K-1 Visa | Between NOA1 and NOA2 Preparations

[Scafidi454 22]

I am looking for any help or advice about what I (petitioner) or Anastasia (beneficiary) can / should do between the NOA1 and NOA2 to prepare for the rest of the process.

Thanks!

[TimeTravel 78]

yes, you can! :-) So there would be no last min rush.

[baron555 934]

I am looking for any help or advice about what I (petitioner) or Anastasia (beneficiary) can / should do between the NOA1 and NOA2 to prepare for the rest of the process.

Thanks!

Like I told you on the other thread....start learning what documents you are going to need to send to her and learn what documents she should receive (or download if she doesn't receive anything) from the Embassy website and learn about the new online payment and interview scheduling procedures just recently implemented by the Moscow Embassy.

No need to create a new thread for the same answers.

[Scafidi454 22]

I am asking for what those documents are.

[baron555 934]

I am asking for what those documents are.

Go read for yourself on the Moscow Embassy website. Check around here for recent threads discussing the new online payment and scheduling procedures; they do mention there is one inaccuracy of these new procedures on the Embassy website.

I personally don't know about them since we are all through with Moscow since they are here already.

The link to the website is available at the top of this page under Embassy Info.

You can find the Fiance Visa page from the main page of the website. On the K-1 page it will list out the procedures and documents required:

Moscow Embassy Fiance Visa page

Glad to see you showed up here on RUB; when you have the time, introduce yourself and tell us about yourself and your fiance. Trips reports are nice; tell us about your guns, etc.

Edited December 5, 2011 by baron555

[slim 1,525]

Yep, come back and tell us your story. Stick around and we'll do what we can to help.

Since the process has changed a little there's not much we can offer in the way of "this is how you do it now" but we can help with all the "other" stuff. On that note, my advice would be just relax and take it easy! You have a few weeks before you need to do anything.

[Inna & Brian 11]

I would say the first priority is getting the criminal background started. My girl had to get background checks in Ukraine and Russia. If possible, she may also want to renew her internal and international passports. I understand it is much easier to do there than to renew here. Also she may want to get her education diplomas and transcripts (this is not needed for the interview) but will be needed in the US if she wants to go to school or work in her field. She can also get her vaccination records (and vaccines if needed).

Do other little things like send cards, save sms, chats and screenshots. You need to get your financial records but that is for closer to the interview. I ordered my tax transcripts from the IRS and I received them in about a week. That is all I can think of off the top of my head.

Baron is right. It is best for you to read and understand the guidelines yourself.

Prepare yourself for a long and frustrating wait.

[Scafidi454 22]

I would say the first priority is getting the criminal background started. My girl had to get background checks in Ukraine and Russia. If possible, she may also want to renew her internal and international passports. I understand it is much easier to do there than to renew here. Also she may want to get her education diplomas and transcripts (this is not needed for the interview) but will be needed in the US if she wants to go to school or work in her field. She can also get her vaccination records (and vaccines if needed).

Do other little things like send cards, save sms, chats and screenshots. You need to get your financial records but that is for closer to the interview. I ordered my tax transcripts from the IRS and I received them in about a week. That is all I can think of off the top of my head.

Baron is right. It is best for you to read and understand the guidelines yourself.

Prepare yourself for a long and frustrating wait.

Don't they do a background check on her as part of the Initial Review? When I talked to USCIS they told me that in Initial Review the agency conducts background checks on the petitioner and the beneficiary.

[1HappyGuy 45]

I would say the first priority is getting the criminal background started. My girl had to get background checks in Ukraine and Russia. If possible, she may also want to renew her internal and international passports. I understand it is much easier to do there than to renew here. Also she may want to get her education diplomas and transcripts (this is not needed for the interview) but will be needed in the US if she wants to go to school or work in her field. She can also get her vaccination records (and vaccines if needed).

All good advice. After you get all the paperwork organized you will still have time on your hands. So, start preparing for her eventual arrival. That might mean cleaning and painting your home, especially on the inside. Clearing away all that bachelor stuff that she is going to dump anyway. You might make some buddies happy with that stuff. Search for Russian stores that carry goods she will be familiar with. This goes a long way to reducing the homesickness. If you look for other couples that have a Russian speaker as one of the parties, be careful in your selection to find happily married couples. Unfortunately, your SO will tend to believe a Russian speaker over you in some matters. Build up as much vacation time as you can for use when she arrives. Of course, she will not believe how little time you generally get off of your job. You can go to various websites to download and print out guidebooks in Russian. The USCIS has a very good book in Russian that explains a lot of things about life in America and many state departments of motor vehicles have driver handbooks in Russian. She will really appreciate how much you have done for her arrival to make her feel welcome.

And finally learn to be patient. The process is long, slow and frustrating but it eventually does get done.

[Scafidi454 22]

I do have one question, that maybe some of you might know. The link to the Moscow embassy website above describes the payment of $350 for a visa fee. Is this $350 additional to the $340 I've already paid USCIS?

[baron555 934]

Yes and then the medical will cost and the online payment for express mailing of the visa.....

....and then you will pay USCIS again for AOS and then again for ROC .....and .....

Your dance with USCIS has only just begun!!!

[Scafidi454 22]

Why the hell do I have to pay the visa fee twice?

Where can I find a more detailed list of all of the fees associated with the K-1 visa? I've been maintaining my own spreadsheet, but I haven't updated it in a while.

I know that the AOS is about $1070, medical is about $200, bio-metrics $85, express mailing of visa $????.??, ROC $????.??

What else?

[ONA 133]

Why the hell do I have to pay the visa fee twice?

You don't pay the visa fee twice, you pay I-129F petition fee ($340) and the visa fee ($350).

Express visa delivery is supposed to be free now in Russia.

[baron555 934]

Why the hell do I have to pay the visa fee twice?

ROC $????.??

What else?

ONA answered the first question. ROC is Removal of Conditions, two years after the GC is issued to the K-1. Read the Guides, sounds like you have a bunch of homework to do.

What else?.......

New car

Schooling

Drivers License

Car Insurance

Medical and Dental Insurance

New Clothes

Marriage

Make-up

Vacations

Trips back to see her folks and friends (suggested to plan the first one within a year of coming here.)

You

[slim 1,525]

Why the hell do I have to pay the visa fee twice?

You don't. Your beneficiary should be paying for that since it's her visa.

New car

Schooling

Drivers License

Car Insurance

Medical and Dental Insurance

New Clothes

Marriage

Make-up

Vacations

Trips back to see her folks and friends (suggested to plan the first one within a year of coming here.)

Some beneficiaries hit the jackpot and got an all-expenses-paid trip to further their studies. Mine did not. All the things on that list are things you may pay for but your beneficiary is perfectly capable of paying for herself.