POE didn't take the packet

[shawno1972 0]

My fiance and I arrived in the USA (Portland, OR) 2 weeks ago. She came in on a K1 visa. The immigration officer at the POE let her into the USA without an issue.

There's just one problem: he inspected the Embassy packet, but he did not take it. He returned it to my fiance unopened and let her through.

We didn't think that was very unusual until we started asking her friends about it. The immigration people know what they're doing, we figured. Of course all of the other people she knows who have been through this process told her that the immigration officers at their POEs took their packets - and even the packet itself states that it must be surrendered to an immigration officer. Why didn't he take it?

So now what? Should we call USCIS and explain the situation? I figured I would reach out to the VisaJourney community first before we take that step. Anyone know what we should do?

Thanks!

-S

[Otto 83]

Couple of things - yes, they were indeed supposed to take the packet. Did they issue her an I-94? (Hopefully so). Secondly, what are the chances of you guys being able to return to the airport?

[Nik+Heather 121]

I would get into contact with your local CBP office - maybe even a deferred inspection place. I hope you haven't opened the packet? If not, DON'T!

http://www.cbp.gov/linkhandler/cgov/toolbo...ction_sites.pdf

There are 70 Deferred Inspections Sites throughout the United States and the outlying territories where incoming aliens are referred when documentation requires additional review and/or possible correction.

[Zen Den 18]

My fiance and I arrived in the USA (Portland, OR) 2 weeks ago. She came in on a K1 visa. The immigration officer at the POE let her into the USA without an issue.

There's just one problem: he inspected the Embassy packet, but he did not take it. He returned it to my fiance unopened and let her through.

We didn't think that was very unusual until we started asking her friends about it. The immigration people know what they're doing, we figured. Of course all of the other people she knows who have been through this process told her that the immigration officers at their POEs took their packets - and even the packet itself states that it must be surrendered to an immigration officer. Why didn't he take it?

So now what? Should we call USCIS and explain the situation? I figured I would reach out to the VisaJourney community first before we take that step. Anyone know what we should do?

Thanks!

-S

oops, there could be a big chance that they the inspector got confused, wasn't focused that day or a newbie, hehe

you really need to call USCIS because the contents of the envelope are your fiancee's starting records here in the US.

she might have a problem later w/the next processes (SSN, AOS, removing conditions and naturalization) if those are not in the govt's hands

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Yes - contact the local CBP and get that package processed.

[payxibka 10,047]

There's just one problem: he inspected the Embassy packet, but he did not take it. He returned it to my fiance unopened and let her through.

-S

Maybe I am confused... How could the POE officer "inspect" the package and yet return it "unopened"?

[shawno1972 0]

Thanks, everyone. We will attempt to contact the CBP as soon as possible. Looks like the PDX office is only open on Thursdays.

-S

[John and Camie 39]

What a nightmare. Our POE nearly didn't take our envelope until I insisted on speaking to someone who handled K-1 entries. Someone finally took our packet an hour later and gave John his I-94. I can only hope it made it to its intended destination.

Best of luck, shawno. Zen, your baby is just adorable.

[fox fox 5]

This is the same thing that happened to my fiance. You will have to either return it to the aiport immigration staff, which will be a nightmare within the airport, or you can find a local CBP office that can process your package. Incompetant and under-trained staff. I posted my POE review under the Atlanta POE.

[shawno1972 0]

Update: I called the Portland CBP office and set up an appointment for a "deferred inspection" of the packet. The man who answered the phone asked who my fiance was and what day she entered the States. He was able to determine who her POE agent was. He admitted to me that the agent does not normally work the visitor's counter. Surprisingly, he was quite cheerful and even apologetic about the whole thing.

Great advice about the CBP, folks. Thanks a lot for your help! Nightmare avoided.

-S

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Moving this thread to Moving Here and Your New Life in America from K1 forum -- not just a K1 issue. Glad this got resolved, and hopefully in the other forum it will be useful to other people who come up against this issue.