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New Visa Restrictions

By LnS in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

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LnS Explorer

LnS   1

Posted
Filed: Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

I just read that Obama has imposed visa restrictions for Russians. My wife is in Russia right now and has a 2-year greencard, and she will be returning to the US early next week. Will entering the US be a problem for greencard holders?

Edited by LnS
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Amy_and_Victor Collaborator

Amy_and_Victor   159

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

First, I don't see how any visa restrictions would affect Green Card holders. Second, these visa restrictions affect only polititians and officials as it says "individuals and entities responsible for activities undermining democratic processes or institutions in Ukraine", so once again I don't see how they would affect your wife unless she was actively involved in that revolution in Ukraine.

- Victor from Russia

Edited by Amy_and_Victor

Our timlines K1 visa - Citizenship (06.28.2011 - 08.01.2016)

K1 Visa Timeline (06.28.2011 - 04.07.2012)

  • 06-28-2011: I-129F sent to Dallas
  • 07-05-2011: NOA1 (CSC)
  • 01-05-2012: NOA2 (184 days since NOA1)
  • 01-13-2012: NVC passed
  • 01-19-2012: Embassy received our case
  • 02-14-2012: Interview PASSED! :D K-1 Visa Approved! :D
  • 03-08-2012: POE
  • 04-07-2012: Wedding!

AOS/EAD Timeline (04.26.2012 - 12.13.2012)

  • 04-26-2012: I-485 and I-765 sent to Chicago Lockbox
  • 05-02-2012: NOA1 (both I-485 and I-765)
  • 05-23-2012: Biometrics taken
  • 07-02-2012: Employment Authorization Issued (07-09-2012 - received in the mail)
  • 12-03-2012: Made Service Request for I-485, because case is beyond processing time
  • 12-07-2012: I-485 APPROVED! 219 days since NOA1. No interview/RFE
  • 12-13-2012: GreenCard in the mailbox, done with AOS!

Lifting of conditions Timeline (09.04.2014 - 01.14.2015)

  • 09-04-2014: I-751 sent to CSC
  • 09-08-2014: NOA1
  • 11-10-2014: Biometrics taken
  • 01-07-2015: Approved! Only 122 days since NOA1. No interview/RFE
  • 01-14-2015: GreenCard in the mailbox

Citizenship Timeline (09.03.2015 - 01.08.2016)

- 09-03-2015: N-400 sent to Phoenix

- 09-10-2015: NOA1

- 10-08-2015: Biometrics taken

- 10-28-2015: Case is in line for an interview

- 11-02-2015: Letter with Naturalization Interview Appointment

- 12-07-2015: Interview passed

- 01-08-2016: Naturalization Oath Ceremony, I'm a US citizen now!

tTM3p3.png

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TheFoxxy Collaborator

TheFoxxy   76

Posted
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

None of these restrictions they are placing will affect K1 or any other family visa.. These are strictly for persons that are involved with the controversy surrounding the Ukraine-Russia debacle that is going on. The only real way I could ever see a complete ban on all visas, including family based ones, is if we had a all out war with Russia. Even then I would think that we would offer refuge to people that have family relations to American citizens.

I wouldn't worry much about this, my Fiancée has been worrying and asking me constantly if something will stop our petition. I keep telling her no and to relax, this situation will blow over soon and everything will be fine.

11/18/2013 - Filed I-129F
11/25/2013 - NOA1 text/email received
05/01/2014 - NOA2 text/Email received
06/18/2014 - Interview - Approved
07/31/2014 - Point of Entry
10/17/2014 - Married
10/23/2014 - Filed AOS/EAD/AP
11/07/2014 - 3x NOA1 text/emails received

12/05/2014 - Biometrics

12/22/2014 - EAD/AP Approved

01/02/2015 - EAD/AP Card Received

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Snipe Explorer

Snipe   21

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Timeline
Posted

Yeah I doubt it will affect Family Visas, if anything maybe someone can get away with an expedite because of fears of the war, especifically if they lived in Crimea, Ukraine/Russia - I wonder if in a week Crimea becomes part of Russia if that will mean now they have to go to Russian embassy...

btw I am tempted to request maybe an expedite for NVC based on that conditions but my wife is from russia but she is closed to Ukrainian border, don't know what do you guys think. Normally I wouldn't since it feels a bit unfair to thers waiting for their CR1 but I was unlucky with transfers and am already getting behind than others with similar PDs so if anything it would catch me up.

Always double check your documents and forms. Not only do you get delayed by RFEs and Checklists, but the time it takes for them to review the new items you send could be used to approve more applications. Save yourself and others valuable time!

Current Status: NVC:
-Assigned and Received NVC Case Number, IIN, and BIN April 18, 2014. (100% sure case # was assigned today because I called twice and it wasn't assigned in the morning when they opened but in the afternoon it was)
*Could not provide email then as case was still being updated in their system
-On April 21, 2014 I was able to provide my email and beneficiary's.
-On April 28 I was able to fill out DS-261
-On April 29 I received and paid AOS Fee (at 1pm)
-On May 1 I received and paid IV Fee (at 1pm [became available]), also AOS Fee shows as PAID
-On May 5 IV Fee shows as PAID and DS-260 became available and was completed. Also, AOS Package Scanned by NVC

-On May 7 IV Package Scanned by NVC

-On May 28 AOS Accepted

-On June 2 IV Accepted/Case Complete

-On June 11 Interview Email Received

-On July 3 Interview at Moscow

Note: Medical Exam scheduled after interview letter received by calling the specific clinic, earliest appointment was 2 weeks ahead)

-Visa approved, came to us, got greencard, sadly things didnt go well and divorced. Last I hears she was still in the US and got a full greencard (I notified USCIS of divorce though)

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BatmanUSA Community Regular

BatmanUSA   105

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

if she already has a green card, she will be fine because she is a legal resident... they say the visa restrictions are only for politicians and wealthy/politically connected Russians... but Obama historically says one thing and does another...

My sister-in-law was planning to apply for a visa to come visit but now she is worried...

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1HappyGuy Proficient

1HappyGuy   45

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (apr) Country: Ukraine
 Timeline
Posted

Yeah I doubt it will affect Family Visas, if anything maybe someone can get away with an expedite because of fears of the war, especifically if they lived in Crimea, Ukraine/Russia - I wonder if in a week Crimea becomes part of Russia if that will mean now they have to go to Russian embassy...

btw I am tempted to request maybe an expedite for NVC based on that conditions but my wife is from russia but she is closed to Ukrainian border, don't know what do you guys think. Normally I wouldn't since it feels a bit unfair to thers waiting for their CR1 but I was unlucky with transfers and am already getting behind than others with similar PDs so if anything it would catch me up.

If your fiancee was in Crimea, she might have a chance of expedited visa, but being in Russia probably will not give her any benefit. If Ukraine invaded Russia, that could have changed the situation instead of the other way around.

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banshee Apprentice

banshee   0

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

Victor,

I agree with you. Also for anyone else who might be worried (like my fiance and I were at first!), my fiance actually called the American embassy in Moscow and inquired about the sanctions and if it will affect K-1 filers, and they assured him that it only affects those politically involved with what's going on in Ukraine right now...

... so I think most will be unaffected at the moment. :) I hope!! ~ Samantha

First, I don't see how any visa restrictions would affect Green Card holders. Second, these visa restrictions affect only polititians and officials as it says "individuals and entities responsible for activities undermining democratic processes or institutions in Ukraine", so once again I don't see how they would affect your wife unless she was actively involved in that revolution in Ukraine.

- Victor from Russia

Service Center : Texas Service Center Transferred? No Consulate : Moscow, Russia I-129F Sent : 2013-12-19 I-129F NOA1 : 2013-12-26 I-129F NOA2 : 2014-01-17 Interview: 2014-03-19 Approved: 2014-03-19

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