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AntoineK

THIS MAY BE AN ODD QUESTION ABOUT PORT OF ENTRY

By AntoineK in IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process & Procedures

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AntoineK Apprentice

AntoineK   1

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: France
 Timeline
Posted

Here's the thing,

what if I just got my visa (IR1-CR1) and I'm planning to leave my country in July.
What if, also, I wanna visit my best friend in Canada before my arrival in the USA...

And finally, what if I wanna travel from Canada to USA with my best friend using a bus line....

It would mean that my first entry as a legal immigrant in the USA would be by bus. Is that possible? Or do I HAVE TO arrive by plane officially?

Thanks for your answer to this weird question and maybe naive....

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NikLR Grand Master

NikLR   13,220

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

You can travel to Canada first, but I'm not sure you can POE by bus since I'm not sure the bus will wait for you to go through the POE process. You have to go through secondary inspection when you POE.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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Lemonslice Experienced

Lemonslice   4,555

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

Yes... That's the worst part about the trip, you stay from 45 minutes to two hours waiting for everyone to be cleared. I've not done it so many times... But ten maybe? Bus is cheap, kind of convenient last minute... But you never know how v long it's going to take exactly. :/

I know if you're found to be inadmissible, they'll leave you there though.

Edited by Boston~Montreal
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N-o-l-a Grand Master

N-o-l-a   7,167

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Denmark
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

I saw someone on VJ arrive for their POE via an ocean port after taking a cruise here. So, no, definitely no plane needed. :)

Edited by N-o-l-a

3/2/18  E-filed N-400 under 5 year rule

3/26/18 Biometrics

7/2019-12/2019 (Yes, 16- 21 months) Estimated time to interview MSP office.

 

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NikLR Grand Master

NikLR   13,220

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Yes... That's the worst part about the trip, you stay from 45 minutes to two hours waiting for everyone to be cleared. I've not done it so many times... But ten maybe? Bus is cheap, kind of convenient last minute... But you never know how v long it's going to take exactly. :/

I know if you're found to be inadmissible, they'll leave you there though.

Hey good to know! I wasn't sure as I've never taken the bus across the border but all my experience with greyhound in both the USA and Canada says they don't wait for anyhow. I guess at the border it would be a different situation.

My husband suggested that I take the greyhound down once. I looked it up and it was 2 days of riding a bus, $350. I could spend $100 more and get here in 10 hours or $200 more and get here in 2.5hrs. Guess which one I picked?! LOL!!!

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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EmigratingSwede Explorer

EmigratingSwede   16

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Sweden
 Timeline
Posted

I saw someone on VJ arrive for their POE via an ocean port after taking a cruise here. So, no, definitely no plane needed. :)

That was probably me :-) Not many people immigrate on a transatlantic cruise.

It was kind of cool immigrating on a ship coming into New York harbor. Unlike a hundred years ago we passed by Ellis island instead of arriving there. POE is a lot easier now then it was back then :-)

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Ms Hogan Proficient

Ms Hogan   295

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Hey good to know! I wasn't sure as I've never taken the bus across the border but all my experience with greyhound in both the USA and Canada says they don't wait for anyhow. I guess at the border it would be a different situation.

My husband suggested that I take the greyhound down once. I looked it up and it was 2 days of riding a bus, $350. I could spend $100 more and get here in 10 hours or $200 more and get here in 2.5hrs. Guess which one I picked?! LOL!!!

I'd send you the money, NLR, if you needed it just to make sure you DON'T take the bus. Don't you remember what happened on the Greyhound bus in Manitoba a few years ago ???? No buses!!

USCIS - 40 DAYS
2012-10-30: FedEx delivered I-130 to Chicago Lockbox Mail Room
2012-11-01: NOA1 by email - MSC
2012-11-02: $420 (x3) debited from our account
2012-11-05: NOA1 hard copies received, Priority Date 2012-10-30
2012-12-11: NOA2

NVC - 26 DAYS
2013-01-02: Rec'd case#, IIN, BIN & OPTIN emails for EP sent
2013-01-03: Submitted DS-261 (x3)
2013-01-07: AOS bills invoiced and paid & OPTIN for EP accepted for each of us
2013-01-08: AOS bills appear as paid & AOS packages sent by email
2013-01-08: IV bill invoiced & paid (kids' only)
2013-01-09: IV bill appears as paid (kids' only)
2013-01-09: IV Package emailed & DS-260 submitted online (kids only)
2013-01-11: AOS received -notified by email
2013-01-11: IV bill invoiced & paid (for me)
2013-01-14: IV bill appears as paid (for me)
2013-01-14: IV Supporting Docs received for kids - notified by email
2013-01-14: IV Package emailed & DS-260 submitted online (me only)
2013-01-18: IV Supporting Docs received for me - notified by email
2013-01-18: Son#1 CASE COMPLETE - Son#2 checklist - saying $ on I-864 don't match tax return (but they do)-resubmitted
2013-01-23: AOS 2nd submission for Son #2 received - notified by email
2013-01-25: My CASE COMPLETE
2013-01-28: ALL 3 OF OUR CASES ARE NOW COMPLETE
2013-02-06: Packet 4 Received by email

MEDICAL ~ CONSULATE ~ POE REMOVAL OF CONDITIONS - 160 DAYS NATURALIZATION
2013-02-13: Medicals 2014-12-17: Delivered to California Lockbox 2015-12-15: Delivered to Phoenix Lockbox
2013-03-06: Interview 2014-12-19: 1 I-751 + 3 Biometrics Fees debited from our account 2015-12-16: Fees charged to Credit Card
2013-03-08: Visas in-hand 2014-12-22: Received NOA1 by mail. Receipt Date: 2014-12-17 2015-12-17: NOA
2013-03-12: Paid USCIS Immigrant Fee 2014-12-24: Received Biometrics Appointment Letter 2016-01-02: Biometrics Letter 2016-01-11: Biometrics
2013-03-14: POE 2015-01-06: Biometrics 2016-02-15: In Line for Interview 2016-02-19: Letter
2013-03-25: SSNs arrived 2015-05-27: Approved 2016-03-22: Interview
2013-04-01: Green Cards arrived 2015-06-03: New Green Cards arrived 2016-04-15: Oath Ceremony

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ricnally Rising Star

ricnally   258

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Might be kind of a crappy thing to do to your fellow bus passengers, when you know you're going to be needing extra time at the border.

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Ms Hogan Proficient

Ms Hogan   295

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

Here's the thing,

what if I just got my visa (IR1-CR1) and I'm planning to leave my country in July.

What if, also, I wanna visit my best friend in Canada before my arrival in the USA...

And finally, what if I wanna travel from Canada to USA with my best friend using a bus line....

It would mean that my first entry as a legal immigrant in the USA would be by bus. Is that possible? Or do I HAVE TO arrive by plane officially?

Thanks for your answer to this weird question and maybe naive....

I agree with some of the other posters about not crossing the border on a bus. What if your POE takes 3 hours and everyone is left waiting for you? I would personally feel awful being the person holding up an entire bus!

You don't have to arrive by plane, most of us Canadians drive across in our own cars. But the bus may be a challenge.

USCIS - 40 DAYS
2012-10-30: FedEx delivered I-130 to Chicago Lockbox Mail Room
2012-11-01: NOA1 by email - MSC
2012-11-02: $420 (x3) debited from our account
2012-11-05: NOA1 hard copies received, Priority Date 2012-10-30
2012-12-11: NOA2

NVC - 26 DAYS
2013-01-02: Rec'd case#, IIN, BIN & OPTIN emails for EP sent
2013-01-03: Submitted DS-261 (x3)
2013-01-07: AOS bills invoiced and paid & OPTIN for EP accepted for each of us
2013-01-08: AOS bills appear as paid & AOS packages sent by email
2013-01-08: IV bill invoiced & paid (kids' only)
2013-01-09: IV bill appears as paid (kids' only)
2013-01-09: IV Package emailed & DS-260 submitted online (kids only)
2013-01-11: AOS received -notified by email
2013-01-11: IV bill invoiced & paid (for me)
2013-01-14: IV bill appears as paid (for me)
2013-01-14: IV Supporting Docs received for kids - notified by email
2013-01-14: IV Package emailed & DS-260 submitted online (me only)
2013-01-18: IV Supporting Docs received for me - notified by email
2013-01-18: Son#1 CASE COMPLETE - Son#2 checklist - saying $ on I-864 don't match tax return (but they do)-resubmitted
2013-01-23: AOS 2nd submission for Son #2 received - notified by email
2013-01-25: My CASE COMPLETE
2013-01-28: ALL 3 OF OUR CASES ARE NOW COMPLETE
2013-02-06: Packet 4 Received by email

MEDICAL ~ CONSULATE ~ POE REMOVAL OF CONDITIONS - 160 DAYS NATURALIZATION
2013-02-13: Medicals 2014-12-17: Delivered to California Lockbox 2015-12-15: Delivered to Phoenix Lockbox
2013-03-06: Interview 2014-12-19: 1 I-751 + 3 Biometrics Fees debited from our account 2015-12-16: Fees charged to Credit Card
2013-03-08: Visas in-hand 2014-12-22: Received NOA1 by mail. Receipt Date: 2014-12-17 2015-12-17: NOA
2013-03-12: Paid USCIS Immigrant Fee 2014-12-24: Received Biometrics Appointment Letter 2016-01-02: Biometrics Letter 2016-01-11: Biometrics
2013-03-14: POE 2015-01-06: Biometrics 2016-02-15: In Line for Interview 2016-02-19: Letter
2013-03-25: SSNs arrived 2015-05-27: Approved 2016-03-22: Interview
2013-04-01: Green Cards arrived 2015-06-03: New Green Cards arrived 2016-04-15: Oath Ceremony

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KierenHby Experienced

KierenHby   897

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Timeline
Posted

Isn't there a way for OP+friend to take a personal\private transport uptill the border crossing, be processed at the border, then board a bus to their US destination once cleared at POE?

I don't know if a bus (Greyhound?) can pick up new passengers right at the US border. I've only flown b\w the US and Canada, never by road.

USCIS

January 16, 2015 I-130 Mailed, Chi lockbox January 20, 2015 Priority Date, January 21, 2015 NOA1 notice date, Assigned VSC, January 23, 2015 Check Cashed, electronically March 5, 2015 NOA2

NVC

March 27, 2015 NVC received April 6, 2015 Case#, IIN# assigned April 8, 2015 Paid AOS + IV fee Invoices May 5, 2015 AOS + IV package submitted May 11, 2015 Scan Date

June 11, 2015 DS-260 submitted June 25, 2015 False checklist (for ds260).. hello? June 30, 2015 Answered checklist Aug 5, 2015 Escalated to Supervisor review Aug 13, 2015 Case Complete

Consular

Sept 10, 2015 Interview Scheduled Sept 11, 2015 P4 Letter received Sept 21, 2015 file In transit from NVC Sept 23, 2015 file at Embassy

Sept 28, 2015 Medical Oct 14, 2015 Biometrics Oct 15, 2015 Interview (Approved) Oct 19, 2015 IV visa Issued Oct 23, 2015 Passport Pickup

POE

Nov 2, 2015 Entered the US Nov 16, 2015 Applied for SSN, walk-in Nov 20, 2015 Social Security Card recd Jan 15, 2016 GC received

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NikLR Grand Master

NikLR   13,220

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Canada
 Timeline
Posted

I'd send you the money, NLR, if you needed it just to make sure you DON'T take the bus. Don't you remember what happened on the Greyhound bus in Manitoba a few years ago ???? No buses!!

Yes I remember! Probably should have mentioned that issue to my hubs. LOL He would have ixnayed the bus himself.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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