Clearing confusion from the standpoint of the border about POE

[mike777 0]

OK

I just called the Rainbow bridge in NY about my wife's POE. I explained to him exactly what's going on, how I wanted to POE this week to start the process of her getting her SSN and all that "jazz" as I called it.

He said we can come in "at any time" and that she "doesn't actually have to move until a year." I will repeat, He said after activating her CR1, she "does" not have to actually move for a year...and she can come and go as she pleased with that stamped passport.

And contrary to the CO's disclaimer, we do NOT need a advanced parole, he said that must be if your still waiting for your packet in the mail.

This information is for myself and anyone else that has been told other wise. Id still advise to call a bridge though just to confirm. Do not "move" or "POE" on my account. I'm just telling you all what I was told. I said was anything else needed, he said no, just the packet.

Its actually quite hard to call one of the bridges. The Niagara Falls Bridge Commission, which "runs" the bridges - whirlpool, lewiston queenston and rainbow bridge, is NOT the CBP. I had to google to get their numbers.

Initially I called the LQ bridge, the guy did NOT understand me, he said he thinks there's a fee, then he was talking to someone on the other line, and I overheard him say, "there's a Fee for K1 right..." DUH I DID NOT SAY K1. So I just said thank to him and hung up and called another bridge. In WNY, I have 4 bridges I cal call :-)

[sdw 10]

That's some good info to know. I am trying to figure everything out myself.

[brocku00 1]

OK

I just called the Rainbow bridge in NY about my wife's POE. I explained to him exactly what's going on, how I wanted to POE this week to start the process of her getting her SSN and all that "jazz" as I called it.

He said we can come in "at any time" and that she "doesn't actually have to move until a year." I will repeat, He said after activating her CR1, she "does" not have to actually move for a year...and she can come and go as she pleased with that stamped passport.

And contrary to the CO's disclaimer, we do NOT need a advanced parole, he said that must be if your still waiting for your packet in the mail.

This information is for myself and anyone else that has been told other wise. Id still advise to call a bridge though just to confirm. Do not "move" or "POE" on my account. I'm just telling you all what I was told. I said was anything else needed, he said no, just the packet.

Its actually quite hard to call one of the bridges. The Niagara Falls Bridge Commission, which "runs" the bridges - whirlpool, lewiston queenston and rainbow bridge, is NOT the CBP. I had to google to get their numbers.

Initially I called the LQ bridge, the guy did NOT understand me, he said he thinks there's a fee, then he was talking to someone on the other line, and I overheard him say, "there's a Fee for K1 right..." DUH I DID NOT SAY K1. So I just said thank to him and hung up and called another bridge. In WNY, I have 4 bridges I cal call :-)

Hi there,

I just wanted to totally agree with you since I just did the process today! I called Lewiston Bridge yesterday and explained the same thing about getting the ball rolling and not moving for a few months and he said that it was fine. So today I drove 35 minutes south, hit the PIL booth and told him I want to activate my Visa. So he sent me in. Within a few minutes I was called up and AGAIN I explained what I was looking to do and the officers (3 of them) said after activation that I have a year to move down!! So he told me to sit down for a few and relax. He called me up about 5 minutes later and took my fingerprints (electronic), my picture and then the old fashioned ink fingerprint (only one finger). He told me to sit down again and so I did. About 10 minutes later he called me up, explained how to cross the border and so on and said that's it, see ya later. I took my passport and drove down the street to the SS Office and applied for my SSN and my childrens. The SSN applications took about 20 minutes and the man said I should get them in the mail next week or the following week (in Canada). ***Just to let you know when you apply for SSN, have your passport with VISA (obviously!!) and your birth certificate....you need both.

So, I am now "ACTIVATED" and will have my SSN in a couple of weeks and I must say it was the easiest process yet. I drove from home, did the border thing, applied for SSN's and drove home in 3 hours and 45 minutes!! Not bad! Just one question though, the border officer said that I will be getting my GC in the mail in approx. 5-6 months. ......is this correct??? I swear I read peoples timelines that said it only took about a month. My Visa is a temp. GC for a year anyways, so I'm not worried about it....just curious.

So, hope this helps some people.....and I'm sure that every bridge or POE is going to be different. ...this was just my experience at Lewiston.

[mike777 0]

defn, its good info to have. I just hope they are correct. The first guy at the one bridge, the one that wasn't really listening to me, he also did say 1 year after stamp though as well.

So they both said a year. I am skeptical of what people tell me, especially these guys as there is inconsistency amongst them, two confirmations of a year seem to be good for me.

[mike777 0]

From what I seen its 1 to 3 months. I doubt 5-6 months, the person that told you that doens't know what they are talking about, or they are "told" to tell people longer so they don't get bombarded with phone calls.

Ohh the joys of dealing with these guys. I deal with it just about everyday, crossing the border is like a bodily function for me

[Darnell 8,478]

Mike? was interview at Montreal recently?

I've heard a few stories that the CO told a CR-1 visa applicant the WRONG info (perhaps this was one of yer posts?)

from the Montreal Interview Group.

Did you get the name of this VO? I'd send him a post card, if I were you, at the POE postal drop, explaining in short words, how he/she was wrong.

Good Luck ! (sorry for stupid americans in Montreal - you should complain ! )

[mike777 0]

My wifes and I guess mine too..interview was Wednesday. Maybe he did tell us wrong info, he seemed to be a veteran though, a guy maybe in his 50's? Maybe 60's? White hair. average to thin weight and build.

Hes good in my book though :-) ONLY because he approved us, if the outcome was different, I would have given them a 1 or 0 on the review.

If my wife gets passport back tomorrow, I'm sending her over. lol Its my sisters birthday party in NY state Saturday, would be nice if she could come.

Ah, these officers, dealt with them my entire life. I do faintly recall that back in the day, my fam and I were able to go over without showing ID....back then I recall they just wanted to know what your declaring.

[Revenesque 2]

That's good info, Mike and Brocku. I have a question about moving almost a year later after one has POE'd.

After one activated their visa (temporary GC), and go back to Canada to reside, does one lose their residency qualification for their provincial health care?

[mike777 0]

Well, I'm told that you lose it after you move, as you must have residency in Canada, but a Canadian officer at one of the bridges told me that my wife must notify ohip after she moves, well. that tells me that she can activate CR1, and if shes not permanently relocated yet, she doesn't have to inform ohip yet, and shes still present in Ontario, but I could be wrong...?

[Pauley 2]

Well, I'm told that you lose it after you move, as you must have residency in Canada, but a Canadian officer at one of the bridges told me that my wife must notify ohip after she moves, well. that tells me that she can activate CR1, and if shes not permanently relocated yet, she doesn't have to inform ohip yet, and shes still present in Ontario, but I could be wrong...?

That wold be the logic I'd read into it, but there I've gone and associated the actions of government agencies with logic, so who the heck knows.

[Revenesque 2]

Well, I'm told that you lose it after you move, as you must have residency in Canada, but a Canadian officer at one of the bridges told me that my wife must notify ohip after she moves, well. that tells me that she can activate CR1, and if shes not permanently relocated yet, she doesn't have to inform ohip yet, and shes still present in Ontario, but I could be wrong...?

That makes sense to me that one would notify OHIP once they physically relocated. I just remember a story of a woman who has her GC, lives in a US border town (I think...can't remember the details) but works in Canada, pays Canadian payroll taxes, etc. The Canadian universal healthcare was covering her up until they found out she's a GC holder--they ended her coverage retroactively to when she first became a GC holder and demanded reimbursement of over $100K for her (hip replacement?) surgery. Ouch!

That story scared me so I just wanted to make sure all my i's are dotted and t's are crossed.

[Revenesque 2]

Another question for Mike and Brocku,

When you POE'd, did you have to submit some kind of inventory list of personal stuff you will take with you when you physically move? Wouldn't the border agent want to know what they are before hand so they don't levy duty on it when you later move in with it?

[mike777 0]

I'd use excel and make an inventory list when you actually move your stuff over in the truck.

I'd maybe categorize everything under headings, like....bathroom, entertainment, etc. etc. I did that for Canada as my posessions are physically in Canada and not in the US. They are all at my wifes, so I did that, she just scanned it and barely looked. And said OK.

I also made note that all items were personal, in used condition and acquired in the US.

That was just me, I'm sure that details not necessary but it's what I did.

I heard of a couple where the guy just "glanced" in the Uhaul truck and that was it.

[Flames9_RN 358]

once u have the interview in Mtl, one has 6 months to move/actyivate the visa

When I crossed in Miane with my U-haul truck, I had an inventory list, i grouped things together, but headings suchs as: item, approx value, srl # (if it was an electronic item) Labeled my boxes as well--for ease of unpacking. Border dude looked at my list for about 10 seconds and stated it was a better job than what he woul dhave done, stamped it, and gave me back my list. Never even looked in my Uhaul truck!.

if 10-14 days after POE and stil no SSN--download the form from http://www.socialsecurity.gov/online/ss-5.html and head to ur local SSN office. You may have ben issued one, and its on the way, or they havent! And if they havent, instead of going to the back of the line, you hand them ur alrwady filled out form and ur passport with ur visa in it, and u simply re-apply, too easy!! SSN offices tend to be a busy place, so best to get there first thing in the morning before they open and wait

[sdw 10]

Am thinking about going this route too, although my actual move day will only be a few weeks later.