We got our visa in Nov '08 and have been planning since to go for landing.I used to always read other posts here on people's experiences while landing and that helped me a lot in the process of entering the US without a H1 visa stamp on passport.
We entered through the Pacific highway in Blaine WA.Documents were all arranged in order for the Canadian portion and the US side ( since I knew I would have the most questions from them so I spent much portion of my time on preparing and collecting documents like all I-797 ,letter from client,letter from employer.pay slips,,W2,
degree certificates ,Id cards knowing well that if the worst comes we will have to fly to India and get visas stamped.
I just had about 1700 USD and about 5000 USD in bank draft.
We reached Seattle at noon and drove to Bellingham in a rental car ,spent one long spleepless night there which is about 22 miles from the border.Early morning gathered all stuff said a prayer and drove towards the border .There were very few people in front of us and at the checkpoint the US Border officer asked the regular questions,checked our passports,and wanted to know if we were going to stay permanently.
My husband said he will complete landing today and come back later permanently.He asked when.... after a few months as soon as we tie up all ends about 5 months.He mentioned if we will be importing the car to which we replied no.He said this is your only chance after today you cannot bring it in .
He gave a yellow slip parked the car and went inside there were about 5 people ,we were immediately called by an officer she checked the COPR ,Passports and asked us how we came here and why were we not bringing the car,next she asked our address in Canada...so gave our relative's address .She didn't ask about funds or anyother thing.... asked us to sign the COPR and stapled the receipt to our passports and said you should get your PR cards in 4-6 weeks time.
She went to another side of the room and called us to check our goods to follow list and goods we were carrying that day.... entered the second list in a register along with their values and for the goods to follow list she just made a copy ,stamped and sign it.I recall at this time she remarked you guys are very organized.We thanked her and she gave a flag and badges.Happily we came outside the building .
Finally after so many years that day finally has come !!
Just to get a feeling of Canada we drove for a few miles but decided to return back as the sky was very dark and we still had to go through the US border post.There was a long line about 25 cars and when our turn came we parked the car and went inside.Here a officer checked our passport and looked up and asked why have you not turned in the I-94 's.It's a federal offence to not return it.got really anxious here .
He went to ask his superior while another lady started checking our papers and entering it to her computer.She was very patient and asked who gave you this I-94,when ,where and was convinced when she understood that we never left the country since the day we entered till today.She checked the continuity of our stay on all I 797 .
Looking at the mountains of documents that we were carrying she smiled.It took a while before she entered all information and printed out new I-94 for all of us and apologised that it was taking so long. We were using AVR to reenter so she asked us when did you leave US ,we answered about an hour ago.She went ahead and finished the fingerprinting and returned our passports.
Wow ...done...we immediately rechecked all our papers left the building and drove back to Seattle.
We entered through the Pacific highway in Blaine WA.Documents were all arranged in order for the Canadian portion and the US side ( since I knew I would have the most questions from them so I spent much portion of my time on preparing and collecting documents like all I-797 ,letter from client,letter from employer.pay slips,,W2,
degree certificates ,Id cards knowing well that if the worst comes we will have to fly to India and get visas stamped.
I just had about 1700 USD and about 5000 USD in bank draft.
We reached Seattle at noon and drove to Bellingham in a rental car ,spent one long spleepless night there which is about 22 miles from the border.Early morning gathered all stuff said a prayer and drove towards the border .There were very few people in front of us and at the checkpoint the US Border officer asked the regular questions,checked our passports,and wanted to know if we were going to stay permanently.
My husband said he will complete landing today and come back later permanently.He asked when.... after a few months as soon as we tie up all ends about 5 months.He mentioned if we will be importing the car to which we replied no.He said this is your only chance after today you cannot bring it in .
He gave a yellow slip parked the car and went inside there were about 5 people ,we were immediately called by an officer she checked the COPR ,Passports and asked us how we came here and why were we not bringing the car,next she asked our address in Canada...so gave our relative's address .She didn't ask about funds or anyother thing.... asked us to sign the COPR and stapled the receipt to our passports and said you should get your PR cards in 4-6 weeks time.
She went to another side of the room and called us to check our goods to follow list and goods we were carrying that day.... entered the second list in a register along with their values and for the goods to follow list she just made a copy ,stamped and sign it.I recall at this time she remarked you guys are very organized.We thanked her and she gave a flag and badges.Happily we came outside the building .
Finally after so many years that day finally has come !!
Just to get a feeling of Canada we drove for a few miles but decided to return back as the sky was very dark and we still had to go through the US border post.There was a long line about 25 cars and when our turn came we parked the car and went inside.Here a officer checked our passport and looked up and asked why have you not turned in the I-94 's.It's a federal offence to not return it.got really anxious here .
He went to ask his superior while another lady started checking our papers and entering it to her computer.She was very patient and asked who gave you this I-94,when ,where and was convinced when she understood that we never left the country since the day we entered till today.She checked the continuity of our stay on all I 797 .
Looking at the mountains of documents that we were carrying she smiled.It took a while before she entered all information and printed out new I-94 for all of us and apologised that it was taking so long. We were using AVR to reenter so she asked us when did you leave US ,we answered about an hour ago.She went ahead and finished the fingerprinting and returned our passports.
Wow ...done...we immediately rechecked all our papers left the building and drove back to Seattle.
