Port Huron as POE?

sagenhaft
New Member



Joined: 21 Jan 2008
Posts: 6

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:46 pm

 

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Hello all,

any feedback on the ease of obtaining a TN visa at the Port Huron border crossing? I would like to obtain the visa this week and arrange to move to the US at the end of the month. My letter of support from my US employer states a start date of April 14, however due to other circumstances I am moving at the end of the month. I have leased an apartment in Milwaukee for May 1, should I bring a copy of that lease to the border with me, along with title to my home in Canada to prove that I still have ties to Canada and will not be immigrating to the US? I also have my degree, letters of reference from two previous employers attesting to my skill set as well as my CV. Am I missing anything? Would I be better to travel to the Peace Bridge crossing? Either port is a two hour drive from where I now live.

thanks for any input!

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SarniaGrl
CanuckAbroad Regular



Joined: 18 Mar 2008
Posts: 39
Location: Tennessee

Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:18 pm

 

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Hi there,
Port Huron is my POE choice for TN processing. The process is streamlined and friendly, and they offer 24/7 processing, unlike Detroit (awful experience), which will turn you around if you show up on a weekend or after business hours, unless you're applying with a Nursing petition. Make sure you have your original degree as well as a copy for USCIS, (they want to see the original), and I generally travel with a file of household papers although they have never asked to see them. If you have a transcript, it never hurts to carry it along in case of a question.

If you have a copy of your U.S. lease, I would keep it with my household papers in case, but I found they were more interested in the address of the company(ideally it should also appear in the letterhead); I had attached a business card for the employer and it only listed a P.O.Box #, the officer processed the TN but mentioned it should have a physical street address for future reference. As for a destination address for me, it was not an issue in question.

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sagenhaft
New Member



Joined: 21 Jan 2008
Posts: 6

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 7:10 am

 

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Thanks for the information, SarniaGirl.

Will that border crossing allow me to turn around and re-enter Canada after the visa has been issued? I am anxious to get the visa without having the dog and stuff in tow.

I am planning on going the Saturday afternoon to Port Huron. I have looked all over to confirm that they do in fact issue the TN visas 24/7 at that location. (not that I am doubting your experience) Perhaps I should just call them.

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perkyj
CanuckAbroad Regular


CDN in Illinois

Joined: 21 Mar 2008
Posts: 74
Location: Illinois

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 8:50 am

 

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We have been to Port Huron several times. They have scrutinized our paperwork more than others, but in the end, we have always left with the TN / TD. They have never asked about our living arrangements in the US or Canada. They looked for all of the essential parts of the letter and reviewed the work experience in depth. This is the port where we were told that US TN work does not count, but you have a degree and so that part doesn't pertain to you anyway. As someone else said, it's a good idea to have other things handy, but we've never been asked for anything other than our passports, Driver's Licenses, the petition letter, the diploma (original and copy) and the work experience documentation. We bring the actual offer letter too, but they’ve never asked for it. We have in the past, gone to that port, acquired the I-94s and returned immediately into Canada to finish up whatever we were doing before the move. However, we’ve never mentioned our intention to do that and they’ve never asked. They’ll ask for your address, but we’ve never been asked for a lease or any type of proof. Often, we’ve not had a permanent address yet when the TN was issued and stayed in hotels or corporate housing while we found an apartment.

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sagenhaft
New Member



Joined: 21 Jan 2008
Posts: 6

Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 9:03 am

 

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Thank you, perkyj.

Here's hoping that all goes smoothly on Saturday.

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