How long does it take to get physical visa after K1 Interview?

[gregoryagu 31]

We have our interview schedule for Nov 1 in Moscow. I put in the application that we want to pick it up at the Pony Express in her home city of Chelyabinsk.

When can we expect to be able to pick it up?

I want to schedule the flights back to the US, but am not sure how long to allow for the Passport to arrive.

Greg

[millefleur 5,047]

Why not wait and buy tickets after the interview?

[gregoryagu 31]

Because I want to buy a round trip ticket from US to Chelyabinsk.

If I book round trip now, I will spend 883. If I book one way now it is 651 one way. The return trip is about the same 651. So I would spend $400 more total.

If the date ends up having to be changed, I can do that with some change fees, but it's less than the $400.

[gregoryagu 31]

Or am I being foolish and should just take it one step at a time? I don't really know how long it is going to take her to actually get ready to move to the US after the interview. There are a couple of variables involved.

[Anitafeliz 1,133]

I bought tickets. Thought i was safe to but three weeks after interview...was put in AP for 32 days. Hubby quit job too.

Dont make any plans or buy un refundable tickets till visa in hand.

[gregoryagu 31]

You know, that is really good point. I think I will buy just the one way ticket for me and wait for Visa dust to settle.

What do you mean "was put in AP"?

[millefleur 5,047]

You know, that is really good point. I think I will buy just the one way ticket for me and wait for Visa dust to settle.

What do you mean "was put in AP"?

Totally agree with Anitafeliz. I know it's a bummer having to wait and end up paying more, but I wouldn't buy a ticket unless it's refundable or you get cancellation insurance.

AP is Administrative Processing.....it's basically background checks and further investigation into the applicant. More info here. Everyone's AP is different. Sometimes it's super fast, other times it can take up to a year or more.

[zalphahoax 0]

It won't take long 3 or 4 days. But i recommend not buying tickets until passport is in hand and checked for errors.

Good luck.

[Anitafeliz 1,133]

What i thought i was saving ended up paying double.

But not everyone waits that long. And a few may wait longer.

Note: My AP was with approval no forms or action requiered of me.

[Neonred 3,579]

Funny that I had such a similar case as you. K-1 with a K-2 that was not traveling to the US at the same time as us. Daughter arrived a few months after finishing the school year and stayed the summer but returned for more school. I traveled over for my fiances interview and bought my round trip tickets and her ticket to return with me well in advance of the interview being sure that we had a rock solid case. Lucky for me there were no major issues. I asked for the visa and passport to be held at the DHL (that is the service the embassy was using at the time) office in Moscow as I did not want to take a chance on how long it might take to get to her city. Picked it up there on our way to the US. At the time it was taking about a week for the visa package to arrive in her city.

Not the recommended way to do things, but it worked for me.

Edited October 8, 2016 by Neonred

[gregoryagu 31]

Ok, I am convinced. Will not buy tickets home until Visa is in hand.

I made this mistake earlier when she went to Moscow to get Tourist Visa to come to US. I bought her round trip ticket to the US expecting the Visa would of course be approved.

Then Visa was disapproved for reasons I don't understand. (This is before we were engaged).

Boom, tickets wasted. Will not do again.

[Laurel0708 21]

My friend bought the tickets for him (she didn't go to the interview) exactly one week after his interview. He didn't have his passport yet, and she had to change it. There's no big rush. A few extra days or weeks will not hurt you. Our interview is October 11th. We won't buy tickets until we have the passport. Why> Because I want us to be on the same plane, and it doesn't matter when I got back.

[s + j 71]

9 days since my interview and I still don't have it physically So it can take time.

[gregoryagu 31]

Because I want us to be on the same plane, and it doesn't matter when I got back.

Exactly! Good Luck Laurel.

[TBoneTX 45,659]

The chief lesson (and point) is: Do not presume granting or issuance of the visa.