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Crossing the Border while Visa App Pending

By jenmac75 in Canada

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jenmac75 Contributor

jenmac75   1

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Hi Everyone,

I know there are many posts here regarding crossing into the States while you have your application pending and making sure you can prove ties to Canada etc. My question is this - has anyone tried to cross using their birth certificate as ID while the U.S. Consulate has your passport for Visa processing???

I had my interview in October and needed a police clearance from New Zealand (which Montreal finally received last week - yay!) but I had to send in my passport so they could issue the visa. Montreal now has my passport and are apparently "reviewing" my file. Of course they provide no timeline and I'm worried that I won't get my Visa before Christmas. I'm wondering if I should risk visiting over the holidays if the visa doesn't come through but I certainly don't want anything to jeopardize my visa application at this late stage.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Met: 2005-10-05 at best friend's wedding in Key West

K1

I-129F Sent : 2006-12-07

I-129F NOA1 : 2006-12-11

I-129F RFE(s) : 2007-03-08

RFE Reply(s) : 2007-04-03

I-129F NOA2 : 2007-04-04

Packet 3 Received : 2007-05-04

Packet 3 Sent : 2007-05-11

Added to MTL Waiting List: 2007-05-17

Medical in Toronto: 2007-08-08

Called MTL: 2007-08-08 - told to expect interview Sept. or Oct.

Emailed MTL on 2007-08-22 INTERVIEW DATE: October 17, 2007 at 9:30am!!!

Delay in processing due to needing a New Zealand Police Certificate

Visa in hand: 2007-12-19

POE at Peace Bridge - Christmas Day, 2007!

Wedding in Las Vegas - February 11, 2008

AOS

AOS Package Sent: 2008-03-04

Packaged Received in Chicago: 2008-03-05

Received NOA1: 2008-03-10

Biometrics Appt: 2008-04-02

Krikit Grand Master

Krikit   1,165

Posted
Filed: Timeline
Posted

The Peace Bridge Authority says..... Have proof of citizenship readily available including 2 forms of identification with at least one photo ID. Link

I tried crossing without my passport, once, because it had expired. Luckily, I had it with me because they asked for it anyway. The officer told me that an expired passport was better than no passport at all.

iagree.gif
thermophile Community Regular

thermophile   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

yeah my husband crossed a few months ago while Mtl had his passport. it wasn't really a problem. Just as a reminder-you can't fly without a passport, but driving across the border with just a bc is still ok.

met summer 1999, summer 2000 hooked up-whoo hoo summer fling

summer fling failed to fizzle, married 2003

I-130 mailed 12/15/03

4/1/04 no word from NE contacted senators office, app found

NOA1 4/13/04

Gave up on ridiculously long US process-started Canadian

12/4/04 submitted app

LSS app returned because of missed signatures, lost in transit, resubmitted in June

9/28/05 landed, yippie

10/4/05 fly back to US to "finish up Master's" lose mind and switch to PhD

Damn it back to the US process

3/something/2005 finally get NOA2, no idea why it took so long

4/15/07 get case approval from NVC

8/9/07 Montreal here we come

10/14/07 hubby activated his visa

zyggy Experienced

zyggy   9

Posted
Filed: Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted (edited)
yeah my husband crossed a few months ago while Mtl had his passport. it wasn't really a problem. Just as a reminder-you can't fly without a passport, but driving across the border with just a bc is still ok.

Just to note, oral declarations of citizenship will no longer be permitted by CBP after Dec 31. (although most posts have implemented some sort of no oral declaration policy on their own) However, at the land border, BC and DL is fine until the WHTI goes into effect by 2009. WHTI is already in effect for flying, so a valid passport is required.

Edited by zyggy

Knowledge itself is power - Sir Francis Bacon

I have gone fishing... you can find me by going here http://**removed due to TOS**

Dylan'sWife Collaborator

Dylan'sWife   2

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted
Hi Everyone,

I know there are many posts here regarding crossing into the States while you have your application pending and making sure you can prove ties to Canada etc. My question is this - has anyone tried to cross using their birth certificate as ID while the U.S. Consulate has your passport for Visa processing???

I had my interview in October and needed a police clearance from New Zealand (which Montreal finally received last week - yay!) but I had to send in my passport so they could issue the visa. Montreal now has my passport and are apparently "reviewing" my file. Of course they provide no timeline and I'm worried that I won't get my Visa before Christmas. I'm wondering if I should risk visiting over the holidays if the visa doesn't come through but I certainly don't want anything to jeopardize my visa application at this late stage.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

I doubt they will allow you entry.

As of Jan 1 2008 a passport is required to cross the boarder by land so I imagine you will need it to re-enter Canada.

But- I do hope that you get your visa before then and none of this will matter . Good luck :)

04-21-2006 | Marriage in Santa Ana, CA
I-130 Process
06-29-2006 | Mailed to CSC
08-23-2006 | Was told application was rejected & sent back
08-30-2006 | Recieved rejected package
09-01-2006 | Resubmitted I-130
09-08-2006 | NOA1 (now that's more like it)
09-13-2006 | Recieved NOA1 in the mail
12-19-2006 | Recieved email RFE
12-20-2006 | Recieved RFE in mail
12-22-2006 | Sent out RFE info
01-09-2007 | NOA2 Email received!
I-130 at NVC
01-24-2007 | Case Number Assigned
02-06-2007 | Emailed DS-3032 COA
02-09-2007 | NVC confirms COA in email
02-20-2007 | DS3032 & AOS Fee Bill Mailed
02-26-2007 | Received DS3032 and AOS Fee Bill
02-28-2007 | Mailed AOS Fee Bill and check
03-13-2007 | I-864 received
03-21-2007 | I-864 sent
05-16-2007 | IV Bill resent from NVC (never got the first)
06-02-2007 | IV Bill received
06-05-2007 | IV Bill payment sent
06-26-2007 | Received DS230
06-29-2007 | Mailed DS230 to NVC
08-15-2007 | NVC process complete but was sent back to US CIS (#@$%#$% this sucks)
11-08-2007 | I-130 returned to NVC
11-08-2007 | Requested expedited interview due to daughters illness
11-21-2007 | NVC approved expedited interview. Mailed to Montreal Embassy Nov 20th
12-11-2007 | Told by contact at US Consulate in Toronto that our interview date will be on Jan 4th.
01-04-2008 | Interview In Montreal. VISA GRANTED
01-11-2008 | Arrival in the US
11-09-2009 | Biometrics taken for 10 year green card
01-20-2010 | Approved- 10 GC ordered for production

06-22-2013 | N-400 package sent

thermophile Community Regular

thermophile   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted
I doubt they will allow you entry.

As of Jan 1 2008 a passport is required to cross the boarder by land so I imagine you will need it to re-enter Canada.

But- I do hope that you get your visa before then and none of this will matter . Good luck :)

no, the date was pushed back because of the backlog in issuing passports in both countries. I think by sometime in the summer a bc will no longer be allowed as proof of citizenship, but it's still ok for the next few months.

met summer 1999, summer 2000 hooked up-whoo hoo summer fling

summer fling failed to fizzle, married 2003

I-130 mailed 12/15/03

4/1/04 no word from NE contacted senators office, app found

NOA1 4/13/04

Gave up on ridiculously long US process-started Canadian

12/4/04 submitted app

LSS app returned because of missed signatures, lost in transit, resubmitted in June

9/28/05 landed, yippie

10/4/05 fly back to US to "finish up Master's" lose mind and switch to PhD

Damn it back to the US process

3/something/2005 finally get NOA2, no idea why it took so long

4/15/07 get case approval from NVC

8/9/07 Montreal here we come

10/14/07 hubby activated his visa

zyggy Experienced

zyggy   9

Posted
Filed: Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted (edited)
Hi Everyone,

I know there are many posts here regarding crossing into the States while you have your application pending and making sure you can prove ties to Canada etc. My question is this - has anyone tried to cross using their birth certificate as ID while the U.S. Consulate has your passport for Visa processing???

I had my interview in October and needed a police clearance from New Zealand (which Montreal finally received last week - yay!) but I had to send in my passport so they could issue the visa. Montreal now has my passport and are apparently "reviewing" my file. Of course they provide no timeline and I'm worried that I won't get my Visa before Christmas. I'm wondering if I should risk visiting over the holidays if the visa doesn't come through but I certainly don't want anything to jeopardize my visa application at this late stage.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

I doubt they will allow you entry.

As of Jan 1 2008 a passport is required to cross the boarder by land so I imagine you will need it to re-enter Canada.

But- I do hope that you get your visa before then and none of this will matter . Good luck :)

This is not true. The deadline for the implementation of WHTI for land borders (the thing that requires passports to enter the US) was extended to April 30, 2009. On Jan 1, proof of citizenship (such as a BC) and photo ID will be required of all travelers at land borders.

Edited by zyggy

Knowledge itself is power - Sir Francis Bacon

I have gone fishing... you can find me by going here http://**removed due to TOS**

thermophile Community Regular

thermophile   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted
This is not true. The deadline for the implementation of WHTI for land borders (the thing that requires passports to enter the US) was extended to April 30, 2009. On Jan 1, proof of citizenship (such as a BC) and photo ID will be required of all travelers at land borders.

really? I thought that bc as proof of citizenship had been required for years. I didn't realize that you could (theoretically) cross the border without any proof of citizenship right now.

met summer 1999, summer 2000 hooked up-whoo hoo summer fling

summer fling failed to fizzle, married 2003

I-130 mailed 12/15/03

4/1/04 no word from NE contacted senators office, app found

NOA1 4/13/04

Gave up on ridiculously long US process-started Canadian

12/4/04 submitted app

LSS app returned because of missed signatures, lost in transit, resubmitted in June

9/28/05 landed, yippie

10/4/05 fly back to US to "finish up Master's" lose mind and switch to PhD

Damn it back to the US process

3/something/2005 finally get NOA2, no idea why it took so long

4/15/07 get case approval from NVC

8/9/07 Montreal here we come

10/14/07 hubby activated his visa

samaci Explorer

samaci   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Timeline
Posted
This is not true. The deadline for the implementation of WHTI for land borders (the thing that requires passports to enter the US) was extended to April 30, 2009. On Jan 1, proof of citizenship (such as a BC) and photo ID will be required of all travelers at land borders.

really? I thought that bc as proof of citizenship had been required for years. I didn't realize that you could (theoretically) cross the border without any proof of citizenship right now.

its been required for the last couple of years now. BC and picture ID... Going through the British Columbia borders anyway...

Aug/2001: We met, started dating long distance style and lots of weekend sleepovers!!!

May 16/2004: Married, and still doing weekend sleepovers

Mar 13/2006: Sent off I-130

Mar 28/2006: Rec'vd NOA1

July 7/2006: Rec'vd NOA2

Aug 29/2006: Rec'vd IV Bill

Sep 12-2006: Pay IV Bill

Mar 30/2007: Case Completed at NVC

Jul 18/2007: Case left NVC on way to Montreal

Aug 31/2007: Rec'vd 1st interview letter (the one they DIDN'T send me, due to NVC having my address tagged as bad---this one was hubby's that I got 5 weeks late.)

Aug 9/2007 : 1st Interview Date (of course I missed it)

Sep 15/2007: Rec'vd 2nd interview letter

Sep 26/2007: Medical Appt booked

Oct 5/2007: 2nd Interview scheduled in Montreal

Oct 5/2007: Approved!!!!!!!

Oct 11/2007: Recv'd Visa in hand after hearing doorbell ring

Oct 21/2007: Activated visa

Nov 20/2007: Applied for SSN because it wasn't done for me... UGH!!!

Dec 03/2007: Received SSN in mail... YAHOO!

Apr 11/2008: GC finally arrived

jenmac75 Contributor

jenmac75   1

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Canada
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted
I have been wondering about you. I am so happy you finally got your clearance and you're all ready! This is great news!

Thanks Sprailenes! I'm not completely confident yet - there's been too much getting excited and then everything taking longer than I thought. Heard from Montreal yesterday and of course they can't give me an estimate of when it will be processed. Aarrggghhh! I'm so frustrated and so ready for this to be over!

Met: 2005-10-05 at best friend's wedding in Key West

K1

I-129F Sent : 2006-12-07

I-129F NOA1 : 2006-12-11

I-129F RFE(s) : 2007-03-08

RFE Reply(s) : 2007-04-03

I-129F NOA2 : 2007-04-04

Packet 3 Received : 2007-05-04

Packet 3 Sent : 2007-05-11

Added to MTL Waiting List: 2007-05-17

Medical in Toronto: 2007-08-08

Called MTL: 2007-08-08 - told to expect interview Sept. or Oct.

Emailed MTL on 2007-08-22 INTERVIEW DATE: October 17, 2007 at 9:30am!!!

Delay in processing due to needing a New Zealand Police Certificate

Visa in hand: 2007-12-19

POE at Peace Bridge - Christmas Day, 2007!

Wedding in Las Vegas - February 11, 2008

AOS

AOS Package Sent: 2008-03-04

Packaged Received in Chicago: 2008-03-05

Received NOA1: 2008-03-10

Biometrics Appt: 2008-04-02

trailmix Grand Master

trailmix   77

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted (edited)
This is not true. The deadline for the implementation of WHTI for land borders (the thing that requires passports to enter the US) was extended to April 30, 2009. On Jan 1, proof of citizenship (such as a BC) and photo ID will be required of all travelers at land borders.

JANUARY 31, 2008 (land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative )

U.S. and Canadian citizens will need to present either a WHTI-compliant document, or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. DHS also proposes to begin alternative procedures for U.S. and Canadian children at that time.

Edited by trailmix
thermophile Community Regular

thermophile   0

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted
This is not true. The deadline for the implementation of WHTI for land borders (the thing that requires passports to enter the US) was extended to April 30, 2009. On Jan 1, proof of citizenship (such as a BC) and photo ID will be required of all travelers at land borders.

JANUARY 31, 2008 (land and sea portion of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative )

U.S. and Canadian citizens will need to present either a WHTI-compliant document, or a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, plus proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate. DHS also proposes to begin alternative procedures for U.S. and Canadian children at that time.

I'm pretty sure that is out of date now. they keep pushing the date back. the OP should just call the border that she's planning to cross at to be sure

met summer 1999, summer 2000 hooked up-whoo hoo summer fling

summer fling failed to fizzle, married 2003

I-130 mailed 12/15/03

4/1/04 no word from NE contacted senators office, app found

NOA1 4/13/04

Gave up on ridiculously long US process-started Canadian

12/4/04 submitted app

LSS app returned because of missed signatures, lost in transit, resubmitted in June

9/28/05 landed, yippie

10/4/05 fly back to US to "finish up Master's" lose mind and switch to PhD

Damn it back to the US process

3/something/2005 finally get NOA2, no idea why it took so long

4/15/07 get case approval from NVC

8/9/07 Montreal here we come

10/14/07 hubby activated his visa

zyggy Experienced

zyggy   9

Posted
Filed: Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted (edited)
This is not true. The deadline for the implementation of WHTI for land borders (the thing that requires passports to enter the US) was extended to April 30, 2009. On Jan 1, proof of citizenship (such as a BC) and photo ID will be required of all travelers at land borders.

really? I thought that bc as proof of citizenship had been required for years. I didn't realize that you could (theoretically) cross the border without any proof of citizenship right now.

Nope.. CBP officers have been permitted by law to accept an oral declaration of citizenship within the WHTI area since... well.. forever... but could always require proof if they wished. As of Jan 31, officers will no longer have that discretion by law... believe me.. my old colleagues in the CBP are dreading this day... as it quite honestly hasn't been well publicized...

However, some posts have implemented a policy in the last few years (really since 9/11) requiring the documents at primary inspection and if they didn't have them to send them to secondary and let them deal with it... which honestly isn't a pleasant experience... but it least it would make you remember to bring the stuff from then on...

However, after Jan 31, no documents.. no entry... period...

trailmix.. read what it says... a WHTI compliant document (passport, NEXUS card, etc.) OR (note the or) DL and BC... just like I stated... in I guess a roundabout way... :)

By April 2009, a WHTI compliant document is all that will be permitted...

Edited by zyggy

Knowledge itself is power - Sir Francis Bacon

I have gone fishing... you can find me by going here http://**removed due to TOS**

trailmix Grand Master

trailmix   77

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted
This is not true. The deadline for the implementation of WHTI for land borders (the thing that requires passports to enter the US) was extended to April 30, 2009. On Jan 1, proof of citizenship (such as a BC) and photo ID will be required of all travelers at land borders.

really? I thought that bc as proof of citizenship had been required for years. I didn't realize that you could (theoretically) cross the border without any proof of citizenship right now.

Nope.. CBP officers have been permitted by law to accept an oral declaration of citizenship within the WHTI area since... well.. forever... but could always require proof if they wished. As of Jan 31, officers will no longer have that discretion by law... believe me.. my old colleagues in the CBP are dreading this day... as it quite honestly hasn't been well publicized...

However, some posts have implemented a policy in the last few years (really since 9/11) requiring the documents at primary inspection and if they didn't have them to send them to secondary and let them deal with it... which honestly isn't a pleasant experience... but it least it would make you remember to bring the stuff from then on...

However, after Jan 31, no documents.. no entry... period...

trailmix.. read what it says... a WHTI compliant document (passport, NEXUS card, etc.) OR (note the or) DL and BC... just like I stated... in I guess a roundabout way... :)

By April 2009, a WHTI compliant document is all that will be permitted...

Yeah no worries, I was just pointing out it was the 31st not the 1st as mentioned earlier.

 
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