POE by Sea

[jesserz 73]

I know, the official motto is "by land, sea, or air." Well, we want to do it by sea. To the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in specific. Has anyone done this or have any official links with pertinent info in their arsenal already? My links all lead to 404s. I called the terminal and the phone just rang endlessly so that's a promising start. Sent an email after that. Got a new phone number. It's a wild ride.

 

Yes, I have used the search function of this website, and it seems no one has had anything interesting to say about this on this website in 10 years. 

 

Many thanks to all!

[Alabamak1 688]

Are you coming by Sea all the way from Russia? 

[jesserz 73]

1 minute ago, Alabamak1 said:

Are you coming by Sea all the way from Russia? 

From Southampton, England. 

[Alabamak1 688]

1 minute ago, jesserz said:

From Southampton, England. 

I don't really have answers just questions, but it is interesting and will follow your post here. This sounds like a challenge when immigrating. Good luck. 

[jesserz 73]

1 minute ago, Alabamak1 said:

I don't really have answers just questions, but it is interesting and will follow your post here. This sounds like a challenge when immigrating. Good luck. 

It does sound like a challenge! But it also sounds fun at the same time. We're all about making the most of this whole process.

[Alabamak1 688]

Just now, jesserz said:

It does sound like a challenge! But it also sounds fun at the same time. We're all about making the most of this whole process.

i just told my wife that how many officers there from USCIS would know how to process your paperwork....

[JFH 12,189]

There was a couple from the U.K. around 2 years ago, I think, who went from Southampton to Florida by ship and Port Everglades or Miami cruise port was their POE. I have arrived in the USA by ship before but as a visitor, not an immigrant. They have CBP officers there just like they do at the airport. It's no different. 

Edited May 26, 2018 by JFH

[JFH 12,189]

*~*~*moved from "IR-1/CR-1 spouse visa process and procedures" to "moving to America" - question about POE by sea*~*~*

[Dashinka 23,301]

This is of interest to me as well.  Of course we see many POEs by air and quite a few by land.  The USCIS officers at the cruise terminal should be able to process a spousal visa, just be prepared for a bit of a delay.

 

Good Luck!

[TBoneTX 43,243]

I would definitely CALL AHEAD to the CBP station at the port to notify them of your arrival, so that they can have adequate and appropriate personnel on hand.  You probably wouldn't want to wait for several hours while they process other entrants before they can turn their attention to you.

[jesserz 73]

Thanks everyone! 

 

I definitely plan to call ahead. I think I'll have my mother call them the day before as well (since there's no communication technology at sea). I can just see the looks of shock and confusion now. 

 

"you want us to do what? A who visa? I gotta make a phone call." 

 

It's totally legitimate though I'm assuming. Land, sea, or air as they say. 

 

I'm surprised no one in the recent memory of this site has done this. 

[NovaSprings 89]

I would agree with calling ahead.  My husband and I have done several transatlantic cruises to Miami and we have found that CBP coverage at the terminal can be a challenge.  It depends on things like, how large your ship is (ie number of passengers), other ships arriving at the same time, when in the cruise season you are arriving (it seams like every cruise season they start with a new group of officers).  My only advise, be prepared for a wait, just clearing during a normal disembarkation can take hours.  If you need to travel to another city after you arrive, I would not make any travel plans for that day, you don't need the additional stress of worrying about making a flight.  Book a nice hotel in Port Everglades/Miami for a night or two so you can take a breather, enjoy and celebrate.  I would also spend time educating yourself as much as you can on the process, documents needed. etc.  Print out everything that you can on the process, just in case you need to help the CBP agent.   Main thing is to breath and enjoy your new life together.  Congratulations and good luck!

[jesserz 73]

2 hours ago, NovaSprings said:

I would agree with calling ahead.  My husband and I have done several transatlantic cruises to Miami and we have found that CBP coverage at the terminal can be a challenge.  It depends on things like, how large your ship is (ie number of passengers), other ships arriving at the same time, when in the cruise season you are arriving (it seams like every cruise season they start with a new group of officers).  My only advise, be prepared for a wait, just clearing during a normal disembarkation can take hours.  If you need to travel to another city after you arrive, I would not make any travel plans for that day, you don't need the additional stress of worrying about making a flight.  Book a nice hotel in Port Everglades/Miami for a night or two so you can take a breather, enjoy and celebrate.  I would also spend time educating yourself as much as you can on the process, documents needed. etc.  Print out everything that you can on the process, just in case you need to help the CBP agent.   Main thing is to breath and enjoy your new life together.  Congratulations and good luck!

We were originally going to dock at 8am and then catch a train at 3pm, but I don't think that's enough time, so I think we'll stay a night. But it's New York and not Florida that we'll be coming in to. Any experience there?

 

We haven't bought our tickets yet, since, you know, we're still in process, but the cruise in question is definitely a Southampton-NYC trip. Staying in New York is ridiculously expensive, anyone else notice that? Last time I was there I swear it wasn't so bad.

[TearsOfBabylon 1,680]

16 hours ago, jesserz said:

From Southampton, England. 

I'm sorry, I can't help you out with an answer. I do think since it's a "normal" POE they have officers as on an airport, maybe not too experienced with K1 entry.... but why I'm posting:

Are you planning to sail in on THE QUEEN?
Omg how exciting that would be!

[HK12 273]

@jesserz I think I might be able to help. I actually immigrated by sea through the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in 2013. Came on the Queen Victoria from Southampton. I was nervous like you about the procedures and sent an e-mail to CBP before my departure. They responded immediately and told me basically that it would not be a problem - and it did, indeed, turn out to be really easy. You can read my POE review on my profile: http://www.visajourney.com/timeline/profile.php?id=126144 (scroll down to the POE review). 

 

I actually think that immigration by sea happens more often than people think - on my cruise, I met three people (a German couple and a guy from England) who were also immigrating.

 

If you have any other questions, let me know. I loved the whole cruise experience. The most amazing part was slowly passing by the lit up Statue of Liberty in the early morning hours of the date of arrival - such an emotional moment!