PoE (Point of Entry) experience - Sweeeeeeet

[hellraiser 42]

Our Point ofEntry (PoE) was JFK, New York and fortunately I was accompanying my wifeexperiencing the whole thing first hand. I don't think our experience could beany simpler. On arrival we went to the Immigration checkpoint fornon-immigrants with my wife and asked the CBP officer:

Me: Is this the right window for a new immigrant.

CBP Officer: Yes, I can take it.

I handed over the sealed envelope along with her passport to the officer.

CBP Officer: Is she your wife?

Me: Yes

The officer tore the envelop, quickly scanned the papers in there, keyed insome info in the computer, and asked my wife this:

CBP Officer: Can you please put 4 fingers of your right hand on the screen.

My wife did that and then the officer asked to put her thumb. After that thesame for her left hand. Once the finger printing was done, stamped her passportwith the entry seal, gave us the papers back and told us:

CBP Officer: You can go to counter 4 in the back.

So I asked if he can take care of my passport and did the same taking few moreseconds.

Afterwards, we took all the papers to the counter 4, which is nothing but somedesignated areas on the floor marked with 1, 2, 3, and 4. We were the onlypeople who came to 4 and the officer promptly told us "come on guys"with a smile. He then took a quick scan of the documents, and asked me

CBP Officer 2: Would you have any more passport size photo graph with you? Idon't see the required number in the bundle.

Fortunately we had more than 5 copies of photograph with us. While we weretaking them out of our bags, the CBP officer went through the papers andrealized the photos were in separate plastic bag where they should be in thepacket and told us that we are okay; however he took the extra photograph justin case. Then took the index finger impression of my wife, asked her to signher name and said "You are done, welcome".

I mean, I was ecstatic and couldn't resist saying "I heard so manyhorrible stories about the PoE and never thought it would be this simple".The officer smiled and said that depends on combination of paperwork wereceive, number of people in here, and of course the officer.

I walked outwith my head high, and with a really big smile on my face.......... Things workedout mysteriously well for me, and I personally thank God, my wife, hers and myfamily members, and the people whole helped me with their thoughts andsuggestions on this site. I wish all a smooth ride as well. May god with youall the time.........

I guess I will be out of this site for a while, until the time when herCondition needs to be removed to change the CR1 status. Bye all for now....

[caly 48]

I'm glad your wife POE'd with no problems! JFK will be my POE when the time comes too. Thanks for posting such a detailed review of your experience.

[CanuckGurl 3]

Thank you for sharing - I hope to have just as easy and pleasant of an experience in a few weeks time when I go for my own.

Edited September 8, 2011 by CanuckGurl

[caly 48]

Thank you for sharing - I hope to have just as easy and pleasant of an experience in a few weeks time when I go for my own.

Best of luck! Please let us know how it goes. Thank you!

[calibob 73]

Good story!! Congrats on the easy and successful entry.....home now,

Bob

[Lovemad 7]

Our Point ofEntry (PoE) was JFK, New York and fortunately I was accompanying my wifeexperiencing the whole thing first hand. I don't think our experience could beany simpler. On arrival we went to the Immigration checkpoint fornon-immigrants with my wife and asked the CBP officer:

Me: Is this the right window for a new immigrant.

CBP Officer: Yes, I can take it.

I handed over the sealed envelope along with her passport to the officer.

CBP Officer: Is she your wife?

Me: Yes

The officer tore the envelop, quickly scanned the papers in there, keyed insome info in the computer, and asked my wife this:

CBP Officer: Can you please put 4 fingers of your right hand on the screen.

My wife did that and then the officer asked to put her thumb. After that thesame for her left hand. Once the finger printing was done, stamped her passportwith the entry seal, gave us the papers back and told us:

CBP Officer: You can go to counter 4 in the back.

So I asked if he can take care of my passport and did the same taking few moreseconds.

Afterwards, we took all the papers to the counter 4, which is nothing but somedesignated areas on the floor marked with 1, 2, 3, and 4. We were the onlypeople who came to 4 and the officer promptly told us "come on guys"with a smile. He then took a quick scan of the documents, and asked me

CBP Officer 2: Would you have any more passport size photo graph with you? Idon't see the required number in the bundle.

Fortunately we had more than 5 copies of photograph with us. While we weretaking them out of our bags, the CBP officer went through the papers andrealized the photos were in separate plastic bag where they should be in thepacket and told us that we are okay; however he took the extra photograph justin case. Then took the index finger impression of my wife, asked her to signher name and said "You are done, welcome".

I mean, I was ecstatic and couldn't resist saying "I heard so manyhorrible stories about the PoE and never thought it would be this simple".The officer smiled and said that depends on combination of paperwork wereceive, number of people in here, and of course the officer.

I walked outwith my head high, and with a really big smile on my face.......... Things workedout mysteriously well for me, and I personally thank God, my wife, hers and myfamily members, and the people whole helped me with their thoughts andsuggestions on this site. I wish all a smooth ride as well. May god with youall the time.........

I guess I will be out of this site for a while, until the time when herCondition needs to be removed to change the CR1 status. Bye all for now....

Thanks for sharing this. Hopefully, everyone on VJ will have as pleasant experience at POE as your wife did.

[Abdul2 10]

congratulations deshi bhai....wish you a lovely family life in USA

[onlybelieve 1]

Congrats!!! That must be a wonderful feeling!!! Can't wait til it's my turn to experience that

[Brusik 11]

Wow that seemed very easy

I an nervous about my wife. She is flying alone and her POE is Seattle.. I hope someone can help her find the Immigration office.

I also worry about her luggage if she is tied up in immigration. I wish I could wait at immigration but that is another security checkpoint that

I am not allowed through..

her POE is the 28th of September......

[OBX 51]

Nice to hear it all went smoothly. Congratulations.

[hellraiser 42]

Thank you all for your good wishes. Yes, I wish the same for all, an easy and pleasant entry. Just make sure you spouse has few extra passport size photos, If the papers are good in the sealed envelop (we don't konw what's in there and what embassy put in there), I hope things will be okay unless one ends up with the wrong person at the wrong day :-(

[rhenzhen 5]

Thanks for sharing this. My wife POE is JFK also... Her interview is this coming Sept. 19 and she will depart Oct 25 from Manila to JFK... I hope it will be as easy as this....

I just want to clarify this... So, the line for CR1 for first POE is NON-IMMIGRANT not the IMMIGRANT LINE? THANKS!

Edited September 9, 2011 by rhenzhen

[hellraiser 42]

Thanks for sharing this. My wife POE is JFK also... Her interview is this coming Sept. 19 and she will depart Oct 25 from Manila to JFK... I hope it will be as easy as this....

I just want to clarify this... So, the line for CR1 for first POE is NON-IMMIGRANT not the IMMIGRANT LINE? THANKS!

IR1 or CR1 are both for immigrant visa. If your spouse is coming 2 years since you've applied for immigrant visa, the category will be IR1. Less than 2 years of marriage fells under the category CR1. 2 years after PoE, CR1 will need to remove the conditions. As far as I know, that's the only difference.

As I said before, as long as the papers are good in the envelop (done by the embassy) and your wife is bit prepared with the type of questions she may encounter, it should be all good. I am sure things will turn out pretty cool for you. Best of luck.

[~Hot Mama~ 3]

Wow glad to hear your process went smoothly. Last time I returned from being in Turkey I passed through Customs in JFK and it took over 2 hours! And I'm a USC! Glad you hit it on a good day! I am planning on bringing hubby back through Chicago which is usually pretty smooth too!

[Dave and Kinnari 31]

Wow glad to hear your process went smoothly. Last time I returned from being in Turkey I passed through Customs in JFK and it took over 2 hours! And I'm a USC! Glad you hit it on a good day! I am planning on bringing hubby back through Chicago which is usually pretty smooth too!

Wow! Last time I went through JFK it took longer to walk to the immigration counter from the gate than to wait in line!

We're planning on Chicago as well!

Edited September 10, 2011 by Dave and Kinnari