Got the immigration visa, what is entering the country like?

[neocarbunkle 2]

So my wife passed her interview at the Tokyo embassy. Thanks everyone for helping with all of my questions over the years.

Now the last step is arriving in Chicago and getting through border check.

I have a few questions.

So what is the process like?

Is there a special area that she goes, or does she line up with the other foreign passport holders?

My wife gave all of her medical records to the embassy and she got a really thick packet back that says do not open, are her medical records in that? I read somewhere that she needs to show some X-rays or something.

My wife speaks virtually zero English, is she going to be OK?

Do you have any special advice I can give her?

Thankfully she has a five hour layover, so time shouldn't be an issue.

Thanks so much everyone.

[tt123 1]

She should line up with other foreign passport holders. the packet she has now have all her files including medical records. and she should have her x-ray with her while she enters USA, not in check in luggage.

I do not know about Japanese entering border with zero English. When I was there, I saw there were Chinese, Spanish translators. So I would say she would be fine. Just be polite and patient. Customs are absolutely rude and bitchy. When I was waiting for my passport stamps, there were two fatty bitchy customs constantly talking about how much they hate these people using marriage to fraud green card right in front of my face. I knew that they did not want me to enter the country but they had to.

[mallafri76 1,012]

She uses the visitors lane, says "I'm here to immigrate" and hands over her packet. She'll be sent to secondary and may or may not be asked questions. I POEd in Newark and didn't get a single question, they just stamped my visa and that was it.

There's a link on top of VJ to reviews about different POEs. You might wanna check out Chicago. I found it pretty useful for my POE.

[NikLR 13,227]

The xray should not matter.

[NikLR 13,227]

~~moved to moving here and your new life from IR1/CR1 process and procedures~~

[tt123 1]

I entried in Seattle. I had to go with other foreigners same line. The customs would bring you to the immigration area. Both customs would ask questions. I was not required for X-ray. However, on the notice with passport, it says bring files and X-ray.

[SusieQQQ 11,586]

They always say bring x ray and I've never heard of anyone being asked for it (when we offered it to our CBP guy he said 'keep it for your doctor'!) but better have it just in case.

As others have said - usually enter in visitors line. Some airports/terminals have dedicated 'new immigrant' lines so she should check to see if there is one before she goes to the visitor line.

The only question we got was confirming that the address on our forms was still the right one for the green card & SSN card to get sent to.

We actually had very friendly CBP officer in the line and relatively friendly albeit much more businesslike in secondary, so don't assume they will all be bad/unfriendly - obviously YMMV depending where you enter and just who you get that day and what side of bed they got out on.

[TBoneTX 45,284]

When CBP agents are rude: Get their names & badge numbers, ask to speak with the shift supervisor, or both.

[Hardrock Girl 0]

My POE chicago a month ago, it was so easy. Had to wait in visitor line it was very long que, took me 3 hours?No need x ray just handed the package and than the cbp officer gave us pink folder and handed back visa package with paspor in that pink folder. He gave direction that we need go to secondary inspection place and give back pink folder to the officer. In secondary inspection the officer stamped pasport and all are set.