Recent and Imminent POEs

[yohino 22]

They don't seem to be the smartest. Sure you all want to continue banking with them??

Well, it's a good bank, especially for my military husband.

I'll figure it out somehow.

[TheMatrix 6]

So wifey is getting ready to arrive in Washington on Monday. There is no hassle of connecting flights and POE will be at Washington Dulles.

Just to confirm, does the following POE checklist look complete?

- Her Passport (Duh!)

- Sealed Immigration Envelope

- X-Rays

- Customs form filled out

Is there anything else she should carry? Photos? Documents? Certificates?

[sachinky 465]

Si, senor.

I carried my X-ray and marriage certificate, just in case but it was not needed.

[yohino 22]

So wifey is getting ready to arrive in Washington on Monday. There is no hassle of connecting flights and POE will be at Washington Dulles.

Just to confirm, does the following POE checklist look complete?

- Her Passport (Duh!)

- Sealed Immigration Envelope

- X-Rays

- Customs form filled out

Is there anything else she should carry? Photos? Documents? Certificates?

A big big smile?

You'r good though, I was never asked for my x-rays either but I heard someone else was.

[TheMatrix 6]

Si, senor.

I carried my X-ray and marriage certificate, just in case but it was not needed.

Thanks! The pre-screener at the embassy told her to carry the X-Rays.

A big big smile?

You'r good though, I was never asked for my x-rays either but I heard someone else was.

Thanks! A smile always helps, but immigration officers are so expressionless usually. They must all be poker players after working hours.

[yohino 22]

Thanks! The pre-screener at the embassy told her to carry the X-Rays.

Thanks! A smile always helps, but immigration officers are so expressionless usually. They must all be poker players after working hours.

Actually the guy I was processed by first was really funny! I hope your wife has a nice guy aswell!

[mrs. wife! 3]

So wifey is getting ready to arrive in Washington on Monday. There is no hassle of connecting flights and POE will be at Washington Dulles.

Just to confirm, does the following POE checklist look complete?

- Her Passport (Duh!)

- Sealed Immigration Envelope

- X-Rays

- Customs form filled out

Is there anything else she should carry? Photos? Documents? Certificates?

My POE was Dulles last month. They took forever to check my papers and let me in. I missed my connecting flight.

They will open the envelope and let her in on the 1st screening, then she will go to a 2nd screening that they will check her luggage as she is a new immigrant.

I hope they are faster than they were with me. If she has to catch a flight and misses it there is no charge though.

Let me know if you have any doubts and good luck!

[yohino 22]

Nat - They checked your luggage? What did they do? Go through your stuff?

Edited July 22, 2010 by yohino

[mrs. wife! 3]

They x-ray the luggage again and the lady said she 'saw' something on it.

So she asked permission to look inside. She didn't make too much mess, but I think it was just because she was a little lazy as it was 6 in the morning. Then of course she couldn't find anything and let me go. But it took a while because there were a lot of people on that line and I was one of the lasts.

Apparently they check all new immigrants and people who got back from the forest, or farm, you know, this kind of places. For one couple they also sterilized their shoes because they used them somewhere in the country they were coming from... haha

[TheMatrix 6]

Actually the guy I was processed by first was really funny! I hope your wife has a nice guy aswell!

I suppose after 17 hours of flying (with a brief halt in Munich) she would just want the POE process to go quickly, but yes, a few laughs are a nice way to welcome someone in a new country. I've had pleasant exchanges with British immigration when I've visited there. But the Americans are quick, efficient and professional.. There was that one time when the sleepy immigration officer at NY JFK said "Enjoy your stay" when he handed me my US passport back! I did that double take when you are just about to say something ("Errr... I am not visiting. I live here!") but then just sighed and moved on!

My POE was Dulles last month. They took forever to check my papers and let me in. I missed my connecting flight.

They will open the envelope and let her in on the 1st screening, then she will go to a 2nd screening that they will check her luggage as she is a new immigrant.

I hope they are faster than they were with me. If she has to catch a flight and misses it there is no charge though.

Let me know if you have any doubts and good luck!

Wow, so they take long, huh? I have set low expectations for her POE experience, telling her it could be "a few hours" before she can come out. She doesn't have a connecting flight and Dulles is her final destination so we are not worried that way.

[yohino 22]

They x-ray the luggage again and the lady said she 'saw' something on it.

So she asked permission to look inside. She didn't make too much mess, but I think it was just because she was a little lazy as it was 6 in the morning. Then of course she couldn't find anything and let me go. But it took a while because there were a lot of people on that line and I was one of the lasts.

Apparently they check all new immigrants and people who got back from the forest, or farm, you know, this kind of places. For one couple they also sterilized their shoes because they used them somewhere in the country they were coming from... haha

Really?

They didn't do anything with my luggage, I couldn't even pick up my checked bag before I went through secondary!

Then I just picked it up and turned my customs form in and I was on my way!

I'v always had nice officers when I'v entered the US, maybe I'v always been lucky to find the chatty one,haha!

[Aspasia 0]

Hi guys,

My POE was 6/24 and I am still waiting to receive *anything*... don't even have a new SS card yet. I called USCIS on 6/20 and they said they will investigate what's going on, a lady gave me a case number and told me to wait 45 days to receive a Welcome letter and then call back if I don't get anything yet.

But, we want to travel, and everyone looks funny at the visa in my passport since it says it's valid until December, nobody wants to read the fine print (that it's valid for a year with a stamp) so I am having some issues with getting visas for Europe and work stuff... so I would like to expedite the process and receive my GC as soon as possible! I can do an Infopass appointment any time, it's near our house, should I do that? I am not worried about the SS card as much as I want to get the GC!

Any suggestions please? I was reading the earlier topic with regard to the NVC and it helped *immensely* to expedite the process and make it as painless as possible... so wanted to thank everyone who contributed to that as well

Edited July 23, 2010 by Aspasia

[Aspasia 0]

Well, it's a good bank, especially for my military husband.

I'll figure it out somehow.

Try calling their 1(800) number and asking the operator for SWIFT, if they don't know, ask to speak to a supervisor and don't let them off the line, asking to speak to the supervisor of the supervisor until you get in touch with someone knowledgeable or someone who can refer you to the proper department. That's how it works with pretty much all things here, when you have trouble - call the 1(800) line and ask to speak to a supervisor

[mrs. wife! 3]

Hi guys,

My POE was 6/24 and I am still waiting to receive *anything*... don't even have a new SS card yet. I called USCIS on 6/20 and they said they will investigate what's going on, a lady gave me a case number and told me to wait 45 days to receive a Welcome letter and then call back if I don't get anything yet.

But, we want to travel, and everyone looks funny at the visa in my passport since it says it's valid until December, nobody wants to read the fine print (that it's valid for a year with a stamp) so I am having some issues with getting visas for Europe and work stuff... so I would like to expedite the process and receive my GC as soon as possible! I can do an Infopass appointment any time, it's near our house, should I do that? I am not worried about the SS card as much as I want to get the GC!

Any suggestions please? I was reading the earlier topic with regard to the NVC and it helped *immensely* to expedite the process and make it as painless as possible... so wanted to thank everyone who contributed to that as well

I just called USCIS but there are no operators right now. They close at 8pm.

My poe was June 2nd and still nothing, I mean JUUUUUNEEEE freaking 2nd!!!!!!!!!!!! Not even the welcome letter. I have a infopass appointment for next Monday but I just started my new job, so it sucks to ask for time off. At the same time I really need to get this fixed. What's going on with them?

Would it help to drive to Dulles airport and try to talk to a border patrol? At least I can go there on the weekends/anytime.

The same thing is happening to me, everyone seems to think that my visa will expire on November and nobody reads the printed area saying it's good for a year! Arghhhhhhhh

Son of b!tches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really need my papers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm soooo pissed you guys, I feel like screaming every time I think about it.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh son of good lords!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Aspasia 0]

My poe was June 2nd and still nothing, I mean JUUUUUNEEEE freaking 2nd!!!!!!!!!!!! Not even the welcome letter. I have a infopass appointment for next Monday but I just started my new job, so it sucks to ask for time off. At the same time I really need to get this fixed. What's going on with them?

Would it help to drive to Dulles airport and try to talk to a border patrol? At least I can go there on the weekends/anytime.

The same thing is happening to me, everyone seems to think that my visa will expire on November and nobody reads the printed area saying it's good for a year! Arghhhhhhhh

I don't think driving to Dulles airport and trying to talk to border patrol will help since afaik it's out of their hands at this point, but talking to USCIS during business hours and asking what's going on will be a good idea... you can do it on your lunch break so you won't have to take time off. Also, on the USCIS website they recommend calling them if it's been 30 days since you've been approved and you still haven't received anything. I would do that first and maybe the Infopass, unless you don't want to take time off of work?

I know, it's taking forever, and the stamp in the passport is not viewed as a "legitimate" green card by pretty much everybody, ugh. So annoying! I just want it to be over with already

I think it's the summer months so it's taking longer than normal, but based on other timelines in this thread we should be getting our things soon... will keep my fingers crossed!