POE Questions.

[dxg68 0]

My fiancée is going to arrive in June. She speaks VERY limited English. She will be taking ESL classes as soon as she gets here. I am a little worried about her at the POE. She has direct flight from Kiev to JFK. I think she will have to fill out two papers on the plane: US borders customs declaration form and I think I-94 form. Is this true? Does she have to fill out any papers at the POE? Do they ask any questions at the POE? Do you think somebody will speak Russian / Ukrainian there? Thanks!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My fiancée is going to arrive in June. She speaks VERY limited English. She will be taking ESL classes as soon as she gets here. I am a little worried about her at the POE. She has direct flight from Kiev to JFK. I think she will have to fill out two papers on the plane: US borders customs declaration form and I think I-94 form. Is this true? Does she have to fill out any papers at the POE? Do they ask any questions at the POE? Do you think somebody will speak Russian / Ukrainian there? Thanks!

There should be people there that speak Russian, there usually are. Not only is it a very popular international airport, New York has the highest concentration of Russian speaking persons in the USA. I would be surprised if a Russian speaker, at least one and maybe many, were not on duty when she arrives.

If you are concerned, call ahead (at least 48 hours)to the CBP at JFK and tell them you will need a Russian interpreter when she arrives. Alla is an interpreter for the CBP and USCIS and gets called a couple times a week for interpreting at the POEs mear our house or the local USCIS office. They try to accomodate people, really. I do not know the number offhand at JFK but they are on the 2nd floor of terminal 4.

[dxg68 0]

Gary, thank you! I didn’t think about calling to the CBP at JFK and I like this idea very much.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Gary, thank you! I didn’t think about calling to the CBP at JFK and I like this idea very much.

here is something else you can try, but I don't know anyone that has had any luck. They tell you that if you call ahead of time, you can arrange to be escorted into the secure area and wait for your fiancee on the other side of the CBP booths. Bring your passport for ID. However I know several people that tried this (including me on one occasion) and were denied when they got there. Even when I had names, etc., there was one thing or another I "didn't do". But if you are planning to go to JFK to meet her, you could try.

Also, if you go, do not panic if it takes 2-3 hours for her to get out of customs, it is just that busy sometimes. I usually figure 2 hours minimum and they rarely disappoint me. Allow FOUR hours between flights (at least) at JFK if she is going to take another domestic flight. All the continental European flights and some from the middle east all arrive between 4-6pm every day and it is a madhouse.

[baron555 934]

There should be people there that speak Russian, there usually are. Not only is it a very popular international airport, New York has the highest concentration of Russian speaking persons in the USA. I would be surprised if a Russian speaker, at least one and maybe many, were not on duty when she arrives.

If you are concerned, call ahead (at least 48 hours)to the CBP at JFK and tell them you will need a Russian interpreter when she arrives. Alla is an interpreter for the CBP and USCIS and gets called a couple times a week for interpreting at the POEs mear our house or the local USCIS office. They try to accomodate people, really. I do not know the number offhand at JFK but they are on the 2nd floor of terminal 4.

There WILL be Russian speaking folks on the plane from Kiev and they WILL be in the same customs lines as she will be. Have her commisserate with these folks on the plane and in the line and they also will be able to assist.

[1HappyGuy 45]

There are some custom forms to fill out on the plane. She should ask the stewardess to assist her or find someone who speaks Russian and English well to help her fill out the forms. I always find the forms confusing and it is best to be careful what you list on it.

As to arriving at the POE, you have already some good advice. If JFK is not the final destination before you see her, then definitely have a good amount of time scheduled for the next flight. The time it takes to clear customs can be incredibly long, especially if you are the one waiting at the other end. If you can't wait near the clearing area (not likely in most airports), then plant yourself comfortably in the exit area to the main terminal. She will arrive but you with have thoughts about her missing the plane because of the delay.

As others said, the arrivals from Europe come in pretty much the same time. Be patient and be there when she arrives (if possible). As far as her having trouble at the POE with language, the customs agents really have that covered. The I-94 will be put in her passport at POE not on the airplane.

Let's hope there is no delay because of the volcanic ash.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My fiancée is going to arrive in June. She speaks VERY limited English. She will be taking ESL classes as soon as she gets here. I am a little worried about her at the POE. She has direct flight from Kiev to JFK. I think she will have to fill out two papers on the plane: US borders customs declaration form and I think I-94 form. Is this true? Does she have to fill out any papers at the POE? Do they ask any questions at the POE? Do you think somebody will speak Russian / Ukrainian there? Thanks!

As to other stuff...

ESL classes are great. They will assess her level and teach her at the level that will help her. From what I have seen, you could pay a fortune and not get better education than you get from a free ESL course. When their English is limited there is not much you can BUT improve. Alla just finished her first practicum of student teaching ESL for her masters. She taught three levels and it really is a good program.

You will need a lot of patitience and love when she arrives for quite a while, she will be depending on you for everything. Never forget what you did to be together. It gets lots easier as time goes by. Alla has been here almost two years and she rarely needs much from me in the way of daily life. She drives and knows her way around the area as well as anyone else that has lived here two years.

Good luck.

[dxg68 0]

Thank you all for your responses. I feel a little more comfortable now. I told her to try to meet somebody on the plane to help her with the custom forms. And it is nice to know that somebody at JFK CBP could speak Russian. She knows that she needs to learn English as fast as she can and she is not afraid of challenge and she is looking forward to it. I will drive to JFK. It is about 10 hours drive and we will spend a night in the hotel on our way back. This way I can wait for her as long as it takes. Thank you for great advises!

[clueless_in_usa 8]

Thank you all for your responses. I feel a little more comfortable now. I told her to try to meet somebody on the plane to help her with the custom forms. And it is nice to know that somebody at JFK CBP could speak Russian. She knows that she needs to learn English as fast as she can and she is not afraid of challenge and she is looking forward to it. I will drive to JFK. It is about 10 hours drive and we will spend a night in the hotel on our way back. This way I can wait for her as long as it takes. Thank you for great advises!

When my wife arrived, no official at JFK spoke Russian, but they still managed to understand each other. So, do not expect help iin Russian, except for the folks traveling with her.

And be prepared to wait at least two hours, because she will be sent to the back room (the shame room, as I call it) for processing. It is standard procedure at JFK, so nothing to worry about.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

When my wife arrived, no official at JFK spoke Russian, but they still managed to understand each other. So, do not expect help iin Russian, except for the folks traveling with her.

And be prepared to wait at least two hours, because she will be sent to the back room (the shame room, as I call it) for processing. It is standard procedure at JFK, so nothing to worry about.

I have imported no less than 3 people in this family, PLUS two animals, plus accompanied other VJ members on their flights to JFK. On every occasion there was a Russian speaking person (at least one) present. Ask around, they don't look any different than anyone else, and they do not appear out of thin air, so YOU HAVE TO ASK. For those of you stumped by my last statement, your fiancee will be arriving on a plane full of 300+ people, many of whom will speak both Russian and English (I know this comes as a surprise to some folks). Ask a passenger to ask an official, ANY official for a Russian speaking CBP officer. They ARE there. Neither my wife nor my two sons went to any back room and in each case were processed through the line as quickly as I was.

We have sinced returned again through JFK and had about the same experience entering with a green card as we did entering with a K-1 or K-2 visa. At no time has any of our baggage been inspected nor were we ever exposed to any "increased inspection", questions, etc. Some people do experience increased inspection but it is most definitely NOT routine or to be expected for all people.

Read the reviews of the JFK port of entry, in worst case you can call ahead and request a Russian speaking interpreter.

[clueless_in_usa 8]

I have imported no less than 3 people in this family, PLUS two animals, plus accompanied other VJ members on their flights to JFK. On every occasion there was a Russian speaking person (at least one) present. Ask around, they don't look any different than anyone else, and they do not appear out of thin air, so YOU HAVE TO ASK. For those of you stumped by my last statement, your fiancee will be arriving on a plane full of 300+ people, many of whom will speak both Russian and English (I know this comes as a surprise to some folks). Ask a passenger to ask an official, ANY official for a Russian speaking CBP officer. They ARE there. Neither my wife nor my two sons went to any back room and in each case were processed through the line as quickly as I was.

We have sinced returned again through JFK and had about the same experience entering with a green card as we did entering with a K-1 or K-2 visa. At no time has any of our baggage been inspected nor were we ever exposed to any "increased inspection", questions, etc. Some people do experience increased inspection but it is most definitely NOT routine or to be expected for all people.

Read the reviews of the JFK port of entry, in worst case you can call ahead and request a Russian speaking interpreter.

YMMV

I only described my wife's experience. Then again, our lives are not perfect.

And it makes sense. She was alone, she did not speak English, and a K-1 requires more scrutiny. So, she was sent to the back room for further processing. Besides, in the back room is where her passport was stamped with the temporary EAD. As I understand, only JFK does this (the EAD).

In JFK, even I (a USC) was sent to the back room (the only time in my entire life). When your life is not perfect, you may have to endure some extra hassles. Maybe it was difficult for the officer to believe that I am a USC.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

YMMV

I only described my wife's experience. Then again, our lives are not perfect.

And it makes sense. She was alone, she did not speak English, and a K-1 requires more scrutiny. So, she was sent to the back room for further processing. Besides, in the back room is where her passport was stamped with the temporary EAD. As I understand, only JFK does this (the EAD).

In JFK, even I (a USC) was sent to the back room (the only time in my entire life). When your life is not perfect, you may have to endure some extra hassles. Maybe it was difficult for the officer to believe that I am a USC.

My wife was a K-1, the kids were K-2 and one was K-2 to follow. No one went to the back room. No one received extra scrutiny and everyone got an "EAD stamp". The "EAD" is worthless anymore. They still give it out. They gave it to our 13 year old K-2 son that can't even get a SSN until he had a green card. We have entered at JFK with two other K-1 visa holders, both VJ members and no one went to the back room. To flatly state that someone with a K-1 visa WILL go to the "back room" is wrong. ANYone is subject to increased scrutiny, it does not happen to MOST people and it is not because they have a K-1 visa.

My wife, (then fiancee) and both the boys got their "EAD" stamp at the regular CBP booth, the same one I went through.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

YMMV

I only described my wife's experience. Then again, our lives are not perfect.

And it makes sense. She was alone, she did not speak English, and a K-1 requires more scrutiny. So, she was sent to the back room for further processing. Besides, in the back room is where her passport was stamped with the temporary EAD. As I understand, only JFK does this (the EAD).

In JFK, even I (a USC) was sent to the back room (the only time in my entire life). When your life is not perfect, you may have to endure some extra hassles. Maybe it was difficult for the officer to believe that I am a USC.

Actually NO, you stated flatly that his fiancee WOULD be sent to the back room, the "shame room". If you are incapable of giving accurate information to people who ask, at least don't give information to frighten people and make them worry unnecessarily. What the heck is wrong with you?

Good grief.

If you want to explain your wife's situation you can, there is even a place in this site for POE reviews, why don't you enter it there and the OP can read all the reviews and make up his own mind. The OP has already been advised to allow 4 hours + for POE at JFK which allows for such things if they happen, but there are thousands and thousands of people that arrive from foreign countries at terminal 4 every day and I doubt that more than 1 or 2% goes through extra scrutiny.

[clueless_in_usa 8]

Actually NO, you stated flatly that his fiancee WOULD be sent to the back room, the "shame room". If you are incapable of giving accurate information to people who ask, at least don't give information to frighten people and make them worry unnecessarily. What the heck is wrong with you?

Good grief.

If you want to explain your wife's situation you can, there is even a place in this site for POE reviews, why don't you enter it there and the OP can read all the reviews and make up his own mind. The OP has already been advised to allow 4 hours + for POE at JFK which allows for such things if they happen, but there are thousands and thousands of people that arrive from foreign countries at terminal 4 every day and I doubt that more than 1 or 2% goes through extra scrutiny.

You speak in such a matter of fact as though you "know it all," when in fact you do NOT! This is not GARY's forum. This is Visa Journey's forum.

There is nothing wrong with me. However, there seems to be something wrong with you. So wrong that you want everybody to believe that you are the expert in every topic, that everything you say is gospel, and that your life is so perfect that you live in Pandora and we are just the stupid humans who are trying to destroy your perfect world.

I have enter through JKF multiple times. Saying that everything will be a breeze and that the CBP will speak Russian is wrong, because it does not happen all the time. I gave ACCURATE information. If it happened to my wife it can happen to anybody. Remember, only you live in a perfect world and have a perfect life. All of us mortals have to deal with an imperfect world. It is sad, but it is true.

I am happy for you if you can "IMPORT" dozen of legal aliens without having to deal with extra scrutiny. People like me could care less.

[Brad and Vika 129]

You will need a lot of patitience and love when she arrives for quite a while, she will be depending on you for everything. Never forget what you did to be together. It gets lots easier as time goes by. Alla has been here almost two years and she rarely needs much from me in the way of daily life. She drives and knows her way around the area as well as anyone else that has lived here two years.

This has been our experience as well. I find that my wife has adapted well to life here over the past eighteen months or so. The first few months in particular were difficult, even though she had been here before. In addition, Ukrainians relate to each other and socialize a little differently (and socialize more) than most of us imo. She reacts to stress differently too. We have some really funny miscommunication sometimes too! Lots of patience is called for early on.