Should I fly to Moscow for interview?

[BPM-MVS 0]

I am new to VJ and have found tons of great info on this site with simiar people going through the same:)))

Me and my Fiance have just filled our I-129f and I know the Interview is far away but I want to prepare for travel with my work if I need to be at the interview with her in Moscow. We have a well documented love, and my financial or I-134 has no problems. What is normaly excpected? Is it looked down on if I am not present?

Thanks all.

[akdiver 3]

I am new to VJ and have found tons of great info on this site with simiar people going through the same:)))

Me and my Fiance have just filled our I-129f and I know the Interview is far away but I want to prepare for travel with my work if I need to be at the interview with her in Moscow. We have a well documented love, and my financial or I-134 has no problems. What is normaly excpected? Is it looked down on if I am not present?

Thanks all.

You will NOT BE ALLOWED inside the embassy, nor can you attend the interview. So, whether or not you go there to be told this at the gate, or stay home, will have no bearing on the CO's decision-making process.

You can go and wait around OUTSIDE the embassy if it makes you feel better - but there isn't much point to it.

Good luck.

Cheers!

AKDiver

[vartan 0]

yeah only a few countries actually allow the petitioner in the interview and I am sure russia is not one.

[workin4somethin 0]

Me and my Fiance have just filled our I-129f and I know the Interview is far away but I want to prepare for travel with my work if I need to be at the interview with her in Moscow. We have a well documented love, and my financial or I-134 has no problems. What is normaly excpected? Is it looked down on if I am not present?

Neonred gave a good description of what you can expect at the interview. You should read it if you haven't already read it: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6319

[Satellite 1]

Should I fly to Moscow for interview?

If your fiancee is from a "deep village" in Russia I'd strongly recommend it. Many Russians from those villages have never been outside their home town, let alone to a big city like Moscow. So you guiding her along in Moscow and accompanying her to the US if all goes well might be worth the trip. But otherwise, it is not that important, because there is little you can do except incur a big expense for yourself trying to live like a westerner in Moscow.

[Larry and Maria 0]

These are only my opinions.

1. I decided to go because I want to be supportive. I also feel for us it will be a special flight back to the US together if it works out. She will enter the US the first time with me -- not alone. These were our choices.

2. I've read that sometimes the CO doing the interview asks is your fiance(e) present. What that answer counts for officially behind the scenes only a CO would know and probably no one will find out anyway. I do know that interviews now seem to be done by ladies and there is much more emphasis on the validity of the relationship and the couple really being in love, a real love. If that's the case it seems to me it could give emphasis to the CO that you've done this for your relationship. Again, just my opinion and what I've been told by recent visa recipients from Moscow.

I wish you both a smooth process!

Larry

[Turboguy 6]

With my former Fiancee I went to Moscow to be there when she had her interview. As far as will it seem strange if you are not there. As near as I could tell I was the only fiancee waiting outside. There were lots of people out there but no fiancees. So out of the dozen or so that day there was one there, me.

The CO asked my former fiancee when she had last seen me and she told him I was waiting outside. Hopefully it scored a few points but not enough. We did not get the visa that day. I was a little shocked because I thought I had the best documented case they would ever see but we got the blue slip instead. I forget what they called it 221G or something. My gal had never flown. I wanted us to fly together to the US and had tickets for us 3 or 4 days after the intereview. I came home alone. We did get the visa about 3 weeks later and I just met her at the airport she entered at (Atlanta) and we flew back to Pittsburgh together.

[Neonred 3,581]

Thanks for the plug, Working4something LOL.

As far as will being there increase your chances of success, no I don't think so. Having said that I am very glad I was there as there was a major screw up on our interview that I was able to correct by being there and being insistant that they correct their information immediately. My fiance and her daughter had their interview and in the packet brought to the embassy we indicated that her daughter would NOT enter the States at the same time as her mother. She was a 17 year old university student and she wanted to finish classes and arrive in the summer. At the completion of the interview they told my fiance she was successful, but that her daughter would have to have a second interview prior to recieving her visa. I knew this could not be right and insisted on speaking to someone about this problem as I was sure the K-2 visa was good for a year following the entry of the K-1 parent. The answer was that, yes, the K-2 would be good, BUT the medical would only be good for 6 months, and they did not know when the K-2 intended on entering the US. We got that corrected, and then when we picked up the passports with the visas at DHL the daughter's passport and visa were not there. Another trip to the embassy to fix that problem....they didn't have a record of the $100 payment for the K-2 interview. Thank God we had the receipt, and they told us they would then print and process that visa.

If I had not been there my fiance would have just accepted what they told her without question.

I too was the only fiance waiting outside the embassy. I wanted to be with her on her trip entering the US and getting through Atlanta.

[slim 1,530]

Just my two cents (and to save two cents)....

It is absolutely unnecessary to fly to Moscow for the interview. That is; unless you want to see your fiancee again on a Russian vacation, escort her back to the U.S. after a few days, help her get around Moscow, know right away the outcome of the interview, etc.

If you don't really have a reason to go, other than "I just want to be there with her to support her." Then there really is no reason to go.

However, I didn't need to go because Elena was comfortable going by herself (and we had just been there the year before) and we had extra time to prepare for the trip so everything was taken care of ahead of time. If your fiancee is not really sure what to do or where to go, maybe it would be worth you going too. But, you'll probably find her helping you more than you helping her!

Either way... good luck with your interview!

[IrinaNMike 0]

I am new to VJ and have found tons of great info on this site with simiar people going through the same:)))

Me and my Fiance have just filled our I-129f and I know the Interview is far away but I want to prepare for travel with my work if I need to be at the interview with her in Moscow. We have a well documented love, and my financial or I-134 has no problems. What is normaly excpected? Is it looked down on if I am not present?

Thanks all.

Irina is a tough cookie -- older and more savvy than probably 90% of the other women -- but she was scared nevertheless. I was glad that I was there to help her through the experience. Could she have done it without me? Sure! She had no problems in the interview -- but I was there in case something did go wrong, and that was importaant to her.

Also, Moscow has a lot to offer. I had more unexpected experiences than there is space to relate; suffice to say that if you are open to new cultural, historical, and social experiences, you will enjoy your stay in Moscow.

[BPM-MVS 0]

Thank you all for your replies! I left Ekaterinburg on May28, 2006 so it hasn't been long but as all souls mates destine to be together, I would love to help her through this process. I have a Fiance who is very inteligent and confident besides beautiful and she is very confident in herself. She has also traveled outside of Russia before. I believe she would rather the money be spent on our wedding or something for our married life together than me taking this trip. I guess I just wanted to know if it wieghed heavy on the interview.

Thanks VJ People:)))

[Justin 0]

Hi all,

I have decided to go with my fiance to her interview. It is of cause going to cose me a little more, but she deeply appreciates it very much.

I understand how stressful that day is. Personaly, when I got my greencard it was a day from hell, so being there for the woman you love, I feel it very important. She will appreciate it very much!

Also remember, it gives that little bit more support that you have a true love.

Justin

[Neonred 3,581]

Hi all,

I have decided to go with my fiance to her interview. It is of cause going to cose me a little more, but she deeply appreciates it very much.

I understand how stressful that day is. Personaly, when I got my greencard it was a day from hell, so being there for the woman you love, I feel it very important. She will appreciate it very much!

Also remember, it gives that little bit more support that you have a true love.

Justin

Same for me, and I had made a promise much earlier that I would be there.....