Question about shipping papers to Russia

[dmdaisey 0]

I sent my bank papers, w2s, i-134 and all the to Saint Petersburg last Friday via Usps Global Express. It cost 128 dollars, but she said it would get there by Monday (of earlier this week.) Thus far, the tracking hasn't given me any info except that it was sorted at my home city. My fiance' hasn't received it yet. How long does it usually take? Our Co-sponsor sent it priority and it took 3 and a half weeks. I spent a 100 dollars more, so I'm hoping it gets there a bit quicker than that (because her interview is September 22nd). Thoughts?

[Ben-Zhanna 1]

The USPS can only do so much about the length in time it takes a package to get to the recipient in Russia. In my experience, even using basic Priority, the package would arrive in Russia within a week, but the Customs process would add a couple weeks to my waiting. Hopefully, for your sake, the Global Express expedites this. In the mean time, use this site to track your package. Considerably more up-to-date with the whereabouts of you package once it enters Russia.

All the best

[Neonred 3,665]

For the same money or less you could have shipped it Fedex or DHL and had continuous accurate tracking and guaranteed delivery in a week. A few years ago I sent documents by DHL and they guaranteed me delivery to Rostov-on-Don Russia in 5 days. Unfortunately it was delayed and took almost 10 days. When I called and asked about their guarantee they checked and agreed there was a problem and sent me a check for the full amount. That happened to me twice and both times because they were late I got my full refund.

I don't think you can accurately track Global Express once it leaves the US.

Also very unrealistic to think it could get from the US to St Petersburg between Friday and Monday.

Edited August 29, 2010 by Neonred

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I sent my bank papers, w2s, i-134 and all the to Saint Petersburg last Friday via Usps Global Express. It cost 128 dollars, but she said it would get there by Monday (of earlier this week.) Thus far, the tracking hasn't given me any info except that it was sorted at my home city. My fiance' hasn't received it yet. How long does it usually take? Our Co-sponsor sent it priority and it took 3 and a half weeks. I spent a 100 dollars more, so I'm hoping it gets there a bit quicker than that (because her interview is September 22nd). Thoughts?

I sent UPS to Moscow earlier this year for $67 and it arrived in 2 days (they will tell you "overnight" but I have yet to have that happen actually, they blame it on customs). Fedex was a little more expensive so I used UPS, but sometimes the situation is reversed. Check prices, but it has ALWAYS been cheaper than USPS. I do not recommend using the USPS to send ANYTHING into Russia or Ukraine. The problem is not on this end, the problem is in the Russian and Ukrainian postal service. AVOID using it at all costs. For what it is worth, I have had no trouble sending things OUT of either place.

Expect 2-3 weeks, IF it arrives regardless of what you paid. The people in Russia have no clue (nor do they care) what you paid.

Edited August 29, 2010 by Gary and Alla

[baron555 934]

I sent my bank papers, w2s, i-134 and all the to Saint Petersburg last Friday via Usps Global Express. It cost 128 dollars, but she said it would get there by Monday (of earlier this week.) Thus far, the tracking hasn't given me any info except that it was sorted at my home city. My fiance' hasn't received it yet. How long does it usually take? Our Co-sponsor sent it priority and it took 3 and a half weeks. I spent a 100 dollars more, so I'm hoping it gets there a bit quicker than that (because her interview is September 22nd). Thoughts?

FedEx

[dmdaisey 0]

Well thank you all for the info! Wish I would have asked before I sent it. For whatever reasons, UPS and Fed Ex were giving me problems, and I was worried because on the DHL website, they said something about not being able to deliver to personal addresses.. Only businesses.. or something. Well, I'll hope it gets there soon! Thank you!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Well thank you all for the info! Wish I would have asked before I sent it. For whatever reasons, UPS and Fed Ex were giving me problems, and I was worried because on the DHL website, they said something about not being able to deliver to personal addresses.. Only businesses.. or something. Well, I'll hope it gets there soon! Thank you!

FYI, I NEVER send anything to an "address" in Ukraine or Russia. I send items by UPS or FedEx for "station Pickup" The person goes to the designated UPS or FedEx office and gets the items themselves. You really need to minimize handling of packages within Russia or Ukraine as much as possible. I realize this may not be convenient for some people, it is not a problem for people in big cities usually.

[slim 1,533]

I used USPS Global Express for around $50 and it arrived within two weeks.

[easyukraine 1]

Post office is getting more expensive these days I would DHL or Fedex.

[Irina & Jason 0]

Please help me! I don't know if anyone had situation like mine though.

I'm scheduled for the interview on the 2nd of September. So it's going to be in 2 days from now. All the documents are ready EXCEPT my fiancée's papers (I 134, w2 etс.) Unfortunately he sent it by USPS. The package is already in Moscow, but it's not going to be delivered to Samara, where I live, by the 2nd of September. I'm in panic...

What happens at the interview in such cases? Will they schedule me for another interview? Will we be denied? What if I bring printed copies of those papers?

[baron555 934]

Please help me! I don't know if anyone had situation like mine though.

I'm scheduled for the interview on the 2nd of September. So it's going to be in 2 days from now. All the documents are ready EXCEPT my fiancée's papers (I 134, w2 etс.) Unfortunately he sent it by USPS. The package is already in Moscow, but it's not going to be delivered to Samara, where I live, by the 2nd of September. I'm in panic...

What happens at the interview in such cases? Will they schedule me for another interview? Will we be denied? What if I bring printed copies of those papers?

Tell him to resend everything via FedEx Overnight. Pay the money. Have it held in Moscow for your pickup.

They will not resked the interview just not give you final approval pending sending in those documents. No denial because of that also. Bringing copies may work and it may not. I'd do it just in case.

Why did he wait so long?

[Neonred 3,665]

Go to the interview and bring what you have and the printed copies of what you don't have. You may get by, or they may tell you that final approval will have to wait until the documents are sent to them. I'm thinking they may want the original I-134.

We had a similar problem with a police certificate that had not arrived. We did have a faxed copy of the certificate but not the original. The embassy accepted the faxed copy and approved the visa without sending the original.

[Irina & Jason 0]

Tell him to resend everything via FedEx Overnight. Pay the money. Have it held in Moscow for your pickup.

They will not resked the interview just not give you final approval pending sending in those documents. No denial because of that also. Bringing copies may work and it may not. I'd do it just in case.

Why did he wait so long?

It took so long because we were waiting for the letter with the instructions and forms from the Embassy or at least email. We sent the petition in the end of May and I never got anything from USCIS or NVC or US Embassy on my mail or email. We didn't know that they could schedule me for the interview without noticing somehow. So when we finally called it was a little too late.

Edited September 5, 2010 by Irina & Jason

[Irina & Jason 0]

Go to the interview and bring what you have and the printed copies of what you don't have. You may get by, or they may tell you that final approval will have to wait until the documents are sent to them. I'm thinking they may want the original I-134.

We had a similar problem with a police certificate that had not arrived. We did have a faxed copy of the certificate but not the original. The embassy accepted the faxed copy and approved the visa without sending the original.

Thank you so much for the advice. Of course I asked Jason to email me copies of his financial documents, but unfortunately he HAS NO copies of them. He just sent me the originals and they stock in Moscow. As for me, I have at least 3 copies of each document. Moreover, I always keep copies of important documents online, on my email account. I was very worried about that. I had to go to the interview with what I have. The officer didn't seem to be angry about that, she just told me to mail the papers any time. I felt soooo relived. Now the package is in Samara, but it's still not delivered to me.

By the way, how long it could take to review our case one more time and approve the visa?

Edited September 5, 2010 by Irina & Jason

[Neonred 3,665]

Thank you so much for the advice. Of course I asked Jason to email me copies of his financial documents, but unfortunately he HAS NO copies of them. He just sent me the originals and they stock in Moscow. As for me, I have at least 3 copies of each document. Moreover, I always keep copies of important documents online, on my email account. I was very worried about that. I had to go to the interview with what I have. The officer didn't seem to be angry about that, she just told me to mail the papers any time. I felt soooo relived. Now the package is in Samara, but it's still not delivered to me.

By the way, how long it could take to review our case one more time and approve the visa?

Not sure how long it will take, but from what I have seen from other with a similar problem just a few days once they receive the papers.