Hi all no ExpressPost envelope yet
What I would like info on is. Is there anything else besides my passport and Visa in that envelope
What do I give at the POE, and just what am I suppose to make sure I have from them when I do get processed

Thanks

We just got our XpressPost envelope yesterday! In the envelope there is your passport with a Visa glued to one of the pages in the middle, and a brown envelope (maybe 8" X 10") that is sealed up and has big notices on the outside that says 'Do Not Open'. Thats it. Your passport and the envelope.

You take the passport and the envelope with you to the POE and give it to the customs people, apparently they take you into another room, take your envelope, review the contents, finger print you, have you sign some stuff, and send you on your way. From what I've read here and from the conversation I had with a customs guy, thats all there is to it.

hope this answers your question

Darryl

Hi Allie,

You should receive back your passport with the visa attached on one of the blank pages, plus a large brown envelope that is sealed and big instructions across it to keep it sealed. Don't open that sealed manilla envelope! It contains all of your immigration paperwork, starting from the petition your fiance submitted, to the documents you handed in at the interview and the Consulate's paperwork. When you get to your POE, you will tell them you are activating a K-1 visa and they will send you inside. There you will hand them over the brown envelope, which they will open and keep. (They send it to your closest immigration office in the US when they have finished their business with it so your file is waiting for when you file the AOS). The border authority will staple a form called the I-94 into your passport and this will have the date on it that expires in 90 days - that is when you need to be married by. Keep the I-94 safe because you will need it for the AOS paperwork. That is basically it - you may be fingerprinted again, but I don't know as they weren't doing that when I arrived. They will probably also give you instructions not to leave the country without an Advance Parole, which you will apply for with your AOS if you want one. Goodluck!

Thanks Darryl and Kathryn. This is exactly everything I was wanting to know about POE and paper work

Allie

I went through the PFI in Calgary. When I was asked by the US Customs guy what my trip was for, I replied " I am moving to the US and getting married, so I wish to activate my K-1 visa" and handed over my big brown envelope and my passport opened to the visa. I was then sent to a secondary processing room, where after a brief wait I had to fill out my I-94 form (three times, long story!). I was done in 15 minutes.

When I went and picked up my wife a few weeks ago to activate her CR-1, they just asked for the unopened envelopes and her passport with the visa in it. We had the entire file with us in case they asked for anything else, but in the end they just took the envelopes and her passport, then fingerprinted her, searched my car nice and well, then we were off Good luck!

When I got to US Customs at the Edmonton Airport,I told him I was activating a K3 Visa, he typed a few things in the computer, took my index finger prints and then took all my stuff- the envelope and passport and customs card and brought me in the back room.

I waited in the waiting room, filled out the I 94. A man called me up after about 10 minutes and had everything done. He even had another I 94 filled out for me and stapled that in my passport.

It was quick and easy.

If you're crossing by land, I have my POE review in my signature. Don't forget to bring some U.S. cash with you as they may charge you $6 or $7 USD for the I-94.

After you get to your U.S. destination, staple the I-94 a bunch more times. I have heard of people losing theirs. The officer only stapled it once and it's perforated so it could be lost easily. I think I have about 4 extra staples in mine.

What is the I-94????????????
Len, half awake...

It's the departure record that says how long you can stay on that status. For a K1, they will have an I-94 expiring in 90 days. For K3s, an expiry of 2 years.

For CR-1... I don't know actually! I don't know if CR-1s even get an I-94 since they enter with PR status.

Ummmm....they KEEP your Visa? I must've missed that somewhere.....so my fiancee' can't enter back into the US with me after the Interview until he gets his "ExpressPost Envelope????"

can you give me some idea on interview waiting times in montreal........did you guys hear anything yet? they are telling me 6 months..........................is that worst case you think???

That is what it's looking like. Ridiculous, isn't it? My fiancee doesn't believe me, either.

They keep your passport, and return it by mail with the visa attached inside it. In the envelope.
I'm not even sure if Jim flys up for the interview through Syracuse, if I can even drive him back into New York or not. If I go through with my D.L. and B.C., is that wrong or not even though I don't have my visa in hand. hmmmm I thought I had the answer now I'm not sure at all