Ok - so with 2 full pages of new posts to read - first here is my 'Crossing Story'.

I picked up the 10ft. U-Haul truck on Friday night in the middle of a small snow storm. Note to self - when driving a big azz truck for the first time - don't pick it up in the middle of a snow storm. The 10ft. is the smallest I could get for a one-way rental, so it's what I went with. However, I was sadly mistaken when I thought it would be like driving my old Bronco. After cutting one guy off on Warden Ave and nearly sideswiping a parked car on McNicoll I made it home seriously doubting I would be able to drive the 13 hours requied to make it all the way back to Baltimore.

Saturday - no snow storm thank goodness. Drove up to Newmarket to get all of my stored belongings. Was seriously worried that it would take me 26 (as opposed to 13) hours to get home as I was only doing 50 in a 70km/hr zone. Realized later of course, that the truck is in miles and I was doing 50 miles an hour - oops! Packed truck up and said a prayer to the packing gods that my belongings in the poorly half-packed truck would not slide around too much.

Sunday - planned on leaving at 5 a.m. RIGHT!! Left at 10:30 a.m. (feeling considerably better about my driving abilities) and crossed over into the US at the Ambassador Bridge (Detroit/Windsor) crossing. Here I need to pause and say ....

HUGE THANKS TO JEN&DARCY FOR THE ADVICE HERE!!!!

It was definately worth the extra four hours because as promised, I got the EA stamp!!! Yayyy!!! I called Ambassador the week before to ask about it and they said that it is not normally given out but that I should ask for it and it should not be a problem. Peace Bridge, by the way, said 'no way'!

Parking at the Ambassador was a 'drive-through' set-up which was fantastic as I did not have to back the 10ft monster up. Went inside with my passport (visa enclosed), mystery envelope, and list of items I was taking down. Left the x-rays in the truck. Waited for a while (there were a very many people pulled aside in Secondary). After waiting a while (but not being ignored) I was called up. I was used to train a new CBP so that was cool. They took my passport and envelope and was told to have a seat. Was called up twice, once to ask when I was getting married because the CBP officer wanted to ensure that I knew I had 90 days, once to do fingerprints, take a photo and give my destination address. Nobody ever asked for my x-rays or list of goods. They wished me luck and sent me on my merry way. Yayy!! Stapled in my passport now, opposite the visa page, is a little square of folded paper with the 'Employment Authorized' stamp (valid for 3 months) with all of my info.

Detroit was a mess trying to figure out and the roads were very bumpy (remember my fears about all the things sliding around??). Got caught in another snow storm in Toledo (I don't think they have snow plows there) and finally pulled off for the night just outside of Cleveland, Ohio. I-80 was a breeze to drive, I-76 I will never attempt in a truck again (too much up and down hillside roads coupled with a billion 18 wheel trucks, for my liking) and finally made it back to Baltimore at shortly after 6 p.m.

All in all, the 13.5 hours quoted by mapquest took me about 15.5 hours driving time. Not bad considering my stops at the POE and to stretch etc.

So - I'm home now - boxes all sitting everywhere - realizing that we are going to need bookshelves in a hurry. I could not be happier.

Now to go aggravate David all over again with the AOS paperwork .....

Muhahahahahhaahhahhaa!!!

Off to read the 2 pages of new posts!

Monique

Congrats!! I drove the good old Uhaul from Halifax NS to the DC area. lots of fun I to left the maritimes in a snowstorm!! I got pretty cappy gas mpg, mosat likely becuases I avg 75 mph!! Glad the trip went well

EAD Stamp you say.. hmmmmm interesting.. I wonder now .. It may be worth a call to Calais and Holton to see if either one of those will issue EAD.

Thanks for that info!! And Congrads on the move!

Glad to here you had a safe drive down!

Congratulations !!

Glad you had a safe trip.

Congratulations, that's great news about the EAD

Congrats! Will you still need a SS number to work, or is the EAD good enough?

Good stuff - glad you had a safe trip.

Congratulations and good for you! Yeah, those roads in Detroit are nightmares - every Winter/Spring the radios have a contest to find the biggest potholes - some of them have been known to swallow cars! Heck, even the potholes have potholes. I used to drive the interstates in and around Detroit regularly when I lived in southwestern Ontario - worst roads I have ever driven on in my life:-). Enjoy your new life in Baltimore and good luck on the rest of your visa journey:-).

congrats!!

and ... thank you so much for the play by play. i'm going to be crossing the great ambassador bridge myself with my FI Visa in either March or April. glad to know that they know what they are doing there.

Our roads are easy to figure out if you live here (heh)





Truist me.. they've gotten a lot better since you've been here... most of them have been reconstructed by now... just a few lonely stretches left... but what do you want when you have the worst soil conditions to support roads and the most freeze thaw cycles than anywhere else on the planet...

Zyggy .. I was wondering if this could be your home base. This POE was a lot different from other offices I have been in (Niagara crossing). Everyone who worked there seemed to be friends .. it was nice to see.

I forgot to add in my report that I paid the $6 as well for processing I guess.

Mo

Truist me.. they've gotten a lot better since you've been here... most of them have been reconstructed by now... just a few lonely stretches left... but what do you want when you have the worst soil conditions to support roads and the most freeze thaw cycles than anywhere else on the planet...