QUESTION ABOUT POE IN AMERICA

[MariahVine 2]

HI MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE RECIEVED HIS CR-1 VISA IN THE MAIL ABOUT A WEEK AGO! FINALLY!! MY QUESTION IS WHETHER WHEN WE FLY BACK TO AMERICA, DO WE NEED TO BE ON THE SAME FLIGHT... DO I, THE US CITIZEN, NEED TO BE WITH HIM AT THE POE IN AMERICA? THE ONLY REASON I ASK IS BECAUSE I HAVE A RETURN FLIGHT TO AMERICA, MY HUSBAND DOESN'T YET.. BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT CHEAPER IF HE GOES THROUGH A DIFFERENT AIRLINE. WE WOULD GET FLIGHTS ARRIVING INTO AMERICA THE SAME DAY, BUT DO WE NEED TO ENTER AMERICA TOGETHER OR DOES THAT NOT MATTER SINCE HE IS THE IMMIGRANT? THANKS SO MUCH

[Cathi 5,624]

No you do not need to be with him at POE. most beneficiaries travel alone through POE. Please don't use caps, it is considered yelling. Good luck and congrats on the visa!!

[atma 0]

As mimolicious stated you don't have to accompany them however be prepared that there are additional processes they do upon arrival with the visas.So while you would zip through immigration the spouse will take a bit longer.

[MariahVine 2]

No you do not need to be with him at POE. most beneficiaries travel alone through POE. Please don't use caps, it is considered yelling. Good luck and congrats on the visa!!

Thank you for that information and sorry for using caps, I didn't intend to seem like I was yelling.

[MariahVine 2]

As mimolicious stated you don't have to accompany them however be prepared that there are additional processes they do upon arrival with the visas.So while you would zip through immigration the spouse will take a bit longer.

What other processes do they do upon arrival? Can you estimate how long it may take? It's not a huge problem because we plan to stay in CA for a few days with friends and then fly to our final destination in the US. Thanks so much for your help!

[JohnR! 5,495]

What other processes do they do upon arrival? Can you estimate how long it may take? It's not a huge problem because we plan to stay in CA for a few days with friends and then fly to our final destination in the US. Thanks so much for your help!

Upon arrival you will be taken to secondary inspection. They will collect the package you received from the consulate, endorse your I-551 and process your entry into the US. It should take no more than 1/2 hour, in addition to the waiting time, which depends on how many persons should be ahead of you.

If you want to save some time, upon your arrival go to the line reserved for US Citizens & Residents to avoid the lengthy wait associated with the tourist visa.

Good luck!

[MariahVine 2]

Upon arrival you will be taken to secondary inspection. They will collect the package you received from the consulate, endorse your I-551 and process your entry into the US. It should take no more than 1/2 hour, in addition to the waiting time, which depends on how many persons should be ahead of you.

If you want to save some time, upon your arrival go to the line reserved for US Citizens & Residents to avoid the lengthy wait associated with the tourist visa.

Good luck!

So my husband, who has the CR-1, can go to the line reserved for US Citizens and Residents? Guess he will be a resident then, so it should be ok. That's a good tip to know, thanks. May cut down the wait time :-)

[JohnR! 5,495]

So my husband, who has the CR-1, can go to the line reserved for US Citizens and Residents? Guess he will be a resident then, so it should be ok. That's a good tip to know, thanks. May cut down the wait time :-)

Absolutely. All his processing will be done at the secondary inspection, so there is no reason for him to wait on the visitors' line only to be sent to secondary anyway, and yes, depending on POE that might save him a couple of hours...

[atma 0]

So my husband, who has the CR-1, can go to the line reserved for US Citizens and Residents? Guess he will be a resident then, so it should be ok. That's a good tip to know, thanks. May cut down the wait time :-)

Yes it does cut down on time.Makes a big difference in some large airports.

[Krikit 1,163]

Moving from K-3 Progress to IR-1/CR-1 Process.

[MariahVine 2]

Yes it does cut down on time.Makes a big difference in some large airports.

We will be flying into LAX, so anything to cut down on time is great! Thanks!

Absolutely. All his processing will be done at the secondary inspection, so there is no reason for him to wait on the visitors' line only to be sent to secondary anyway, and yes, depending on POE that might save him a couple of hours...

Awesome, thanks so much for helping!

[tanithw 5]

You need enter the US before him or at same time - you cannot support him I-864 if not in the country

[MariahVine 2]

You need enter the US before him or at same time - you cannot support him I-864 if not in the country

We will be arriving into America on the same day, just different flights as I have a return ticket to get from Australia to America (my Australian visa expires in May, that is why I have a return ticket to America already) but my husband dosen't as of yet. When we looked online to see if we could get onto the same flight, it would cost us around $700 more than if my husband flew on a different airline. But we would arrive into America the same day, just different times. I just didn't know if I needed to be with him when he went through the POE process with the visa, packet from the Embassy, etc.

[tanithw 5]

It would probably be fine but I just meant that if his flight arrives first, you may have a small problem.

[Apalis 3]

HI MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE RECIEVED HIS CR-1 VISA IN THE MAIL ABOUT A WEEK AGO! FINALLY!! MY QUESTION IS WHETHER WHEN WE FLY BACK TO AMERICA, DO WE NEED TO BE ON THE SAME FLIGHT... DO I, THE US CITIZEN, NEED TO BE WITH HIM AT THE POE IN AMERICA? THE ONLY REASON I ASK IS BECAUSE I HAVE A RETURN FLIGHT TO AMERICA, MY HUSBAND DOESN'T YET.. BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT CHEAPER IF HE GOES THROUGH A DIFFERENT AIRLINE. WE WOULD GET FLIGHTS ARRIVING INTO AMERICA THE SAME DAY, BUT DO WE NEED TO ENTER AMERICA TOGETHER OR DOES THAT NOT MATTER SINCE HE IS THE IMMIGRANT? THANKS SO MUCH

Hang on there. If you are residing abroad with your husband, you had to prove that you are re-establishing US domicile and you did sign that you will re-enter US no later than your husband's entry.

If you arrive at US sooner or at the same time as your husband then it's ok. If you arrive later, it will be considered a violation of what you have attested. I would be careful if I were you. The fare saving is not worth the hassle, just travel with your husband just to be safe.