POE via Greyhound bus...

[cananner 2]

I'm still figuring out how I'll be entering the US, but I might end up taking the bus from Montreal to the Burlington airport (Vermont). Is this a risky option? I'm just worried it would take them a long time to ask me whatever they want to ask and look through the sealed envelope (I've read it can be quick, but we all know everyone's case is different), and I'd be holding up the bus and would be made to wait for the next one.

I've taken that bus a couple of times before, and the wait at the border can be a bit long because they'll take one or two people into another part of the building, but I have no idea if it was for a problem or for a case like mine. The bus always got to the airport when it was supposed to, so I wonder if it can be authorized to leave without someone if that person's case was going to make the bus late.

Edited December 5, 2011 by cananner

[Inky 1,111]

It happens that the bus will leave if the person takes too long in secondary. They don't always do it but it seems to happen quite frequently when my friend rides the bus from Canada to the US to visit her family.

[pocheros 101]

You can always call the border crossing and ask, but crossing by bus generally seems risky since they might hold you up for awhile if they don't get a lot of K1s and are unsure how to do it. By the way, wherever you cross make sure they put an I-94 in your passport (it looks like a little white card that gets stapled next to your visa). I read in a thread awhile back that a lady didn't get an I-94 when she crossed the border and activated her visa and that causes problems when you apply for a SSN and do AOS... I mean I have no idea if that's a common problem, just thought I'd mention it in case you go somewhere where the officers don't handle K1s often.

Edited December 5, 2011 by pocheros

[Wyatt's Torch 45]

I strongly advise against it.

My POE was relatively smooth (no one in line ahead of me, early in the morning etc.), and it took a full hour. In less than ideal circumstances, such as a busload of people crossing the border and needing attention etc., you're probably going to have one pissed-off customs official, as well as one pissed-off bus driver! I think it would be better to walk across the border, if necessary, and be picked up on the other side.

[SF2007 48]

Risky, yes.

It could easily take more than an hour to process you in secondary. It all depends how many people are in front of you, how accustomed to the procedure the POE officer is and if it's a busy day. Pretty sure Greyhound won't be waiting for you. Should you choose to do it you would need a plan B. Can you catch the next Greyhound bus that same day?

[cananner 2]

Thanks for all the advice everyone! Looks like the bus should really be a Plan B.

[catheaven 3]

I successfully POE'd via the Greyhound (Windsor-Detroit). There was some heightened security that morning, though, so everyone was taking a while to be processed.

The officer was working her tail off to get my visa done quickly for me, and told other officers to make sure the bus didn't leave without me.

I was pretty worried about the bus leaving without me, so i had mapped out the route to get to the next bus station if need be (for walking or a cab). I am unsure as to how often the bus schedule is for your neck of the woods, but I asked Greyhound if I could just hop on board the next bus that comes along (if I was super delayed) and they said yes (but it is ultimately up to the driver ((I printed off an email from Greyhound saying I could so I could show it to the next driver)).

Shrug. I took the risk of crossing via Greyhound and it saved me 600$.

[alizon 77]

We waited around an hour or so for one passenger on that bus to get through the border. It didn't seem like the bus driver was even contemplating leaving him behind (although I was trying to send him psychic messages to do so). He eventually got back on the bus, and we were significantly late getting to the airport. The only reason we made our flight is because that airport is the size of someone's living room.

My guess is that it's illegal for the bus to knowingly leave a passenger behind without his/her consent, but everyone is right: the other passengers will hate you.