Penny&Lee
Difficulty:  | Review Topic: Port of Entry Review
My flight was with Thomas Cook - from Manchester, UK, to NY, JFK. It took off at 10:30am local time, and I arrived at JFK at 12:40pm local time. As I was sat in premier seating, I departed the plane first and was first in the queues at customs. JFK was beyond hectic, I had never seen the airport that busy before. Our flight was made to stand in 1 queue as other passengers from other aircrafts were filtered into the lines first before us. I was standing in the line for US residents (and that’s because I had no idea where I had to go.) I asked 4 members of staff, the first 3 were clueless and told me to stay where I was. The last (lovely) gentleman directed me to the first time US esta line (zzzzzzzz the longest line). The time now had easily passed 1:30pm local time. So I joined the back of the humungous queue, and stayed in that line until 2:30pm local time, then I was directed to kiosk #23. I stood there for 20~ or so minutes; and I was then the next person to be seen. I had my unopened packet 4 as well as my visa in hand. But then the CBP officer decided to close his kiosk and myself and the line of people behind me were then directed to different kiosks (yep.. ugh... here we go...) I moved to kiosk #24, which seemed to be a pleasant man from what I could tell by how he was interacting with other people. Another 20 minutes go by, and finally I’m up. By this stage it’s almost 3 or so hours since my plane landed. So at this point I’m flustered, annoyed, tired, and the excitement of seeing my fiancé was slowly wearing off from the hassle.
So I tell the officer I have a K-1 visa, which he then proceeded to HUFF as if it was a massive problem. He took my packet 4 and visa. Scanned my visa, ripped open the packet, pulled out the papers & said “do you have any proof of a relationship or meeting?†I said.. “what? That’s not a requirement?†And he said “you should have been told at your interview at the embassy that you are required to show this paperworkâ€, (luckily for me, I came super prepared and carried all of this paperwork in my hand luggage with me). So I opened my luggage and presented all paperwork from the visa process, pictures of us and our engagement, proof of meeting, my arrival departure record, and a few other bits like movie tickets and train tickets etc. So the man took all of this paperwork from me and was browsing through it. When I say “browsing†I mean, he was looking at it, but not paying attention. He was the most lazy, arrogant, rude CBP officer I had ever encountered. After he’s done with that paperwork, he hands me it back and I pack my bag back up, and then he proceeds to say “there’s pages missing from the paperwork in this packet†(packet 4)... and I’m stood there in shock.. because you’re not allowed to open packet 4, so whatever was in that envelope, I had never seen, never touched. It was all up to the Embassy to fill that packet with the correct paperwork.
After that and me telling him that I can’t do anything if there’s “missing pagesâ€, he rolls his eyes and stamps my passport and my visa. Telling me I have 90 days to get married. I think “phew.... finally I’m done.â€
Hahahahahahaha.
Nope....
The officer flicks a switch at his kiosk which makes a big red light flash, and another officer comes over, takes all my paperwork and takes me to the immigration office section of JFK. Puts all my papers in a red folder, and tells me to take a seat. (I had been in this place once before, in 2017, after I was interrogated at Manchester airport because of too many frequent visits to the US), so I knew the process.
By now it was about 3 and a half hours since my plane landed. Around 4pm.
Now I’m extremely worried about my luggage, I’m antsy, I’m emotional, I’m tired, and REALLY annoyed.
I sat in the immigration section for 30-40 minutes before I saw an officer pick up my file & call my name. After he did so, he said “WHY are officers referring k-1 visas??? I haven’t referred a k-1 visa in 5 years!!â€. So I stand in front of his desk, and he says “honestly I’m so sorry. I don’t know why you’re in here. You shouldn’t of been referred here.†He stamps my passport once again and I’m escorted out of the room. (WOOOHOOOOO I’m free!!) 😩
I walk to luggage claim and there are my 3 suitcases sitting right in the middle of the carousels. Thank god. I stopped and had a good cry before packing them onto a trolley and leaving to see my love standing there with a big bouquet of red white & blue flowers to symbolize my move to the US. It made all the stress and tears worth it ðŸ˜
(long story short, JFK POE in my opinion, literally sucked.) I didn’t get out of baggage claim till 5pm. 4 and a half hours after my plane landed........
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Port of Entry Member Review #16669
Entry Date: 2018-07-19