Wife interview scheduled

[A_I_S 0]

DHL is fairly reliable in Russia (packages from Kursk to Austin take 4 days, Austin to Kursk take 6). I've gone ahead and bought the tickets anyway, with the holiday season coming up. Lena's flying out on Nov. 15th, and the interview was done on Oct. 29th.

In your situation, I would suggest that you buy tickets now for 2 weeks after the interview. This is mainly because Dec is always a busy traveling season and you may not actually be able to find tickets at any kind of reasonable price if you wait until after interview is done, unless you want her to leave after New Years. And if the worst comes to worst and her visa is delayed more than 2 weeks due to administrative processing...fine, you can pay extra $150-$300 to reschedule.

Btw, Singapore Airlines is currently selling Moscow-Houston tickets (one way) at $850, hell of a deal.

P.S. I remember flying in Dec and there were no tickets left for the standard Frankfurt connections, so I had to fly from SpB to Moscow to Italy to the US, except of course that in Moscow I arrived in SVO1 and was flying out of SVO2...you can imagine my surprise.

hey AIS,

after your wife's interview how long did it take to receive visa?

Thanks

Interview was Wed morning, by Saturday she had it (and she lives in Kursk).

Thank you

did she go to DHL to pick it up or delivered?

I just checked, and DHL delivered the passport + immigration POE packet on Sat, so basically we got ours within 3 days.

And she did not have to present any copies at the interview.

[KGSodie 0]

I feel like a counter-scenario is appropriate. After our interview, we received the visas (we picked them up at DHL directly) about 3 weeks later. Please keep in mind that sometimes, through no fault of your own, these things CAN (not MUST) go into bureaucratic limbo. Plan accordingly. Changing airline tickets (3 times, in my case) can be a costly affair.

That said, statistics show that you will probably not have any problems, and I sincerely wish you and yours the very best of luck!

[A_I_S 0]

I feel like a counter-scenario is appropriate. After our interview, we received the visas (we picked them up at DHL directly) about 3 weeks later. Please keep in mind that sometimes, through no fault of your own, these things CAN (not MUST) go into bureaucratic limbo. Plan accordingly. Changing airline tickets (3 times, in my case) can be a costly affair.

That said, statistics show that you will probably not have any problems, and I sincerely wish you and yours the very best of luck!

True. What Ilya needs to do is basically apply the "Fastest. Cheapest. Safest. Pick two" rule.

Fastest and cheapest: buy tickets now for 1.5-2 weeks after the interview.

Fastest and safest: Buy tickets now for 1.5-2 weeks after the interview, but buy not economy class tickets that have rescheduling fee but more expensive ones that allow you to change the date without paying $200.

Cheapest and safest: wait until you have visa then buy cheapest tickets for after new Years.

Considering the odds of getting into KGs' situation and price and availability of tickets in December and their desire to get to the US as soon as possible I think the fastest and cheapest approach would work best.

[mox 298]

Considering the odds of getting into KGs' situation and price and availability of tickets in December and their desire to get to the US as soon as possible I think the fastest and cheapest approach would work best.

I'll be the voice of opposition then. Remember that KG didn't think he would be in his situation either. Go back and read his blow-by-blow account, it's a real nail-biter. Yes, it's rare to have these delays, but they still happen. And even though it's the US Consulate, it's still Russia.

So rather than rolling the dice and hoping against snake eyes, the wiser course of action is just to decide if you can afford the worst case. What would you do if the visa was delayed 3 or more weeks? If it wouldn't cause a financial hardship, then I say go for it, throw caution to the wind because you can afford it. But if it would put a financial strain on you, then you're better off waiting to buy tickets until she has visa in hand.

Don't go into it hoping against the best, go into it prepared for the worst.

[Ilya R. 0]

Thanks guys!!

I hope everything works out!! )

[Ilya R. 0]

hey guys, quick questions for those who knows. I received NVC interview letter for my wife, is she suppose to receive one too? Or can she have a copy of mine?

[mox 298]

hey guys, quick questions for those who knows. I received NVC interview letter for my wife, is she suppose to receive one too? Or can she have a copy of mine?

Her letter should be in the packet sent from the consulate.

[Ilya R. 0]

hey guys, quick questions for those who knows. I received NVC interview letter for my wife, is she suppose to receive one too? Or can she have a copy of mine?

Her letter should be in the packet sent from the consulate.

Well I got the letter too, but I mean incase the packet doesnt get to her in time, can I make a copy of interview letter and email it to her?

[mox 298]

hey guys, quick questions for those who knows. I received NVC interview letter for my wife, is she suppose to receive one too? Or can she have a copy of mine?

Her letter should be in the packet sent from the consulate.

Well I got the letter too, but I mean incase the packet doesnt get to her in time, can I make a copy of interview letter and email it to her?

Sure. But it's not necessary. They'll have her on the invitation list at the consulate.

[slim 1,523]

Once again I'll post it -

What's the rush?

You're going to be in the U.S. for a long time and it's extremely expensive to go back and forth. Take some time after the interview, go back home, get all your affairs in order, say goodbye to friends and family and just enjoy Russia for a few weeks.

[Ilya R. 0]

Once again I'll post it -

What's the rush?

You're going to be in the U.S. for a long time and it's extremely expensive to go back and forth. Take some time after the interview, go back home, get all your affairs in order, say goodbye to friends and family and just enjoy Russia for a few weeks.

There is no general rush, but he havent seen each other in forever over 7 months.

[slim 1,523]

There is no general rush, but he havent seen each other in forever over 7 months.

You'll see plenty of each other in the future......