Crossing a land border

[canucker18 0]

Hi all, I'll be crossing from Ontario into NY at the Alexandria Bay border, near Kingston.

I just want to be prepared as to what I should be receiving from them?

I understand I have to give them my stuff from the Consulate, and I get an I94 from them is that correct?

They keep one and I keep one?

When I leave that office, what should I have in my hands?

Passport-do Iget another stamp there?

I94- who gives this to me?

Anything else that I will be getting when I cross that I don't already have???

Thanks. and woooooooooooo.

Edited February 12, 2006 by canucker18

[MarieAnastasia 0]

Canucker, try calling Rainbow Bridge (Border Control) in New York 716-282-3141. They've helped me with quite a few questions I've had in the past. And if they don't know the answer they try to redirect you. One of the Officers even gave me his name in case I called back, so I wouldn't have to go through the whole speil again! I was quite surprized! Good luck and God speed. Keep us posted ...........{{{HUGS}}}

[Flames9_RN 358]

I went across Maine when I entered the USA back in Dec 2004. Went with a Uhaul truck!! I drove up to the POE officer, told him Iwas there to activate my cr-1 visa,he said, ok, go pul lup to one of the stalls and go inside. Parked, went inside, I was the only person there!! Walked up to the Customs dude, gave him my inventory list (all the stuff in the Uhaul truck, just put into a word document using "tables" nothing fancy) He looked over the list and sent me over to Immigartion. I gave them the Brown envelope. They looked it over. They had to make a few phone calls to ensure they did it properly. Asked a few basic questions, fingerprinted me, and put aink stamp on the opposite page of the visa Mtl put in my CDN passport, and that was it!! They kept al the contents of the brown enevlope, gave me back my passport (never showed them the xray) and that was it for Immigration!! Went back to Customs dude, he said everything was OK and off I went. They never looked inside the truck. Did not take that long. Very easy process. That was my experience. Best of luck

[canucker18 0]

So what is your I94? And where is it? In your passport? Iknow you need copies of it for everyting with AOS..so when and where do I get it?

[zyggy 9]

So what is your I94? And where is it? In your passport? Iknow you need copies of it for everyting with AOS..so when and where do I get it?

At a land border, the CBP officer will create the I-94 for you in the secondary processing area. They staple it to your passport on the page opposite your visa.

Basically you need to tell the officer at the primary inspection point (the booth), that you are activating your K1. They'll send you over to secondary and you go in, present your visa and brown envelope. They'll look over the stuff in the envelope, produce the I-94 and stamp your passport with the stamp over the visa. That's it...

Edited February 13, 2006 by zyggy

[caviar22 1]

I went across Maine when I entered the USA back in Dec 2004. Went with a Uhaul truck!! I drove up to the POE officer, told him Iwas there to activate my cr-1 visa,he said, ok, go pul lup to one of the stalls and go inside. Parked, went inside, I was the only person there!! Walked up to the Customs dude, gave him my inventory list (all the stuff in the Uhaul truck, just put into a word document using "tables" nothing fancy) He looked over the list and sent me over to Immigartion. I gave them the Brown envelope. They looked it over. They had to make a few phone calls to ensure they did it properly. Asked a few basic questions, fingerprinted me, and put aink stamp on the opposite page of the visa Mtl put in my CDN passport, and that was it!! They kept al the contents of the brown enevlope, gave me back my passport (never showed them the xray) and that was it for Immigration!! Went back to Customs dude, he said everything was OK and off I went. They never looked inside the truck. Did not take that long. Very easy process. That was my experience. Best of luck

Ditto here. Such a simple process. However, this is as CR-1 visa. I do not know what the K-1 visa is like. We do not have an I-94 or anything else stamped in our passport.

Good luck!!!

[zyggy 9]

I went across Maine when I entered the USA back in Dec 2004. Went with a Uhaul truck!! I drove up to the POE officer, told him Iwas there to activate my cr-1 visa,he said, ok, go pul lup to one of the stalls and go inside. Parked, went inside, I was the only person there!! Walked up to the Customs dude, gave him my inventory list (all the stuff in the Uhaul truck, just put into a word document using "tables" nothing fancy) He looked over the list and sent me over to Immigartion. I gave them the Brown envelope. They looked it over. They had to make a few phone calls to ensure they did it properly. Asked a few basic questions, fingerprinted me, and put aink stamp on the opposite page of the visa Mtl put in my CDN passport, and that was it!! They kept al the contents of the brown enevlope, gave me back my passport (never showed them the xray) and that was it for Immigration!! Went back to Customs dude, he said everything was OK and off I went. They never looked inside the truck. Did not take that long. Very easy process. That was my experience. Best of luck

Ditto here. Such a simple process. However, this is as CR-1 visa. I do not know what the K-1 visa is like. We do not have an I-94 or anything else stamped in our passport.

Good luck!!!

You don't get an I-94 for a CR-1.

[MarieAnastasia 0]

Canucker, try calling Rainbow Bridge (Border Control) in New York 716-282-3141. They've helped me with quite a few questions I've had in the past. And if they don't know the answer they try to redirect you. One of the Officers even gave me his name in case I called back, so I wouldn't have to go through the whole speil again! I was quite surprized! Good luck and God speed. Keep us posted ...........{{{HUGS}}}

Call the number that I've already posted. They really are great................{{{HUGS}}}

[betazed 0]

Yes! This is exactly what I was wondering too. I now have a feel of what I can expect at my own land POE (Douglas/Pac Hwy) in BC.

One question though: Is it acceptable that my husband (& his car) accompanies me when I cross over? I'm just bringing my personal affects (clothes, shoes, bags, make-up/straightener/blowdryer, books), as my parents are turning my bedroom into a guest bedroom and aren't letting me take any furniture. I'm guessing that since its only a few boxes, we can probably use folded the backseats of both of our cars.

Any advice will be appreciated.

[Carlawarla 1]

Yes! This is exactly what I was wondering too. I now have a feel of what I can expect at my own land POE (Douglas/Pac Hwy) in BC.

One question though: Is it acceptable that my husband (& his car) accompanies me when I cross over? I'm just bringing my personal affects (clothes, shoes, bags, make-up/straightener/blowdryer, books), as my parents are turning my bedroom into a guest bedroom and aren't letting me take any furniture. I'm guessing that since its only a few boxes, we can probably use folded the backseats of both of our cars.

Any advice will be appreciated.

Yes, your husband can cross over with his car and with some of your stuff. Usually we advise bringing a list of things you're bringing over. Not detailed, but like Box #1, clothing etc. You should perhaps write down serial numbers of electronics. I can see that you searched the forum for threads that might be pertinent to your situation and that's good! (The thread is 3 years old). If you have any more questions about crossing at your particular POE you might want to post a new topic here about the situation, or search under the Canada forum for the name of the POE.

Here's a link to the Canada VJ Wiki page as well which might have some info on crossings.

http://www.visajourney.com/wiki/index.php/Canada

Oh yes, as a reminder...if you're bringing your own car over, you have to get a compliance letter from the manufacturer.

Edited May 22, 2009 by Carlawarla

[jessica123 0]

Do you have to list the monetary amount of all of your goods on the inventory list? How do they determine duty/import charges if you are land crossing at the POE with a Uhaul containing all of your stuff? I am considered a US returning resident and my husband will be the American PR.

[trailmix 77]

Do you have to list the monetary amount of all of your goods on the inventory list? How do they determine duty/import charges if you are land crossing at the POE with a Uhaul containing all of your stuff? I am considered a US returning resident and my husband will be the American PR.

You don't pay duty on your personal belongings when you are an intending or returning resident. I did include a rough monetary value for each box/tote, and each larger item.

Edited June 16, 2009 by trailmix

[JillA 2]

Do you have to list the monetary amount of all of your goods on the inventory list? How do they determine duty/import charges if you are land crossing at the POE with a Uhaul containing all of your stuff? I am considered a US returning resident and my husband will be the American PR.

List serial #'s for any electronics as well!

[trailmix 77]

Do you have to list the monetary amount of all of your goods on the inventory list? How do they determine duty/import charges if you are land crossing at the POE with a Uhaul containing all of your stuff? I am considered a US returning resident and my husband will be the American PR.

List serial #'s for any electronics as well!

Yeah, I didn't do that and didn't see it noted that we had to - did you do that for a reason - or just to be extra thorough?

[JillA 2]

Do you have to list the monetary amount of all of your goods on the inventory list? How do they determine duty/import charges if you are land crossing at the POE with a Uhaul containing all of your stuff? I am considered a US returning resident and my husband will be the American PR.

List serial #'s for any electronics as well!

Yeah, I didn't do that and didn't see it noted that we had to - did you do that for a reason - or just to be extra thorough?

I did it because I was told to by numerous people on here.... I read it on a few different threads to list serial #'s. Of course, it was never asked for, neither was my packing list!