Why cant we just pick up the visa?

[BlakeandOlha 0]

Since I'm at the beginning of the long wait for the NOA2, I have little to do but look forward to the interview and visa approval many months from now. Generally I read that the embassy will take the passport from the fiance(e), put the stamp in the visa, and then send it either by courrier or some express delivery service to the fiance(e)s residence. I also see that this takes between 7 to 14 days. I am planning on going to Kiev to be with my fiance for her interview, and am wondering whether we can just wait in Kiev until the visa's been applied to her passport and then pick it up?

We intend on moving her back to the US as soon as the visa is received, and I will be travelling with her. She does not live in Kiev but in a city in the south of the Ukraine, and anyone who has experience with Ukrainian postal services (yes even priority mail) knows timely delivery is a crapshoot to begin with. It would just be so much easier if we could pick up the visa at the embassy the next day instead.

Does anyone know if this is possible?

[Zee Bee 61]

Some embassies will allow visa pick up. You can call the embassy and ask them.

[payxibka 10,045]

This was the case at one time but to the best of my knowledge Kiev does not allow for personal pick-up any more...

[Zee Bee 61]

This was the case at one time but to the best of my knowledge Kiev does not allow for personal pick-up any more...

Oh well, there you go. I guess it is not the same across the board.

[BlakeandOlha 0]

This was the case at one time but to the best of my knowledge Kiev does not allow for personal pick-up any more...

Oh well, there you go. I guess it is not the same across the board.

Thanks guys, appreciate the help.

[Krikit 1,164]

There is no harm in asking at your interview. You may very well get a receptive officer. Just explain the situation and ask if it's a possibility. It never hurts to ask. (I know this from experience.)

[BlakeandOlha 0]

There is no harm in asking at your interview. You may very well get a receptive officer. Just explain the situation and ask if it's a possibility. It never hurts to ask. (I know this from experience.)

Good idea, I'm also wondering if it has to be sent to her residence - if we stay in Kiev an extra day or two then perhaps they can just courrier it over to our apartment. Time is somewhat important because I only have so much vacation, and would like to have some days left for a honeymoon

[payxibka 10,045]

There is no harm in asking at your interview. You may very well get a receptive officer. Just explain the situation and ask if it's a possibility. It never hurts to ask. (I know this from experience.)

Good idea, I'm also wondering if it has to be sent to her residence - if we stay in Kiev an extra day or two then perhaps they can just courrier it over to our apartment. Time is somewhat important because I only have so much vacation, and would like to have some days left for a honeymoon

It gets sent to whatever address you put on the courier delivery ticket.... The downside is that the adressee must be present when delivery is tendered because they ask for identification....

[pushbrk 12,877]

There is no harm in asking at your interview. You may very well get a receptive officer. Just explain the situation and ask if it's a possibility. It never hurts to ask. (I know this from experience.)

Good idea, I'm also wondering if it has to be sent to her residence - if we stay in Kiev an extra day or two then perhaps they can just courrier it over to our apartment. Time is somewhat important because I only have so much vacation, and would like to have some days left for a honeymoon

It gets sent to whatever address you put on the courier delivery ticket.... The downside is that the adressee must be present when delivery is tendered because they ask for identification....

It's worth a try to attemt to make a special arrrangement in advance. In China, they'll courier it to the province of the Consulate but all others must pick theirs up at the post office near the Consulate, the second or third day after approval. Some are actually available the next day. The procedure varies widely, so it stands to reason the Consulate has the discretion to make a special arrangement.

[mariapoe 0]

Hey guys, thank you for the greetings! It's very sweet of you. It was a great day for me and I'm very happny now:)

About your question, I'll tell you this. At my medical, I met a girl who had an interview in Kiev two weeks before mine (she's from South, too, as I am, and as your girl:) Her fiance flew from US to accompany her as well. She said that next day after the interview the Embassy called her up and said that they couldn't find some documents she had submitted, so she needed to go back and to bring some copies of them. Her fiance goes with her, they talk to the Consulate Officer, and it's agreed that her passport with visa would be ready by next ready. So, they go and pick it up next day. Apparently, it can be arranged.

After my experience today, I gotta tell you that it's possible to talk to them and ask. Do it right away though, at your interview, explain your situation. I'm sure they get requests like that from time to time. If you need the answer beforehand, you'd probably call the Call Center and ask this question about delivery. Bad news that they charge for any single minute you talk to them, but what can we do?

About up to ten business days to process and deliver the passport with visa, it sucks of course! I'm wondering though, would your fiancee be coming to Kiev with all her stuff she'd be flying to the states? It sounds that after the interview she's not planning to return home but fly to America? It's a tricky one because you'd think of buying a ticket and you wouldn't know about the date until after the interview. Also, the medical. She'll need to have it done prior to the interview - most of applicants come to Kiev one or two day before the interview to do that - with the previous appointment of course.

Good luck to you! The journey is long and excited! I hope that yours goes as fast as our did:)!

masha

[BlakeandOlha 0]

Thank you for your response, your insights were very helpful. To answer your question, we are not looking to fly directly from Kyiv once the visa is issued. Here is the sequence of events that I have in mind (if it were a perfect world): I would arrive in Kyiv two days before the interview as would my girl. (day 1) She will be bringing her six year old son with her. The day before the interview she will have her medical exam (Day 2) The next morning we go to the embassy and have the interview (Day 3) The next day we would hopefully be able to pick up the visa and head back to Zaporozhje that night. (Day 4) Days 5 & 6 would be spent saying our goodbyes and packing up. Day 7 we all board the morning flight from Zaporozhje to Kyiv and on to the US. Timing is an important consideration for her son and his starting of school in the US - I don't want him to miss too much.

If there is no way for me to get the visa the next day then... I would still go to be with her at the medical and interview, but then would accompany her down to Zaporozhje where I would sit for up to two weeks. I have no idea when to plan the return trip (buying tickets etc.) under this scenario. The medical, the interview, and the flight are all very significant events in her life, her son's life, and in my life - I want to be with her every step of the way. If my perfect world scenario is possible, then I can go the entire route with her. I also do not think my employer will be all that happy with a 18-20 day absence, and obviously, I have to keep them happy as well.

I hope this clarifies my thinking. Thanks again for your post.

[BlakeandOlha 0]

Oh yes, I looked at your timeline - Congratulations to YOU!!!!!

[JenK 0]

Just curious.. what happens if you are NOT there when the visa is delivered? My fiance works all day and will most likely not be home when they come to deliver it.

Thanks!

Jennifer

[payxibka 10,045]

In Ukraine it gets returned to the consulate... In any other country I have no idea....

[JenK 0]

So then you'd have to go to the consulate to get it?