Can't help but feel my K1 POE at the airport was unusual...insight?

[ehh 2]

My POE took less than 5 minutes, no secondary, no questions other than where I was going, and when we planned on getting married (ASAP) and now that I am not yet in the SAVE database despite my i94 being online, I'm wondering if something went amiss...(or if I'm just lucky I didn't have to wait forever!).

I walked to the booth, told the CO where I was going and that I was activating a K1 visa.

The CO opened my packet, barely flipped through it, took my finger prints, photo, stamped my passport and I was on my way. I was surprised it went so quickly as everything I read (granted the reviews were mostly for land crossings and American airports) suggested it would take much longer, I mean, every time I've entered on a B2 at the airport it has taken the same amount of time, if not longer...

This was only last week, but from my understanding several users have suggested in the SSN subforum that now the i94 is electronic I should appear in the SAVE database around the same time as the i94 and the 10 business day thing no longer applies...can anyone who has entered on a K1 recently speak to this? Should I re-evaluate in a few more days?

Edit: this was a Canadian airport for the record

Edited January 27, 2016 by ehh

[NikLR 13,227]

Sounds like you found an efficient CBP officer. They took your visa package right?

[ehh 2]

Sounds like you found an efficient CBP officer. They took your visa package right?

They did.

I guess the SAVE thing has me on edge as I've come to expect the very worst case scenario throughout this whole process, so efficiency comes as a surprise!

[Darnell 8,478]

eh - you could always get into a deferred inspection CBP office and see whats what, with a shift supervisor,

or

take the real plunge, get into a SSA office and apply for a SSN.

[Clifford27 11]

My POE took less than 5 minutes, no secondary, no questions other than where I was going, and when we planned on getting married (ASAP) and now that I am not yet in the SAVE database despite my i94 being online, I'm wondering if something went amiss...(or if I'm just lucky I didn't have to wait forever!).

I walked to the booth, told the CO where I was going and that I was activating a K1 visa.

The CO opened my packet, barely flipped through it, took my finger prints, photo, stamped my passport and I was on my way. I was surprised it went so quickly as everything I read (granted the reviews were mostly for land crossings and American airports) suggested it would take much longer, I mean, every time I've entered on a B2 at the airport it has taken the same amount of time, if not longer...

This was only last week, but from my understanding several users have suggested in the SSN subforum that now the i94 is electronic I should appear in the SAVE database around the same time as the i94 and the 10 business day thing no longer applies...can anyone who has entered on a K1 recently speak to this? Should I re-evaluate in a few more days?

Edit: this was a Canadian airport for the record

Sounds like you had the same person I did. I went 4 hours before my flight thinking it would take awhile. I walked thru the doors handed my packed over, he asked me to sit down and told me no cell phone use. I sat down for 2 minutes as he finished up with someone. Was called over, he opened my packed separated a bunch of the paper work entered some stuff in the computer. He asked if I knew there was an expiration on the Visa, I replied yes. He stamped scopula things and said follow the green arrows everything is done. I was in and out in less than 10 min I think.

[Ms Hogan 295]

That's great!

[Ash.1101 1,756]

Sounds like a normal go to me tbqh. My fiance went through Chicago and it was that simple.

A lot of people tell the horror stories of waiting for ever, but it seems that MOST people don't go through that.

[LionessDeon 2,060]

I think going through this K1 process is such a difficult journey that when things go smooth and quick we worry if something is wrong lol.

Congrats!

[NikLR 13,227]

I think going through this K1 process is such a difficult journey that when things go smooth and quick we worry if something is wrong lol.

Congrats!

I agree. The easiest part of my immigration was the POE.

[bloopygirl 20]

Mine took like half an hour but the officer had never done one before glad it went smoothly!

[Cliff&Liz 10]

I had the same experience in Toronto. After being sent to secondary almost every time I had gone down to visit my fiance I was pushed through with no issues at all. I did the same thing and arrived almost 4 hours early only to be waiting around. Let me tell you how good those beers tasted waiting for my flight.

[ehh 2]

Update:

My visit to the social security office was just a little bit traumatic....I'm still stunned at the way we were spoken to...

The person I dealt with was above and beyond rude...I knew it wouldn't be easy but I didn't expect to be treated like I was satan trying to get a social security number in the body of a 100lb Canadian woman but anyhow...

The clerk (are they clerks?) claimed he had no way of looking me up in the SAVE database (really? realllllly?) and when I asked about a g-845 (not that we wanted to take that route anyway...) kept repeating "we're not immigration, we're not immigration, we're not immigration" and insisting I needed EAD to do anything.

I was starting to get annoyed but I asked politely (emphasis on politely) if we could speak to a supervisor and he out right said no and started going off on us...it was just very very very strange.

I don't know if I'm being unfair when I say I can't imagine a government employee interacting with the public being able to act that way in Canada and getting away with it...but I've literally never had to deal with someone so awful at a government agency. No one at Sevice Ontario has ever made me cry at least.

So now I'm at home, drinking a glass of wine, trying to relax. I'll go get my SSN once I get EAD because I sure as hell don't want to wait 2.5 hours to go through that all again. It's not worth it at this point for us when I can be added to my fiancé's lease and his bank account without it, and I'll be changing my name any how....sigh.

Edited February 1, 2016 by ehh

[NikLR 13,227]

Wow, what a jerk! Did you have your I-94?

[NikLR 13,227]

The government workers down here like to feel better than everyone else. Even my husband, who IS a government employee tells me to play dumb with people who think they're in charge because it makes them happy and easier to deal with. He knows I'm intelligent and likely have researched whatever it is beforehand but sometimes here, that just makes someone else feel dumb (which obviously isnt the intention) and get defensive.

[ehh 2]

Wow, what a jerk! Did you have your I-94?

The government workers down here like to feel better than everyone else. Even my husband, who IS a government employee tells me to play dumb with people who think they're in charge because it makes them happy and easier to deal with. He knows I'm intelligent and likely have researched whatever it is beforehand but sometimes here, that just makes someone else feel dumb (which obviously isnt the intention) and get defensive.

I brought my i94, my passport and BC, (and the print out from the SS website showing K1 are eligible for SSN but he wouldn't even look at it).

I initially asked about the SAVE database and he was like "stop throwing all these acronyms at me."He typed in my handwritten application to start and just said it could not be processed.

Then when I tried to clarify what that meant (i.e. if I wasn't in the SAVE database yet, if a g-845 would have to be submitted) he kept talking over me (that is when he kept trying to say that they were not immigration...no kidding), basically told me to stop talking, then started to only address my fiancé (who thank heavens is a calm, level headed person) and basically told him a bunch of false information about EAD.

I started to tear up so I just wanted to get my passport back and get out of there, and when we asked to speak to a supervisor he just kept repeating "nope". I'm pretty sure I asked him why he was being so rude to us too

I'm a pretty meek, non-confrontational person, so I'm mostly just stunned. I don't know what I could have done to set him off like that, I guess he was just having a bad day? I'm upset with myself with how upset I am about the whole thing and I am dreading when we'll have to go back there.

If the wait weren't so long I'd be tempted to take my chances and hope I got another person, but it's just not worth it at this point.

Edited February 2, 2016 by ehh