What to expect at POE

[edbubbly 0]

I finally got my visa on Monday and I will be driving to a point of entry, Ogdensburg, tomorrow. I'm planning on getting my stamp with my family in tow so that we can celebrate with a lunch in the US and a bit of shopping and then returning to Canada for one week before I fly off to Los Angeles to be with my husband. My questions are:

1) What should I expect at the point of entry? What is the process/procedure?

2) Has anyone done the same? ie get the stamp on the visa and enter at a later date?

1 week to go. I am so incredibly excited.

Peace and love,

Elle

[moemac59 193]

Hi Elle,

You might want to check about coming back into Canada for a week. If I am not mistaken, once you enter the US then you have to stay. I crossed at Erie before I started my paperwork and the customs agent had told me once my visa was issued, I couldn't just cross back and forth.

Again not sure but just wanted to give you a heads up

[Ryan H 3,828]

If I am not mistaken, once you enter the US then you have to stay.

You are mistaken. The OP is entering on a CR-1 visa which is an immigrant visa, the I-551 stamp given to CR-1 visa holders serves as a temporary green card until the actual card arrives. The OP will be able to return to Canada for one week.

[moemac59 193]

You are mistaken. The OP is entering on a CR-1 visa which is an immigrant visa, the I-551 stamp given to CR-1 visa holders serves as a temporary green card until the actual card arrives. The OP will be able to return to Canada for one week.

Thanks as I said wasn't sure but again thanks for the clarification.

[edbubbly 0]

Thanks everyone!

[hikergirl 277]

Congratulations on your Visa!

Don't forget to bring your Do Not Open envelope with you I was looking on the Canada Forum and there have been more than a few people who activated their Visa and then went home for a day or more prior to moving.

Best Wishes and enjoy your celebration!

[edbubbly 0]

Hi All,

Just wanted to let you all know what happened when I went to the POE yesterday.

First of all, 2 months ago, I crossed the border to do some shopping with my sister and mother. I asked the CBP officer at the time if it would be alright when I got my visa to cross to get my stamp and then return to Canada the same day and then finally go to the States a few days later. He said it was alright and that in fact a lot of people do it and as long as I move to the States within a year there is no problem. The reason I told him that I wanted to do it was to have my family with me so that we could celebrate together because if I do it at the airport I am alone.

So with that in mind, I went to the Ogdensburg POE yesterday (Sunday) - the same POE by the way. When we (my father, mother, brother, sister and I) pulled up to the border in our van, we told the officer that we were going for lunch and shopping and at the same time I wanted to process my entry into the states. Immediately, he said we don't normally do it but there was another officer and she said that she would do it. So we parked the car and walked in. It was 11:40am.

Our passports were passed on to another officer who asked us why we were going to the states. She told me that they don't normally process a person for immigration until they are actually immigrating. She asked us to sit and about 10 minutes later, she asked me where I work. I gave her the information and told her that my last day would be Thursday and I sat back down again.

40 minutes later she gave us back our passports and told me that she wasn't going to process my immigration because they don't normally do that until the person is actually moving and that she doesn't know who told me that I could but they were wrong. And then she snidely said that immigrating to the States is a privilege. She also said there was no proof that I was actually immigrating even though I provided her with my airline ticket. I wasn't going to argue with her because I didn't want to cause myself any problems when I actually leave this coming Saturday. So I said thank you and walked away. I was so upset and angry and tried very hard not to let this ruin the afternoon with my family.

Anyway, I thought I would share this information in case it helps anyone else.

Peace and love and good luck to everyone.

[Maya84 1]

Hi All,

Just wanted to let you all know what happened when I went to the POE yesterday.

First of all, 2 months ago, I crossed the border to do some shopping with my sister and mother. I asked the CBP officer at the time if it would be alright when I got my visa to cross to get my stamp and then return to Canada the same day and then finally go to the States a few days later. He said it was alright and that in fact a lot of people do it and as long as I move to the States within a year there is no problem. The reason I told him that I wanted to do it was to have my family with me so that we could celebrate together because if I do it at the airport I am alone.

So with that in mind, I went to the Ogdensburg POE yesterday (Sunday) - the same POE by the way. When we (my father, mother, brother, sister and I) pulled up to the border in our van, we told the officer that we were going for lunch and shopping and at the same time I wanted to process my entry into the states. Immediately, he said we don't normally do it but there was another officer and she said that she would do it. So we parked the car and walked in. It was 11:40am.

Our passports were passed on to another officer who asked us why we were going to the states. She told me that they don't normally process a person for immigration until they are actually immigrating. She asked us to sit and about 10 minutes later, she asked me where I work. I gave her the information and told her that my last day would be Thursday and I sat back down again.

40 minutes later she gave us back our passports and told me that she wasn't going to process my immigration because they don't normally do that until the person is actually moving and that she doesn't know who told me that I could but they were wrong. And then she snidely said that immigrating to the States is a privilege. She also said there was no proof that I was actually immigrating even though I provided her with my airline ticket. I wasn't going to argue with her because I didn't want to cause myself any problems when I actually leave this coming Saturday. So I said thank you and walked away. I was so upset and angry and tried very hard not to let this ruin the afternoon with my family.

Anyway, I thought I would share this information in case it helps anyone else.

Peace and love and good luck to everyone.

So sorry, you had to go through this. Such a hassle. I couldn't imagine them actually taking you in and make you wait and come up with this stupid decision. U'd think they know better. But not too long before you fly to see your husband. Welcome in advance

[edbubbly 0]

Thanks for the support Maya84!

[edbubbly 0]

In case you're reading this post I wanted to let you know some new information. In the day that I actually immigrated, which was a week later, the officer processing my papers asked me if I was actually immigrating that day. I said yes. She said that the reason she was asking is that she read that I tried to process my papers a week earlier. I told her that I was previously told that I can process the papers prior to actually moving. She said that this was in fact true. That I should have been able to process the papers a week earlier. So I guess the officer that I got that day just didn't feel like doing it.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that the information was confirmed, that you can in fact process your papers before you actually move, in case you were wondering. Just keep in mind that some of the officers are whimsical and may choose not to do it.

Good luck to you!!!