L1-B Visa processing

Hi guys,

I'm new here and found this site while googling for information on getting an L1B visa processed. I called US border, I called the border and the people over the phone were giving me the impression that I was bothering them a bit, they were probably very busy so I didn't ask all the questions I wanted to.

Here's my situation. I'll be driving from Montreal (Quebec) to San Jose (California). I'm leaving (with a Friend) on August 21st and we should arrive by the 26th. My friend has no visa and he has a return flight already booked, I have a petition for an L1B visa.

The lawyers who are taking care of my visa recommended that I head for the border ahead of time. Luckily, I live about 75 minutes away from the Champlain border so it's not that far.

The paperwork I received is dated August 1st, so what I wanted to do is head for the border tomorrow, have the L1B processed, pay the 836$ and have my L1B ready for the big move on August 21st. I was told different things by different people though so I'm not quite sure how to deal with this.

I was told by US customs that I can head for the border now, as long as I'm within 30 days of the day I move, but someone else from US customs told me they generally don't process it if it's more than 10 days prior.

My other concern is that I will not have my belongings with me if I go ahead of time (I won't have a lot of belongings when I move either, clothes, my PC and that's pretty much it). So I'm not sure if that will be a problem or not.

Has anyone here go through the same procedure? Which is head for the border ahead of time to have the visa processes? Will I need anything other than the lawer papers, passport and birth certificate? Should I expect to spend 30 minutes there or more like half a day.

There are 2 reasons why I want to go ahead of time. First is to make sure everything is ok with the paperwork, and the other is to save time during my trip. It's already a 50 hour drive, if I can prevent spending 5 hours at the border on that day, that would be awesome.

Thank you very much for information.

Hi guys,

I'm new here and found this site while googling for information on getting an L1B visa processed.

I was told by US customs that I can head for the border now, as long as I'm within 30 days of the day I move, but someone else from US customs told me they generally don't process it if it's more than 10 days prior.

I would follow the advice of your lawyer and the second customs person and do it about 10 days in advance.

If all goes smoothly, no worries. If there are only minor problems with the paperwork, 10 days is more than enough time to get things corrected. If there are unexpected major problems that render you ineligible for the L1B (hopefully the lawyer has already screened your case to avoid this) even 30 days won't be enough to fix things.

Yeah, it shouldn't be a huge wait unless the POE is particularly busy or the people who do the L-1B are at lunch or something.

If you're going to come back to collect your personal effects, take a detailed manifest with you, but from the sounds of it it's not a big deal.