carfey

Here's an update for anyone interested.

I called the POE and talked to an inspector, and he said he couldn't give me a definite answer about this.

Technically, I should have the letter when trying to cross but he said since I will be within the same state and if I told him the story and showed him the correspondence, he'd be inclined to let me in. He said it was up to the inspector though, and that I could get turned back with the car.

You can do the import at any POE after you enter, but they may not let you in without the letter.

That said, I'm taking my chances and hoping they are kind enough to make an allowance for my case.

Hi,

I will hopefully be moving my stuff down south this weekend if I receive my visa tomorrow. Unfortunately, Daimler Chrysler refuses to give me the import letter I need before I have the actual visa. In other words, I'd have to wait to get the visa, then send the request and wait more than a month (happened two times already) for a response, which I'm not willing to do. I've waited long enough to be with my fiancee, and I'm tired of waiting...

I just want to make sure there's no problem bringing my car in and getting it all formally done after I arrive and can get the letter from Chrysler. I know other people have done this when they forgot to bring it up or whatever, but is there any reason they might give me trouble about this? I'll be driving across the Blaine, WA crossing if that makes a difference.

Thanks...

Did you find out if you can use the regular crossing or do you have to use the truck crossing? I ask since I will be going through one of those two before too long, probably with a pickup truck and uncovered trailer.

Alright, our interview is in Vancouver. I'll be flying into Seattle, renting a car (don't worry, I've checked out all my insurance information) and driving up to Vancouver to accompany Craigory to the interview. So my question is, when I get asked at the Canadian border what my business in Canada is, do I tell them I have an interview/meeting at the U.S. embassy? Is that going to be too much information? I mean, I'm not going on vacation. I'm not going to visit anyone. I'm not going on business. I'm there strictly to go to the medical and the interview, so I guess that's the only thing I can say and it be the truth.

I always get SO nervous when I go through customs. Even though everytime I've gone through I've been completely legitimate. Just uniforms, and mean men and women, and guns, and night sticks, and cameras, oh my! I know it's MEANT to be intimidating, and you have nothing to worry about if you are legitimate. It's just...phew, something that I will not look forward to for the rest of my life. I even get nervous when I go through U.S. Customs...and they HAVE to let me back in!

I plan on bringing all my proof of ties to the U.S., plus, I'll be driving a rental car that is due back on a certain date and I have a plane ticket flying out. And I'll probably bring a copy of our appointment letter. I just, had a bad experience last time I flew up there, even though I had all my proof of ties to the U.S. and a return ticket, they pulled me into secondary and searched me and all my belongings and interrogated me for a good hour before they let me enter.

That being said, that was at the tiny Thunder Bay airport, I can only imagine they are a little more...efficient/speedy at the Vancouver/Peace Bridge.

Alright, now everyone cross their fingers for fast melting of snow and ice. I don't need to combat driving the two hours with snow under my rental car tires.

Cass (bebop the great)

I'd just be honest and tell them you're going to the Vancouver embassy since your fiance has a visa interview you want to be there for.

I go through Peace Arch every weekend to visit my fiance. I love the Canadian border guards there. At least three times they've just let me through without even taking my passport or ID. Of course last time they suspected me of drinking and having open alcohol in the car but they are pretty friendly overall. I wouldn't worry too much. The American ones can be a bit more suspicious but you should be fine considering you'll be going back with a rental car.

I noticed you have a supplement for visits to the US. I was just looking at this the other day, and I'm not sure how I should fill it out. I've made dozens of visits to the US in the past 6 months and many many visits the rest of my life that I couldn't possibly document properly. Any experience with this?

I'm sure this has been answered before, but I searched and couldn't find anything, so I'm just wondering for people around Vancouver where did you get your police check and how long did it take? What should I ask for when I go in? I have no previous convictions so I understand that I don't need to do fingerprints.

Thanks.

I forgot to mention it's for a K1 (non-immigrant) visa.

The consulate guide on this site says that a tetanus shot administered less than 10 years ago is required for the medical. Can anyone confirm this? I know it's required to adjust status but had never heard before that it was required for the medical.

Also, the notes for Montreal indicate a Hep B vaccination is required, which would take several months to have all shots administered. Anyone have experience with that in Vancouver.

Hi,

I work remotely from my home office in Vancouver for a Toronto company. Once my K-1 visa goes through and I move to the US, there's nothing really stopping me from continuing to work, besides legal issues.

I have a feeling I couldn't work without an EAD, but since I'm working for a Canadian company I'm wondering if there is some allowance for this. Anyone hear of a similar circumstance? I haven't been able to find any info on this.

I had asked this same question months ago and did some research and as far as I could find out you can't do any sort of work from within the US with out work Authorization ... Now that being said, I would imagine that that you should be able to work for the 90 days of your I-94 as long as you get a SSN card (as K-1s are allowed to work for the length of the I-94 but we have no document to prove that we are allowed to) but I am not 100% sure of that ... Others might be able to answer that question ... you could also figure out which Canada - US border crossing are giving the 90 Temporary EAD stamp ...

On a side note, I wanted to make sure that you knew that Canadian Employment Insurance will give you benefits when you come to the US on a K-1 Visa ... I am currently collecting Canadian EI and my benefits will stop when my K-1 Visa expires unless I get my 1 year EAD or GC prior to that date ... Then I will have to send them a copy of the document to continue my claim ... Although I am not so worried about what happens after I get work authorization as I already have a job lined up ....

Thanks for the info. I had actually just heard you could collect EI and I was pretty impressed It's not too much money but it will be nice.

Hi,

I work remotely from my home office in Vancouver for a Toronto company. Once my K-1 visa goes through and I move to the US, there's nothing really stopping me from continuing to work, besides legal issues.

I have a feeling I couldn't work without an EAD, but since I'm working for a Canadian company I'm wondering if there is some allowance for this. Anyone hear of a similar circumstance? I haven't been able to find any info on this.

I've entered the US by car from the Vancouver area about 10 times since we submitted our I129-F. Sometimes I've gotten a bit of scrutiny about it, but never anything too serious. We haven't received the NOA2 yet, but I don't know if that makes a difference. Often they just ask what I do for a living and who I work for and they seem satisfied. I think it also helps I have a history of going every weekend now

I've visited my fiance in Washington since we filed our I129-F in May not knowing it could be an issue! (I only JUST found this site). I cross by car from BC and say I'm visiting my boyfriend. I get the usual questions about goods or gifts and what I do for a living. A few times they've asked if I have any clothes at his place. I answer no. So my experience has been very good - if lucky? I do think it helps that there's a pattern of my visits every weekend.

BTW - Received our approval on 10/20/06 by mail - no email. So may have to rethink the visits?

Bhu - new VJ'er

I head to WA every weekend too. Whereabouts do you go? I have to make it all the way to Yakima.. It usually takes 4 or 5 hours, depending on when I leave and what traffic is like in and around Seattle.

Anyway, personally I wouldn't worry too much about going down now that you've received your approval. I know how fortunate I am to be able to see my fiancee during the waiting, and I plan on making the best of it, even if I do eventually get turned back. That's me though.. I'm sure others wouldn't be as comfortable with the potential headache of getting turned back. I've even told them when I cross I'm visiting my fiancee and they don't seem bothered, but who knows if my luck will change.

I've asked this exact same question, and overall the response I've gotten is this:

Being denied at the border really doesn't effect the visa process -that much-. There is (supposedly) a place on the visa forms down the road that will ask about if you have ever been denied a visa before. But there are plenty of people for many many reasons who get denied visas. You just fill out the form, and if they ask, you explain the situation. Not a big deal really.

But, ultimately, it's up to you on if you want to take the chance that you might be turned back. It might be better for the petitioner to visit the beneficiary's country instead, but if that's not possible, you really should make the decision between yourselves.

Hope this helps...

Thank you all responded.

Is the deny entry the same as denu visa?

She is coming from Vancouver. She is canadian citizen. She come to us using WVP.

If she is denied entry, does she need to reveal in future visa application?

Charles.

I've entered the US by car from the Vancouver area about 10 times since we submitted our I129-F. Sometimes I've gotten a bit of scrutiny about it, but never anything too serious. We haven't received the NOA2 yet, but I don't know if that makes a difference. Often they just ask what I do for a living and who I work for and they seem satisfied. I think it also helps I have a history of going every weekend now

If she already has a tourist visa, it's not a problem to travel, generally. The I-129F application being in process does not impact her tourist visa - that happens when the K1 visa is actually issued.

She should be prepared at the point of entry with significant documentation to prove her intention to return to Mexico. Things like a copy of her lease, a letter from her employer stating when she is to return, copies of bank statements, anything to prove she does NOT intend to immigrate. Also keep in mind that a tourist visa does not guarantee admission to the US - only the opportunity to try. If she mentions that she is coming to visit her fiance, for example, the IO at the point of entry could decide that she has intent to immigrate and send her home on the next flight. So be prepared with lots of documentation and good luck.

Right now I visit my fiancee in Washington State (I live near Vancouver, Canada) every weekend, without a visa (visa-waiver for Canadians). I haven't had any problems other than being sent into INS to be asked some questions on one occasion. I imagine you probably could visit, especially if your case hasn't been adjudicated, although it may be harder for Mexicans.

I don't know if this changes once you get your NOA2. I'm not sure if anyone here has had that experience. I would like to continue to visit my fiancee after we receive it, and hopefully I don't get turned back.