Newbie - questions about Kiev Embassy Intervew/Info Packet

[payxibka 10,045]

Scott,

Good that you've been able to schedule the interview! That's a bit of a long wait but summer is always a busiest season - with people trying to get tourist and student visas... Good luck for the intervew!

Masha

Student and tourist visas are processed by the non-immigrant visa (NIV) unit... K-1/2/3/4 as well as CR/IR1 visas are processed by the immigrant visa (IV) unit... The are different parts (departments) of the consulate.... 3-5 weeks lead time is almost always what you see for the IV unit, unless there was a recent cancellation that you can get....

[johnichka 0]

Scott,

Good to hear that you got the interview scheduled. I have another question. How did you determine when the Embassy had your petition "logged" into thier system so you could schedule the interview?

I called NVC last night and they said the petition was sent out to Kiev yesterday. If in fact it did go out yesterday, it was hopefully on the DHL shipment that was sent yesterday. The packet weighed 3lbs, so hopefully our petition was in there. Based on transit, I would assume our petition would hit the embassy tomorrow, the 18th. How many days did you wait until you knew the petition arrived until you could schedule the interview?

Thanks, also, I am confused as to the comments about paying a $12 fee to be able to schedule the interview - can you explain how you set up your interview? Many thanks in advance.

John

[payxibka 10,045]

Scott,

Good to hear that you got the interview scheduled. I have another question. How did you determine when the Embassy had your petition "logged" into thier system so you could schedule the interview?

I called NVC last night and they said the petition was sent out to Kiev yesterday. If in fact it did go out yesterday, it was hopefully on the DHL shipment that was sent yesterday. The packet weighed 3lbs, so hopefully our petition was in there. Based on transit, I would assume our petition would hit the embassy tomorrow, the 18th. How many days did you wait until you knew the petition arrived until you could schedule the interview?

Thanks, also, I am confused as to the comments about paying a $12 fee to be able to schedule the interview - can you explain how you set up your interview? Many thanks in advance.

John

The embassy gives themselves 10 days to go through the mail to put into the system... Once in the system the call center in Poland sees your file. The $12 fee (for up to an 8 minute phone call) is paid when you call the call center to make the appointment.

[Scott and Iryna 2]

At 4 o'clock this morning (EDT), I was able to finally schedule her interview. She has it the morning of Friday, July 18th, so they are a full month out. It sucks that we have to wait yet another month, but at least now I know the dates, and I can begin preparing for my final trip to go get her. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...

- Scott

Scott,

Good that you've been able to schedule the interview! That's a bit of a long wait but summer is always a busiest season - with people trying to get tourist and student visas... Good luck for the intervew!

Masha

Thanks Masha, I'm sure the interview will go smoothly. I see from your timeline that you received your visa 3 days after the interview. Is this because you stayed in Kiev, or did you receive it so soon by mail? I was thinking of going the week following her interview, and come back together, but 1 week might be pushing it...

- Scott

[payxibka 10,045]

At 4 o'clock this morning (EDT), I was able to finally schedule her interview. She has it the morning of Friday, July 18th, so they are a full month out. It sucks that we have to wait yet another month, but at least now I know the dates, and I can begin preparing for my final trip to go get her. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...

- Scott

Scott,

Good that you've been able to schedule the interview! That's a bit of a long wait but summer is always a busiest season - with people trying to get tourist and student visas... Good luck for the intervew!

Masha

Thanks Masha, I'm sure the interview will go smoothly. I see from your timeline that you received your visa 3 days after the interview. Is this because you stayed in Kiev, or did you receive it so soon by mail? I was thinking of going the week following her interview, and come back together, but 1 week might be pushing it...

- Scott

My wife's interview was May 5th last year... I was scheduled to arrive on May 18 with us all departing on May 27th... We were "sweating" a bit because the person who is named on the delivery package MUST sign for it themselves and we wanted to visit the "in-laws" but were afraid to leave Kherson until the package arrived. Fortunately it arrived 7 days after her interview and all worked perfectly....

[Scott and Iryna 2]

Scott,

Good to hear that you got the interview scheduled. I have another question. How did you determine when the Embassy had your petition "logged" into thier system so you could schedule the interview?

I called NVC last night and they said the petition was sent out to Kiev yesterday. If in fact it did go out yesterday, it was hopefully on the DHL shipment that was sent yesterday. The packet weighed 3lbs, so hopefully our petition was in there. Based on transit, I would assume our petition would hit the embassy tomorrow, the 18th. How many days did you wait until you knew the petition arrived until you could schedule the interview?

Thanks, also, I am confused as to the comments about paying a $12 fee to be able to schedule the interview - can you explain how you set up your interview? Many thanks in advance.

John

First, if the NVC says it was mailed yesterday, they really just mean sent to the mail room. So, your DSL reference code is EXP 16 JUN 2008A, which should be picked up by DHL this afternoon. You will be able to start tracking it tomorrow.

It takes the Embassy about a week from when they receive the petition to enter it into their system (they claim up to 10 business days). A few days after the package has been delivered, start calling them daily to see if it is in the system. It took about 7 days for ours to be entered. The direct phone number to the consulate for K-1 visas is +380444904422 (call between 8:30 - 4:30 Kiev time and give them the KEV case #). Once they confirm you are on the system, she can call and schedule her interview.

OK, now the PIN thing. To setup an interview, you do not call the Embassy, it is a call center. In order to use the call center, you must have first purchased a PIN code that allows you up to 8 minutes with a live operator at the call center. So the first thing you should do is purchase the PIN, you can do that now. To do this, call 888-889-3780 and follow the prompts to purchase a PIN using your credit card. You will be switched to an operator, who will take your CC info, and they will give you your PIN (charge is $12). You will use this PIN again later when you or she calls to schedule her interview (I setup the interview for my girl).

- Scott

[johnichka 0]

Can anyone tell me how many digits the PIN code is. I called this morning from the US and had extremely bad connections, but succeeding in paying for and obtaining a PIN. I then called to try and see if the case could be scheduled for an interview, but the connection is very poor and once I enter 6 or 7 digits, the reponse is that I have entered an incorrect pin, then i try again and the line goes dead - tried twice already. The PIN code I received is 12 digits long.

Also, I called the embassy in Kiev on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, had a terrible time getting someone to pick up the phone each time, but all three times the individual answering the phone appeared to actually look in the computer & tell me the case was not logged in yet. I call today, a women answers the phone, I ask the same question - she says they cannot answer that question over the phone, send an email. When I said they did it the last three days for me, she said someone had broken the rules and they are not allowed to asnwer that question over the phone........

Thanks

[Scott and Iryna 2]

Oops! I hope that wasn't my fault!

As I mentioned, it was a fluke that someone else at the Embassy ponied up that direct number to the Consular section. Every day when I called, the guy didn't seem thrilled, but he tried to lookup my info directly on the computer anyway. Oh well...

My PIN code is also 12 digits.

[Muddy 0]

Can anyone tell me how many digits the PIN code is. I called this morning from the US and had extremely bad connections, but succeeding in paying for and obtaining a PIN. I then called to try and see if the case could be scheduled for an interview, but the connection is very poor and once I enter 6 or 7 digits, the reponse is that I have entered an incorrect pin, then i try again and the line goes dead - tried twice already. The PIN code I received is 12 digits long.

Also, I called the embassy in Kiev on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, had a terrible time getting someone to pick up the phone each time, but all three times the individual answering the phone appeared to actually look in the computer & tell me the case was not logged in yet. I call today, a women answers the phone, I ask the same question - she says they cannot answer that question over the phone, send an email. When I said they did it the last three days for me, she said someone had broken the rules and they are not allowed to asnwer that question over the phone........

Thanks

Hello

I had had the same problem you are having, all the same.

The PIN the operator gave me was invalid(Karina or maybe it was Galina)

I called NVC and was told the case was sent to Kiev on 6/11, checked the DHL and a package was sent to Kiev on 6/11

The PIN did not work, the operaot tell me to try a different phone, I tried my cell phone same problem. Call the number 5-6 times, everytime same problem, bad PIN. Talked to the operator again, and she said she will answer my question but then she must deactivate the PIN, do I agree? I said Yes.

She said the info on their web site is incorrect, I must wait for them to mail the package to my fiancee then we can schedule an interview, she also told me they have not entered the case in their computer. I dont know what is going on here

I will call the embassy again and I hope this time another operator answers the phone

Oops! I hope that wasn't my fault!

As I mentioned, it was a fluke that someone else at the Embassy ponied up that direct number to the Consular section. Every day when I called, the guy didn't seem thrilled, but he tried to lookup my info directly on the computer anyway. Oh well...

My PIN code is also 12 digits.

the telephone number is at the bottom of all their emails, BTW the 888-889-3780 never works, very bad connection. The PIN i got was 12 digits

Sincerely,

Public Liaison Unit

Consular Section

U.S. Embassy,

Kyiv, Ukraine

Tel.: +38/044/490-44-22

Fax: +38/044/484-45-70

Please visit our website at http://kyiv.usembassy.gov for more information about consular services

Edited June 27, 2008 by Muddy

[mariapoe 0]

Can anyone tell me how many digits the PIN code is. I called this morning from the US and had extremely bad connections, but succeeding in paying for and obtaining a PIN. I then called to try and see if the case could be scheduled for an interview, but the connection is very poor and once I enter 6 or 7 digits, the reponse is that I have entered an incorrect pin, then i try again and the line goes dead - tried twice already. The PIN code I received is 12 digits long.

Also, I called the embassy in Kiev on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, had a terrible time getting someone to pick up the phone each time, but all three times the individual answering the phone appeared to actually look in the computer & tell me the case was not logged in yet. I call today, a women answers the phone, I ask the same question - she says they cannot answer that question over the phone, send an email. When I said they did it the last three days for me, she said someone had broken the rules and they are not allowed to asnwer that question over the phone........

Thanks

Why don't you just let a person in Ukraine to phone the number? I guess it'd be easier and they speak Russian/Ukrainian, too.

I honestly have never had any problems with the pin code but with those losers who were answering the phone, i.e. their extreme incompetence.

[Muddy 0]

Can anyone tell me how many digits the PIN code is. I called this morning from the US and had extremely bad connections, but succeeding in paying for and obtaining a PIN. I then called to try and see if the case could be scheduled for an interview, but the connection is very poor and once I enter 6 or 7 digits, the reponse is that I have entered an incorrect pin, then i try again and the line goes dead - tried twice already. The PIN code I received is 12 digits long.

Also, I called the embassy in Kiev on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, had a terrible time getting someone to pick up the phone each time, but all three times the individual answering the phone appeared to actually look in the computer & tell me the case was not logged in yet. I call today, a women answers the phone, I ask the same question - she says they cannot answer that question over the phone, send an email. When I said they did it the last three days for me, she said someone had broken the rules and they are not allowed to asnwer that question over the phone........

Thanks

Hello

All was great today, not like last week

The 800 number is working fine

I tried the 12 digit PIN that the female operator gave me last week, the PIN that did not work last week, the PIN worked today believe or not

A very nice man not the female operator answered the phone and I scheduled the interview for August 13

Stay away from the female operator name Karina or Galina, I cant believe she told me the information regarding downloading the information packet is incorrect and that my fiancee must wait until she gets the packet in the mail and all the documents before she can call the embassy and schedule the interview.

[SeanAndNatalia 0]

Can anyone tell me how many digits the PIN code is. I called this morning from the US and had extremely bad connections, but succeeding in paying for and obtaining a PIN. I then called to try and see if the case could be scheduled for an interview, but the connection is very poor and once I enter 6 or 7 digits, the reponse is that I have entered an incorrect pin, then i try again and the line goes dead - tried twice already. The PIN code I received is 12 digits long.

Also, I called the embassy in Kiev on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, had a terrible time getting someone to pick up the phone each time, but all three times the individual answering the phone appeared to actually look in the computer & tell me the case was not logged in yet. I call today, a women answers the phone, I ask the same question - she says they cannot answer that question over the phone, send an email. When I said they did it the last three days for me, she said someone had broken the rules and they are not allowed to asnwer that question over the phone........

Thanks

Hello

All was great today, not like last week

The 800 number is working fine

I tried the 12 digit PIN that the female operator gave me last week, the PIN that did not work last week, the PIN worked today believe or not

A very nice man not the female operator answered the phone and I scheduled the interview for August 13

Stay away from the female operator name Karina or Galina, I cant believe she told me the information regarding downloading the information packet is incorrect and that my fiancee must wait until she gets the packet in the mail and all the documents before she can call the embassy and schedule the interview.

hey 'muddy' - glad to hear you finally got through, and for the warning aoubt Karina/Galina..

Was August 13 the earliest date you could get an interview, or just the date you chose?

Also - how did you (or anyone) get your timeline to show on the bottom of your responses.

thanks,

Sean

[mariapoe 0]

Can anyone tell me how many digits the PIN code is. I called this morning from the US and had extremely bad connections, but succeeding in paying for and obtaining a PIN. I then called to try and see if the case could be scheduled for an interview, but the connection is very poor and once I enter 6 or 7 digits, the reponse is that I have entered an incorrect pin, then i try again and the line goes dead - tried twice already. The PIN code I received is 12 digits long.

Also, I called the embassy in Kiev on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, had a terrible time getting someone to pick up the phone each time, but all three times the individual answering the phone appeared to actually look in the computer & tell me the case was not logged in yet. I call today, a women answers the phone, I ask the same question - she says they cannot answer that question over the phone, send an email. When I said they did it the last three days for me, she said someone had broken the rules and they are not allowed to asnwer that question over the phone........

Thanks

Hello

All was great today, not like last week

The 800 number is working fine

I tried the 12 digit PIN that the female operator gave me last week, the PIN that did not work last week, the PIN worked today believe or not

A very nice man not the female operator answered the phone and I scheduled the interview for August 13

Stay away from the female operator name Karina or Galina, I cant believe she told me the information regarding downloading the information packet is incorrect and that my fiancee must wait until she gets the packet in the mail and all the documents before she can call the embassy and schedule the interview.

hey 'muddy' - glad to hear you finally got through, and for the warning aoubt Karina/Galina..

Was August 13 the earliest date you could get an interview, or just the date you chose?

Also - how did you (or anyone) get your timeline to show on the bottom of your responses.

thanks,

Sean

Sean,

To have your timeline on the bottom of the response, you have to go to My Assistant -- then to - Edit My Forum Signature. You have to type it in there, Save, and then we'll see that.

What I couldn't figure out, how to have your picture next to your nickname on forum? I can see you did that no problem. Any advice??

masha

[payxibka 10,045]

Sean,

To have your timeline on the bottom of the response, you have to go to My Assistant -- then to - Edit My Forum Signature. You have to type it in there, Save, and then we'll see that.

What I couldn't figure out, how to have your picture next to your nickname on forum? I can see you did that no problem. Any advice??

masha

My controls

Edit Avatar

Edited July 1, 2008 by fwaguy

[Muddy 0]

hey 'muddy' - glad to hear you finally got through, and for the warning aoubt Karina/Galina..

Was August 13 the earliest date you could get an interview, or just the date you chose?

Also - how did you (or anyone) get your timeline to show on the bottom of your responses.

thanks,

Sean

1-I did not choose the date, it was the earliest date

2-mariapoe is correct about the the timeline and signature