POE Atlanta or JFK

[Dawn123 0]

Hi, I've tried some searches, but without success. The way I understand it is that the 1st place that Nawel (my Argentine fiance, coming here on the K1) will be the POE and where they will process his paperwork (where he gives the brown envelope and they stamp his visa). He is looking at a ticket with a layover in Atlanta (so Buenos Aire to Atlanta to JFK). If he does this, will he be processed in Atlanta? Does this mean that he will need to allow for extra time between flights and will not get the stamp for the work permission? He said that the consulate said that he already had it?

Any advise will be greatly appreciated!

[Milka 0]

Definitely take JFK, because you get the 90 day work permit there. Good luck.

[RosaMystica7 0]

Yeah if he has a layover in Atlanta that'll be his POE and he'll have no chance at getting a temporary working stamp. See if he can get a direct flight into JFK, then at least he might be able to work for 90 days after he arrives!

Where in NY do you live, by the way? I'm on Long Island.

[payxibka 10,047]

He said that the consulate said that he already had it?

A K-1 is an employments authorized (EA) visa. In order to fulfill the requirements of the I-9 form that an employer requires to be filled out, he will need what is referred to as an employment authorization documents (EAD). The only way to convert the K-1'a EA to EAD is via the "magical" stamp at the POE. This is really dumb but that is the way it works.

Even though Atlanta is a very busy airport, it has (or seems like) a fairly efficient POE facility but you should allow some additional time him to clear the process.

Edited December 20, 2006 by fwaguy

[sharky 2]

He said that the consulate said that he already had it?

A K-1 is an employments authorized (EA) visa. In order to fulfill the requirements of the I-9 form that an employer requires to be filled out, he will need what is referred to as an employment authorization documents (EAD). The only way to convert the K-1'a EA to EAD is via the "magical" stamp at the POE. This is really dumb but that is the way it works.

Even though Atlanta is a very busy airport, it has (or seems like) a fairly efficient POE facility but you should allow some additional time him to clear the process.

I don't want to sound like the prophet of doom or whatever, but if you do a search on "POE Atlanta" on VJ, you will soon find out that it's not a nice POE to go through. Some people have had terrible experiences there, and if he has to catch a connecting flight to NY I would make sure to leave at least 2 hours between connecting flights........ better still get a direct flight to JFK and get that stamp.

[Savanphil 3]

JFK all the way