Newark POE Review

[helwardman 1]

I travelled from Manchester to Newark on Thursday using my K1 visa.

The plane arrived on time just after midday. I was near the front of the plane so I was near the front of the line at immigration. Waited about 5 minutes in line then I went up to the desk. I told the bloke I was travelling on a K1 visa, handed him my MBE and showed him that I had my X-ray to which he said "I dont need to see that".

He did the usual stuff - scanned both index fingers and took a photo then shouted "ESCORT!!". Another immigration guy came over, led me round the corner to a lift, pressed the button for floor 1 then jumped out and told me that someone would come and get me when I got to the first floor.

Sure enough someone came round and took my MBE and passport, led me round the the desk and asked me to sit and wait. There were 4 desks each with 2 people at them, but only one bloke was actually doing anything. I waited for about 20 minutes while he dealt with someone else - during this time I was wondering what might be happening to my luggage.

The guy called me up to the desk, asked me when I was getting marrid to which I replied that we hadnt made the arrangements yet. He said "Do do know you only have 90 days right?" to which I answered "Yes". Then he stamped everything up and I was on my way. On the visa he signed somethnig across it and stamped it and circled the bit where it says valid for 1 visit only and wrote "1 of 1" across it then I was on my way. They let you out into the baggage claim area.

The whole thing was a doddle.

[Muuuuah 0]

Glad it all went smoothly for you.Good luck with the wedding and hope you have a wonderful life together.

[Silas 0]

Glad to hear it all went well.

On a related note, I had my POE at JFK on Friday. The whole thing was easy-peasy. Only downside was I'd never seen such a longline for immigration before (they only had four officers for the non-US citizens' line) so I was there for 3/4 of an hour (and "thankfully", I was one of the first off my plane) before I got to hand in my MBE. My immigration officer was plesant enough and seemed to do far more of the legwork then I was expecting from him. I thought most of it would get done in secondary. He handed all the documents to me from the envelope and told me that secondary would finish the process. There was about a dozen people already in there there, as always with the secondary inspection room the atmosphere was muted and intimidatory; reminiscent of a class detention. Much to my surprise an officer called for me after about three minutes. He took me into a side room, took the fingerprint of one of my index fingers, got my signature and that was it. The officer said the green card would be with me within a week. I asked if I would also recieve my Social Security number. He said I would have to sort that out at my local Social Security office. Just thought I'd double-check with some of the more experienced VJ users on this point. I am pretty certain he's wrong and that by signing the DS-230 part II the number will be posted to me. Is this really the case or have got the wrong end of the stick?

[~*Maria*~ 1]

Glad to hear you had a safe flight

[MargotDarko 0]

He said I would have to sort that out at my local Social Security office. Just thought I'd double-check with some of the more experienced VJ users on this point. I am pretty certain he's wrong and that by signing the DS-230 part II the number will be posted to me. Is this really the case or have got the wrong end of the stick?

If you ticked "yes" on the DS-230 to the question about them arranging it for you and "yes" to them sharing your info with the SSA, then your SS card should just automatically come in the mail to the same address as your green card. If you don't receive it after two weeks, you should go your local SS office and inquire about it. If your info has not made it into their system, you can then apply in person for the SSN.