you in jest...lol....

Either way, glad you and the rest of your wedding party made it!

And good luck with the rest of your journey (to Lancaster, PA..cool...Amish country!...I'll have to go there sometime) too!

Ant

Things are starting to settle down a bit, other than my nuptials tomorrow. My mom's still here helping me unpack n stuff, but i snuck away for 2 minutes to give my POE review.

We were all in different cars (3 to be exact) and I pull into the most empty lane at 8AM in the morning. I open my passport to my Visa and give it to the Border Guard. We shall call him BG McNoob. I honestly think I got the same guy as Spoom and ScooterMac. He looks at the Visa, looks at me and here is the dialog:

BG: Where you going?

Me: Lancaster PA

BG: Why?

Me: I'm getting married, as per my visa.

BG: You're GETTING married?

Me: Yes

BG: What are you bringing?

Me: All my things, the 2 cars behind me have the rest of them, I am moving.

BG: When was the last time you were in the US?

Me: November x to x

BG: And you had your visa then?

Me: No officer, I got my Visa on November x.

BG (examines the visa some more): How long are you staying in the United States Ma'am?

Me: Well, I have to adjust my status after I get married to a Permanent Resident.

BG (looks extremely confused now): So when you coming back to Canada?

Me: Do you mean when am I moving back?

BG: Yes

Me: That's a very good question...

So at this point he closes his door and talks to another BG that's patrolling the cars. He gets the info he needs, but it takes like 5 minutes and finally he opens his door again:

BG: I just had to check the stamp in your passport.

Me: Ok, thanks!

BG (puts my passport in an envelope and gives me a little piece of paper and steps out of his booth to the front of my car): Please put your four ways on and, see where that car is? Go there.

(he is much more friendlier now as he knows what kind of visa I have and what to do with it).

Me: The people in the 2 cars behind me have the rest of my things, I believe they have to accompany me (I describe the cars).

BG: Well they're not suppose to but I will see what I can do.

Ok, so I go to where the car is, park and go into Door #2, they were very adamant that I had to go in that door.

I sit down and wait for my name to be called. Finally (after about 5 minutes) they called "Peachey to window 15, all the way down at the end through the glass doors." So I had the hardest time finding this window, then realized that I am LOCKED in this room. Oh well, I'm no threat to anyone. So I get officer Jeff and say "I think you need this" and give him my "Do not seal, do not pack" envelope. Jeff was very friendly and said "You sure you want to do this, after I open this envelope it's all over". I said of course and he opened it.

We joked around for a bit, while he filled out the paperwork and took my fingerprints. The people in the window next to me were having a real hard time proving their ties to Canada.

He said I was good to go and found someone to do the car import. BTW, they don't care if your daytime running lights don't conform to standards.

In total, I was in secondary for 45 minutes, and when I got out I found out that they let my fiance and mom park outside of secondary to wait for me

Overall great experience, other than officer McNoob.

Edited December 31, 2009 by Ant+D+BabyA

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Congrats on making it to the US Peachey! I remember that same thing about door 2... I think the border guy told us door 2 like 4 times while explaining to us where to go... maybe there is something dangerous or secret behind door number 1?

[cdn_gewels 0]

Happy Wedding!!!

[Krikit 1,164]

Congrats on making it to the US Peachey! I remember that same thing about door 2... I think the border guy told us door 2 like 4 times while explaining to us where to go... maybe there is something dangerous or secret behind door number 1?

Door #1 is where they take the criminal-types. You don't want to be invited through Door #1.

Seriously, though. I've watched them take people through that door. Some in handcuffs.

[Varba 0]

My version of it is shorter and quite amusing as well.

I pulled up after Peachey and her mom had gone through.

BG: ID please.

*hands passport*

BG: Where are you from?

Me: Lancaster PA

BG: Where are you headed?

Me: Home

BG: Why do you have so much stuff in your car?

Me: Err.. I'm with my fiancee Peachey, 2 cars in front of me. We're activating her K1 visa and moving to Lancaster...

BG: Oh.

BG gets out of car and wanders around the back looking at the boxes.

BG: Ok put on your 4 ways, and go over there and park. Then you can go in with her.

Me drives over, parks. BG2 comes over.

BG2: Ok, you can stay here, but DON'T get out of your car.

Me: I'm with Peachey, she's my finacee and we're activating her visa I'm allowed to go in door 2...

BG2: SIR, DO NOT EXIT YOUR VEHICLE.

Me: Ok.

Me sits and waits.

A full sized tan van pulls up on the left, no windows except the front.

Guy gets out and goes in.

3 BG's swarm it, and start swearing when the doors are locked.

BG3 comes out of building with a key and manages to get 2 doors open, grunts and swears some more.

BG's 3 and 4 try to force the back door open, with no luck.

BG5 gets out a massive flashlight and start crawling around in side... I see lots of wires and piping.

I try to think of happy thoughts that aren't related to a giant bomb sitting beside me.

BG5 gets out a test kit for (I assume) gun powder/explosives and goes back into the van.

I hope it's negative.

2 BG's wander past, and ask BG2 why 2 cars are sitting there with people in.

BG2: I-94

BG6: Oh

BG2: They are moving

BG6: No ######.

They chuckle and walk past.

Peachey's mom's car starts up, I look, and there is Peachey gliding magnificently down from the heavens holding a I-94.

HORAY!

The end.

[Krikit 1,164]

I try to think of happy thoughts that aren't related to a giant bomb sitting beside me.

Wow. I can't imagine being forced to sit in my car and wait for someone to finish secondary at the Peace Bridge. I've been in there upwards of 2-3 hours sometimes.

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Door #1 is where they take the criminal-types. You don't want to be invited through Door #1.

Seriously, though. I've watched them take people through that door. Some in handcuffs.

Humm... So I guess it was rather important to go in door #2 then huh? Mystery solved by Krikit!

[Krikit 1,164]

Humm... So I guess it was rather important to go in door #2 then huh? Mystery solved by Krikit!

Oh wait. Are we talking about the same door? The solid door in the waiting room beside the enclosed glass room where they process your visa? Or are you talking about the door to the first building, which is the Customs end of things?

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Oh wait. Are we talking about the same door? The solid door in the waiting room beside the enclosed glass room where they process your visa? Or are you talking about the door to the first building, which is the Customs end of things?

I'm... not sure...? The border guard kept saying, "enter into door #2! Make sure you go into #2" then 2 seconds later "door #2!" so I was wondering whats behind door number 1. I didn't actually see a door labeled #1 so your guess is as good as mine. They just processed my visa at the main counter where they have all the other guards working, I didn't go to a special glass room..