Getting fiance(e)'s mother and brother in Crimea to wedding - anyone have related stories?

[jaygauss 0]

I am going to send in the I-129F form tomorrow, so this question is premature; but I'd like to plan.

Assuming all goes reasonably well, we hope to have a Fall wedding in the States. My fiancee would really like to have her mother and brother come to the wedding. Does anyone have experience with this?

Her mother is an unemployed accountant (who will hopefully be employed in the next couple months again) who owns two small properties in Crimea. Her brother is an unemployed chef who lives with his mother (not a great tourist visa candidate...).

I guess both would have to apply for a tourist visa. When should they apply in relation to our visa process? Should they mention the wedding? I'd love to hear your successful and unsuccessful stories about bringing over RUB relatives for the wedding.

[Dave & Mong 29]

You mean this fall? If so, I don't think that will happen, the process taks alot longer. We are at 11 months now and waiting.

[jaygauss 0]

You mean this fall? If so, I don't think that will happen, the process taks alot longer. We are at 11 months now and waiting.

Everyone's case is different. I see 4-7 month ranges (NOA1 to entry) for Ukrainian beneficiary's on this site, probably the critical difference is the consulate you have to deal with?

[baron555 934]

Crimea is not Ukraine.

[Boiler 45,525]

You need to keep up to data and change your flag.

As others have said this fall is not going to happen.

If it is essential that they be at the wedding then marry in the Crimea. They can apply for a B2 now if they want, presumably they have substantial savings.

[jaygauss 0]

You need to keep up to data and change your flag.

As others have said this fall is not going to happen.

If it is essential that they be at the wedding then marry in the Crimea. They can apply for a B2 now if they want, presumably they have substantial savings.

Crimea is not Ukraine.

Guys, I said her mother is in Crimea. My fiancee lives in Kiev and is Ukrainian. She was born in Crimea but this will not affect us.

Unfortunately, her mother does not have substantial savings. We will probably have to pay for the plane ticket. But she does have the 2 aforementioned properties.

Edited March 26, 2014 by jaygauss

[Dakine10 5,452]

It's really hard to imagine her brother getting one. Not only is he unemployed and living at home but his career is one of the best under the table travelling professions there is. They likely have a poster of him up at the embassy already, right under the do not approve sign. He needs employment to have any chance and even then it's not great.

Mom's chances are better. If she's close to retirement age she will have a better chance.

[jaygauss 0]

As others have said this fall is not going to happen.

By the way, why do you say we cannot have a fall wedding? Of course we realize we are at the mercy of an unpredictable visa process, but there are plenty of examples of people with a Ukrainian beneficiary who complete the whole process in 4-7 months. The timeline average of recent Ukrainian consulate/TSC has an average of <188 days from NOA1 to entry.

[Katya_Joey 0]

Crimea is not Ukraine.

To Kiev and the USA Embassy it is still Ukraine...

You need to keep up to data and change your flag.

Even if his spouse was in Crimea, I believe Kiev and the US Embassy will still consider them Ukrainian.

[ali.cha 18]

I don't think it's correct to plan earlier a year upfront. As I understood you've just filed k1 visa, hopefully you'll be in luck to complete it sooner. But the best deal is 1) apply for b2 visa after your fiancée in the states; 2) if mother's and brother's work status change better to bring enough evidence that they have enough ties in the country to come back (I doubt though). 3)either having jobs or not, brother and mother must apply together and to be interviewed together too, at least consular assures that brother escorts mother who is prepension aged

[Boiler 45,525]

They apply individually

No mention of Mother being incapacitated.

If it is important they be at the wedding they need to know now so they can decide which route to take.

[Loving_girl 38]

Hi, according to what is going on in the Crimea now (i mean people are forced to take russian citizenship, ukrainian government tries to relocate people from there who are not willing to be a part of "russia" and now there is some big issues with salaries, governmental establishments that were subordinated to ukrainian laws etc..) i may assume it will be a bit problematic to invite your future family to the US on a tourist visas especially if they are forced to take russian citizentship (as far as i am following news foreign embassies already stated that no visas shall be granted to crimean people who are under russian citizentship......at least EU is planning to do so cos noone recognizes Crimea as a part of Russia....... So you and your fiancee should better not count that much on inviting her family for the wedding.

As for the posts over here for the timing in K-1 process, i agree with the author of the thread that it all depends on the countries and luck, some wait year, some few months. My case ended in 3 months (i mean since we filed K-1 and visa was approved and i got to the US passed 3 months.)

Wish you a lot of luck and positive outcome for your particular situation!

[Dakine10 5,452]

To Kiev and the USA Embassy it is still Ukraine...

Even if his spouse was in Crimea, I believe Kiev and the US Embassy will still consider them Ukrainian.

If she retains her Ukrainian citizenship yes. If she were to take Russian citizenship, then they would have to recognize her as Russian. The US will continue to recognize Crimea as part of Ukraine, that is a foreign affairs issue, not an immigration issue. Individuals will be recognized by their individual citizenship, as always.

[Dakine10 5,452]

Hi, according to what is going on in the Crimea now (i mean people are forced to take russian citizenship, ukrainian government tries to relocate people from there who are not willing to be a part of "russia" and now there is some big issues with salaries, governmental establishments that were subordinated to ukrainian laws etc..) i may assume it will be a bit problematic to invite your future family to the US on a tourist visas especially if they are forced to take russian citizentship (as far as i am following news foreign embassies already stated that no visas shall be granted to crimean people who are under russian citizentship......at least EU is planning to do so cos noone recognizes Crimea as a part of Russia....... So you and your fiancee should better not count that much on inviting her family for the wedding.

As for the posts over here for the timing in K-1 process, i agree with the author of the thread that it all depends on the countries and luck, some wait year, some few months. My case ended in 3 months (i mean since we filed K-1 and visa was approved and i got to the US passed 3 months.)

Wish you a lot of luck and positive outcome for your particular situation!

I haven't been following Europe closely, but it is not likely that the US will issue travel restrictions against individual Crimeans, except those specifically targeted by sanctions. It wouldn't be unprecedented though.