Entering US with new CR-I visa for first time

[Sammy.NZ 45]

Hi all,

My husband has been granted his CR-1 visa & is set to fly out to join me this Saturday - he's wondering if he goes through the resident/citizen line at Customs when he arrives. Anyone have advice or if this has already been discussed if you could point me to the right thread?

 

Cheers

[Crazy Cat 42,031]

He is an arriving Resident.

[Dashinka 24,700]

I would expect he would have to enter the visitor lines since he is not an LPR until he is processed.  That being said, advise him to ask, there is usually someone directing folks to the proper lines when a flight arrives.

 

Good Luck!

[randy32 165]

Tell him to read the signs at the airport.

I varies a little bit airport to airport.

If in doubt, he should ask at the airport.

 

If you provide the airport, maybe someone in the forum might be able to answer that question.

I don't see any reason to try to figure it out here

[JeanneAdil 6,606]

what airport is his POE?

Edited May 31, 2022 by JeanneAdil

[Sammy.NZ 45]

1 hour ago, JeanneAdil said:

what airport is his POE?

POE is San Francisco and then he's making his way to the east coast! I've never flown through San Francisco so have no idea what their customs area is like.

[Chancy 6,243]

*** Moved from IR1/CR1 Process & Procedures to Moving to the US forum -- topic is about POE procedures after the visa process ***

 

2 hours ago, Sammy.NZ said:

POE is San Francisco

 

All the times I've entered through SFO there were always ushers at the entrance of the immigration lines telling travelers where to line up depending on their travel documents.

 

[bakphx1 789]

It may depend on the airport, but there seem to be only citizen/non-citizen lines now.  In LAX there was signage for residents, but they were no longer used for that.  

[Sofitalian 134]

Just ask those staff directing people to lines at the Immigration. Tell them you're here with a CR1 visa. The staff should be able to direct him to the right line.

[Simplytex 387]

On 5/31/2022 at 7:00 AM, Crazy Cat said:

He is an arriving Resident.

Yeah I would go to resident line. Last time I entered the country, I happened to be in the escalator with a CBP agent getting off shift and asked them this exact question, they said to go through the Resident/Citizen line.

[Chancy 6,243]

On 6/17/2022 at 11:26 PM, Simplytex said:

Yeah I would go to resident line. Last time I entered the country, I happened to be in the escalator with a CBP agent getting off shift and asked them this exact question, they said to go through the Resident/Citizen line.

 

It depends on the POE.  When I first entered with my IR1 visa, I was told to line up with the foreign visitors.  I even repeated my question emphasizing that I have an immigrant visa, but I was told, "Yeah, you have a visa, so line up with the others with visas."

 

[Redro 4,611]

On 5/31/2022 at 8:32 PM, Sammy.NZ said:

Hi all,

My husband has been granted his CR-1 visa & is set to fly out to join me this Saturday - he's wondering if he goes through the resident/citizen line at Customs when he arrives. Anyone have advice or if this has already been discussed if you could point me to the right thread?

 

Cheers

@Sammy.NZ what ended up happening?

Was POE a painless experience for the husband?