After my August interview at Montreal- can I cross but not use my K1?

[Loki_Go 126]

I'm taking a leap of faith and going to assume I get approved at my interview at the end of the month. I'm not moving until well into September and I have a travel game I'd like to be rostered for in Michigan on Sept 12. I have a Nexus pass. Can I use my Nexus and not the K1 stamp in my passport at that time? Do I mention it at all to the border guard as I attempt to cross over?

EDIT: Bonus question: they take my passport after the interview, correct?

Edited August 7, 2015 by Loki_Go

[Adil & Jeanne 296]

If they are going to approve, they will ask you to leave passport

The visa stamp will be attached to it

and you will have to turn in the packet received at POE according to the visa

[neoblast 138]

Short answer is NO. Once you have the visa and you travel, they will activate it.

[B-2-Z 37]

I don't think you'll even have your passport back in time to worry about the rest. They held onto mine for almost a full month... To answer the rest, as soon as you cross, it validates the K1, which then means you have to wait for AP to travel outside the country.

[Lemonslice 4,553]

Many Canadians have done so, however it is always at the discretion of the agent at the border.

[Ontarkie 13,915]

Yes other Canadians have done just that. Up to the border if they let you in or not. If you're close enough and don't mind turning around go for it.

[Loki_Go 126]

RE: my passport: I have my Nexus pass so I don't need my passport to cross.

I think I'll have to risk it. If I was turned back does that somehow mean I have a black mark on my crossing record?

We've been trying to find a duplex in the area we're moving to and we're not having any luck. Time is running out and this weekend will be the last before my interview. After that finding a place will be all on him I'm in Windsor Ontario so it's no big deal if I get turned back and he's 3 hours away outside Cleveland.

[mrs thb 331]

you haven't had your interview yet so your good to go until you have your passport back and 'do not open' package in hand, so don't worry. I suspect you've got a good month of travelling still without questions.

i used my nexus multiple times after visa was in passport....no problems. i even had to use my passport when returning from mexico into the us (totally forgetting I couldn't use my nexus) and was let it. they did question it but once I explained the BPO understood and let me in.

but still bring your passport and proof of ties.....good luck

[fellaamazing 72]

If you are using Nexus card, use Nexus lane. Make sure you cross at a time Nexus lane is open. Other times I was always asked for more documents, usually I hand out my passport with work visa. Even on Nexus lanes I was asked for more documents once in a while, most probably because of my ethnicity and accent.

[moemac59 192]

Short answer is NO. Once you have the visa and you travel, they will activate it.

That is not true. I got my K1 visa and when I crossed with my NEXUS pass and passport that contained the visa I told USCIS at the border that I was going to activate it later. They were fine with that.

[moemac59 192]

That is not true. I got my K1 visa and when I crossed with my NEXUS pass and passport that contained the visa I told USCIS at the border that I was going to activate it later. They were fine with that.

I was crossing almost every weekend for a month after I got my VISA in my passport without activating until I was ready to go to the US.

FYI - After you apply for Adjustment of Status (AOS) and your EAD/AP (employment authorization document/Advanced Parole) card is issued while your AOS application is pending, you will not be able to use NEXUS coming back into the states. You will have to be paroled in with the AP/EAD card when you enter the US.

I don't think you'll even have your passport back in time to worry about the rest. They held onto mine for almost a full month... To answer the rest, as soon as you cross, it validates the K1, which then means you have to wait for AP to travel outside the country.

That is not true. The visa can remain in the passport while going back and forth. You just have to inform them when you cross that you are only visiting and that you are not activating the K1 Visa yet.

[B-2-Z 37]

That is not true. The visa can remain in the passport while going back and forth. You just have to inform them when you cross that you are only visiting and that you are not activating the K1 Visa yet.

Well, all I know is when we tried to do that, we were rejected at the border. I was using my Nexus and they wanted my passport, and said if I crossed they'd activate it.

[Ontarkie 13,915]

Well, all I know is when we tried to do that, we were rejected at the border. I was using my Nexus and they wanted my passport, and said if I crossed they'd activate it.

It really is up to the border officer to let one in or not without endorsing the visa. There is no hard rule just luck!

[Loki_Go 126]

We ended up asking an immigration lawyer (I know, I know ) and he advised to not cross over until I'm ready to move. Which is fine... to be honest it'll be nice to take a break from driving and having a weekend to get things done around the house lol.

[moemac59 192]

Well, all I know is when we tried to do that, we were rejected at the border. I was using my Nexus and they wanted my passport, and said if I crossed they'd activate it.

That CBP person was a jack*** for saying that.

Sorry that would have sucked.

Maybe I had no issue because I used the NEXUS only bridge in Niagara Falls.