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Crossing land border experience!

By SDMO in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America

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Dashinka Grand Master

Dashinka   24,492

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

Here are some reviews although none terribly recent.  Which land border are you planning to use as your POE?  You may be able to search the specific crossing in the VJ search engine.

 

Good Luck!

 

https://www.visajourney.com/reviews/poereviews.php?poe=CDN-USA Border&page=2&dfilter=0

Visa Received : 2014-04-04 (K1 - see timeline for details)

US Entry : 2014-09-12

POE: Detroit

Marriage : 2014-09-27

I-765 Approved: 2015-01-09

I-485 Interview: 2015-03-11

I-485 Approved: 2015-03-13

Green Card Received: 2015-03-24 Yeah!!!

I-751 ROC Submitted: 2016-12-20

I-751 NOA Received:  2016-12-29

I-751 Biometrics Appt.:  2017-01-26

I-751 Interview:  2018-04-10

I-751 Approved:  2018-05-04

N400 Filed:  2018-01-13

N400 Biometrics:  2018-02-22

N400 Interview:  2018-04-10

N400 Approved:  2018-04-10

Oath Ceremony:  2018-06-11 - DONE!!!!!!!

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TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   45,273

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
 Timeline
Posted

If it's Texas, I might have insights.

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

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SalishSea Grand Master

SalishSea   17,824

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: New Zealand
 Timeline
Posted
4 hours ago, SDMO said:

Looking for somebody who can share experience or what to expect about crossing land border after being approved for green card.Thanks.

Which border crossing?

 

My husband came in on a K-1 via the Blaine, WA crossing after flying from Auckland to Vancouver.   We had no issues at all.   The CBP officer processing us had never done a K-1, so he needed a little help from his colleagues, but it was no big deal.   We were done and through in < one hour.

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TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   45,273

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
 Timeline
Posted

OP's posting history indicates Canada.

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

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Ontarkie Grand Master

Ontarkie   14,220

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

There are a lot of crossing from Canada. You will have to be more specific or search the Canada forums. 

I didn't import any cars, I did bring 4 kids, a dog, two cats, a bird which I had to have a Vet meet us at the same time I was going to cross so he can check her over. A hamster, a U-Haul, a truck and my now MIL's car. 

I crossed and the Twin Saults border, not many go that way and I was lucky that there was a new guy who had experience with the visas. He was able to teach two other BO what to do since they had 5 visas to process. 

Edited by Ontarkie
Spoiler

Met Playing Everquest in 2005
Engaged 9-15-2006
K-1 & 4 K-2'S
Filed 05-09-07
Interview 03-12-08
Visa received 04-21-08
Entry 05-06-08
Married 06-21-08
AOS X5
Filed 07-08-08
Cards Received01-22-09
Roc X5
Filed 10-17-10
Cards Received02-22-11
Citizenship
Filed 10-17-11
Interview 01-12-12
Oath 06-29-12

Citizenship for older 2 boys

Filed 03/08/2014

NOA/fee waiver 03/19/2014

Biometrics 04/15/14

Interview 05/29/14

In line for Oath 06/20/14

Oath 09/19/2014 We are all done! All USC no more USCIS

 

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NorthByNorthwest Collaborator

NorthByNorthwest   352

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Sweden
 Timeline
Posted

Adding to what others have said - from the perspective of someone living 20 minutes from the western crossings into Canada I'd mainly be concerned about traffic.

 

Traffic varies greatly by time of day and day of the week. If you arrive (by car) at the wrong time it could be 1-2 hours wait before making it to the actual inspection booths and entering on an immigrant visa you WILL be sent to secondary inspection. During high traffic, there can be a significant line in secondary too and that can easily take at least another hour. 

 

If entering from Canada / Vancouver area there are 4 different crossings to choose from (Peace Arch/I-5, Blaine/SR-543, Lynden/Aldergrove, Sumas/Abbottsford), the last two are almost always faster during times of heavy traffic.

 

Other than that I wouldn't worry - if all paperwork is in order (which it should be or the visa wouldn't be issued in the first place) the actual entry should be a mere formality.

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SDMO Rookie

SDMO   4

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Posted
On 10/30/2023 at 2:51 PM, Dashinka said:

Here are some reviews although none terribly recent.  Which land border are you planning to use as your POE?  You may be able to search the specific crossing in the VJ search engine.

 

Good Luck!

 

https://www.visajourney.com/reviews/poereviews.php?poe=CDN-USA Border&page=2&dfilter=0

Thanks 🙂 

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