Made it in!

[GermanCanadian89 7]

Monday was the day I officially made it into the US with my visa.

If there was an easier way then the K1, I would suggest that before the K1 route but, you live and you learn.

I crossed in Niagara Falls, rainbow bridge. I took a cab over, father in law was going to pick me up at the Days Inn, NY which is a 5 minute walk from the border.

We pulled up, handed the officer my passport, he was friendly, got pulled in. The cabbie had to come in with me but, I explained everything to him, and he had a bunch of suit cases to bring to my father in law for me so, he actually was great help.

After waiting inside for 20 mins, the cab driver was aloud to go, I think I waited another 10 mins to get called in. She didn't ask me much, just asked for my fiancés address, took finger prints, pictures, and put something else into my passport and away I went!

Easier then I thought. They didn't even bother going through my belongings but, they probably thought I didn't bring anything so, who cares lol.

I am home now! That's all that matters! And holy ####### has it been hot the last couple of days! I'm sweating just typing this up.

Thanks for everyone's help on here! Next will be marriage and then the baby!

And then the next steps, oh joy! I wish they made it easier for Canadians to come to the US, hell, we are their friendly neighbors!!!

[pro_star 52]

Congrats lovely!!!! You have my envy!

Quick question (since I'll be doing the land crossing as well - though I'll be going through sweetgrass, montana, not the rainbow bridge but still!) Did you go through like you would normally go through, and then they direct you elsewhere for the further processing, or do they have a special place for us immigrant types to go through?

Thanks!!!

[GermanCanadian89 7]

Just cross like you normally do. I handed the officer my passport and package. He didn't open my package, gave it back to me, asked me a few simple questions like, where i'll be living and if my fiancé was here already. Did his paper work and then said i'll go inside for further processing. Very simple!

[G Walters 136]

Congrats.

[NikLR 13,232]

Congrats lovely!!!! You have my envy!

Quick question (since I'll be doing the land crossing as well - though I'll be going through sweetgrass, montana, not the rainbow bridge but still!) Did you go through like you would normally go through, and then they direct you elsewhere for the further processing, or do they have a special place for us immigrant types to go through?

Thanks!!!

Sweetgrass/Coutts is SUPER easy. You pull up just like you normally cross. They'll ask for passports and you mention that you're immigrating. Then you give them the packet and they tell you pull around the corner. You walk into the building and stand around waiting for them to figure out what to do. (They do some stamping, some mumbling, and you do some staring at the ceiling... LOL) Then you practice putting your fingerprint down, then do it on the sheet they want and sign your name (you do it twice.) Then give you back the stamped passport and some misinformation (don't bother correcting them... CBP can be irritable... just nod and smile) and you're done. When I went through they didn't ask to look at my inventory list or in the Uhaul. You may have more to do if you're bringing a car (I wasn't.)

Honestly, it was easy peasy. Especially if you get there at a non-busy time like 7pm.

[pro_star 52]

Ahh awesome. Thanks

I know I'm 7 weeks from my planned crossing and I'm already wondering lol

[Weston3220 4]

woot nice! Im looking forward to July when im going across with a 1300 mile drive to San Diego!

[NikLR 13,232]

Not sure if they do any fingerprinting for K1 btw.. but they might.

[mrs thb 331]

congrats GermanCanadian89!!!!

victory stories like yours keep me optimistic that my day will soon come!!!!!

[pro_star 52]

...Weston you stalker

I'm going to near San Diego too. hoping to commence road trip on July 2nd (so Jesse can catch some Canada day festivities) and it's a 2 day drive so we'll be home for Independence Day.

Both countries celebrating!

And aww man. Fingerprinting? I had enough issue with that in Vancouver!! (My right hand seems to resist printing!! Took us a couple of tries...)

[Weston3220 4]

...Weston you stalker

I'm going to near San Diego too. hoping to commence road trip on July 2nd (so Jesse can catch some Canada day festivities) and it's a 2 day drive so we'll be home for Independence Day.

Both countries celebrating!

And aww man. Fingerprinting? I had enough issue with that in Vancouver!! (My right hand seems to resist printing!! Took us a couple of tries...)

hehe well Ill follow you to San Diego be living in Rancho Bernardo North County, fiance family owns Bernardo Winery in RB, until we get our Coffee Roasting Company off the ground [ manzanitaroasting.com ]

and driving down, 2 days you crazy! doing it in three, only because we have friends in eugene we will stop in and have our traditional salmon and pinot noir dinners

Cheers!

[NikLR 13,232]

...Weston you stalker

I'm going to near San Diego too. hoping to commence road trip on July 2nd (so Jesse can catch some Canada day festivities) and it's a 2 day drive so we'll be home for Independence Day.

Both countries celebrating!

And aww man. Fingerprinting? I had enough issue with that in Vancouver!! (My right hand seems to resist printing!! Took us a couple of tries...)

One finger. Right index.

But the pic of it is on my green card so I am not sure k1 need a fingerprint since you'll get biometrics in the USA.

Edited May 15, 2014 by NLR

[pro_star 52]

Ahh true enough. And Weston...I may have to visit you...between coffee brewing and winery, sounds like heaven!!!!

Well. We'll do it in three if we have to but, aside from a coffee stop in Helena (where my fellow k1er that I met at the medical will be living) we've got nowhere else to really stop at....and he, I and the mutt are road hammers. Lol I've done Calgary to Ottawa in three days and Calgary to San Diego in...well, I'll say one and a half cause I got there early afternoon lol. (Dog was with me on both those trips, she's such a trooper!!)

[Weston3220 4]

Ahh true enough. And Weston...I may have to visit you...between coffee brewing and winery, sounds like heaven!!!!

Well. We'll do it in three if we have to but, aside from a coffee stop in Helena (where my fellow k1er that I met at the medical will be living) we've got nowhere else to really stop at....and he, I and the mutt are road hammers. Lol I've done Calgary to Ottawa in three days and Calgary to San Diego in...well, I'll say one and a half cause I got there early afternoon lol. (Dog was with me on both those trips, she's such a trooper!!)

yes do when I'm there and you are free, also my tip for the winery is Either Friday am for farmers market or the better one is Sunday afternoon is live music on the patio!

San Diego looking rough right now Samantha sending me updates on the fires, the first one was 5miles from house, the others little further and wind not blowing towards them so thats good

[pro_star 52]

Yeah there's one real close to Jesse's work - they got the evacuation order yesterday. Thankfully though it's not too close to home (yet)

He told me they had a suspected arsonist in custody last night...