Hi! I haven't been around here a lot lately, kinda been taking a break from all the immigration stuff! Anyway, Danny will be here in 11 days, and I'm wondering about everyone's POE experiences, especially if you went through Charlotte, NC (though ALL information is welcome!).

Here's some things I'm curious about:

What kinds of questions were you asked?
How long did it take to get through Immigration?
What paperwork were you asked for?
What paperwork is returned to you? (Specifically, do you get the I-94 back from the Immigration officers, or do they keep it?)

Any other experiences/thoughts/comments, etc would be appreciated. I'm such a nervous person, I'd like to be a little more informed so I'm not just stressing over everything! Thanks in advance!

My POE was through LAX and I wasnt asked any questions whatsoever. The officer took my brown envelope from me that I got with my visa, stamped my I-94 and stapled in in my passport, then I was on my way!

James's POE was Shannon airport in Ireland, its one of the few overseas they have. He didn't really get asked any questions. The only thing I have to add from your original post is about the I-94. In every experience I've had or heard about immigration the I-94 is something stapled into your passport and it is essential, so I don't think it is possible for them not to give it back as you asked about. I do have limited experience, so I could be wrong, but am pretty sure thats always how it works.

Me - LAX - no real questions and no secondary inspection or trips to the back room... I just gave the envelope to the guy at the counter and he processed me through in five minutes.

Thanks for the replies. I just want to make sure we know what to expect!

chicago poe...only ask when are you getting married/

I entered through LAX, and was asked my fiance's name, and when we planned on getting married. The POE officer took the sealed envelope, opened it, and went through the paperwork. He then took my fingerprints, photograph, stapled the I-94 in my passport, and told me I have until May 16th to file AOS.

One word of warning. Don't attempt to make small talk with the POE officer. I did ("Looks like you've done quite a few of these"...what was I thinking??). I don't think he appreciated it.

I arrived into JFK 4 weeks ago. No problems coming through. It was all pretty straight forward. Tell Danny not to be nervous, be confident and a bit of small talk is actually ok with the POE officer. I guess it depends on the officer, but he should use his own judgement.I think i was all done in about 15 mins. And i didn't have to answer any awkward questions. In fact my officer was just making small talk herself with me. One word of warning, tell him to check his I94 before he leaves the immigration area. I didn't check properly and realised later that the administration staff never changed the date on their stamp so on the computer i am registered as having arrived on Tuesday but the stamps on the I94 and the passport state that i came in on Monday. Make sure he checks everything. Other than that its simple.

I entered through JFK and it was the easiest entry I have ever had...they took my 'brown envelope' at the initial inspection, then told me to go through to 'secondary inspection' where I waited for about 5 mins before I was called ...there were no questions really, the lady just asked when we were getting married...wished us luck and sent me on my way

Tell him not to worry

Jen

I'm seeing on the calendar that Danny will be back in the US in just a few short hours!

Welcome to America!

our poe experience was by land at buffalo, ny ... so it might not be the same, but similar.

the guy didn't really ask us any questions, but almost everyone there (working) said "aww he's got a greencard!"
he took the infamous brown envelope (which is just your paperwork that you sent to the nvc), stamped a few things, took a fingerprint ....
i don't recall being asked anything ... if he did, the question was so simple that it wasn't worth remembering. we were really nervous about the border crossing, but it was the easiest part of the ENTIRE process (i think only going to the post office to mail the paperwork was easier).
they stamp your passport, and go through your luggage. i'm not sure if it's the same for airports, but for the bus, we needed to make an inventory of everything we were bringing with us, and it impressed them that we actually did it ... they said that most people don't do it.

good luck!!

My POE - Detroit, MI

1. Why are you entering the United States?
- To marry my American fiance on July 31

2. She did not ask for any paperwork. I happily offloaded the sealed envelope and showed her the page in my passport that had the K1 visa. She flipped through the stack quickly then told me to follow her to a room nearby. Waited 15 mins before another officer called my name, asked me the same question as the first officer, drew a line across my K1 visa and stamped my I-94 and passport.

3. The I-94 was stapled on the page facing my K1 visa.

I spent less than 45 minutes waiting in line and clearing the question-and-answer part. Very smooth and efficient. The airport staff were also very kind to me. I was approached by three of them who offered to help me with my luggage.