POE-Activated Visa Today...Bye Bye Canada!!!

[MapleLeafBaby 1]

Thought I'd post this as a seperate thread, as it may help others with POE...sorry for spelling I'm on my phone

Ok, the good part....I'M HERE!!!!! FINALLY!!!!!

Exhausted!

I'll post a more detailed update on my timeline when I get a chance.

What an experience!!!!

I was more nervous about the interview, wasn't sweating the POE....the interview was waaaay less stressful looking back now!!!!!

First if all, what contents/inventory list?!?! They could care less, never even asked!

Crossed at 5am, and even though we were one of three families in there...try 2 hours later!!!!! Man, you guys were not lying about them being 'non enthused' to help you at 5am!!!!

They were giving priority to people catching flights in Buffalo...#######! How about first come first serve, with a 5 year old in his PJ's rudely awaken to be dragged inside, in lockdown....yes, they do not let anyone outside, where the bathrooms are located by the way...without a CO escort, and they were short staffed cause someone called out sick

Talk about having to refer to manuals and not knowing what they were doing! I get called up, tell him it's a K1, he looks at me annoyed, and says it's almost the end of their shift at 8am, and if we can wait...ah it's 6 flipping AM!!!!!! #######!!!!! I finally get a young guy to start the car import...I start filling the form, and it asks for 'health' of my car?!?!? Only to find out that I'm applying to import horses!!!!! Lol'! Ok, we get over that...then some wise butt walks outta the back room, sticks his nose in the situation, and tells my guy that I have to pay duties in the car $3500!!!!!! I lost it!!!! Half an hour if back and forth, im telling this guy that I did my homework on their site, and I shouldn't have to pay...15 mins later...he's like 'no worries' and the duty cost disappears?! Whatever, THANK GOD! they told me to use address if where I will be staying, soooo I start writing out our DE address....

Then they want to send me back to the lazy guy...I beg for this guy to please not send me back to the other side LOL! He was young and kinda funny, so he said they would get us started.... Him and some other guy start plucking at computer....then I mention that DE is our new address for now...he says he notices a PA address on the system...then he talks me out if changing my address, if I ever EVER want to see mail from them....so now my car import went through with a diff address than my Visa LOL! We figured it wasn't a big deal, as long as we register it etc...

The best part...he tells me after we marry, we 'physically take our AOS package to local CIS office and change my address at that time I know...at this point, I just wanted my I-94 and just wanted outta there!!!! They didn't even bat an eyelash at my moms passport, and could care less as to how long she was staying...they handed it back to me...finally got our I94's...nothing written on back?!

At this point, I looked at my vehicle contents list and thought, I already mentioned this twice and no one cared to do anything about it....God forbid I pull it out and we are here another hour!!!!

We finally got our stuff....and they gave me a little info on 'not being able to work' and EAD....he says any questions? We just sat there with our lips sealed! Lol'! I was like ' I just told YOU how to process half this stuff, I should be asking YOU, if you have any questions'! Haha!

Thank goodness that crusty guy who wanted to charge duty on my car disappeared! Oh, the best part, he walks back out while my guy is filling out the forms, and says in a loud voice 'you need to charge duties buddy...toy wanna do it the right way, or your way?!' I was like 'disappear you crab apple, your cramping my game!' LOL!

I will say, the two guys that did end up helping us, were super super nice...

I just found the Lewiston POE very unorganized at 5am in the morn! Lol'!

Now I'm even more confused as to how and when we should change our address. I'll deal with that in a couple of weeks....I'm gonna take a break from forms and ####### until after wedding.

Next couple of weeks I will focus on, wedding, SSN, and bank account.

At the end of the day... The POE experience was not as 'smooth sailing' as I expected

The best part....I asked why the embassy sent our 'entire file' out of curiousity, and he said 'DOS' grants Visa saying they found our case legit...but POE has final say as to whether they find me suitable and admissble into the US... You should have seen my face when he said that! I nearly passed out! My fiancé starred laughing and says 'and you thought you were 'in'' LOL!

GLAD THATS OVER!!!!!

I will say that my first offical day is mixed with excitment and nervousness...

Thanks to all for the well wishes

Ps. Sorry for typos, I have no computer...restricted to iPhone for a while

Edited May 30, 2009 by poprocks

[minnew 4]

Oh my goodness! Well at least you are now in the US with your future hubby! I am sorry they were so crusty with you!! I am definitely going to do my homework before my POE!

Good luck with the rest of the process!!

[Hugglebuggles 60]

Wow sounds complicated! So, long story short, I should probably be nervous? I'm glad you're safely in the US!

[FormelyCA 0]

haha Poprocks, great review, because I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND. PEacebridge wasn't much better:

- My guy was a bit crabby also.

- He had to ask everyone around him q's about it. They didn't overly know what was going on (remember, he said for me to TAKE it to my LOCAL USCIS office NOT CHicago!!).

- I didn't get anything written on the back of 1-94 either.

- AND, even tho I was THE ONLY ONE IN THERE, we sat there for 30 mins before even being looked at. They don't really care that you are there it seems.

Anyway, you are in! Good luck, now is the FOR REAL easy part (Well.... OK, after u get your AoS, EAD, AP, SSN, DL, insurance, new house, new address, son registered in school..THEN it is the easy part

[hapycloud 0]

WOW what an experience!! I am glad you made it through though. Sounds like those guys got the 3rd shift reject position. I am goign to remember not to take my fiance through super early in the morning to avoid your situation.

Anyways, WELCOME TO DELAWARE!!!! You will be enjoying a warm sunny weekend here, Though DO NOT go to the beach this weekend, NASCAR in Dover

[BermyCat 1]

Congrats for finally being here!

Sorry that the POE experience was so frustrating.

Ours was pretty smooth in Detroit...once they got to us. We had to wait because there was an American family pulled into secondary for trying to drive through the Nexus line without a pass. The husband was furious that at they hadn't let him through. It looked like he was actually going to punch the border patrol guy dealing with him so all of the other ones stopped what they were doing and started yelling at him to calm down.

~ Catherine

[TimandJoyce 1]

Yay Poprocks!! You're in!! You're in!! That's the main thing... At least the POE is all behind you now, right!! What a hassle..I'm sure you probably felt like screaming! Glad you didn't, wouldn't have gone over well.

I keep wondering how mine will be. I won't be driving so I don't know the difference in that. I'll probably be flying out of Vancouver. I'll probably post questions about that and see if anyone else did, and how it went. I get confused as far as the exact POE, 'cause I know you go through Canada Customs at the airport! Any way..I don't need to worry until August for that...need my visa first...

Best wishes now...have fun with this new chapter in your life!!

[Krikit 1,163]

I can't stand Lewiston. They made me miss my flight and are terribly rude, slow, disorganized, and unprofessional. I only ever cross there if my Dad is driving because he prefers it for some reason. (Probably force of habit.) I think he got my point that time, though, because he was taking me to the airport and he was pretty irate.

Welcome to America, Poprocks!

I know you go through Canada US Customs at the airport!

fixx0red

[TimandJoyce 1]

I know you go through Canada US Customs at the airport!

fixx0red

Oh really?? I've only flown out of there once, so couldn't remember, and based it on how many times I took the clipper from Victoria to Seattle. That process you DO go through Canadian immigration first, and then US customs in Seattle...Haven't decided yet which route I'll take..

But thanks for letting me know!

[Krikit 1,163]

Oh really?? I've only flown out of there once, so couldn't remember, and based it on how many times I took the clipper from Victoria to Seattle. That process you DO go through Canadian immigration first, and then US customs in Seattle...Haven't decided yet which route I'll take..

Oh, interesting. We're thinking of taking the clipper from Victoria to Seattle this summer. (Flying into Seattle, driving up to Van, then over to the island before flying back out of Seattle.) Any tips, advice, or comments?

Oops. Sorry to hijack your thread, Poprocks. I can split this topic if you'd like?

[trailmix 77]

Oh really?? I've only flown out of there once, so couldn't remember, and based it on how many times I took the clipper from Victoria to Seattle. That process you DO go through Canadian immigration first, and then US customs in Seattle...Haven't decided yet which route I'll take..

Oh, interesting. We're thinking of taking the clipper from Victoria to Seattle this summer. (Flying into Seattle, driving up to Van, then over to the island before flying back out of Seattle.) Any tips, advice, or comments?

Oops. Sorry to hijack your thread, Poprocks. I can split this topic if you'd like?

Poprocks is off sight seeing. Sorry the border people gave you such a hard time poprocks - yes it happens, yes they can be very grouchy and yes the guy semi-yelled at us for no good reason. They also only had 1 person I think that knew what he was doing (yelling guy).

You know when you work somewhere and there is some particular order or piece of work that you HATE. I think that is what someone presenting a K1 or IR visa is to border patrol

I'm confused about the clipper thing (I've never been on it) - why do they make you go through Canadian immigration first?

Edited May 30, 2009 by trailmix

[JillA 2]

Hi Poppy, that SUCKS!! I had the complete opposite experience at Lewiston, I guess I got lucky! I also got there around 5am, and the guy was really nice, helpful, knew what he was doing, etc. The duty thing is bullcrap! I am happy you argued back because that's not right. Anyway the good news is you are here. And ####### are they talking about to hand deliver your AOS package? Are you going to walk it over to the Chicago Lockbox?

Well don't worry you're here so the rest should go better Just sucks how you had to waste 2 hours. Sounds like my AP experience at Lewiston I waited around awhile for that

[Misty1979 0]

Oh really?? I've only flown out of there once, so couldn't remember, and based it on how many times I took the clipper from Victoria to Seattle. That process you DO go through Canadian immigration first, and then US customs in Seattle...Haven't decided yet which route I'll take..

Oh, interesting. We're thinking of taking the clipper from Victoria to Seattle this summer. (Flying into Seattle, driving up to Van, then over to the island before flying back out of Seattle.) Any tips, advice, or comments?

Oops. Sorry to hijack your thread, Poprocks. I can split this topic if you'd like?

Congrats on your POE poprocks! Sorry to hear it was such a hassle, it always seems that way with POE's by land. Just reading your post made me want to choke "the lazy guy", lol.

About the Clipper subject, I used to take that from Victoria to Seattle quite often during the immigration process since I found I got hassled there alot less.

Before you board the Clipper in Vic, there will be a US customs agent standing there (when I last went through, they didn't even have a desk, the officer just checked people's passports one by one as you walk by.) Easy day.

On the Clipper, you can have breakfast or lunch if you want, but I always found them overpriced and not tasty enough to bother. Breakfast will usually be a bagel with a cream cheese, a wheel of cheese on the side, juice and some gummy snacks lol.

DO take the dramomine (not sure if I spelled it right, but it's basically Gravol,) if you or your SO are prone to motion sickness. They offer it onboard, and it's only 50 cents or something like that. They also have a duty free magazine on there, just like airlines, and you can purchase alcohol, etc for a cheaper price.

After you arrive in Seattle, you'll go through a more thorough customs inspection, much like you do at the airports. If you're heading to the airport right from the Clipper terminal in Seattle, there will be taxis lining up and fighting each other basically to take you there, hehe. Last time I went it was $30 or so, and if you haven't been in Seattle traffic yet, Kriket, snap your seatbelt on tight, those Seattle cab drivers are craaazy!

All in all, the Clipper is a pretty relaxing, fun ride, and I think you'll enjoy it.

PS-If you have extra room in your suitcase, do you mind stowing me? I miss Victoria!

Edited May 30, 2009 by Misty1979

[Krikit 1,163]

About the Clipper subject, I used to take that from Victoria to Seattle quite often during the immigration process since I found I got hassled there alot less.

Before you board the Clipper in Vic, there will be a US customs agent standing there (when I last went through, they didn't even have a desk, the officer just checked people's passports one by one as you walk by.) Easy day.

On the Clipper, you can have breakfast or lunch if you want, but I always found them overpriced and not tasty enough to bother. Breakfast will usually be a bagel with a cream cheese, a wheel of cheese on the side, juice and some gummy snacks lol.

DO take the dramomine (not sure if I spelled it right, but it's basically Gravol,) if you or your SO are prone to motion sickness. They offer it onboard, and it's only 50 cents or something like that. They also have a duty free magazine on there, just like airlines, and you can purchase alcohol, etc for a cheaper price.

After you arrive in Seattle, you'll go through a more thorough customs inspection, much like you do at the airports. If you're heading to the airport right from the Clipper terminal in Seattle, there will be taxis lining up and fighting each other basically to take you there, hehe. Last time I went it was $30 or so, and if you haven't been in Seattle traffic yet, Kriket, snap your seatbelt on tight, those Seattle cab drivers are craaazy!

All in all, the Clipper is a pretty relaxing, fun ride, and I think you'll enjoy it.

PS-If you have extra room in your suitcase, do you mind stowing me? I miss Victoria!

Wow. Great information, Misty. Thank you.

I just took a look at the Clipper site. They don't take cars. Any recommendations on who does?

[Ontarkie 13,957]

Glad you finaly made it through