A few post-approval questions.....

[helwardman 1]

Hello again,

Now that I am officially approved I have a few questions regarding what I need to be doing when I travel to The States using my shiny new K1 visa next thursday

1. What do I do with the copy of the x-ray they gave me? Can I put it in my checked luggage or does it have to go in my hand luggage for inspection at the POE?

2. What paperwork do I have to fill in on the plane? Previously, when I've travelled on the VWP I've filled in a GREEN I-94. Do I still fill that one in or a WHITE one or something else?

3. Is there any other paperwork that I have to take with me when I travel? As I understand it I need my passport and visa and the Mysterious Brown Envelope, but do I have to take anything else like the forms I sent in with the I-129?

I like to be prepared so that I can get through immigration smoothly - my POE is Newark and I've only got a 3 hour layover before flying onto Houston.

Thanks

[Mags 112]

Hello again,

Now that I am officially approved I have a few questions regarding what I need to be doing when I travel to The States using my shiny new K1 visa next thursday

1. What do I do with the copy of the x-ray they gave me? Can I put it in my checked luggage or does it have to go in my hand luggage for inspection at the POE?

You'll get differing answers to this one. Some people are told to pack it in their hand baggage, others in their checked baggage. Overall though only one or two people have ever been asked for it and the officers at POE are not qualified to interpret an x-ray; an interpretation of said x-ray is in the brown envelope.

2. What paperwork do I have to fill in on the plane? Previously, when I've travelled on the VWP I've filled in a GREEN I-94. Do I still fill that one in or a WHITE one or something else?

White I-94. You'll also have to fill in a customs form too.

3. Is there any other paperwork that I have to take with me when I travel? As I understand it I need my passport and visa and the Mysterious Brown Envelope, but do I have to take anything else like the forms I sent in with the I-129?

Nope!

Edited November 2, 2007 by Mags

[msu17 0]

Regarding Q1, my husband was told to bring it with him via carry-on. I told him I wouldnt bother, just put it in his checked. He ignored me and carried it with him (complaining the whole way ) and wasn't asked for it. Now its sitting on our closet shelf Good luck on the move!

[John & Annie 0]

you have had great advice.

Enjoy your flight and congratulations!

[Matt and Sarah 0]

When are you going to Newark? Sarah's POE will be there as well before she connects to Dallas. It will be sometime in March or April for her, we have to sell her house first.

I'd love to hear how it goes.

[sparkofcreation 0]

When are you going to Newark? Sarah's POE will be there as well before she connects to Dallas. It will be sometime in March or April for her, we have to sell her house first.

I'd love to hear how it goes.

My husband entered at Newark and it was a piece of cake ... BUT the important thing to understand about Newark is it's in New Jersey and in New Jersey the attitude is "Do what you're supposed to do, do it fast, or get out of my way!" Some would call it rude, we prefer to think of it as efficient. Or in other words, as long as your SOs do what they're supposed to do and go where they're supposed to do, it will be a perfectly pleasant experience. But if they get lost or confused and start causing delays for other people, things could get ugly.

Use your head, follow the signs, and if you have questions ask them as quickly as possible (e.g. not "I'm sorry, I don't mean to bother you, but if you don't mind, I had a question, I was wondering where the ladies' room might be" but instead "Excuse me, where is the ladies' room please?"). And if the immigration guy chats with you (he did with my husband), answer as briefly as possible (like if they ask how you met your SO, just say "online" or "when he was on vacation in England," don't tell the whole story).

Basic manners is always useful, but Don't Hold Me Up is the prime directive.

[Silas 0]

Thought I'd bump this thread as I have a question regarding the I-94s. I just read on another website that the white I-94 is only for those travelling with a non-immigrant visa. For anyone who had POE'd with a CR1 did you have to fill a white I-94 or did you just have to fill the customs form?

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Thought I'd bump this thread as I have a question regarding the I-94s. I just read on another website that the white I-94 is only for those travelling with a non-immigrant visa. For anyone who had POE'd with a CR1 did you have to fill a white I-94 or did you just have to fill the customs form?

Silas (my fellow DCFer!) --

It's the customs form ONLY. The airline staff might try to press an I-94 or I-94W onto you, but believe me you only need the customs form. When the flight attendant came round with the forms on our flight, she tried to give Bruce a I-94W, and even when I said he had an immigrant visa so he only needed the customs form she was dubious. Bruce piped up, "Oh, Meagan knows what she's talking about. She has this immigration site she obsessively visits..."

But yep, when we got to the border they didn't look or ask for anything else.

Edited to add: And good luck on Friday!!!

Edited November 7, 2007 by elmcitymaven

[Silas 0]

Hi elmcitymaven,

Thanks for the quick response. And a bigger thanks for the good luck. It's seems almost cyclical as when I first discovered this site back in August you answered my first every query. When I read it I noticed your POE was imminent so I was just in time to wish you luck on your POE and now the summer has gone and it's me about to do my POE. How time flies. Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to express is that thanks to the warm responses from yourself and other VJers on the UK page I've really felt I've been able to have much more control with this whole visa process. So here's a from me.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

Hi elmcitymaven,

Thanks for the quick response. And a bigger thanks for the good luck. It's seems almost cyclical as when I first discovered this site back in August you answered my first every query. When I read it I noticed your POE was imminent so I was just in time to wish you luck on your POE and now the summer has gone and it's me about to do my POE. How time flies. Anyway, I guess what I'm trying to express is that thanks to the warm responses from yourself and other VJers on the UK page I've really felt I've been able to have much more control with this whole visa process. So here's a from me.

Oh stop it -- you're making me blush!

Seriously though, glad to have helped. I couldn't have done it without all the UK crowd (and some others further afield) and now that I'm safely back in America with the hubster in tow I just want to give back.

You'll ace the POE -- just be prepared to wait a bit. And come back and let us know how it went.