Photos with Friends and Family

[Dima_April 9]

Recently, some people told me that the CO likes to see pictures with friends and family. That never crossed my mind, when my fiance was here. I lost both parents in March of 2014, a brother in 1996, another lives out West and the younger boy, is in a nursing home with dementia. I did take him to my aunt and uncles home to meet them and they signed a paper saying that they met in person. We went out with a friend and her family to dinner, but didn't take pictures. The pictures we have are together on our trip, about 20 or a little more, taken by strangers in front of momentous that identify where we were at. Do you think this is okay? We also didn't think of taking face time pictures on Skype until recently. They make you feel like such a criminal!

[moemac59 192]

2 or 3 pics should be fine

[TBoneTX 45,304]

Bring what you have; if queried, explain as you've done above.

Another good idea -- if you plan to be present at the interview -- is to show up a couple of days early and take photos of yourselves together in various venues. Get the photos printed in time to take to the interview.

I've not heard that the Moscow embassy is particularly hard-line about the need for many photos.

[Dashinka 24,508]

Back in March 2013 when my fiancé had her interview in Moscow we met four other women interviewing for a K1. Like us, they brought many photos to the interview, but in all cases, including ours, no one asked to see any photos. In our application, we only submitted two photos from each of my trips to Russia and none of them had other people in them, although we had many in the book we brought to the interview. I think you will be fine, but I agree with TBone, if you can swing it, go to the interview with Dima. Moscow does allow you to be there, and in our case they did the interview right in front of me although they did not ask me anything. However, we were the only couple in the room on that date applying for a K1, and everyone was approved.

Good Luck!

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

Photos with friends and family may be helpful but they're not required, I don't think anyone will want them unless they will have some doubts about visa decision and would want to see anything your fiance has. With me CO looked only at the photos included with petition, he didn't want to look at any additional photos I had with me, neither any skype records, printed emails etc.

If you planned to go to the interview with your fiance you may make and print a few extra photos right before interview, but only if you already planned to go. There is absolutely no need in Moscow Embassy for petitioner to attend interview with beneficiary so if you're not invested into doing that don't waste money on the plane tickets, interviews in Moscow are fairly easy as far as I know.

- Victor from Russia

[redleg627 15]

I agree with everyone else. Bring what you got. For our interview we got back all the photos I sent to USCIS in the beginning of the process.

[Dima_April 9]

You guys are wonderful. I have two more questions:
1. Does the the Moscow Embassy allow the petitioner to use assets for the affidavit of support?
2. Does Russia limit the amount of cash that can be transferred to a US bank, when the beneficiary is ready to leave the country?

I will be using my assets - savings, stock, and home (mortgage free) to sponsor. I know that on the I-864, section/line 28, allows the beneficiary/spouse to contribute towards this affidavit. I'm still confused as to the value of assets. I think you multiply the amount short by 5?

[redleg627 15]

I'll be honest here.. I have no clue about your first question. On the second... When my wife moved from Moscow to here she withdraw everything from her account and turned it into US dollars. Due to current sanctions she was having problems moving money around. So we did cash.

Now present day she can use her debt card from Sberbank in America at some ATM's but not all. And some retail places. So for now were withdraw from ATM then deposit cash into an American bank account. The only problem is she has to stay up to date on current exchange rates. Not sure if that helps or not.

[MrsCrabs 24]

You guys are wonderful. I have two more questions:

1. Does the the Moscow Embassy allow the petitioner to use assets for the affidavit of support?

2. Does Russia limit the amount of cash that can be transferred to a US bank, when the beneficiary is ready to leave the country?

I will be using my assets - savings, stock, and home (mortgage free) to sponsor. I know that on the I-864, section/line 28, allows the beneficiary/spouse to contribute towards this affidavit. I'm still confused as to the value of assets. I think you multiply the amount short by 5?

hello!

Can`t say about assets but about money transfer I have some info. I sent money to my husband to USA with Sberbank. They can transfer money from account to account easily, but with sum more then 5 000 USD you should provide extra papers stating where you get such money from. Kinda work against money washing.

[baron555 934]

Do you think this is okay?

We hadn't yet met either family or friends and we weren't denied.

We also didn't think of taking face time pictures on Skype until recently.

Include what you have.

They make you feel like such a criminal!

No, they are just trying to weed out the visa fraudsters; there are a lot of them out there.

[baron555 934]

You guys are wonderful. I have two more questions:

1. Does the the Moscow Embassy allow the petitioner to use assets for the affidavit of support?

No

2. Does Russia limit the amount of cash that can be transferred to a US bank, when the beneficiary is ready to leave the country?

No.....but......they have a habit of just refusing to do a transfer., especially if you are doing it by proxy. Now if he is going to be at the bank to initiate the transfer, then usually some extra consideration gets the job done.

I will be using my assets - savings, stock, and home (mortgage free) to sponsor. I know that on the I-864, section/line 28, allows the beneficiary/spouse to contribute towards this affidavit.

He will not be able to use his assets unless he transfers them into your account first.

I'm still confused as to the value of assets. I think you multiply the amount short by 5?

If using assets, then you must have 5 times the poverty level in total.

[Dima_April 9]

baron555 - You just told me that the Moscow Embassy does not allow me to use my assets for the affidavit of support and yet you also told that if using assets, then I must have 5 times the poverty level in total. So which is it - yes or no?

I have $88,000 cash in the bank. Plus a home valued at $70,000 (appraised no mortgage). I'm going to do my taxes on Wednesday and I'm going to low ball it and say I'll be $8000 short on the affidavit. Will I have enough?

[baron555 934]

baron555 - You just told me that the Moscow Embassy does not allow me to use my assets for the affidavit of support and yet you also told that if using assets, then I must have 5 times the poverty level in total. So which is it - yes or no?

Maybe I misread your question, which you keep asking, Yes to your assets, No to using his.

I have $88,000 cash in the bank. Plus a home valued at $70,000 (appraised no mortgage). I'm going to do my taxes on Wednesday and I'm going to low ball it and say I'll be $8000 short on the affidavit. Will I have enough?

Yes, for household of two.