Urgent question- point of entry question for NY

[bellasis 0]

Hi

I wish I had found this forum before, it would have helped me so much!

I am immigrating to the US with my husband (he's the USC) on Wednesday. I have my immigrant visa (marriage based)- got that with no problems although it took 5 months but that seems to be the norm.

I am flying in to JFK in New York and of course have the big brown envelope to hand containing my xray and those papers for immigration that I am not allowed to see!

My question is, other than this envelope and my passport, is there anything else I need? I have copies of my paperwork but they are packed in a suitcase, although I can unpack them before weds if necessary. I'm assuming though that i won't need my marriage certifciate or birth certificate handy?

Also- I heard that I will have a short interview and have to fill in a I-551 Green Card form. I can't find that online anywhere- can anyone tell me what information the form asks for? I just want to be as prepared as possible.

On the flight, I am travelling with my husband, so which one of us fills out the customs form?

And I'm assuming I don't fill out the usual visa waiver form that I've filled out before when going to there on vacation....do I tell the cabin crew that I am immigrating?

I'm really hoping someone will be able to help me before Wednesday as I leave at 8am......Thanks so much for your help!!

Good luck to everyone else who is going through this!

[Lansbury 19]

You need the sealed envelope you cannot open and your passport of course. They will not ask for the x-rays or anything else.

There is what is called secondary inspection at immigration they will direct you there from the normal immigration desk. There are no extra forms to fill out just the usual fingerprints etc to be done. You don't fill out the Visa Waiver I-94 but the other one if I remember correctly. Sure someone will pop up to clarify that for you.

As to the customs form not been through JFK but if it is just one form per family it doesn't really matter who fills it out my wife you USC did ours.

Edited March 24, 2008 by Lansbury

[minnietheminx 0]

Youre right- you dont fill out the green I-94w (the visa waiver that you used to use). Instead, you fill out the white I-94. The airline might insist you take the green one, but tell them that its the white one you need.

[Lansbury 19]

Youre right- you dont fill out the green I-94w (the visa waiver that you used to use). Instead, you fill out the white I-94. The airline might insist you take the green one, but tell them that its the white one you need.

Thanks I knew someone would pop up with the correct information. As I was typing my reply I couldn't for the life of me remember which one was white and which was green

[elmcitymaven 9,711]

Wait! Actually, the OP is going in on a CR1/IR1 so NO I-94 of any variety is needed, just the customs form. If the flight attendants think they know better and try to give you a I-94, tell them thanks but no thanks.

Just wanted to clear that up...

[StillThePrettiest 3]

You need the sealed envelope you cannot open and your passport of course. They will not ask for the x-rays or anything else.

what do you base this on? I was given my x-ray at the embassy and told to hand it over at immigration, along with the brown envelope...?

[Jeraly 4]

Almost every POE review I have read has said that the X-ray wasn't needed/looked at although it is prolly best to have it handy - you just know *you* are going to be the one they want to scrutinise when it is at the bottom of a very tightly packed suitcase!!

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

plus you go through immigration before you get to the baggage carosels, so the best advice from the guides on VJ anyway is that you might not need it, but better to have it with you in your hand luggage to be on the safe side.

[Lansbury 19]

You need the sealed envelope you cannot open and your passport of course. They will not ask for the x-rays or anything else.

what do you base this on? I was given my x-ray at the embassy and told to hand it over at immigration, along with the brown envelope...?

I base it on the fact that 99.9% of the people posting here were not asked for their x-rays. Also the London Embassy instructions when I had my interview were that they could be packed in the hold bags as they would not be required at POE.

[Karaoke 0]

5 months ONLY?? You did Direct Consular filing?

Hi

I wish I had found this forum before, it would have helped me so much!

I am immigrating to the US with my husband (he's the USC) on Wednesday. I have my immigrant visa (marriage based)- got that with no problems although it took 5 months but that seems to be the norm.

I am flying in to JFK in New York and of course have the big brown envelope to hand containing my xray and those papers for immigration that I am not allowed to see!

My question is, other than this envelope and my passport, is there anything else I need? I have copies of my paperwork but they are packed in a suitcase, although I can unpack them before weds if necessary. I'm assuming though that i won't need my marriage certifciate or birth certificate handy?

Also- I heard that I will have a short interview and have to fill in a I-551 Green Card form. I can't find that online anywhere- can anyone tell me what information the form asks for? I just want to be as prepared as possible.

On the flight, I am travelling with my husband, so which one of us fills out the customs form?

And I'm assuming I don't fill out the usual visa waiver form that I've filled out before when going to there on vacation....do I tell the cabin crew that I am immigrating?

I'm really hoping someone will be able to help me before Wednesday as I leave at 8am......Thanks so much for your help!!

Good luck to everyone else who is going through this!

[Nilz07 0]

Wow - five months is quick. It took me nearly 14 months.

I recently went through newark and they did not ask for the x-rays, paperwork filed etc. All the paperwork is in the brown envelope i think. I went to the POE officer who then directed me to another office to finish off everything. There they just made me sign and fingerprint for my perm resident card. It took about 10 minutes in total.

I filled out a white I-94 card but the POE officer said that I did not need this. So if you are on a CR-1/IR-1 and I-94 should not be needed.

Good luck and hope all goes well for you! Don't worry about it too much it will all go smoothly.

[funkyab 0]

3 months 6 days here. And this includes wait time for the 221g denial and administrate processing. She got visa approved this morning.

Good info about not needing any i94 or anything. Ill let her know and tell her to carry on her xrays. She is coming in 2 weeks as well after i flyover and we have a scandinavian spring holiday!!

[Tex'n'Brit 0]

3 months 6 days here. And this includes wait time for the 221g denial and administrate processing. She got visa approved this morning.

Good info about not needing any i94 or anything. Ill let her know and tell her to carry on her xrays. She is coming in 2 weeks as well after i flyover and we have a scandinavian spring holiday!!

Wow, that was wonderfully quick.

Perhaps the bods in the USCIS system liked working on your file for the variety - I don't suppose they see too many cases involving Norway!

I came through JFK and didn't need my x-rays either. I had rolled them up into a tight cylinder and jammed them into my carry on, but if I knew then what I know now, I don't think I would have bothered carrying them - even rolled up they were a pain.

Congratulations on getting the visa! Have a great holiday and every good wish for the future.

'Brit'

Edited March 28, 2008 by Tex'n'Brit

[Nilz07 0]

3 months 6 days here. And this includes wait time for the 221g denial and administrate processing. She got visa approved this morning.

Good info about not needing any i94 or anything. Ill let her know and tell her to carry on her xrays. She is coming in 2 weeks as well after i flyover and we have a scandinavian spring holiday!!

The lady that at my london interview told me take the x-rays but just have it in my suitcase as it won' t be needed in the POE. She was right as they did not ask for it!