Minimum notice of cancellation - Moscow consulate

[leeski 0]

Hi everybody, my fiancee will have her interview this Tuesday at 8:00 am in Moscow for a K-1. Unfortunately, the financial documents I sent to her, e.g. I-134, have yet to arrive by post. We're both worried that they won't come in time. My question is, what is the minimum notice required before canceling and subsequently rescheduling the interview? Is it like a hotel, in that typically you must give 24 hours notice? I've emailed the consulate directly twice, and despite being perfectly specific and clear, they have not answered my question. Ideally I'd like to wait as long as possible before cancelling, in the hope that the documents will arrive in time. But I do not want to wait too long, and find out that we passed the point of no return, and can not cancel the interview because the point of cancellation has passed.

If anyone has any experience or knowledge about this, we would both be eternally grateful.

[GabbyBird 53]

How did you send the documents to Russia? If VIA express DHL, I would expect no more than 2-3 days from USA to her door step. If you are relying on the standard postal service, there is no way to know, maybe a month for document delivery? The Russian postal is uncomfortably inefficient and slow.

Edited October 18, 2013 by GabbyBird

[leeski 0]

How did you send the documents to Russia? If VIA express DHL, I would expect no more than 2-3 days from USA to her door step. If you are relying on the standard postal service, there is no way to know, maybe a month for document delivery? The Russian postal is uncomfortably inefficient and slow.

Priority Mail Express International from USPS. Was quoted at 3-5 business days. Mailed it on the 12th of October.

Do you know about if it's possible to cancel an interview within 24 hours of its scheduled time?

[Neonred 3,564]

I would not cancel the interview. I would send scanned copies by e-mail and bring those to the interview. They might or might not accept them but she will not be denied. They will probably not make a final decision until your fiancee produces the originals.

edited to add NEVER use USPS for any documents that are needed in a short time. They only give a time estimate to Russia. After they make it that far it is in the hands of the Russian post, and no one knows how long it could take after that.

Good luck.

Edited October 18, 2013 by Neonred

[jft 12]

Priority Mail Express International from USPS. Was quoted at 3-5 business days. Mailed it on the 12th of October.

Do you know about if it's possible to cancel an interview within 24 hours of its scheduled time?

USPS quotes 3-5 days but I've read elsewhere on the forums to expect 3-4 weeks instead. I'd re-do the paperwork and send it FedEx or DHL instead. This will of course require rescheduling the interview which you should be able to do via the USAtraveldocs customer service phone number.

[southernman 29]

I would not cancel the interview. I would send scanned copies by e-mail and bring those to the interview. They might or might not accept them but she will not be denied. They will probably not make a final decision until your fiancee produces the originals.

edited to add NEVER use USPS for any documents that are needed in a short time. They only give a time estimate to Russia. After they make it that far it is in the hands of the Russian post, and no one knows how long it could take after that.

Good luck.

I agree with neon. Don't cancel the interview. Just scan them and send to her to print. More than likely they won't even ask for the supporting documents. They didn't in my wifes case and I have read the same from others. Go ahead and mail them after scanning just in case though.

[Neonred 3,564]

I agree with neon. Don't cancel the interview. Just scan them and send to her to print. More than likely they won't even ask for the supporting documents. They didn't in my wifes case and I have read the same from others. Go ahead and mail them after scanning just in case though.

Yes. In our case my wife had troubles getting original police certificates from Germany and arrived at the interview with just faxed copies which were accepted without issue.

[leeski 0]

I appreciate everyone's response, but my main question remains unanswered. Are you aware of a minimum cancellation notice? I know that we CAN cancel and reschedule, but must we give 24 hours notice? Or maybe more?

[baron555 934]

I agree with neon. Don't cancel the interview. Just scan them and send to her to print. More than likely they won't even ask for the supporting documents. They didn't in my wifes case and I have read the same from others. Go ahead and mail them after scanning just in case though.

Don't cancel the worst is she'll be given a 221g and you can produce those documents later and then be granted the visa.

This happens and the Embassy understands.

[Neonred 3,564]

Don't cancel the worst is she'll be given a 221g and you can produce those documents later and then be granted the visa.

This happens and the Embassy understands.

Right, and it will NOT require another trip to the embassy. They can be mailed in.

But to answer the question I don't think there is a set policy for notice of cancellation. Some people have just not shown up and then rescheduled. It's not like they set aside a special time for you. A whole group enters and you take a number and wait. If you are not there then you will not be missed. But, if you decide to rescedule I would e-mail and give them a heads up anyway.

Edited October 19, 2013 by Neonred

[jmana 2]

If you sent it priority express and not just priority, and there isn't anything in the package concerning customs, then I don't see why it would take more than a week for the documents to get there. The postal service there is flaky, but usually it's customs that holds everything up, and if you filled out the customs form stating that it was just paperwork in the package then I'd think it wouldn't even have to be inspected by them.