powerbomb

How were your experiences at the border when trying to enter the states? Do they generally just stamp your passport and let you in fairly easily as long as you have your I-20 and SEVIS or do they send you to secondary inspection, probe your documents, take up your time, etc? What should I expect? Also, which airport were you going through?

percussiondad

My D travels to and from the States on visa at least once a month. She drives back and forth and has never had a problem with entering or leaving other than normal traffic tie ups. Just make sure you follow all of the procedures though because they have changed the policies about a year ago. Your I-20 needs to be signed before the end of each semestre confirming that that you are returning for the next. If you dont do this you will be denied entrance. That is the one thing with a visa is that it is in your passport (stabpled) so it is seen everytime and make sure you always have your I-20 with you. You should have no problems at all as long as you follow procedures. Make sure you go to Canada Customs and register such thing as Laptop, Monitor (TV) or anything that is of value. Good Luck

powerbomb

percussiondad, I'm a little confused...I thought Canadians were 'exempt' from visas...? Also, from whom and where do I get my I-20 signed after each semester? So, after my first semester, when I'm coming back to Canada for winter break, I need to get my I-20 signed before I leave school?

percussiondad

Here is the exact wording from the college my D attends and my D was issued an F-1 Student Visa. This is exactly the process we followed minus the appoijtment because you can get it at a land border crossing. Give yourself some extra time or go in advance.It took about 1 hour for my Ds to get put through. You need to get your I-20 signed by the schools international students office or admissions. Your school should be used to doing and should remind you. My D gets an email about 1 month before classes end to remind her to get the form signed. Put it in your agenda to go abouta month before your leave.



Contact your local U.S. Consulate or Embassy to ask about how to get an F-1 international student visa. (Canadian students are not required to visit a Consul or Embassy as their immigration documents can be processed at a land border port of entry BUT are still required to pay the US$200 SEVIS fee BEFORE entering the United States as a student for the first time.)


2. After you receive an I-20 form **Your College**, follow the U.S. Embassy/Consulate’s instructions to schedule an interview for your F-1 student visa.

It is important to apply for your student visa as far in advance as possible. Many consulates recommend that appointments be made no more than 90 days from the intended date of travel, but some can make earlier arrangements for interviews.

Be sure to inquire about processing times for visa applications as soon as you receive your immigration documents from **your College**.

At the time of creating this site, U.S. Consul's and Embassies were requiring all non-immigrants to be interviewed by a government official. This interview could take place the same day or might require you to return to the Embassy for a scheduled appointment up to 6 weeks later.

powerbomb

They took an hour to get your daughter through? I thought it would only take about 5-10 minutes max...

percussiondad

It all depends on how things go, I do remember that they were training new staff so perhaps that is why it took longer. They also did question her about the course she was taken and they took the time to explain the working on campus vs off campus and how she could get a temp SSN if needed. We had no time expectations so it did not matter, we went to the border just to do this. Just don't forget that you cannot do this at an airport it can only be a land point of entry. Out of curiosity have you figured out what you are doing for cell phone service yet. If not let me know and I can tell you how my D is on a service that is 44.95 a month for unlimited txt, unlimited talk and 20 meg of data plus how she uses the penny talk calling card to call Canada for next to nothing. As I said earlier Good Luck it really isn't a big hassle but we do know of one Canadian student who got caught drunk while underage (21 in the states) and since he was charged by the local police his F-1 and I-20 were both revoked by Homeland Security.

alwaysamom

powerbomb, you might want to also apply for a Nexus card. If you're travelling across the border often, it makes it much simpler and faster.

powerbomb

what are the benefits of a Nexus card?

alwaysamom

Cross often? Make it simple, use NEXUS

powerbomb

How often is often? I'm probably just going to go back and forth during breaks, etc...and I'm also still young so I don't want to have to deal with so many documents and IDs if at all possible...(the requirement is that I'm over 18 to independently apply for a NEXUS card...) What's it like re-entering the US as an F-1 status after winter break or something? Do they interrogate you? Or is it a breeze with the stamp on your passport?

jonv112

I've crossed the border a couple of times since entering the US as a student. Just show your passport and I-20 when you come back. It shouldn't take longer than normal. Technically you enter on an F1 student visa but since you're a Canadian citizen you're automatically granted one and don't have to go through the lengthy application process.

powerbomb

jonv112, what was it like the first time your were crossing? Did it take a lot of time, or did they just stamp your passport right away? Also, do they ask you why you're crossing even after they see your I-20? Do I just tell them I'm going to school?

jonv112

When I entered the first time I flew from Pearson to JFK. I had to fill out an I-94 card and show my I-20 and SEVIS fee receipt to US Customs. After I got my passport stamped I was asked to go through secondary inspection and they looked through my documents again and asked me to open my checked luggage. It only took like an extra half hour surprisingly. Also, at the security checkpoint I had to go through slightly stricter security measures that time but I don't know if it's because I was entering as a student or if it was simply a random inspection.

CDN_dancer

Your first entry into the US will take the longest because they need to input information into their database, give you the I-94 (95? can't remember the exact number...it's a white card they staple into your passport. Don't lose it!), etc. Make sure to bring bank statements showing you can pay for tuition (I made the mistake of forgetting that and ran into some problems at the border...)

After that, crossing the border should only take a couple minutes to present your I-20 and passport. If you're only going to travel back and forth 2-3 times per year, I'd personally say the Nexus is not worth it, just because there are additional fees required to register and what not, and usually the customs line isn't that long anyway.

xShadow63

It's been problem-free for me. Doesn't take more than 2-3 minutes. Also, you have an F-1 Student Visa status - not the visa itself, but all the limitations that go with it.