Amidst many tears, near heart-attacks, looming opportunities of getting massively screwed over in the next few days, and constant migraines from the stress, I am staring down the barrel of my last week.

I need to know what will happen if I bus across the Windsor-Detroit crossing to activate my K-1.

I have heard of long delays, is it likely that the bus will leave without me if my crossing does not happen fast? I was going to have my best friend and my mother drive me across but that has turned into a GODDAMN LOGISTICAL NIGHTMARE that has reduced me to hysterics, so I am going to just bus it across (because it's cheaper and waaay simpler) with 2 hrs to spare to make it to my boarding time.

Need some help here. I am at the breaking point.

I find out on Tuesday if my movers are going to get their frakking rears in gear and move my stuff to U-Pack's terminal on Friday. No pressure. If they don't, I am screwed. You can't exactly book two movers for the same job in case one of them fails to show up.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((Galateia))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))),

If you can allow a bit more time than two hours to spare it may be wise. The whole process of activating a K-1 takes about 20 to 30 minutes, but the actual time you may have to wait will depend on how many others are waiting in front of you. You may be lucky and go right in and out in the 20 minutes - or you may have to wait an hour or two.

I am not sure how long a bus will wait if your processing needs to take more than just the time to check a visitor's documentation. You might want to call Greyhound and ask them directly what is involved. Is there a way you can take an earlier bus to the border, and then join up with the one that gets you to the airport with 2 hours to spare? Ask greyhound if that is possible as that might be a wiser solution.

If that doesn't work out, see if one of the downtown hotels has shuttle buses to the airport. You can always take a taxi to the hotel and pick up a shuttle bus there. I know there are also shuttle buses that run from Canadian cities to the airport - Chatham has one - they are probably more expensive than Greyhound, but they run on several different schedules a day so you may be able to use one of them as well if the Greyhound option falls through.

Good luck!

You need to completely settle down...I worry about the stress you put on yourself.

I agree with Kathryn....give yourself more time.
There are other shuttles like Airbus and different services available that run constantly to the airport. I don't know how long Greyhound will wait either. Maybe you could get off first? Talk to the driver and let them know you are activating the K1 so that way they can process you while other people are being processed? Call Greyhound and see what others have done in this situation.
I really don't understand why your best friend and mom are having a hard time understanding stuff...it's simple, you get in the car, drive you over the border, drop you at the airport and go home. sigh. People suck sometimes.

I hope everything works out for you, I'm sure it will.

The 9:35 AM departure is the first of the day. Unless I go the night before and hemorrhage money I don't have for a hotel for the night, it's got to be that bus.

I talked to greyhound, first the number for US-Canada cross border travel, who apparently staff their phones with people who can't find their rears with both hands and a map. Then I talked to my local greyhound people again, and they said it will depend on the driver, but they are supposed to wait.

What we thought was the best course of action was to notify the driver of what was going down so that London could call ahead to Customs and prep them. I plan to specify that they'll need someone who can provide the 1-94 EAD stamp

As for my mother and best friend, they are totally willing to do it and offered because I was originally having problems with the u-pack timeline. Now, my stuff is being given to U-Pack on Friday so it won't ship out till Monday anyway, which gives me time to get across the border.

The logistical meltdown is as follows:

There is ONE car rental place in my mother's town, so they frakking gouge the living daylights out of the poor folks who don't have cars (like my mother, who otherwise doesn't need or want one). They charge A HUNDRED BUCKS A DAY (plus gas!!) for 24 hrs, and the place closes at 6pm on Sunday. I am NOT okay with her spending $200 that she doesn't have just to keep me company while I blubber incessantly all the way there.

She lives two hours away. 2 hrs to KW where she leaves rental at my friend's place and then three of us head out, then 3.5-4 hrs to Detroit, then ditto back to KW, then another 2 hrs to get home. My flight is at 5:30, boarding at 4:30. You see the difficulty in her getting back before 6pm on Sunday.

Them driving me at the crack of dawn to get me there and then back so she has time to get back to her town before 6pm totally defeats the purpose of us spending more time together if they are going to dump me off HOURS before my flight and I spend the day alone waiting for my flight in the end.

Not only that, but if I am perfectly honest there is no way in hell I want to be stuck in that car. I love my friend to death but she refuses to drive in even the GTA because driving in cities freaks her out, and she has the bladder the size of a walnut and turns into a Denizen of Hades if she has to 'go'. Satan would turn and run if he got between my friend and a washroom. I'm going to be a basket case emotionally anyway, my mother is going be all fried from all the driving to and fro, and my best friend is going to be having a freakout every time a driver does something dumb in her vicinity as well as having one nerve left as she drives in a strange city with a full bladder, and I'm going to feel like we're paying by the minute for the dubious pleasure of this method thanks to the retarded price of the rental. We're all going to be miserable at the looming separation.

Imagine three women teetering on the edge trapped in a car with too many maps in a strange city all screaming over which left to take.

It's like a migraine waiting to happen. Hells to the no.

The Greyhound terminal is only 20 miles away from the airport. Would it make more sense to go to the airport straight from Customs? Anyone know of a service like that?

In other news, I finally have movers, even though they not the same ones (buggers emailed me after making me wait a week to tell me they are already booked that day!) the new ones are more expensive but they were super nice and I only pay in 15 minute increments after the first hour.

I also have a short notice dentist appt. booked tomorrow because I think I have my first two cavities, and I no longer have dental insurance. Yay. I can SO afford that right now. </sarcasm>.

Oh, talked again with EI; they said I file within the first 4 weeks and it's fine because I have the maximum number of insurable hours anyway, so provided I file before May 25th it will make no difference if I filed the day after my last day of work or 3.5 weeks later.

Should I try to call Customs at the border to see if there is anything I can do to prep them for my arrival? If so, what number do I contact them at?

I am feeling less hysterical because I got stuff DONE today. Movers, check; EI clarification, check; Dentist, check; Greyhound, check; ROE in hand, check; Union dispute rep has new address/info, check (yes, I am in the middle of a union dispute with my former employers), HR has new info for T4. I have been on the phone all morning.

Thanks for all the support.

ok:-) Well, if you can get to the Detroit airport directly from customs/immigration that would be a much more sensible plan. The route is direct out I-94 and you get the interchange almost directly after you go through customs. If you were going to the Greyhound terminal which is 20 miles from the airport you will be a long way out of your way - the airport is closer to Customs/immigration than that. Definitely check into Airbus services - they may well service KW area.

Seriously, take a look at Robert Q Airbus. If you can get from KW to London you can get one of their vans and take you to the airport. If you have a delay at the border and they have to leave, there is another one coming afterwards and you can pick up that one to continue your ride to the airport. Here is the link to their schedule and cost from London - plus all of the links to information and their phone number - you can call them and ask about activating the visa and any potential delays: http://www.robertq.com/Airbus/index.html

Here is information that lists the border wait times on a current basis. You can get a feel for potential travel delays: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/general/times/menu-e.html

Definitely call Border Services before hand to let you know you are arriving and need to activate an K-1 visa: Here is a link to the Border Protection Services at Detroit - you can call and ask them about processing a K-1 coming through the border on a bus etc. or to notify them of when you are coming and asking them how to expedite your processing:
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contact...rts/mi/3801.xml

Good luck.

when i go back and forth to chicago i take the greyhound and cross at detroit/windsor. not to make you more stressed, but i have seen greyhound drivers leave people behind if it is taking too long *and* if the bus is running close to or behind schedule.

the reality is that greyhound plans about a 45 minute stop over at the detroit bus terminal. if they are running ahead of schedule then it shouldn't be an issue as you will have lots of time. i would just sit at the front of the bus and make a point of being the first person in line at customs. because of our pending K1 i always do this just in case there is an issue. (there hasn't been one yet.)

i agree with kathryn and would advise calling ahead to US customs to see if they are willing to prepare for you in advance.

what else? well, after a hellish greyhound experience last week between chicago and detroit i learned that a taxi ride out to the detroit airport can cost as much as $70.

SO if you are headed to the airport anyway, i would suggest robert Q as well. they are far more personable than greyhound and i'm sure if you explained your situation they'd be willing to help.

i'm sorry to hear you're feeling such a crunch this week. i am sure that everything will work out for you though

You are my heroine

I just spoke to a wonderful customs officer at the number for the Detroit tunnel, and he said they will NOT allow the bus to leave without me and had a very "Oh no they did-n't!" tone to his voice which was very reassuring. There is nothing I can do to prep in advance/expedite my paperwork though, but he confirmed that yes, they do know how to do the temp. EAD in a K-1 and that they all can do it.

He chuckled when I said "Thank you sir, you have made my day; I've been stressing about this for two years!".

Robert Q is a no-go because the earliest bus from KW to London arrives at 11:35am and I need to take the Robert Q that leaves at 10:30 am or 12:00, and they have to pick me up at 11:15 at the latest. Alas.

And no airbus services from KW, unfortunately. Tarnation!

The cost of a taxi from the greyhound terminal to the airport is $41.

Update:

I've talked with my mother and friend about the option of driving me to London Sunday morning so I can catch the Robert Q from there, which still wouldn't give my mother enough time to get to and fro unless she picked up the car super late on Saturday, which doesn't make much sense. Still, my friend is game to drive me to London instead and she'll be calling me back shortly.

Then all I need to check tomorrow during business hours is if the Robert Q goes through the tunnel, because then I'm certain to get my EAD stamp.

To quote Lolcats: "I CAN HAS EAD STAMP!"

What about taking the train out of KW, is that an option?

I've seen someone activate the IR1 at Buffalo, but the bus left and they got on a later one, only two or three hours later. I have heard that Detroit is very quick when it comes to all types of visas, so I wouldn't imagine that would be a problem. Sorry, I wish I could be of more assistance but if you must take the bus I would listen to Erin's advice since the first off the bus will get to the CBP officer first and the rest of the people will have to wait for you, whereas if you should get off later, you will be processed much later in the queue. I've crossed a few times by bus and they sometimes ask if anyone is activating a visa or immigrating and take them off the bus first. Get a seat near the front just in case.

I hadn't thought of that, but unfortunately they run too late in the day. Good thought though!

Yeah I just looked and thought wouldn't work. I know you will find a way and it will all work out perfectly.

Typically the us pulls over, everyone gets out of the bus and goes through secondary to pass through Customs. Usually when the last person goes through, the bus leaves. If you're one of the unfortunate ones who has issues, sorry, the bus leaves without you.

I would leave about an hour for them to process your visa. Robert Q does the bridge only. I suggest that you take the second to last Robert Q the day before, if you're held over in processing, you can catch the last one going through to get you to the airport. I've seen that happen many times. Stay at one of the hotels by the airport, most of them are relatively inexpensive.

I would not take the greyhound...

Another solution... you can take the Greyhound Bus to the terminal in Windsor, get off and then take the Tunnel Bus (local Transit Windsor bus, I believe it leaves from the same terminal, costs a couple of bucks http://www.citywindsor.ca/001209.asp) Once across, you can arrange for transportation from downtown Detroit to the tunnel. Call the Marriott at the Renaissance Center (it's right next door to the tunnel) and see if they have any airport transportation arrangements for their guests, you may be able to scam yourself a ride to the airport, or at least find something relatively inexpensive.

THe SMART Bus route 125 leaves from the corner of Woodward and Larned (3 or 4 blocks from the tunnel) and goes to the airport. The bus leaves about every half hour http://www.smartbus.org/Smart/Ride%20SMART/Route.aspx

Actually I think this way would be better, you dan't have to worry about being left behind by anybody and you can get the transportation you need at your own pace.

Unfortunately staying over the night before isn't an option. The customs official assured me that they would not permit the bus to leave without me, and worst comes to worst, at around 2 pm I get stuck at the Tunnel and have to find means to get to the airport.

If the Robert Q doesn't go through the tunnel, it won't work for me. Thanks for the info on the Tunnel bus; I called around and the Tunnel Bus leaves from the same terminal in Windsor that the Greyhound drops me off at. Totally bizzare: The fare from KW to Detroit is shy of $51, but the fare from KW to Windsor is $58? Yeesh.

The guy at the Tunnel info line (519-944-4111) gave me a toll-free number to figure out the public transit options from where the Tunnel Bus drops us off to the airport. Turns out that number is the Smart Bus you mentioned. I'll have to try calling them again when I get back to the dentist.

Assuming the everything goes to plan (HA!!) I should be able to take the next Tunnel Bus to mosey along if I get stuck in customs.

I checked the website for the Marriott at the Renaissance Center but they don't offer shuttle service, unfortunately. It also says this hotel is 1 mile from they Greyhound terminal ... did you mean a different hotel?

To be continued ....

The tunnel bus doesn't let you off at the greyhound terminal in Detroit. If drops you off at Customs and that's it. After that, you have to walk from the tunnel to where you want to go. The Mariott is right next dor to the tunnel. You can take a cab from the Marriott to the airport, or you can walk the three blocks to the bus stop in front of the Coleman Young Municipal Center (Ctity-County Building) to catch the SMART bus to the airport. The greyhound terminal is on the outskirts of downtown by the old MGM Casino at the Lodge Freeway and Lafayette, so a mile away from the tunnel and the RenCen is about right. It's a pretty long walk from there to anywhere and there's pretty much nothing around it to go to. I wouldn't want to hang out around that part of town. They're building a new bus terminal closer to the center of downtown, but it's not done yet.

The tunnel bus has two drop off locations in Detroit: "Cobo Hall" and the corner of "Washington and Michigan". I am aware they do not drop off at the greyhound - I didn't say that they did.

So therefore the Greyhound is super close to the tunnel as well?

Just got off the phone with SMART; they said I get off at Cobo Hall and walk a few blocks to catch the 125. She said I have to go to the MacNamara terminal because I'm flying with Continental, who failed to inform me which terminal I was going to in my e-ticket . Confirmed on DTW's website.

The Tunnel bus was a great idea! Thanks.

In other news, I have no cavities, just random inexplicable pain in two teeth that keeps me awake at night. Oh joy!

I am going to be sooo glad when all the hoopla is over. Apparently I intermittently grind my teeth at night when I'm stressed, or so sayeth my dentist.

I am coming within a hairsbreadth of nagging my poor guy to get ahold of his friend who lives in the town we're getting married in so we can get that done in time for me to file my EI.

It feels like I knock one problem down and another springs up in it's place like a bloody hydra. Die, creature of logistical nightmare, die!

Just know this Galateia eventually this will all be a funny memory you will tell your grandkids.

I just want to say good luck to you!! It will all work out!! Looking forward to your POE review!

Yeah.. the bus station in Windsor is like 2 blocks from the tunnel... From the tunnel bus, get off at Cobo and walk a few blocks to Woodward and Larned (Coleman Young Municipal building, near the Spirit of Detroit statue http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spirit_of_Detroit ). and Continental does leave from the McNamara treminal, but you can take the bus to the Smith terminal as well, the airport has shuttle busses between the terminals than run every 5 to 10 minutes or so.