Preparing to POE

[Dan and Ali 3]

We're 3 days away from POE (so exciting!) and I have some questions!

- Do I just need my passport/my daughter's passport, visa packages and x-ray to give to the officer, or should I have our birth certificates etc. handy as well? What about our I-129F package with the NOA's etc? Do I need to have the consent letter from my daughter's father, or will the one in my visa package suffice?

- We're having our stuff sent via ABF Upack so I know that I have to fax them proof I successfully crossed the border. Has anyone who POE'd at Sweet Grass had success with the border officer letting you use their fax machine? And what exactly should I be faxing ... my I-94 or will they give me some other proof? My stuff can't cross the border until ABF Upack has confirmation I made it through successfully ... I'm stressing about this as we're driving all the way to Utah and ABF needs to have the confirmation before 5 pm on the 14th. It's 7 hours from Edmonton to the border so we'll be getting there mid-afternoon ... and I have no idea where else after Sweet Grass could find a fax machine!

- I know I need to get an I-94 at the POE ... is there anything else I need? I feel like a moron for asking but I'm so scatter-brained lately and I'm wracking my brain trying to think of all the POE reviews I've read but coming up with nothing other than DO NOT LEAVE WITHOUT AN I-194 (hehe).

Thanks everyone

[FireKari 4]

I highly doubt they will let you use their fax machine at the POE.

HOWEVER, most truck rest stops have pay-per-use fax machines that the truckers use to fax in their reports.

My suggestion would be to stop at a truck stop and ask the clerk if they have one you can use.

Or even call them before hand and ask.

[trailmix 77]

You just need your passports and your envelope.

That's really weird about Upack - we didn't have to fax them any proof we had crossed the border either time. They want a copy of the visa in your passport beforehand though for sure - you hand that to them with the bill of lading.

If they insist (and again, I would double check if they need that) - I personally would not ask the border personnel if you can use their fax machine. Simply because that's a bit presumptious and you might actully tick them off

As firekari said, a truck stop is a good idea, also a hotel or motel would probably let you fax something for a small fee.

Edited May 10, 2010 by trailmix

[Dan and Ali 3]

I thought the exact same thing about asking to use the fax machine, however that's what the Upack guy told me to do! I was like "Uhm, I'd rather not" ... hence why I asked about it. I'm just a bit worried as he did tell me they needed to see proof of successful crossing before 5 pm that day or our stuff was not going to be sent until the next day or maybe even the next week (?!). I know there is a hotel/gas station in Shelby and I may just call ahead and ask them if they have a fax machine available.

Also, trailmix, I was under the same impression as you that they just needed a copy of my visa but the Upack guy just said that ultimately, it's up to the border guard and there's no way they can let my stuff go through until they know that I have been let through.

Thanks for confirming that one guys

Edited May 10, 2010 by Dan and Ali

[trailmix 77]

I'll be really interested to hear your POE review, since we crossed the border at Coutts/Sweetgrass as well - and there aren't many here that do

We ended up with an older gentleman handling the paperwork. There was a woman there and he was training her on how to process my Husband's visa.

It's a pretty nice office, all new and shiny - it also wasn't busy the day we were in there, which was nice. The only kind of not-so-nice part was when he asked about our vehicle and I said we were going to import it later and he said - no you aren't - you either import it today or you are not taking it with you. So I said, something to the effect of - oh I was told that it was ok to import it later on. I don't really remember his reply - but he was using his - I am a mean border guard voice at that point so it really didn't matter - we just imported the car.

It was very odd, he was very nice - then he yelled at me - then he was all nice again and shook my Husband's hand and welcomed him to the U.S.

umm yeah...thanks.

Edited May 10, 2010 by trailmix

[slider100 8]

Good luck!

KnR aka slider100

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Like Trailmix said, they shouldn't need to see anything but your passports and the mysterious brown envelope.

Good luck on the crossing!!