Peace Bridge Crossing during ROC with extension letter

[Gypsyangel 11]

I was in Canada for about a week and was coming back yesterday via the Peace Bridge. I filed for ROC back in November because my conditional card was expiring in Feb. I received my extension letter back in November extending my green card for a year. I'm currently waiting for them to approve my ROC application but VSC is so darn slow that it's been almost 6 months. So, I'm going over the border back into the U.S. and I think it'll be no problem because all my papers are in order, but I was wrong.

I gave the CBP dude both my expired green card and my extension letter. He starts asking me questions I wasn't really expecting. Nothing hard, but not the usual how long have you been gone and what did you bring back ... what's your status, how did you get your green card, where is your home, how long have you been in the U.S., what kind of work do you do, etc.

And then he says, your green card is expired you know. To which I answered yes I know, but you have the letter that says its extended for a year while I wait for them to process my ROC. And then I see he's writing stuff down which is never good. He says I don't have time to look all that up so you'll have to go into secondary. But, it's a really good thing that you brought this letter or I would have denied you entry to the United States.

I'm just thinking, are you kidding me? He was acting like I was trying to get into the U.S. on an expired card and he had caught me. And just by chance I pulled this letter out of my ear, which if I'm lucky just just might save my butt. It's so annoying ... first you have all these rules, then nobody who works there knows them, plus VSC is so slow processing these applications. I wasn't really buttoned-down with my answers because I wasn't expecting my status to be questioned, so maybe that was part of the problem. Bleh.

I waited for almost two hours in secondary. It was easy once I got up to the desk (which, btw, it looks like they're renovated in there -- something I didn't really need to know). The woman keeps asking if I've received my new card, almost like it's my fault I don't have the new card yet. She photocopies everything, fingerprints me, takes my picture, forgets to give me my green card back (which I had to ask for) and I was out of there in less than 5 minutes.

I dunno ... I guess this is yet another immigration rant. We follow all their stupid rules but they still treat you like you're a criminal sometimes.

btw, when I was waiting there was this older Asian gentleman. The CBP officer was talking really loud telling him that being in the U.S. for 10 months is living in the U.S., not visiting. And the fact that you have a business card shows me its more than just a visit. You can't go to the U.S. anymore. I guess there was a language barrier because she kept reiterating that he has broken the law and he is not allowed into the U.S. anymore. She told him to go and sit down and after awhile she came out and got him, his luggage, and escorted him out of the office still saying to him you can not go into the United States anymore. You have broken the law. I felt bad for this guy. I kept wondering where they were sending him.

At the end of the day, it's all fine, just a pain. And I guess my day turned out better than that other guy. End rant.

[Flames9_RN 358]

You an thank the people that do not do the process properly and try to sneak things by the POE Staff, they ruin it for the law abiding people

[OBX 51]

Wow I can hardly wait until my next trip back next month. I always cross at the Peace Bridge and (finger crossed) have never had any issues. My card doesn't expire until June but I'll have the extension letter just in case. Guess I had better line up some Canadian accommodations as a back up.

Edited April 25, 2011 by OBX

[Moosker 7]

You're freaking me out! I'll be crossing the peace bridge at the beginning of June with the ROC letter and expired green card. All the border guards need to learn the process...life would be so much easier!

If you remember, what questions did they ask?

[Inky 1,110]

You're freaking me out! I'll be crossing the peace bridge at the beginning of June with the ROC letter and expired green card. All the border guards need to learn the process...life would be so much easier!

If you remember, what questions did they ask?

They are too busy interrogating the people who are doing things legally to learn the process lol

[Krikit 1,163]

Ugh. That sux. I had no problems using my extension letter. I used it twice in BC (at the ferry in Victoria and Pacific Hwy) and then twice at the Peace Bridge. You must have had a new guy who was power tripping. He was probably beaten up in school.

[Moosker 7]

One of my friends works at the Peace Bridge....I have yet to get him when I cross!

[K and T 0]

Is Peace Bridge the easiest/fastest way to cross? I've driven to Canada 5-6 times and have always used Queenston-Lewiston. Which is the easiest to take when my wife crosses over for the first time after interview?

[Krikit 1,163]

Definitely Peace Bridge. They seem to be the most knowledgeable and efficient. Rainbow Bridge is just for tourists, and Queenston/Lewiston can't handle the volume. Not to mention the fact that I've had a few bad experiences there.

(which, btw, it looks like they're renovated in there -- something I didn't really need to know).

I like the renovations. Way better than that tiny box they used to have.

[Canadiandggal 49]

I have never had a problem at the peace bridge, before or even during the visa process. They seem to be quite awesome and rule abidding officers however I did have a pain in the ####### due at the rainbow bridge. I will never use that bridge again!

I have also crossed at the Massena NY small bridge and the thousand Islands port of entry as well. lol

[Gypsyangel 11]

Even though I had problems this time, I would still recommend the Peace Bridge over the other border crossings. It usually has lower wait times and is less touristy because it's not right beside the falls.

Moosker, the questions weren't that tough, but if I had been in the right frame of mind I might have answered them more thoroughly and confidently. As I said earlier, i was just expecting the "where do you live? what are you bringing back questions". I was preoccupied with remembering how much my new car battery and two new tires cost and wondering if they'd give me a hard time about that.

- Citizen of what country? Canada (I was in my car with NJ plates, so he perked up right there).

- How did you get your green card? I married an American. (If I was on top of it, I might have answered that I came to the U.S. on a fiance visa, got married, adjusted status and now I was removing conditions.

- Where is your home? NJ

- Who do you work for? Marketing consultant, I'm self-employed.

- What is your status? I said that I had applied to remove conditions on my 2 year green card and was waiting for approval. Should have just said permanent resident - I added that later. I can see how saying i had an application pending would make him think something was up. He was already writing stuff down by that point, so I was already being sent in.

So, I definitely could have answered the questions more cleanly. Also, I think it always depends on who you get. If I had had someone more knowledgable, it probably wouldn't have been an issue. The guy was very young and very nice about it. He started asking me about the hockey game (bunch of people were crossing the border to go to Buffalo for the game).

I've gone over the border a million times during this whole multi-year process (many times at the Peace Bridge), and it's usually been ok, but I'm very careful to make sure I have everything in order so things go smoothly. My husband is so blase about it. He never even thinks about it at all. If I'm driving with him, there have been times when they don't even ask him a single question and then he looks at me like I'm insane because I take it all very seriously.

I did have another issue at the Peace Bridge after we'd applied for our K1. I was sent to secondary because I was going to visit my fiance. I had brought a brief case with files showing my ties to Canada (thanks to visajourney). But all they did was: fingerprints, picture, ask for my ID. Then he asked for my wallet and took everything out of my wallet and looked at everything. Then he asked for my purse and took everything out of my purse and looked at everything in my purse. I just stood there while he looked through everything. I piped up and said I had a bunch of other stuff in my brief case, but he shook his head. Then he just shoved everything back at me over the counter and said, "have a good trip". So stressful! Way more stressful this time when someone is deciding whether you can go back to your home, your husband, and all your belongings. I don't know how people do things illegally ... I"m a nervous wreck doing it legally!

You probably won't have any problems. And at the end of the day, someone just had to look me up in the system and I was on my way. Two hour wait sucked though! At least I was driving and not running for a plane.

PS. Hurry up Vermont and process my ROC application!

Edited April 26, 2011 by Gypsyangel

[BH45 0]

I'll be heading home to Northern Ontario May long weekend (Canadian one ) and crossing at Port Huron / Sarnia. I hope they are up to date with the expired green card and extension letter. At least now, I'm semi prepared for questions.

[OBX 51]

Thanks for listing the questions they asked, now all of us heading north soon will be prepared.

As I posted earlier I have never had any issues at the Peace Bridge but they do almost always ask my citizenship. I do find that a little strange because I always hand over my Canadian passport with my green card tucked into the biographical page.

[canada_socks 97]

I always cross at the Peace Bridge and have yet been pulled over for secondary. I never thought to bring ties to Canada either, so I guess I have just been lucky. The next time I cross will be when I move to the States with my Visa. That won't be until September. My fiancee is coming up to help me move. I'm a little worried though, since he plans to fly up and won't have a returning ticket as we are renting a truck to move my stuff back. He has come up with a one way ticket before with no problems (we drove back to the States in my car together). Maybe I should tell him to get a note from his boss stating when he is due back to work.

I do have a question about port of entry at Peace Bridge...when you cross, what do you do? Do you go to the normal border patrol booth and tell them we are immigrating? I am so nervous about that!

[Canadiandggal 49]

I always cross at the Peace Bridge and have yet been pulled over for secondary. I never thought to bring ties to Canada either, so I guess I have just been lucky. The next time I cross will be when I move to the States with my Visa. That won't be until September. My fiancee is coming up to help me move. I'm a little worried though, since he plans to fly up and won't have a returning ticket as we are renting a truck to move my stuff back. He has come up with a one way ticket before with no problems (we drove back to the States in my car together). Maybe I should tell him to get a note from his boss stating when he is due back to work.

I do have a question about port of entry at Peace Bridge...when you cross, what do you do? Do you go to the normal border patrol booth and tell them we are immigrating? I am so nervous about that!

You pull up to the usually port of entry hand over your passport and let them know you are "using your k-1 visa to enter", they will ask a few of the regular questions about tobacco and what you are bringing in etc, then tell you to pull over n park and send you to secondary.

Edited April 27, 2011 by Canadiandggal