Using AP for the first time at Canada/VT border
Aug 20th 2004, 3:51 pm
#1
Stuff and Nonsense
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Russ: Vermont Jayne: was London, UK to VT
Posts: 358
Using AP for the first time at Canada/VT border
I crossed the Derby Line border from Canada into VT yesterday using my AP for the first time. We drove up to the window, handed over our passports and my AP for the officer to inspect. He asked the usual questions about where we had been etc. but seemed more interested in the piece of furniture sticking out the car window. He handed back the passports and AP and asked us to pull into a garage. A customs officer then came out and we had to partly unload the car for him to inspect. When he had finished he said we could go but I asked about my AP not being stamped so he escorted me into their offices.
I spoke to an immigration officer at the desk who looked at my AP and seemed a little puzzled by it. He turned around and spoke to other officers sitting around but they all shrugged their shoulders. He then went outside to an inspection booth and got another officer to come in. It appeared this officer knew what an AP was, I think. Forty minutes later and 2 attempts of him filling out a new I-94 I was free to go. The officer had stamped the AP and my passport but had kept one of the originals. I assume I was right to insist that I keep both originals and that they take a photocopy?
I was a little concerned that I could have driven through the border without my AP being stamped at all. Would this have been a problem or does it not matter? Should I ensure my AP is stamped every time I cross the border? I also plan on taking several shopping trips to Montreal and Quebec City as I live close to the border. Would this be a problem ie. would it be construed as 'abuse' of the AP's intended use?
Happily secure with a big new stock of Cadbury's!
Jayne
I spoke to an immigration officer at the desk who looked at my AP and seemed a little puzzled by it. He turned around and spoke to other officers sitting around but they all shrugged their shoulders. He then went outside to an inspection booth and got another officer to come in. It appeared this officer knew what an AP was, I think. Forty minutes later and 2 attempts of him filling out a new I-94 I was free to go. The officer had stamped the AP and my passport but had kept one of the originals. I assume I was right to insist that I keep both originals and that they take a photocopy?
I was a little concerned that I could have driven through the border without my AP being stamped at all. Would this have been a problem or does it not matter? Should I ensure my AP is stamped every time I cross the border? I also plan on taking several shopping trips to Montreal and Quebec City as I live close to the border. Would this be a problem ie. would it be construed as 'abuse' of the AP's intended use?
Happily secure with a big new stock of Cadbury's!
Jayne
Aug 20th 2004, 4:04 pm
#2
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,392
Re: Using AP for the first time at Canada/VT border
When my husband would active a new AP at a Can/Am border one original was always kept by the agent as it is then sent to the USCIS. And no, you will not get a new AP if you use a land crossing from Canada to the US.
Not sure are plane travel.
Rete
Not sure are plane travel.
Rete
Originally Posted by Russ&Jayne
I crossed the Derby Line border from Canada into VT yesterday using my AP for the first time. We drove up to the window, handed over our passports and my AP for the officer to inspect. He asked the usual questions about where we had been etc. but seemed more interested in the piece of furniture sticking out the car window. He handed back the passports and AP and asked us to pull into a garage. A customs officer then came out and we had to partly unload the car for him to inspect. When he had finished he said we could go but I asked about my AP not being stamped so he escorted me into their offices.
I spoke to an immigration officer at the desk who looked at my AP and seemed a little puzzled by it. He turned around and spoke to other officers sitting around but they all shrugged their shoulders. He then went outside to an inspection booth and got another officer to come in. It appeared this officer knew what an AP was, I think. Forty minutes later and 2 attempts of him filling out a new I-94 I was free to go. The officer had stamped the AP and my passport but had kept one of the originals. I assume I was right to insist that I keep both originals and that they take a photocopy?
I was a little concerned that I could have driven through the border without my AP being stamped at all. Would this have been a problem or does it not matter? Should I ensure my AP is stamped every time I cross the border? I also plan on taking several shopping trips to Montreal and Quebec City as I live close to the border. Would this be a problem ie. would it be construed as 'abuse' of the AP's intended use?
Happily secure with a big new stock of Cadbury's!
Jayne
I spoke to an immigration officer at the desk who looked at my AP and seemed a little puzzled by it. He turned around and spoke to other officers sitting around but they all shrugged their shoulders. He then went outside to an inspection booth and got another officer to come in. It appeared this officer knew what an AP was, I think. Forty minutes later and 2 attempts of him filling out a new I-94 I was free to go. The officer had stamped the AP and my passport but had kept one of the originals. I assume I was right to insist that I keep both originals and that they take a photocopy?
I was a little concerned that I could have driven through the border without my AP being stamped at all. Would this have been a problem or does it not matter? Should I ensure my AP is stamped every time I cross the border? I also plan on taking several shopping trips to Montreal and Quebec City as I live close to the border. Would this be a problem ie. would it be construed as 'abuse' of the AP's intended use?
Happily secure with a big new stock of Cadbury's!
Jayne
Aug 20th 2004, 4:16 pm
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2003
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Posts: 525
Re: Using AP for the first time at Canada/VT border
Our Canadian plane travel experience this year with AP: we took the 2 originals with us - this agent also didn't know what it was, it seemed, and collab'd with another agent who did. They reviewed them/processed them, etc and gave both originals back to us.
Originally Posted by Rete
When my husband would active a new AP at a Can/Am border one original was always kept by the agent as it is then sent to the USCIS. And no, you will not get a new AP if you use a land crossing from Canada to the US.
Not sure are plane travel.
Rete
Not sure are plane travel.
Rete
Aug 20th 2004, 7:32 pm
#4
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2004
Location: Buffalo, New York - Cambridge, Canada
Posts: 142
Re: Using AP for the first time at Canada/VT border
Thanks for posting the experience. We'll hopefully be using ours at the NY/Ontario border next weekend (Queenston). I imagine we'll have a similar experience in that they get confused over it, because that's what happened when he came on his K1. No one knew what to do. So it's okay if they keep an original then?
Kirsten
Kirsten
Aug 23rd 2004, 12:54 pm
#5
Stuff and Nonsense
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Russ: Vermont Jayne: was London, UK to VT
Posts: 358
Re: Using AP for the first time at Canada/VT border
Originally Posted by Rete
And no, you will not get a new AP if you use a land crossing from Canada to the US.
Kirsten, I think it's ok to keep the originals. I've read that many people do. I just went for the 'safe' option as they didn't appear to know what the heck they were doing. Be sure to comply with all the customs regulations as you might be searched while they're processing your AP. We just scraped under the limit...phew!
Aug 23rd 2004, 1:02 pm
#6
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,392
Re: Using AP for the first time at Canada/VT border
Originally Posted by Russ&Jayne
Sorry, I wasn't asking if I get a new AP. I know I won't get a new one as it's all stamped and good for a year. What I was asking is that I've seen in many people's experiences posted on here is that each time they use their AP it gets 'stamped', whatever that stamp may be. I was asking if it was a problem that I wouldn't be 'stamped' each time I went to Canada and what the concequences would be, if any. Due to my first experience of crossing the VT border I fear that at even smaller border crossings they won't know what to do.
Kirsten, I think it's ok to keep the originals. I've read that many people do. I just went for the 'safe' option as they didn't appear to know what the heck they were doing. Be sure to comply with all the customs regulations as you might be searched while they're processing your AP. We just scraped under the limit...phew!
Kirsten, I think it's ok to keep the originals. I've read that many people do. I just went for the 'safe' option as they didn't appear to know what the heck they were doing. Be sure to comply with all the customs regulations as you might be searched while they're processing your AP. We just scraped under the limit...phew!
That should have read I-94 ... my apologies for the typo ;-(
Jim used each of his two AP's at minimum three times a year and apart from the original stamping when activating the AP initially, all he did was give the examiner at the booth his Canadian passport and his AP, it was scanned and he was asked the usual questions, i.e. where did you go, how long were you in Canada, and told have a good day.
One of the easiest parts of Can/Am border experience. Going into Canada as a Canadian citizen at the Lake Champlain crossing was always a hassle with Canadian agents who were very hostile and threatening. Didn't encounter that same animosity when entering Canada through either of the two Maine border crossings. But then again, it was not crossing into Quebec province.
Rete
Last edited by Rete; Aug 23rd 2004 at 1:07 pm.
Aug 23rd 2004, 1:49 pm
#7
Stuff and Nonsense
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2003
Location: Russ: Vermont Jayne: was London, UK to VT
Posts: 358
Re: Using AP for the first time at Canada/VT border
Originally Posted by Rete
That should have read I-94 ... my apologies for the typo ;-(
Jim used each of his two AP's at minimum three times a year and apart from the original stamping when activating the AP initially, all he did was give the examiner at the booth his Canadian passport and his AP, it was scanned and he was asked the usual questions, i.e. where did you go, how long were you in Canada, and told have a good day.
One of the easiest parts of Can/Am border experience. Going into Canada as a Canadian citizen at the Lake Champlain crossing was always a hassle with Canadian agents who were very hostile and threatening. Didn't encounter that same animosity when entering Canada through either of the two Maine border crossings. But then again, it was not crossing into Quebec province.
Rete
Jim used each of his two AP's at minimum three times a year and apart from the original stamping when activating the AP initially, all he did was give the examiner at the booth his Canadian passport and his AP, it was scanned and he was asked the usual questions, i.e. where did you go, how long were you in Canada, and told have a good day.
One of the easiest parts of Can/Am border experience. Going into Canada as a Canadian citizen at the Lake Champlain crossing was always a hassle with Canadian agents who were very hostile and threatening. Didn't encounter that same animosity when entering Canada through either of the two Maine border crossings. But then again, it was not crossing into Quebec province.
Rete
