Can my fiancee attend her interview at the Ulaanbaatar Embassy?

[Alabamski Medved 0]

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our k-1 petition was recently approved, and now the papers are at the Department of State. Originally, we put down the Moscow Embassy as our choice for the interview. But now that I think more clearly, she is in Ulan-Ude, Russia, and the embassy in Mongolia would be less travel, safer, and more economical.

I wrote the Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, but I was curious if anyone else has encountered such a situation. My layman understanding of the law is that the U.S. embassies in either location are legally U.S. soil, so interviews for visas to America can occur at either location regardless of the applicant's citizenship.

Thoughts?

Thank you for your time.

Best,

Scotty

[Ryan H 3,812]

Her being able to interview at the Embassy in Ulan Bator is a non-starter. For that to have been possible, she would have to be legally residing in Mongolia. Since she lives in Russia, she will have to interview in Moscow.

[Alabamski Medved 0]

Her being able to interview at the Embassy in Ulan Bator is a non-starter. For that to have been possible, she would have to be legally residing in Mongolia. Since she lives in Russia, she will have to interview in Moscow.

I really, really hope you are wrong, because it would be much easier to go to Mongolia. But I'll have the answer from the embassy soon, and I'll report back in the event that other visa petitioners/beneficiaries from Ulan-Ude have a similar question.

[Waitinggent 2]

I can't give you an absolutely definitive answer, but I know that I requested that my wife have her interview in Kiev. They ignored that and set

up her interview in Moscow because she was living in Russia - despite the fact that she is a Ukrainian citizen and not a Russian citizen.

So I don't like your chances.

[C-ma'am 684]

Her being able to interview at the Embassy in Ulan Bator is a non-starter. For that to have been possible, she would have to be legally residing in Mongolia. Since she lives in Russia, she will have to interview in Moscow.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

You must be legally residing in the country you wish to interview in. Since she does not reside there, she won't be able to interview there.

[Alabamski Medved 0]

Hello,

Just wanted to report back. I got an ambiguous answer from the U.S. Embassy in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Dear Noel
Thank you for your Email

Applicants are generally advised to apply in their country of nationality or residence. Any person who is legally present in Mongolia may apply for a visa in Mongolia. However, applicants should decide where to apply based on more than just convenience or delay in getting an appointment in their home district. One thing to consider, for example, is in which consular district the applicant can demonstrate the strongest ties.

There is no guarantee that a visa will be issued, nor is there a guarantee of processing time. If refused, there is no refund of the application fee.

Feel free to write back in case of any queries. Also you can visit our website: www.ustraveldocs.com.
If you have any other enquiry, please contact us at: +976 70109982 :+97670109983 also you can chat with our operators with our Chat system http://www.ustraveldocs.com/mn_mn/mn-main-contactus.asp

Best Regards
US Visa Service Desk

Basically, they don't like it, but it is not strictly forbidden. I asked my Congressman and Senator for a letter of support, and we plan to file an I-824, Application for Action on an Approved Application or Petition, with the letters of support attached and a letter of explanation, and we will see what happens. The fee is $405, but it is better than flying to Moscow, Vladivostok, St. Petersburg, or Moscow all the way from Ulan-Ude.

I will post further updates as I have them. Thanks to everyone who helped.

Edited July 30, 2013 by Alabamski Medved

[Ryan H 3,812]

That looks more like a form response than a specific response to your specific query. Especially with the sentence that references "strongest ties" as that would not be applicable for a K visa case.

You can certainly follow through with your plan to file the I-824 but I'll be honestly surprised if the Embassy in Mongolia accepts your file on the premise of not wanting to "open the floodgates" of people living in eastern Russia wanting to go there instead of Moscow simply because it is closer.

Edited July 30, 2013 by Ryan H

[Neonred 3,571]

She will be interviewing in Moscow.

[Alabamski Medved 0]

I spoke with USCIS to-day, and they said to wait until the NVC has our papers, then request that the interview be in Ulaanbaatar. (Possibly we won't be charged $405 or asked to file an I-824, if the NVC agrees with us that it would be an undue burden for my fiancee to travel all the way to Moscow.) The representative said that they sometimes make exceptions, but that it is up to the Department of State. I also chatted with representatives from the Ulaanbaatar embassy online, and they said that most likely there will be no issue. I'll keep posting updates.

[Ryan H 3,812]

(Possibly we won't be charged $405 or asked to file an I-824, if the NVC agrees with us that it would be an undue burden for my fiancee to travel all the way to Moscow.)

The decision will not be made by the NVC so it won't matter if they agree with you or not. The ultimate decision will be made by the Immigrant Visa unit at the Embassy in Ulan Bator.

**Organizer hat on**

***Moved from K1 Process & Procedures to US Embassy & Consulate Discussion; topic is about Embassy procedures regarding interview location assignments.***

Edited July 31, 2013 by Ryan H

[Alabamski Medved 0]

Her being able to interview at the Embassy in Ulan Bator is a non-starter. For that to have been possible, she would have to be legally residing in Mongolia. Since she lives in Russia, she will have to interview in Moscow.

The embassy in Ulaanbaatar honored our request. My Senator contacted them on our behalf, and they were happy to help us. We're very thankful!!!

[TBoneTX 45,375]

That's good news, si man! Please report the outcome, both here and in "Embassy Reviews" so that future Mongolia interviewees can have recent information to go on.