In transit and interview wait times

[av8or1 246]

Hi-

Filed the I-129F last September, received the approval 4/20, petition left the TSC on 4/29. Don't know how long it will be in-transit to the NVC.

But does anyone know how long (roughly at least) it'll take to get from the NVC to the embassy in Moscow? And how long of a wait we can expect once it arrives there? (Igor's list says 31 days, but I'm not sure how current that is)

Finally, anyone have any feedback on how long their petition waited at the NVC? I mean, is Russia one of those countries where the petition waits at the NVC until interview slots open at the embassy or is it sent straight away?

Thanks

[Shauneg 762]

Hi-

Filed the I-129F last September, received the approval 4/20, petition left the TSC on 4/29. Don't know how long it will be in-transit to the NVC.

But does anyone know how long (roughly at least) it'll take to get from the NVC to the embassy in Moscow? And how long of a wait we can expect once it arrives there? (Igor's list says 31 days, but I'm not sure how current that is)

Finally, anyone have any feedback on how long their petition waited at the NVC? I mean, is Russia one of those countries where the petition waits at the NVC until interview slots open at the embassy or is it sent straight away?

Thanks

If differs from from TSC and CSC. I am TSC like you and it took exactly a week to leave TSC, a week for a case number and like 5 days to get to Manila, though that part doesn't help you since you need Russia. I know NVC only sends out twice a week for each country, and each country has different days so I can't answer for that part.

[kattaklizm 11]

Hi, I guess the hardest part for you is behind, Really sorry you were in TSC and congratulations thet you've made it so far. Once your case is at NVC (usually it doesn't take longer than 10-14 days ) and you've got your case number everything will go really fast. In Russia every day was availible for interview in March. So it will be up two you, you can pick the interview date as soon as you get per E-MAIL (in Russia it's e-mail not hard copy) your Packet 3, where they'll ask you to send them copy of your passport, confirmation page of filled in ds-160 and maybe something else like two pictures. After this you just pay money and pick the date

[Meghan&Andrey 51]

We never got an email and never sent anything in. I called & got the case number & then just checked the status once a day until it said ready. Then scheduled the interview. There are specific instructions on the embassy website that tells you what to bring to your interview. THAT is when you give copies of passport, confirmation letter is to get in, etc.

http://moscow.usembassy.gov/iv-fiancee.html

[Tnic 5]

Don't wanna be a wet blanket, but we were nearly a YEAR at NVC. Of course there were a couple of goofs on my part and an RFE. And every time involved another 60 days till they looked at the petition again.

We just got the official email today (3 weeks after they told us they had all the docs they needed) from NVC that gives us our interview date and the docs we need to take with us. But I'd been emailing the Consulate and had the date a week ago. Now we're STILL showing AT NVC. Fer cripes sake! Put that damned envelop in the friggin pouch!

UDACHI

[av8or1 246]

Hi, I guess the hardest part for you is behind, Really sorry you were in TSC and congratulations thet you've made it so far. Once your case is at NVC (usually it doesn't take longer than 10-14 days ) and you've got your case number everything will go really fast. In Russia every day was availible for interview in March. So it will be up two you, you can pick the interview date as soon as you get per E-MAIL (in Russia it's e-mail not hard copy) your Packet 3, where they'll ask you to send them copy of your passport, confirmation page of filled in ds-160 and maybe something else like two pictures. After this you just pay money and pick the date

We never got an email and never sent anything in. I called & got the case number & then just checked the status once a day until it said ready. Then scheduled the interview. There are specific instructions on the embassy website that tells you what to bring to your interview. THAT is when you give copies of passport, confirmation letter is to get in, etc.

http://moscow.usembassy.gov/iv-fiancee.html

Hmmmmmm...ok. Thank y'all for the feedback. I have already read the Moscow embassy Fiance visa page about 10 times. At least. So I am familiar with that. My issue is getting TO that point. I called the NVC today and they told me that my petition was in administrative processing (AP). It arrived on May 8th, which is last Friday, so really it's been there only two days. I got a case number that begins with MOS2015, which I presume means Moscow in the year 2015. I must have blew a gasket internally when I heard the AP thing however; that is because I don't wanna get caught in the dreaded AP sinkhole! I immediately asked if that was normal or if it had something to do with my specific petition. The lady from the NVC said it was normal. Then I seem to recall seeing somewhere on VJ that ALL Russian K1 petitions are placed into AP when they arrive at the NVC. So I have a few questions:

1) Is it true that all Russian K1s are put into AP automatically? Is it because of the conflict in Ukraine?

2) How long do they typically remain in AP? And before going to the embassy?

3) How long was YOUR petition in the NVC altogether and was it placed into AP also?

4) Meghan, when you say that you continued to check the status each day, which status? CEAC or USCIS case status? (I'd think CEAC, but I'm not sure)

5) Did either or both of you attend the interview at the embassy with your fiance? I am planning on doing this.

6) Meghan, when you saw the Ready status and then scheduled the interview, how did you schedule it? Online? By phone? And how far out into the future was the interview appointment date from when you scheduled that interview date? One week? One month? I saw on Igor's list that the average wait time for a K1 visa at the Moscow embassy was 31 days. Is that accurate?

7) How long did it take for your petition to arrive at the embassy in Moscow from the NVC? (in-transit time) I've heard that they overnight it, to some countries anyway. Don't know if that includes Russia.

Ok thank you for the help! I am trying to stay on top of all of this because we just had our son in hospital 32 in Moscow on 4/22. Did the CRBA successfully on May 7th. And I need to get this interview done ASAP so that we can all go home together before my vacation time from work expires.

Edited May 12, 2015 by av8or1

[Meghan&Andrey 51]

Hmmmmmm...ok. Thank y'all for the feedback. I have already read the Moscow embassy Fiance visa page about 10 times. At least. So I am familiar with that. My issue is getting TO that point. I called the NVC today and they told me that my petition was in administrative processing (AP). It arrived on May 8th, which is last Friday, so really it's been there only two days. I got a case number that begins with MOS2015, which I presume means Moscow in the year 2015. I must have blew a gasket internally when I heard the AP thing however; that is because I don't wanna get caught in the dreaded AP sinkhole! I immediately asked if that was normal or if it had something to do with my specific petition. The lady from the NVC said it was normal. Then I seem to recall seeing somewhere on VJ that ALL Russian K1 petitions are placed into AP when they arrive at the NVC. So I have a few questions:

1) Is it true that all Russian K1s are put into AP automatically? Is it because of the conflict in Ukraine?

2) How long do they typically remain in AP? And before going to the embassy?

3) How long was YOUR petition in the NVC altogether and was it placed into AP also?

4) Meghan, when you say that you continued to check the status each day, which status? CEAC or USCIS case status? (I'd think CEAC, but I'm not sure)

5) Did either or both of you attend the interview at the embassy with your fiance? I am planning on doing this.

6) Meghan, when you saw the Ready status and then scheduled the interview, how did you schedule it? Online? By phone? And how far out into the future was the interview appointment date from when you scheduled that interview date? One week? One month? I saw on Igor's list that the average wait time for a K1 visa at the Moscow embassy was 31 days. Is that accurate?

7) How long did it take for your petition to arrive at the embassy in Moscow from the NVC? (in-transit time) I've heard that they overnight it, to some countries anyway. Don't know if that includes Russia.

Ok thank you for the help! I am trying to stay on top of all of this because we just had our son in hospital 32 in Moscow on 4/22. Did the CRBA successfully on May 7th. And I need to get this interview done ASAP so that we can all go home together before my vacation time from work expires.

I included the link to the embassy page to show you that despite what others have said, you do not send the embassy anything. You take it with you to the interview.

Ours was never in AP any of the time I checked it. Which was pretty much from as soon as the embassy had it. So no, ours did not go into AP and no, most Russian cases do not go into AP.

I don't remember how long it took. I just kept calling until they received our file & then kept checking CEAC until his status shad updated to Ready. Then scheduled the interview online. You pay the fee, get a code, go to another site & log in & schedule it. But it seems that USCIS waits until they have a pile of cases to go to Russia before they send them off. So it could be a little while. I want to say it took ours like 2 weeks to get from NOA2 to the embassy.

I want to say that the closest interview was between 2-4 weeks away. We chose to have ours later because I needed to wait until the Christmas break to be able to attend. Which I did. Spent a month in Russia.

I don't remember a lot of it because that was back in September and A LOT has happened since then. I thought I put the important stuff in my signature but it seems I left stuff out.

[kattaklizm 11]

7th. And I need to get this interview done ASAP so that we can all go home together before my vacation time from work expires.

Well, cuz I had my interview in China, I'd better ask a friend of mine, who scheduled her interview in March, hope she can give you a feedback here soonish.

Edited May 13, 2015 by kattaklizm

[Ksenia1985 37]

Hmmmmmm...ok. Thank y'all for the feedback. I have already read the Moscow embassy Fiance visa page about 10 times. At least. So I am familiar with that. My issue is getting TO that point. I called the NVC today and they told me that my petition was in administrative processing (AP). It arrived on May 8th, which is last Friday, so really it's been there only two days. I got a case number that begins with MOS2015, which I presume means Moscow in the year 2015. I must have blew a gasket internally when I heard the AP thing however; that is because I don't wanna get caught in the dreaded AP sinkhole! I immediately asked if that was normal or if it had something to do with my specific petition. The lady from the NVC said it was normal. Then I seem to recall seeing somewhere on VJ that ALL Russian K1 petitions are placed into AP when they arrive at the NVC. So I have a few questions:

1) Is it true that all Russian K1s are put into AP automatically? Is it because of the conflict in Ukraine?

2) How long do they typically remain in AP? And before going to the embassy?

3) How long was YOUR petition in the NVC altogether and was it placed into AP also?

4) Meghan, when you say that you continued to check the status each day, which status? CEAC or USCIS case status? (I'd think CEAC, but I'm not sure)

5) Did either or both of you attend the interview at the embassy with your fiance? I am planning on doing this.

6) Meghan, when you saw the Ready status and then scheduled the interview, how did you schedule it? Online? By phone? And how far out into the future was the interview appointment date from when you scheduled that interview date? One week? One month? I saw on Igor's list that the average wait time for a K1 visa at the Moscow embassy was 31 days. Is that accurate?

7) How long did it take for your petition to arrive at the embassy in Moscow from the NVC? (in-transit time) I've heard that they overnight it, to some countries anyway. Don't know if that includes Russia.

Ok thank you for the help! I am trying to stay on top of all of this because we just had our son in hospital 32 in Moscow on 4/22. Did the CRBA successfully on May 7th. And I need to get this interview done ASAP so that we can all go home together before my vacation time from work expires.

Hi!

I believe administrative processing is nothing to be worried about at this point! Administrative processing is the most common status when they check whatever they need to check and forward it to the next step. My fiance didn't even ask about case status at NVC.

Here's a part of our timeline:

02.13.2015 electronic NOA-2

02.21.2015 hard copy NOA-2

03.02.2015 received by NVC

03.03.2015 case # assigned at NVC

03.07.2015 in transit to Moscow Embassy

03.10.2015 status Ready at Moscow Embassy

03.20.2015 status Administrative processing

04.02.2015 Medical

04.03.2015 Interview

04.10.2015 Visa in hand

You can see how long it took for each step after NOA-2. We were at CSC, but times after NVC don't differ much.

Nothing about Ukraine influences K-1s, don't worry.

Now that you know your case number you check https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx?eQs=o/iS8zDpeAKjMWCuebHqOw==

You check it as immigrant visa. And you keep checking it even after it left NVC using the same link.

USCs are allowed to attend the interview, so you guys can totally go together, but it is not a must. When I was at the Embassy only one out of 3 "brides" had her fiance with her, but all were approved.

For Russia you typicly have to wait for Administrative processing status before you can shcedule the interview (before that you will have Ready status). They send both USC and beneficiary an e-mail saying you can schedule your interview once it changes into AP. Beneficiary registers at www.ustraveldocs.com (unless already registered) and that's where you schedule it. When I scheduled mine I had time available literally tomorrow and any date in April, but you also have to schedule the medical before the interview, which was not a problem either. So on March 20 I scheduled medical for April 2 (by phone) and my interview (online) for April 3. Also, after the interview is scheduled they send the beneficiary an e-mail asking for scanned documents. They also called me, because my fiance had criminal records they wanted to send me beforehand (I knew all about it it was just DUI from long ago). They said even if I don't send scanned copies it will still be fine, but better to send them, so that they do all checks beforehand.

If you have any questions feel free to ask. The process is rather easy and should go pretty fast from this point.

[av8or1 246]

Hi y'all!

Wow, thank you for the prompt and detailed replies, I appreciate it! After looking at everything, it seems that being in AP while in the NVC is normal, as the lady stated, so I'll go with that for now. Hopefully my petition does indeed leave the NVC rather quickly, but we'll see. I have tried to check it via the CEAC website using the Immigrant Visa Status Check. Here I simply entered the MOS2015 number, but it came back with "Your search did not return any data." I am assuming that this is normal too? Maybe it's just not "in the system" yet? Boy, I need it to *get* "in the system" and out ASAP. LOL!

There's nothing that can be done to rush things along at this point, I realize that. I'd just like to keep track of it so that I can draw some type of conclusion as to whether or not we'll be able to return to TEXAS as a family. It'll be a financial and emotional burden for us if not. Fortunately I can stay in Moscow until late June or early July; I'm hopeful that this will be enough time to get it done. It seems like it, but ya just never know. If she does need to wait beyond that point then the aforementioned financial and emotional issues aside, it will become a physical burden for Elena too because I will not have any vacation time to be able to return to Moscow and help her with our son during the return flight/journey/pilgrimage. Fortunately there's a direct flight between Moscow and Houston, so at least it would only be one leg, but still. I don't want to have to go that route and neither does she. So I've done everything I could and then some to get the petition through the TSC (even wrote a letter to the president@ 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue!) and - again - just trying to do everything I can from the NOA2 forward to increase the likelihood of a favorable outcome. I've brought documentation out the wazoo ... had 4.2 inches of it for the CRBA.

As for attending the interview with my fiance, that is more because of the mountain of documentation that I brought. I mean it's *heavy* and she's petite, so I should go along and help. She's already been through the consulate section when she got her B2 tourist visa last November, so she's familiar with it. I'd like to bring our son too, I mean he's WAY WAY too young to leave alone and we don't have any help here. Her family lives 14 hours away by train. Besides when a CO sees us together there can be no doubt about the relationship's authenticity, right? LOL! Think they'd allow us to do that? I will email and ask when the date draws nearer.

Ok. So. I guess at this point I need to just keep checking the CEAC website and perhaps calling the NVC to see when it leaves for Moscow. One question though: I seem to recall reading somewhere that you can only check the status of your petition via the CEAC website *after* your petition arrives at the embassy/consulate, wherever that may be. Is that correct? Seems illogical to me, but ...

I'll try to schedule the interview as soon as I am permitted to do so, and for the first possible date. Getting the medical done should be no big deal; the office is - from what I read - near the Ulitsa 1905 goda metro, which is one stop from us. And speaking of the medical, my fiance told me that according to what she has read, you should wait to do the medical only after you schedule the interview because, unlike in other embassies - say the UK for example, the medical is only good for one month and if you do it too early it could expire before your interview date. Is that correct? And finally, how do you pay for the medical anyway?

Ok thanks, sorry for the litany of questions, Elena and I (and our son David!) appreciate your help!

[baron555 934]

Hi-

Filed the I-129F last September, received the approval 4/20, petition left the TSC on 4/29. Don't know how long it will be in-transit to the NVC.

But does anyone know how long (roughly at least) it'll take to get from the NVC to the embassy in Moscow? And how long of a wait we can expect once it arrives there? (Igor's list says 31 days, but I'm not sure how current that is)

Finally, anyone have any feedback on how long their petition waited at the NVC? I mean, is Russia one of those countries where the petition waits at the NVC until interview slots open at the embassy or is it sent straight away?

Figure about 3 weeks at NVC and then another week to be sent and entered into Moscow's system.

[av8or1 246]

Figure about 3 weeks at NVC and then another week to be sent and entered into Moscow's system.

Oh boy. Thanks, but that isn't good news. Hopefully it goes MUCH quicker than that. We'll see I guess...

Still don't see anything when I try to use the CEAC website....

[Ksenia1985 37]

Hi y'all!

Wow, thank you for the prompt and detailed replies, I appreciate it! After looking at everything, it seems that being in AP while in the NVC is normal, as the lady stated, so I'll go with that for now. Hopefully my petition does indeed leave the NVC rather quickly, but we'll see. I have tried to check it via the CEAC website using the Immigrant Visa Status Check. Here I simply entered the MOS2015 number, but it came back with "Your search did not return any data." I am assuming that this is normal too? Maybe it's just not "in the system" yet? Boy, I need it to *get* "in the system" and out ASAP. LOL!

There's nothing that can be done to rush things along at this point, I realize that. I'd just like to keep track of it so that I can draw some type of conclusion as to whether or not we'll be able to return to TEXAS as a family. It'll be a financial and emotional burden for us if not. Fortunately I can stay in Moscow until late June or early July; I'm hopeful that this will be enough time to get it done. It seems like it, but ya just never know. If she does need to wait beyond that point then the aforementioned financial and emotional issues aside, it will become a physical burden for Elena too because I will not have any vacation time to be able to return to Moscow and help her with our son during the return flight/journey/pilgrimage. Fortunately there's a direct flight between Moscow and Houston, so at least it would only be one leg, but still. I don't want to have to go that route and neither does she. So I've done everything I could and then some to get the petition through the TSC (even wrote a letter to the president@ 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue!) and - again - just trying to do everything I can from the NOA2 forward to increase the likelihood of a favorable outcome. I've brought documentation out the wazoo ... had 4.2 inches of it for the CRBA.

As for attending the interview with my fiance, that is more because of the mountain of documentation that I brought. I mean it's *heavy* and she's petite, so I should go along and help. She's already been through the consulate section when she got her B2 tourist visa last November, so she's familiar with it. I'd like to bring our son too, I mean he's WAY WAY too young to leave alone and we don't have any help here. Her family lives 14 hours away by train. Besides when a CO sees us together there can be no doubt about the relationship's authenticity, right? LOL! Think they'd allow us to do that? I will email and ask when the date draws nearer.

Ok. So. I guess at this point I need to just keep checking the CEAC website and perhaps calling the NVC to see when it leaves for Moscow. One question though: I seem to recall reading somewhere that you can only check the status of your petition via the CEAC website *after* your petition arrives at the embassy/consulate, wherever that may be. Is that correct? Seems illogical to me, but ...

I'll try to schedule the interview as soon as I am permitted to do so, and for the first possible date. Getting the medical done should be no big deal; the office is - from what I read - near the Ulitsa 1905 goda metro, which is one stop from us. And speaking of the medical, my fiance told me that according to what she has read, you should wait to do the medical only after you schedule the interview because, unlike in other embassies - say the UK for example, the medical is only good for one month and if you do it too early it could expire before your interview date. Is that correct? And finally, how do you pay for the medical anyway?

Ok thanks, sorry for the litany of questions, Elena and I (and our son David!) appreciate your help!

I am pretty sure they will let you come to the interview and take your child with you, so no worries here.

I saw our status on CEAC when it was still at NVC and it stated so, and after that it changed into In transit (to the Embassy), then it changed into Ready, but it only meant they got the electronic copy of your case. For paper case on the way to the Embassy I checked DHL tracking and saw it arrive, after some time that seemed like eternity to me the Embassy changed the status into Administrative processing and we were good to schedule the interview. I am sure it is the same system as with NOA-1,you get your NOA-1 but it appears on the site a few days later. I am sure soon you will see it.

About the medical. It is close to he Ulitsa 1905 goda metro and it is not true that it is valid for only a month. The results are valid for one year for Russia (and only 6 months from the date when you are already in the USA). She can go do the medical once you have your MOS case number, but as for me I would wait until it is at least sent electronically to the embassy. You pay for the medical at the International Organization for Migration on the day or a day before you go do the medical only cash in rubles and it was equivalent of $180 in April.

[av8or1 246]

Ksenia- Great feedback, thank you! I noticed that it was a month and a day from the day that the NVC received your petition to the interview date. If that could hold true for me, then it would be an early-to-mid June interview, which would be ideal for us. Hopefully it works out that way, we'll see. I still cannot see my petition on the CEAC website, which makes me kinda concerned, but if it persists, I will call the NVC again in the morning to see what the story is. How did you find your DHL number? As for the medical, I don't know where this International Organization for Migration is located, but I'm sure we'll find it. Elena went to her hometown to get her medical card from when she was young, but they had discarded it. She had her vaccinations, but there's no record now. However, she is breastfeeding, so from my understanding, the vaccinations will be waived. Is that correct? I know that they aren't necessarily required for the fiance visa interview, but they are for the AOS. By that time she'll be ok with discontinuing breastfeeding...

Thanks again!

[Ksenia1985 37]

Ksenia- Great feedback, thank you! I noticed that it was a month and a day from the day that the NVC received your petition to the interview date. If that could hold true for me, then it would be an early-to-mid June interview, which would be ideal for us. Hopefully it works out that way, we'll see. I still cannot see my petition on the CEAC website, which makes me kinda concerned, but if it persists, I will call the NVC again in the morning to see what the story is. How did you find your DHL number? As for the medical, I don't know where this International Organization for Migration is located, but I'm sure we'll find it. Elena went to her hometown to get her medical card from when she was young, but they had discarded it. She had her vaccinations, but there's no record now. However, she is breastfeeding, so from my understanding, the vaccinations will be waived. Is that correct? I know that they aren't necessarily required for the fiance visa interview, but they are for the AOS. By that time she'll be ok with discontinuing breastfeeding...

Thanks again!

Once it will state in Transit on CEAC website you can try and track it here http://www.dhl-usa.com/en.html

You click more tracking options on the right and then on the left click track by shipper's reference. Then in Shipper´s Reference you type the date you think it was shipped, for example if you think it was shipped on the 13 of may 2015 you type: EXP 13 MAY 2015A also try and leave a good time frame with dates there. It will show you results for all the different countries that cases were sent to during the time frame-then you look for Moscow and 99% of the time that wll be your case you will see there (it will just state 1 pcs to Moscow US Diplomatic papers). It sounds a bit confusing, but believe me it is easier when you see it yourself. So as you see from my timeline it stated in Transit on March 8 and Ready on March 10, but in reality the paperwork was physicly sent from NVC on March 9 and arrived and was signed for at the Embassy on March 13.

The International Organization for Migration is located on 2 Zvenigorodskaya 12 (right next to Ulitsa 1905 goda metro) you arrive there on the time you scheduled by phone with them and pay there, fill in a form and they also take the picture there (but you still have to bring 1 printed out pic for documents) then they say you can proceed and do the medical, which is at a different location Romanov pereulok 2 (Biblioteka Lenina metro, that is literally in front of the Kremlin), so that is where the medical takes place. They do blood test, do x-ray and general examination.

K-1 visa applicants are allowed not to bring the medical record about vaccinations, but it is easier to do it in Russia and in most cases free too. There is even a question on the DS-160 that she will fill in before scheduling the appointment about vaccinations. I would reccomend maybe to go to her school and try and see if they still have reords there (maybe even her relatives can go, not in person). You are absolutely right she will need it for AOS later and it will probably be more exensive to do in the USA, but if you don't mind spending money for it then it is possible to do later. My advice try all means to get the records here in Russia. Unfortunately can't tell you anything about breastfeeding and vaccinations waving.