POE Sarnia-Port Huron

[JnJ13 13]

Hi All!

I entered this morning at the Blue Water Bridge. We took longer than we thought packing the truck, got on the bridge around 11am, pulled into Secondary a few minutes after 11 and left around 1145am this morning. The officers were very friendly and welcoming! The thing that took the longest was changing our new address on the forms to send all the information to the proper office for AOS. Otherwise it was great! Thanks for everyone's help to date!

Getting married on Saturday!

Edited November 21, 2012 by JnJ13

[Ms Hogan 295]

Congratulations!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Yeah, we entered at Sarnia/Port Huron as well (back in 2004) and found them really knowledgeable and good to deal with. Welcome to the US- Happy Thanksgiving - and Congratulations on the wedding Saturday!

[jazzly 3]

Congratulations.I am POEing from Port Huron this coming Friday night or Saturday morning.

Did you move with your USC spouse with you or you were alone in the car?

Did you have to fill out any form for the stuff were carrying or you'll be importing later on?

Did you import your car or planning to?

How long do we have before getting Michigan Drivers license or getting vehicle registered?

[bsd058 296]

I'm from Sarnia!! Used to run to the bridge a lot from the south side of the city. Congrats!

[KTandTommy 31]

How would you compare Sarnia with Windsor for making the POE (or since no one would've done this twice, how would you compare the officers in general, if you've used both crossings)? We' will be (me and my parents) driving down to FL, and we always take the Ambassador Bridge, but if it's easier, I may tell them to take the Sarnia crossing instead.

[bsd058 296]

How would you compare Sarnia with Windsor for making the POE (or since no one would've done this twice, how would you compare the officers in general, if you've used both crossings)? We' will be (me and my parents) driving down to FL, and we always take the Ambassador Bridge, but if it's easier, I may tell them to take the Sarnia crossing instead.

I've been through both and Sarnia seems to have nicer officers. I don't know how they both deal with immigration, but whenever I went over the bridge they have NEVER given me difficulty. Trick is, though, to go to the port nearest you (ie if you live closer to Sarnia, go there, if Windsor, go there). This way, if you get denied entry at the border for whatever reason, you have less of a drive back to where you came from.

Edited November 21, 2012 by bsd058

[KTandTommy 31]

I've been through both and Sarnia seems to have nicer officers. I don't know how they both deal with immigration, but whenever I went over the bridge they have NEVER given me difficulty. Trick is, though, to go to the port nearest you (ie if you live closer to Sarnia, go there, if Windsor, go there). This way, if you get denied entry at the border for whatever reason, you have less of a drive back to where you came from.

Neither one is particularly close - we're driving from Toronto. It just depends which turn-off we take from the 401

Does it happen that someone would get turned away when they do their POE with a visa in hand?? That was one of the things I hadn't really considered! I thought after they mail the passport back, I'm home free...

[The Mean Lady 604]

How would you compare Sarnia with Windsor for making the POE (or since no one would've done this twice, how would you compare the officers in general, if you've used both crossings)? We' will be (me and my parents) driving down to FL, and we always take the Ambassador Bridge, but if it's easier, I may tell them to take the Sarnia crossing instead.

Sarnia officers hate my husband.

I've only driven through windsor once (by myself) but it was the most lax border ever.

And it also felt like I was just driving down a road then BAM HERE'S A BORDER.

I like the credit card machines for paying the fee in windsor =]

[JnJ13 13]

Congratulations.I am POEing from Port Huron this coming Friday night or Saturday morning.

Did you move with your USC spouse with you or you were alone in the car?

Did you have to fill out any form for the stuff were carrying or you'll be importing later on?

Did you import your car or planning to?

How long do we have before getting Michigan Drivers license or getting vehicle registered?

Yes my USC Spouse came with me for my POE! We didn't import a car, I decided not to bring my car, we are moving to Chicago so likely won't need one! They asked if we had a list of items in the truck, I said yes I did but they didn't look at it or in the truck. And I am moving to Illinois so I am not sure about MI Dl/ registration! But if there are many other Canadians in Michigan you could ask!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

KTandTommy,

Going through Sarnia rather than Windsor will add several hours of driving time if you are headed to Florida. You go north on 402 which is a somewhat shorter drive than continuing on 401 to Windsor but then you have to back track down I-96 (I believe it is 96) into Detroit, then drive through Detroit and get onto I-94. If you are headed to Florida, go via Windsor - or if you wanted to, you could cross at Fort Erie or Niagara, although then you would have to go smaller roads to connect with one of the south bound interstates. It's a long enough drive as it is and the condition of the roads going through Detroit is appalling - the pot holes have pot holes and the traffic can be fast and nerve-wracking. South of Detroit is much better driving than north of Detroit.

Edited November 22, 2012 by Kathryn41

[JnJ13 13]

I'm from Sarnia!! Used to run to the bridge a lot from the south side of the city. Congrats!

I am also from Sarnia!! I was home for a little while before moving and we are getting married in Marysville this weekend! Don't know when you were home last but not much has changed.. New movie theater being put up

How would you compare Sarnia with Windsor for making the POE (or since no one would've done this twice, how would you compare the officers in general, if you've used both crossings)? We' will be (me and my parents) driving down to FL, and we always take the Ambassador Bridge, but if it's easier, I may tell them to take the Sarnia crossing instead.

I would recommend Sarnia, I did my student visa there years ago and every other time I've entered they've been great. Sarnia is just under 3 hours depending on traffic from Toronto. Also, in regards to be turning away at POE I think it would have to be for a reason that was missed by USCIS or at your interview. I wouldn't worry much!

Edited November 22, 2012 by JnJ13

[bsd058 296]

Neither one is particularly close - we're driving from Toronto. It just depends which turn-off we take from the 401

Does it happen that someone would get turned away when they do their POE with a visa in hand?? That was one of the things I hadn't really considered! I thought after they mail the passport back, I'm home free...

Sarnia is closer You'll drive an extra hour to get to Windsor. I've driven from Toronto to both.

[bsd058 296]

KTandTommy,

Going through Sarnia rather than Windsor will add several hours of driving time if you are headed to Florida. You go north on 402 which is a somewhat shorter drive than continuing on 401 to Windsor but then you have to back track down I-96 (I believe it is 96) into Detroit, then drive through Detroit and get onto I-94. If you are headed to Florida, go via Windsor - or if you wanted to, you could cross at Fort Erie or Niagara, although then you would have to go smaller roads to connect with one of the south bound interstates. It's a long enough drive as it is and the condition of the roads going through Detroit is appalling - the pot holes have pot holes and the traffic can be fast and nerve-wracking. South of Detroit is much better driving than north of Detroit.

Not true about Windsor and Sarnia. It will hardly add anything or take away anything from the overall trip, and it will be closer to her if she goes through Sarnia. I've also driven to Florida.

However, you are right about it being better and quicker to go through Niagara. It's closer and if you're turned around then you are right back in Toronto within a short time. Plus it'll save you a couple of hours of driving if you go through Niagara.

Use Google maps to see it for yourself.

Edited November 22, 2012 by bsd058

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Actually, it does add extra time, although not necessarily hours, your're right. It also adds a lot more stress driving than POEing at Windsor.

When I POEd in 2004 I had originally planned to cross at Algonac - after having visited the border post the week before to confirm I could enter on a K-1 there and received affirmation. At that time, work to rule efforts at the border were causing 6 and 7 hour line ups for vehicles to enter the US at the Windsor crossings and as I was travelling with 6 cats on my way to Georgia I wanted to make it as easy on them as possible. When we crossed at Algonac, it was a different border guard on duty and she basically refused to activate the visa. We had to return to Canada and as the Sarnia border crossing was closer we chose to drive north rather than south to Windsor. (I lived in Chatham - both Windsor and Sarnia were an hours drive away)

We crossed, POEd (and the border guards said I should have been able to POE at Algonac as well!) and then had to drive back along the St. Clair River past Lake St. Clair, to Detroit, which took about 1 1/2 hours to get to Detroit, and then negotiate the terrible interstates to get onto I-94 in the vicinity of the Ambassador Bridge, If I had known that I would have had problems at Algonac I would have headed for Windsor instead of adding the extra 2 1/2 hours on to my driving time.

So, taking the cut off to Sarnia just after London is a 1 to 1/1/2 hour drive to Sarnia depending on the traffic. Continuing on 401 to Windsor is 1 3/4 to 2 hours depending on Traffic. Crossing at Sarnia you then add 1 1/4 to1 1/2 hours to get from Sarnia to the same place where you would have crossed at Windsor POE.

So going to Sarnia and POE at Port Huron then driving south heading towards Florida on I-94: 1 - 1 1/2 hours plus 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours equals 2 1/4 to 3 hours time

Going from cut off to Windsor and then driving south heading towards Florida on I-94- 1 3/4 to 2 hours

Difference: 1/2 to 1 hour longer going through Sarnia plus dealing with the horrendous roads and traffic going through Metropolitan Detroit.

I used to live in Chatham and visited friends in Clinton Township regularly so have driven those roads often.