A few questions...

[Milenka 0]

Hi guys,

So while I am waiting for my NOA2, I am wondering what's going to happen after the Embassy receives my application. My finace lives in Moscow. Are you supposed to contact the embassy to find out if they received your application, or do they send you a letter? Do they send you the forms you need and do you send them back, or just collect them yourself, and send them, OR do you just bring them with you without sending anything in advance. How can you schedule an interview? How long have the most recent people who interviewed in Moscow, waited to get an interview date? I guess I just don't understand the process fully yet, so sorry if these questions seem too simple. Thanks in advance for any advice. Milena.

[raymaga 25]

Once your I-129F has been approved, you will receive a letter from the NVC giving you your case number and informing you that your case has been forwarded to the Embassy.

Then, the Embassy will send the beneficiary Packet 3, which contains information about the medical exam, and about what documents need to be gathered for the interview (such as long form birth certificate, police certificates, etc).

After you return all the documents requested in Packet 3, the Embassy will send Packet 4, which contains the interview date.

Good luck.

Edited March 19, 2007 by raymaga

[Turboguy 6]

Ray, Your information is correct for many Embassies but not for Moscow. Most embassys have a separte package 3 and package 4. Moscow combines them. He will get one packet. It will tell her what she needs to bring and give her the interview date. The interview date will also be posted online but often she has the packet before the web site is updated.

She will need to get her medical and gather her documents. Being in Moscow should make that much easier.

[Milenka 0]

Ray, Your information is correct for many Embassies but not for Moscow. Most embassys have a separte package 3 and package 4. Moscow combines them. He will get one packet. It will tell her what she needs to bring and give her the interview date. The interview date will also be posted online but often she has the packet before the web site is updated.

She will need to get her medical and gather her documents. Being in Moscow should make that much easier.

Thanks for clearing that up turbo guy!

[Milenka 0]

Ray, Your information is correct for many Embassies but not for Moscow. Most embassys have a separte package 3 and package 4. Moscow combines them. He will get one packet. It will tell her what she needs to bring and give her the interview date. The interview date will also be posted online but often she has the packet before the web site is updated.

She will need to get her medical and gather her documents. Being in Moscow should make that much easier.

Do I need to send this back before the interview or just bring it with me? Thanks.

[JamesT 12]

Nope, with Moscow you don't have to send anything back before the interview. Just bring it all with you.

[slim 1,525]

I will also add that if you know the visa's been approved through NSC and is on the way to Moscow, start your police check and scheduling of your medical check. Maybe you don't need to get them done right away, but at least check where and when you can get them done, and how long they're going to take.

Once you find out that number, you can check the embassy website and you'll see exactly when your interview date is. Basically, you do nothing until your packet arrives, then you finish all the paperwork inside, acquire your police/medical checks (and any other papers you may need... divorce/death/birth/custody papers, etc.) and then just kind of sit patiently to wait for your interview. REMEMBER TO GET A COPY OF YOUR DS-3025 to bring with you!!! You will need this for your AOS once you get to the States. (You should be able to get a copy during your medical check.)

Also, start checking into where you'll stay in Moscow. Some advanced planning can save you several hundred bucks!

[Milenka 0]

I will also add that if you know the visa's been approved through NSC and is on the way to Moscow, start your police check and scheduling of your medical check. Maybe you don't need to get them done right away, but at least check where and when you can get them done, and how long they're going to take.

Once you find out that number, you can check the embassy website and you'll see exactly when your interview date is. Basically, you do nothing until your packet arrives, then you finish all the paperwork inside, acquire your police/medical checks (and any other papers you may need... divorce/death/birth/custody papers, etc.) and then just kind of sit patiently to wait for your interview. REMEMBER TO GET A COPY OF YOUR DS-3025 to bring with you!!! You will need this for your AOS once you get to the States. (You should be able to get a copy during your medical check.)

Also, start checking into where you'll stay in Moscow. Some advanced planning can save you several hundred bucks!

Thanks for clearing this up, and for the advice. Slim, I will definitely remember about the DS-3025, very good to know. We are already working on the paperwork for the interview, to use our time Luckily my fiance lives in Moscow, so we won't need a place to stay You guys are just great!

[russ 1]

Thanks for clearing this up, and for the advice. Slim, I will definitely remember about the DS-3025, very good to know. We are already working on the paperwork for the interview, to use our time Luckily my fiance lives in Moscow, so we won't need a place to stay You guys are just great!

While the last minute is often popular here, you can save some time by sending the I-131 affadavit of support now as well. Most of us sent it Fedex/DHL etc, but you can send it regular mail now for $0.85, which is much better than ~$100.

Send three copies on different days - at least one should make it there within 2 weeks.

BTW, how did you like studying in Moscow? We are planning a long trip this summer, and I may Russian there for a month or so. (After 2 years of University courses here, I think I need more intense study for a while).

Good Luck!

[Milenka 0]

Thanks for clearing this up, and for the advice. Slim, I will definitely remember about the DS-3025, very good to know. We are already working on the paperwork for the interview, to use our time Luckily my fiance lives in Moscow, so we won't need a place to stay You guys are just great!

While the last minute is often popular here, you can save some time by sending the I-131 affadavit of support now as well. Most of us sent it Fedex/DHL etc, but you can send it regular mail now for $0.85, which is much better than ~$100.

Send three copies on different days - at least one should make it there within 2 weeks.

BTW, how did you like studying in Moscow? We are planning a long trip this summer, and I may Russian there for a month or so. (After 2 years of University courses here, I think I need more intense study for a while).

Good Luck!

I think it's a good idea to get everything done now, I hate rushing, leaves more room for mistakes Thanks for the advice, Russ! I was studying Linguistics in Moscow, in Zelenograd (a region of Moscow) I knew Russian beforehand (my mother is Russian) but I think if you have the chance you should definitely take a course! I would definitely recommend it! Have a great time!

[slim 1,525]

I did the "last minute" thing - partly because I didn't know I had to do financial support docs, and partly because I lead the world in procrastination - and it ended up costing us a delay in the interview. Had I sent my documents earlier, she could've interviewed on the original date.

But, all's well, because she didn't get her police check done in time either, so I guess we're like peas and carrots! She didn't come right over after the interview; we didn't really rush anything in the visa process. But, if you're in a hurry, get it done sooner rather than later.

[Milenka 0]

I did the "last minute" thing - partly because I didn't know I had to do financial support docs, and partly because I lead the world in procrastination - and it ended up costing us a delay in the interview. Had I sent my documents earlier, she could've interviewed on the original date.

But, all's well, because she didn't get her police check done in time either, so I guess we're like peas and carrots! She didn't come right over after the interview; we didn't really rush anything in the visa process. But, if you're in a hurry, get it done sooner rather than later.

We aren't rushing, I just don't like to procrastinate Just feel better when I have everything done...Slim, how long is the visa valid for? Depending when we get ours, he might not be ready to leave like, the next day...

[Turboguy 6]

She has 180 days to leave. The clock on the 90 days starts ticking when she arrives.

[Milenka 0]

Thanks.

[slim 1,525]

Just to clear this up, you're the petitioner, right Milenka?

Sergey is your Russian fiance?

If so, you're in short supply around here. An AW marrying an RM. Valuable insight indeed!