Pryme57

On 8/18/2018 at 12:10 PM, JoMau said:

Thanks! On my part embassy officer did not tell me anything about digitalizing or going paperless. I just overheard from the officer while she was interviewing other applicant. 

 

I'll wait for the reply of the embassy and try again to contact them over the phone.

Did everything go OK?

3 hours ago, NikLR said:

There is a push with the Montreal consulate to make this electronic. Thus far Canadian beneficiaries have had to state which POE they will be using.  The packet is sent electronically.  If it's still available if you use a different POE I'm not sure.  

Yes, this was with the Montreal consulate, so they're definitely making that push.  What's interesting is (although anecdotal since I wasn't in the interview), the consulate handed my Mother the letter stating everything is electronic but also said my mother will receive her passport and a sealed packet!  The last statement is really what threw us off.  Anyway, the CBP agent looked something up on their computer, so not sure if the consulate sends something or if they just pull up an electronic file.  In this case, we didn't give anyone any prior notice about the POE.  I'm assuming at this point that the supporting documents would be accessible at any POE.

6 hours ago, bakphx1 said:

I don’t think that’s correct.  It’s about making it entirely electronic.  Available at all POE.

I agree, I think it's a move to go all electronic regardless of POE.

UPDATE: Mother drove to the border today (she did not notify anyone at the consulate of plan to travel) with my sister.  She'll be flying next week, but wanted to try this out to identify if there were any issues with her paperwork so we could address before her flight from Toronto.

Once at the border, the CBP agent in the booth asked for the packet, and my sister stated they didn't get a separate packet, just the passport.  They were told to go inside and deal with them at the desk.

Once inside, the CBP agents asked for the sealed packet, where they explained that they didn't receive a packet.  Mother had all the supporting papers anyway, CBP went through it.  Mother also showed them the blue letter from the consulate that stated everything was now online.  The CBP agent went to a back office with the blue paper, discussed with another agent, who shook his head.  The other agent came out, looked something up on the computer, then stamped the passport and said welcome to America!

Original CBP agent from booth came into the office and asked if everything was settled, told him everything was good, gave her a high five!  

Total Processing time at CBP: 20 minutes

It appears that this really is a new process and that it hasn't been communicated to all CBP agents.  I would still keep a copy of your supporting documents, with you just in case, but overall this seems to be a more secure and efficient method for handling the final IV Packet.  Thanks for all the replies!

Interesting, this process does make more sense.  The visa actually states all IV docs in CCD, which I am assuming is a database the consulate uses.  I told my mother to head over to the US Border, tell the CBP agent that she never received the packet, and that she was told everything was online.  I'll post an update whenever she heads over.

I have petitioned my mother to come to the US (From Canada).  She has already gone to the Consulate in Montreal and was approved.  She received the visa in her passport by courier but there was no sealed packet as mentioned on the website.  Instead, there is a paper that states her immigration packet of supporting documents is entirely electronic, and she just needs to present her passport with the visa to the border for processing.  Has anyone else seen this?  I've made a few calls to CBP and they all appear to be expecting a sealed packet.

Thanks for the response. I did make quite a few phone calls to lawyers yesterday and got varying answers. Anyone recommend a good lawyer?

My wife and my son are here in the US visiting me from Canada (they were not stopped at border). I am a US Citizen and I have filed for the I-130 for the two of them. Their I-130's have been approved, but I found out about AOS. Does anyone know if it is possible for me to file the I-485 and let them stay with me or should they go back and wait for consular processing? We've been apart for quite a long time and it's hard to see them go again!

Congrats! I just checked my junk email box and found my approval as well, the same day Sep. 22!!

I used to have a GC (now a US citizen) and that is all that I gave to the border agents on both sides. I believe this will change at the end of the year to requiring a passport to cross.