Wife's mom coming over from Russia on a K-1 visa

[rebeccajo 14]

Aliens entering the US with a "mysterious brown envelope" are not just couriers for it.

The contents of the envelope are not opened at the border to just make certain they are in place in case the alien decides to adjust his or her status. They are inspected as part of the decision as to whether or not the alien is admissible to the US.

While it is rare, there is the odd instance of aliens being turned back at the border because of the envelope's contents. Consulates do make errors and CBP stands as another check and balance in determining if the alien is admissible.

I believe it was 2006 when the member known as liam4lisa was turned back at the border in Dublin, Ireland because a border officer at that station determined there was an issue with his police report. After much knashing of teeth it was determined the CBP officer was correct and the consulate had inadvertently issued Liam his visa. Liam's fiance filed a waiver of hardship and his visa was eventually issued.

Content of this post is added only to clarify that CBP does indeed have a vital part to play in the entry process beyond acting as a courier for previously issued documents. I would guess CBP (in this case) contacted the consulate for faxed copies of the documents.

[Betti 1]

Wow, this was a really exciting topic to follow and I am glad to here that she made it and wasn't turned away at the POE.

Gary and Alla, great advices you've given and bravo to all the information you found out for the OP!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

good news - I'm looking forward to hearing the details of the experience when you have time to post .

[Chica Yeyé 41]

oh yay! I am happy she made it through!

[vad479 0]

Hello, I'm at work now!

We got to JFK Terminal 1 an hour early, and right away tried to get information about CBP, as Gary suggested. A police officer, seemed very nice, said that we should go to Terminal 4 as that is where CBP offices are - and we would not be allowed to speak with CBP at Terminal 1.

So we went to T-4, and spoke with a CBP officer who was very helpful, he said that she would definitely not be turned around - provided that there are no major discrepancies with the papers. He said there IS a computer system tied into USCIS that CBP uses to get that info. He told us to go to T-1 and stay put, as it would take a while for her to get squared away upon arrival.

Back at T-1, before the plane arrived, we tried to intercept a CBP officer coming out of the secure area, to get some information on what to expect. He seemed very mean at first, but then he actually took us INTO the secure area! We spoke with more CBP officers there, they assured us that she wouldn't be turned back, but probably what would happen is she would have to go through "Deferred Inspection" or see a "Judge in T-8."

The plane touched down 20min early... A whole lot of people came through from that flight. I didn't expect her to be out that early. We waited a while longer. Then we waited a while longer. 3 hours later we inquired with a CBP officer as to her status over there, he said we should go to the airline rep - for Aeroflot - and they may have more information. Her fiance went up to talk to Aeroflot, and got a guy to go over to the secure area to check up on what's going on. 40 minutes later (around 10pm now) comes out and says, "They almost let her out, but stumbled on some other paperwork that needs to be completed. It's gonna be a while." I said "Well, we have some of the paperwork here with us, along with some originals (NOA?) from USCIS, would that help?" He took it in there, by that time the translator came back... Apparently they had the translator lady there till the end of her shift, around 7-8? Then she went home! So, what the hell were they doing trying to interrogate my MIL while she doesn't speak a lick of English?!? Either way, I believe what they made her do is fill out a bunch of forms, I'm not too sure what forms. She was out at 11pm and we were on our way.

They gave her a "parole" and took her passport with the visa in it as collateral, they have to go back to JFK T-8 for a meeting on Nov. 11 with all the documents in hand - I suppose that is deferred inspection.

To tell you the truth, I don't believe the documents we've brought along made any difference.

Gary, thank you very much for relieving some of our stress yesterday! You can not imagine what we went through, the nerves!

AOS is a whole different story, but I'll take you up on your offer of help with that!

People, I am really not an active member here with not much to add, but hopefully this experience will help someone some day.

I am Russian (been a citizen here for a few years now) and my wife is too - met her here at work actually! I work at a casino in Atlantic City. I'm not a contributor on this forum, but whenever we seek for advice on what to do in certain circumstances or how to fill out forms, this BBS really has a wealth of information! Hopefully this contribution will turn up in Google results for someone in the same situation.

-Vadim

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Great news Vladim. i am sure your MIL must have been a tad bit scared; but she is now with family

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Thank you for the update. Hopefully you will be able to satisfy everything by the time of the deferred inspection/interview. Good luck.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Brilliant, can you post back once more after the deferred inspection? Ah BBS - so 1980's - those were the days!

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

Hello, I'm at work now!

We got to JFK Terminal 1 an hour early, and right away tried to get information about CBP, as Gary suggested. A police officer, seemed very nice, said that we should go to Terminal 4 as that is where CBP offices are - and we would not be allowed to speak with CBP at Terminal 1.

So we went to T-4, and spoke with a CBP officer who was very helpful, he said that she would definitely not be turned around - provided that there are no major discrepancies with the papers. He said there IS a computer system tied into USCIS that CBP uses to get that info. He told us to go to T-1 and stay put, as it would take a while for her to get squared away upon arrival.

Back at T-1, before the plane arrived, we tried to intercept a CBP officer coming out of the secure area, to get some information on what to expect. He seemed very mean at first, but then he actually took us INTO the secure area! We spoke with more CBP officers there, they assured us that she wouldn't be turned back, but probably what would happen is she would have to go through "Deferred Inspection" or see a "Judge in T-8."

The plane touched down 20min early... A whole lot of people came through from that flight. I didn't expect her to be out that early. We waited a while longer. Then we waited a while longer. 3 hours later we inquired with a CBP officer as to her status over there, he said we should go to the airline rep - for Aeroflot - and they may have more information. Her fiance went up to talk to Aeroflot, and got a guy to go over to the secure area to check up on what's going on. 40 minutes later (around 10pm now) comes out and says, "They almost let her out, but stumbled on some other paperwork that needs to be completed. It's gonna be a while." I said "Well, we have some of the paperwork here with us, along with some originals (NOA?) from USCIS, would that help?" He took it in there, by that time the translator came back... Apparently they had the translator lady there till the end of her shift, around 7-8? Then she went home! So, what the hell were they doing trying to interrogate my MIL while she doesn't speak a lick of English?!? Either way, I believe what they made her do is fill out a bunch of forms, I'm not too sure what forms. She was out at 11pm and we were on our way.

They gave her a "parole" and took her passport with the visa in it as collateral, they have to go back to JFK T-8 for a meeting on Nov. 11 with all the documents in hand - I suppose that is deferred inspection.

To tell you the truth, I don't believe the documents we've brought along made any difference.

Gary, thank you very much for relieving some of our stress yesterday! You can not imagine what we went through, the nerves!

AOS is a whole different story, but I'll take you up on your offer of help with that!

People, I am really not an active member here with not much to add, but hopefully this experience will help someone some day.

I am Russian (been a citizen here for a few years now) and my wife is too - met her here at work actually! I work at a casino in Atlantic City. I'm not a contributor on this forum, but whenever we seek for advice on what to do in certain circumstances or how to fill out forms, this BBS really has a wealth of information! Hopefully this contribution will turn up in Google results for someone in the same situation.

-Vadim

Great News. I am not sure what this procedure is you are going through and it will not matter for the AOS. Probably something CBP has to do to cover their @ss. OK, I will be speaking to my acquaintance at USCIS and I will see what he can advise to sort out the AOS for you. Hopefully there is a way to avoid repeating the medical exam, vaccinations, etc as that can get wicked expensive. I'll get send the info to you in a PM when I find out and also post it in the pinned thread above for the next VJ member that loses an envelope...can happen I guess.

[rebeccajo 14]

Great News. I am not sure what this procedure is you are going through and it will not matter for the AOS. Probably something CBP has to do to cover their @ss. OK, I will be speaking to my acquaintance at USCIS and I will see what he can advise to sort out the AOS for you. Hopefully there is a way to avoid repeating the medical exam, vaccinations, etc as that can get wicked expensive. I'll get send the info to you in a PM when I find out and also post it in the pinned thread above for the next VJ member that loses an envelope...can happen I guess.

CBP isn't 'covering their ####' when they inspect the envelope contests. It's part of the process of admiting an alien into the US.

I'm not trying to start an argument here. I merely think it's important readers understand the process as well as the authority granted Customs and Border Patrol. They don't just 'rubber stamp' the work of the State Department.

[nycgirl 13]

Great news!!! See you on the penny slots in AC!!!

[menina 50]

Great news!!! See you on the penny slots in AC!!!

I'm so glad to hear that it worked out. What a scare after going through the whole process! Good luck to you guys!

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

Hello, I'm at work now!

We got to JFK Terminal 1 an hour early, and right away tried to get information about CBP, as Gary suggested. A police officer, seemed very nice, said that we should go to Terminal 4 as that is where CBP offices are - and we would not be allowed to speak with CBP at Terminal 1.

So we went to T-4, and spoke with a CBP officer who was very helpful, he said that she would definitely not be turned around - provided that there are no major discrepancies with the papers. He said there IS a computer system tied into USCIS that CBP uses to get that info. He told us to go to T-1 and stay put, as it would take a while for her to get squared away upon arrival.

Back at T-1, before the plane arrived, we tried to intercept a CBP officer coming out of the secure area, to get some information on what to expect. He seemed very mean at first, but then he actually took us INTO the secure area! We spoke with more CBP officers there, they assured us that she wouldn't be turned back, but probably what would happen is she would have to go through "Deferred Inspection" or see a "Judge in T-8."

The plane touched down 20min early... A whole lot of people came through from that flight. I didn't expect her to be out that early. We waited a while longer. Then we waited a while longer. 3 hours later we inquired with a CBP officer as to her status over there, he said we should go to the airline rep - for Aeroflot - and they may have more information. Her fiance went up to talk to Aeroflot, and got a guy to go over to the secure area to check up on what's going on. 40 minutes later (around 10pm now) comes out and says, "They almost let her out, but stumbled on some other paperwork that needs to be completed. It's gonna be a while." I said "Well, we have some of the paperwork here with us, along with some originals (NOA?) from USCIS, would that help?" He took it in there, by that time the translator came back... Apparently they had the translator lady there till the end of her shift, around 7-8? Then she went home! So, what the hell were they doing trying to interrogate my MIL while she doesn't speak a lick of English?!? Either way, I believe what they made her do is fill out a bunch of forms, I'm not too sure what forms. She was out at 11pm and we were on our way.

They gave her a "parole" and took her passport with the visa in it as collateral, they have to go back to JFK T-8 for a meeting on Nov. 11 with all the documents in hand - I suppose that is deferred inspection.

To tell you the truth, I don't believe the documents we've brought along made any difference.

Gary, thank you very much for relieving some of our stress yesterday! You can not imagine what we went through, the nerves!

AOS is a whole different story, but I'll take you up on your offer of help with that!

People, I am really not an active member here with not much to add, but hopefully this experience will help someone some day.

I am Russian (been a citizen here for a few years now) and my wife is too - met her here at work actually! I work at a casino in Atlantic City. I'm not a contributor on this forum, but whenever we seek for advice on what to do in certain circumstances or how to fill out forms, this BBS really has a wealth of information! Hopefully this contribution will turn up in Google results for someone in the same situation.

-Vadim

I copied this and sent it to the Director at VSC. I also let him know you got in OK. Yesterday he said "Don't worry, we won't keep her out of the country" but couldn't promise you wouldn't have some, well, complications. Anyway he wasn't feeling so good today but promises to get back to me tomorrow. For many years he did AOS interviews so I imagine he has seen this before. Hopefully he can offer some suggestions.

[vad479 0]

Great news!!! See you on the penny slots in AC!!!

I'm so glad to hear that it worked out. What a scare after going through the whole process! Good luck to you guys!

Well, it ain't over till it's over!

Right now it's not clear what we're supposed to do/get, and the scheduled appointment to appear back at JFK is on November 11th, which is a HOLIDAY! My MIL's fiance called JFK today, but CBP was no help... They said they have not received the paperwork yet, and it will take 5-10 days. I can't imagine why it would take 10 days for a bunch of paper to travel from Terminal 1 to Terminal 8 within the same airport!

I BELIEVE what we have to do right now is contact the US Consulate in Moscow and ask them to send another copy of that same sealed envelope. I am not even sure if it is something that they can or will be willing to do.

[Gary and Alla 3,696]

Great news!!! See you on the penny slots in AC!!!

I'm so glad to hear that it worked out. What a scare after going through the whole process! Good luck to you guys!

Well, it ain't over till it's over!

Right now it's not clear what we're supposed to do/get, and the scheduled appointment to appear back at JFK is on November 11th, which is a HOLIDAY! My MIL's fiance called JFK today, but CBP was no help... They said they have not received the paperwork yet, and it will take 5-10 days. I can't imagine why it would take 10 days for a bunch of paper to travel from Terminal 1 to Terminal 8 within the same airport!

I BELIEVE what we have to do right now is contact the US Consulate in Moscow and ask them to send another copy of that same sealed envelope. I am not even sure if it is something that they can or will be willing to do.

Not a bad place to start. Call the visa section direct, the number should be on the website. It does not take 10 days for the papers to get from one terminal to another, it just takes that long for them to get to it. Pretty fast for government work, actually.