CR-1 Visa Approved: What To Do Next (POE Questions) ? (merged)

[hjrc 1]

Hi all,

 

My wife recently had her interview at the Embassy in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and was approved for a visa! Yay! 

She mentioned the interview itself was really easy going & short -- just a long wait time, as you're waiting for the same window/officer as all other visas (touristic, etc). Overall, very positive experience, she mentinoed. 

 

Now, my question is: What to do after we pick up the package from the embassy ? Let's assume we booked a flight and everything; Do we need to bring only the package we get from the embassy to the POE, or any additional documents? 

 

Thanks in advance for your help -- this forum has helped us a lot, at times more than our lawyers :-) 

[hjrc 1]

1 minute ago, Dee elle said:

For POE the officer needs the sealed envelope.. and of course the immigrants passport with the visa in it !! But for your own benefit and security, it is worthwhile carrying in hand luggage all the copies of the applications, supporting documents etc just in case!! 

Don't forget to pay the $220 green card fee .. either before she leaves or as soon as she arrives, as the actual plastic card won't be produced until this fee has been paid. 

Fantastic, thanks so much, Dee. 

[mtempelaar 190]

As tempting as it is, do not open the sealed envelope! 

 

Agree with the other poster to bring in hand luggage and keep it close, with other supporting docs.  My husband was forced to check a carry-on and forgot to grab the envelope before they took it away.  Lots of stress until he got the bag back (luggage can be lost).  

 

At the POE, you will go through to passport control and they will probably pull your wife into a room to go through the documents with her and make sure all is in order.    I recommend reading the POE reviews for whichever city she will enter the US through.  It will provide good info and maybe a bit of peace of mind.    http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/poereviews.php

 

 

[hjrc 1]

1 hour ago, mtempelaar said:

As tempting as it is, do not open the sealed envelope! 

 

Agree with the other poster to bring in hand luggage and keep it close, with other supporting docs.  My husband was forced to check a carry-on and forgot to grab the envelope before they took it away.  Lots of stress until he got the bag back (luggage can be lost).  

 

At the POE, you will go through to passport control and they will probably pull your wife into a room to go through the documents with her and make sure all is in order.    I recommend reading the POE reviews for whichever city she will enter the US through.  It will provide good info and maybe a bit of peace of mind.    http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/poereviews.php

 

 

Thanks - we're flying tomorrow to EWR (wish us luck) which seems to have very positive POE reviews! 

[hjrc 1]

My wife and I are flying tomorrow via EWR to Jax. She was approved for her cr1 visa, we are excited!

 

Our POE is EWR. Does anyone know if there is a dedicated counter for new immigrants or do we go to visitors ?

 

Also, would love any tips around this process...

 

Thanks in advance 

[hjrc 1]

Hi

 

Upon arriving at Poe is it best I go to us citizen area for passport, or visitors area (my wife is immigrating, via cr1) with my wife ?

 

I ask as I worry they wont let me go with her, or that the baggage will get lost as I didn't pick it up in time ...

 

Thanks for your help 

 

 

[ms_bobdog 501]

4 minutes ago, hjrc said:

Hi

 

Upon arriving at Poe is it best I go to us citizen area for passport, or visitors area (my wife is immigrating, via cr1) with my wife ?

 

I ask as I worry they wont let me go with her, or that the baggage will get lost as I didn't pick it up in time ...

 

Thanks for your help 

 

 

No reason why you can't go through the visitors' area, although whether they will allow you to be with her at the same counter may be up to the individual officer. And no, baggage is unlikely to get lost. If you are late, the baggage will just be taken off the belt for you. If anything, if the plane is big and there are many bags, it may not be a bad thing after all  

[JFH 12,196]

Depends on the airport. With I arrived at Las Vegas with my IR-1 visa I was told to join the line for USCs and LPRs. Some airports have a separate line for new immigrants. Seattle makes LPRs use the visitor line but Canadians may use the USCs line. 

 

Just ask one one of the crowd marshals on the day which line you should join. 

[little immigrant 801]

In Los Angeles they let my ex come with me during the process. 

[SusieQQQ 11,588]

Your bag won’t get lost. If the belt has emptied , it will be at the side of the belt, at the airline baggage counter or even - as in our case at SFO when we got stuck in secondary behind two security-related inspections that took well over an hour - brought to you by a friendly CBP officer!

Edited February 1, 2018 by SusieQQQ

[bakphx1 801]

I read several POE reviews (Google visajourney + poe reviews + city) and it seems they almost always let the spouse join in the visitors' line no problem.  Sometimes the new immigrant goes to secondary alone, but usually to wait while their paperwork is processed, about ten minutes. 

[bakphx1 801]

http://www.visajourney.com/reviews/poereviews.php?poe=Newark

[JFH 12,196]

Please stop creating new threads asking the same question. I have asked a mod to merge all your threads into one. Just ask which line to join when you get there. It's no big deal. 

[Ontarkie 15,014]

~~Three related threads merged. Please do not start more then one thread for all related questions.~~

[mtempelaar 190]

On 1/31/2018 at 4:45 PM, hjrc said:

Thanks - we're flying tomorrow to EWR (wish us luck) which seems to have very positive POE reviews! 

How did it go?