What to expect at POE with CR-1

[Tjbox 17]

Hello 

i know here is discussion for port of entry but i still feel its not enough to asure me for non stress travel next week :D 

two years ago i was denied ESTA at San diego airport for travelling too often at that time my fiance. I was taken for secondary inspection and it was terrible experience + interview. 

now i am arriving at the same airport on Cr-1. 

I feel sick to my stomach about what to expect... last time they grilled me (though i did not do anything bad and i think it was totally unecesary) and i just dont want to feel “Deja vu” again.

 

is here anyone who knows how it goes with CR1 at airport? Or SAN DIEGO/LAX experiences? should i worry especially having already great experience with 2ndary inspection there? 

 

Thank yuu for sharing

[Crazy Cat 39,322]

There is no reason for anxiety.  Whatever happened when entering via ESTA is completely irrelevant!!  This is an immigrant visa for which you have been approved.........You can expect to receive a stamp in your passport which will serve as your Green card until your plastic one arrives.  You can expect to receive your actual Green card in a few weeks after arrival.

[Dashinka 23,272]

9 minutes ago, Tjbox said:

Hello 

i know here is discussion for port of entry but i still feel its not enough to asure me for non stress travel next week 

two years ago i was denied ESTA at San diego airport for travelling too often at that time my fiance. I was taken for secondary inspection and it was terrible experience + interview. 

now i am arriving at the same airport on Cr-1. 

I feel sick to my stomach about what to expect... last time they grilled me (though i did not do anything bad and i think it was totally unecesary) and i just dont want to feel “Deja vu” again.

 

is here anyone who knows how it goes with CR1 at airport? Or SAN DIEGO/LAX experiences? should i worry especially having already great experience with 2ndary inspection there? 

 

Thank yuu for sharing

Who can tell, it will be up to the CBP officer you encounter.  Since you are entering on a CR1, I don't think your ESTA denial will matter as you are now legally immigrating to the US.  I don't know anything about SAN or LAX, but I do know when my fiancé (now wife) came in on her K1, she did not go to secondary, she handed the sealed envelope over to the first CBP officer, was questioned briefly and was informed that she was under no government obligation to get married.

 

Hope your POE runs smooth!

 

Good Luck!

[Just Paul 4,591]

There shouldn't be any issues.  But if you are connecting leave enough time in case you do go thru secondary.  

[old-fella 109]

I was anxious as hell after reading all the reviews of POE. I kid you not, it took 27 hrs to reach JFK from Delhi via Dubai and all this time, I was miserable. My wife was holding my hands and was trying to ease the entire flight. 

 

My wife (USC) was in the same line as I was. She was behind me and when my turn came, we both walked in together. 

 

IO said, the sealed envelope, please. I gave that and my passport. He looked in my face, did few things and I guess a fingerprint (not sure). And opened the file, took the paper and dumped it in a tray. Stamped my passport and said "NEXXXXXTTTTTT"

 

After that, I let my shoulder loose and had a big smile in 5 days.   And then I was so bummed, I had read reviews that IO saying "welcome to America". IO didn't say anything just said "NEXXXXXXXXXXXT" so I made a point to get our picture taken at JFK where they have a big sign inside the airport itself which says  "welcome to NEWYORK"

 

Your ESTA denial should not affect your CR1 entry. Again it depends upon the mood of IO. 

 

Remember to relax and ease. Happy holidays,

[John & Rose 7,237]

Like missleman said.  This is completely unrelated.  You now have an approved immigrant visa.  That is very different from a tourist or work non-immigrant visas.

[Crazy Cat 39,322]

1 minute ago, old-fella said:

Your ESTA denial should not affect your CR1 entry. Again it depends upon the mood of IO. 

There is absolutely no reason the ESTA denial for traveling too often to the US would have any effect on a CR-1 entry whatsoever......

[Tjbox 17]

Just now, missileman said:

There is absolutely no reason the ESTA denial for traveling too often to the US would have any effect on a CR-1 entry whatsoever......

I hope so. Well the interview was extremely uncomfortable. I arrived 9pm and till 5am they were telling just wait a while for interview... turned out to be hours waiting and at 5am i fell asleep and they suddenly woken me up exhousted. No food. No watwe. No good wine lol. I felt like in some camp bc next to me were sleeping so many unknown people. (And mostly from europe they sent back. The other country residency were mostly let in)

however at the interview they asked questions about my wife and our relatiinship. How we met and details. I dont remember what exactly i said out of exhaustion. So i applied for FOIA and did not receive full interview text. Just summary saying i spent 8 of 12 momths in USA (not overstaying- just travelling back and forward). And i have girlfriend. Thought i said fiance... and so on...

i just hate to be under 100 questions again  when our finally living together matters on it.

[Tjbox 17]

Thanks to everyone to imput of opinion. I hope it goes fast with least interogations by nice and caring cbp.

Edited December 17, 2018 by Tjbox
Edit

[Tjbox 17]

13 minutes ago, old-fella said:

I was anxious as hell after reading all the reviews of POE. I kid you not, it took 27 hrs to reach JFK from Delhi via Dubai and all this time, I was miserable. My wife was holding my hands and was trying to ease the entire flight. 

 

My wife (USC) was in the same line as I was. She was behind me and when my turn came, we both walked in together. 

 

IO said, the sealed envelope, please. I gave that and my passport. He looked in my face, did few things and I guess a fingerprint (not sure). And opened the file, took the paper and dumped it in a tray. Stamped my passport and said "NEXXXXXTTTTTT"

 

After that, I let my shoulder loose and had a big smile in 5 days.   And then I was so bummed, I had read reviews that IO saying "welcome to America". IO didn't say anything just said "NEXXXXXXXXXXXT" so I made a point to get our picture taken at JFK where they have a big sign inside the airport itself which says  "welcome to NEWYORK"

 

Your ESTA denial should not affect your CR1 entry. Again it depends upon the mood of IO. 

 

Remember to relax and ease. Happy holidays,

They must love their job. I will be hoping for neeext. And we have luckily now all electronics. No more sealed envelope

[Crazy Cat 39,322]

5 minutes ago, Tjbox said:

I hope so. Well the interview was extremely uncomfortable. I arrived 9pm and till 5am they were telling just wait a while for interview... turned out to be hours waiting and at 5am i fell asleep and they suddenly woken me up exhousted. No food. No watwe. No good wine lol. I felt like in some camp bc next to me were sleeping so many unknown people. (And mostly from europe they sent back. The other country residency were mostly let in)

however at the interview they asked questions about my wife and our relatiinship. How we met and details. I dont remember what exactly i said out of exhaustion. So i applied for FOIA and did not receive full interview text. Just summary saying i spent 8 of 12 momths in USA (not overstaying- just travelling back and forward). And i have girlfriend. Thought i said fiance... and so on...

i just hate to be under 100 questions again  when our finally living together matters on it.

Personally, I have NEVER heard of a CR-1 holder being denied entry....never......just relax, and welcome to The United States of America!!!

[Tjbox 17]

1 minute ago, missileman said:

Personally, I have NEVER heard of a CR-1 holder being denied entry....never......just relax, and welcome to The United States of America!!!

Thank youuu for supporting me. i hope really hope  

 

[Usagi_tsukino 89]

They traumatized you and you are overthinking it 😄. Totally feel you. Im sure it will be ok though, let us know how it went when it's over!

[OlayemiLoray 172]

I've never heard of anyone being denied at POE on Cr1, but I have heard of the beneficiary being turned back around to their country on a K1...I will say my husband and I was nervous when it came time for POE at IAH, but all they did was biometrics, asked for his full name, and told him welcome to America...You will be fine...

[Michael2017 368]

They suspected immigrant intent. That was the problem with your ESTA. Now you have an immigrant visa and immigrant intent. Now your visa matches, so no more problems for you.