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BigRedCat

Been waiting for B2 interview slot for months

By BigRedCat in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

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BigRedCat Explorer

BigRedCat   36

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

I've been waiting for about 5 months for a B2 interview slot for my mother in law - seems like they will never have slots. Anyone else waiting on this? I've been using the gofortravel.ru website which has been really helpful as they check for slots every few minutes but it seems Moscow just isn't doing tourist visas anymore. I suppose the current politics is to blame. Ridiculous! 

 

 

CM&KV Collaborator

CM&KV   72

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

Sadly current wait time is about 300  days, my husband's company in Moscow is having a hard time sending their people over to the states becuase of the long wait times.

 

Go here and typein moscow, or any other office that is open over there, you'll get the same info. Its stupid with what is going on between both countries.... wish things were better.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html

I-130 CR1 Timeline  Visa has been issued!!!!!! = ^.^= YAY!

Spoiler

Service Center - Texas

Sent Jan 2nd 2018  PD: Jan 3rd 2018

E-notification: Jan 8th 2018 NOA1 Hard copy: Jan 12th 2018

NOA2: June 28th 2018, new website. Old website: July 17th sent to DOS (finally appeared July 29th, after 206 days after petition sent and stating not found) Emails & texts: nothing. Hard Copy states NoA2 is June 27, 2018.

NOA2: Hard copy: July 2nd 2018

Sent to DOS: New Website: July 18th 2018. Old website July 17th (Case number was finally found after 206 days of submitting petition, appeared on July 29th.)

Received NVC: July 24th 2018, per calling NVC option 5. 

New Case number #: Via email August 21st 2018. While on the phone with the hubby. Case is PIVOT. 

Fees paid August 21st 2018. Marked as paid on August 23rd 2018.

DS-260 filled and submitted:  August 27th 2018

AOS documents filled and submitted: August 29th, 2018

IV Documents: Submitted August 31st, 2018

Case Complete: September 11th 2018 via website 
Received Interview data: From embassy Oct 13, from NVC: Oct 15th.
Interview: originally Nov 27th, rescheduled to Nov 29th.

AP

Spoiler

Nov 26th 2018 AP.
Interviewed on Nov 29th, was told everything is good, asked for CV / resume, kept passport.

Nov 29th Email submitted.

Nov 30th They sent us an email for a physical copy.

Dec 3rd Submitted. Dec 4th They received.

Dec 7th, 14th,18th, 19th, 20th case was touched.

Dec 21st ready for Pick up. Dec 23rd pick up passport with no visa.  Was told due to holidays they resent passport incase Husband needed it, and to return it back on Jan 9th.

Jan 15th, sent off passport back to Embassy, Jan 16th case updated and received passport. 
Jan 24th case touched. Feb 1st sent email asking if they needed anything from us, replied Feb 5th stating still going thru AP, no change on website. Feb 13th, case was touched. March 5th sent email (not by travel docs) asking what we are waiting on, received auto email, unsure if case touched was touch per auto email.
March 5th, 7th case was touched. Also UStraveldocs passport states "There is no status update available for the passport number submitted"

March 15 Sent message via ustraveldocs about what's going on etc etc.
March 19: reply from Embassy Stating we have been approved and should get visa in 1-2 business days! 

March 20th: Issued!!!!! ViH: March 21st.
POE: Aiming for April 26th. 

Our Visits

Spoiler

Him: J1 Visa (no 2 home requirement) May 2015-Nov 2016 Officially met: Late July 2015 Started relationship mid-Aug 2015

Business trip B1 (Him): May 2017 - Nov 2017

2nd Business trip (Him): Feb 2018 - May 31st 2018

2nd visit hopefully when he moves to the USA.

ROC (LA, CA Area): sent  April: 12th 2021, Case transferred June 17th. Bios Jan 4th 2022. Ready for schedule interview Jan 5th 2022. Interview scheduled on Jan 11th 2022 for Feb 18th 2022. Approved at interview. Green card sent Feb 23rd 2022. Green Card in hand Feb 28th 2022. 
Next N-400: Submitted May 27th 2023, bios being reused. 

IR-2 (Step daughter, Ukraine): Sent June 7th, 2021 via online. Case was actively being looked at since Nov 2nd 2021. Approval Feb 16. Case sent to NVC Feb 19th 2022. Interview Dec 17, VIH 18th, POE Dec 26th 2022.

  • 2 weeks later...
millefleur Veteran

millefleur   5,047

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted
On 6/17/2018 at 11:53 PM, CM&KV said:

Sadly current wait time is about 300  days, my husband's company in Moscow is having a hard time sending their people over to the states becuase of the long wait times.

 

Go here and typein moscow, or any other office that is open over there, you'll get the same info. Its stupid with what is going on between both countries.... wish things were better.

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html

300 days?!!?!? D: That is insane...I didn't realize it was THAT bad. Better tell my own mother-in-law to consider applying soon if the wait is that long...

 

@BigRedCat

I've known plenty of Russians who got B2's but it was before this whole political mess we are in. :(

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview ⌛

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

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CM&KV Collaborator

CM&KV   72

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

My husband got a B1 back in May 2017, but it was only good for one year or so, I was hoping it would have been for 3... But anyways, his company wants to send him back here asap... they don't know we are in the process. They were thinking of sending him to Poland or somewhere else for a B1 interview, which he will be delincing that business trip since he might be needed in Russia to gather documents and we don't want to be forced to push back his interview dates.

 

Also his parents would over to visit the USA, I have suggested to them that they should apply at Kiev since they live in Crimea and it would be faster than 300days...z and I would want them to get it before my husband get his green card so they aren't forced to having to type his name on son living in the USA.

I-130 CR1 Timeline  Visa has been issued!!!!!! = ^.^= YAY!

Spoiler

Service Center - Texas

Sent Jan 2nd 2018  PD: Jan 3rd 2018

E-notification: Jan 8th 2018 NOA1 Hard copy: Jan 12th 2018

NOA2: June 28th 2018, new website. Old website: July 17th sent to DOS (finally appeared July 29th, after 206 days after petition sent and stating not found) Emails & texts: nothing. Hard Copy states NoA2 is June 27, 2018.

NOA2: Hard copy: July 2nd 2018

Sent to DOS: New Website: July 18th 2018. Old website July 17th (Case number was finally found after 206 days of submitting petition, appeared on July 29th.)

Received NVC: July 24th 2018, per calling NVC option 5. 

New Case number #: Via email August 21st 2018. While on the phone with the hubby. Case is PIVOT. 

Fees paid August 21st 2018. Marked as paid on August 23rd 2018.

DS-260 filled and submitted:  August 27th 2018

AOS documents filled and submitted: August 29th, 2018

IV Documents: Submitted August 31st, 2018

Case Complete: September 11th 2018 via website 
Received Interview data: From embassy Oct 13, from NVC: Oct 15th.
Interview: originally Nov 27th, rescheduled to Nov 29th.

AP

Spoiler

Nov 26th 2018 AP.
Interviewed on Nov 29th, was told everything is good, asked for CV / resume, kept passport.

Nov 29th Email submitted.

Nov 30th They sent us an email for a physical copy.

Dec 3rd Submitted. Dec 4th They received.

Dec 7th, 14th,18th, 19th, 20th case was touched.

Dec 21st ready for Pick up. Dec 23rd pick up passport with no visa.  Was told due to holidays they resent passport incase Husband needed it, and to return it back on Jan 9th.

Jan 15th, sent off passport back to Embassy, Jan 16th case updated and received passport. 
Jan 24th case touched. Feb 1st sent email asking if they needed anything from us, replied Feb 5th stating still going thru AP, no change on website. Feb 13th, case was touched. March 5th sent email (not by travel docs) asking what we are waiting on, received auto email, unsure if case touched was touch per auto email.
March 5th, 7th case was touched. Also UStraveldocs passport states "There is no status update available for the passport number submitted"

March 15 Sent message via ustraveldocs about what's going on etc etc.
March 19: reply from Embassy Stating we have been approved and should get visa in 1-2 business days! 

March 20th: Issued!!!!! ViH: March 21st.
POE: Aiming for April 26th. 

Our Visits

Spoiler

Him: J1 Visa (no 2 home requirement) May 2015-Nov 2016 Officially met: Late July 2015 Started relationship mid-Aug 2015

Business trip B1 (Him): May 2017 - Nov 2017

2nd Business trip (Him): Feb 2018 - May 31st 2018

2nd visit hopefully when he moves to the USA.

ROC (LA, CA Area): sent  April: 12th 2021, Case transferred June 17th. Bios Jan 4th 2022. Ready for schedule interview Jan 5th 2022. Interview scheduled on Jan 11th 2022 for Feb 18th 2022. Approved at interview. Green card sent Feb 23rd 2022. Green Card in hand Feb 28th 2022. 
Next N-400: Submitted May 27th 2023, bios being reused. 

IR-2 (Step daughter, Ukraine): Sent June 7th, 2021 via online. Case was actively being looked at since Nov 2nd 2021. Approval Feb 16. Case sent to NVC Feb 19th 2022. Interview Dec 17, VIH 18th, POE Dec 26th 2022.

BigRedCat Explorer

BigRedCat   36

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

It seems there are interview dates popping up in Kiev and a few other places but nothing in Moscow at all. And from what I've heard most Russians don't want to chance going to Ukraine because they fear they will have their passport taken or something along those lines. Seems risky to travel there now for them. Guess we have to just wait it out. 

CM&KV Collaborator

CM&KV   72

Posted
Filed: Lift. Cond. (pnd) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

My husband has both Ukrainian and Russian passports, Ukrainian per birth place, and Russian by Russia taking over Crimea back in 2014 (we hope this won't cause a problem). He does fear if he goes to Ukraine he won't be able to get back to Russia.

I-130 CR1 Timeline  Visa has been issued!!!!!! = ^.^= YAY!

Spoiler

Service Center - Texas

Sent Jan 2nd 2018  PD: Jan 3rd 2018

E-notification: Jan 8th 2018 NOA1 Hard copy: Jan 12th 2018

NOA2: June 28th 2018, new website. Old website: July 17th sent to DOS (finally appeared July 29th, after 206 days after petition sent and stating not found) Emails & texts: nothing. Hard Copy states NoA2 is June 27, 2018.

NOA2: Hard copy: July 2nd 2018

Sent to DOS: New Website: July 18th 2018. Old website July 17th (Case number was finally found after 206 days of submitting petition, appeared on July 29th.)

Received NVC: July 24th 2018, per calling NVC option 5. 

New Case number #: Via email August 21st 2018. While on the phone with the hubby. Case is PIVOT. 

Fees paid August 21st 2018. Marked as paid on August 23rd 2018.

DS-260 filled and submitted:  August 27th 2018

AOS documents filled and submitted: August 29th, 2018

IV Documents: Submitted August 31st, 2018

Case Complete: September 11th 2018 via website 
Received Interview data: From embassy Oct 13, from NVC: Oct 15th.
Interview: originally Nov 27th, rescheduled to Nov 29th.

AP

Spoiler

Nov 26th 2018 AP.
Interviewed on Nov 29th, was told everything is good, asked for CV / resume, kept passport.

Nov 29th Email submitted.

Nov 30th They sent us an email for a physical copy.

Dec 3rd Submitted. Dec 4th They received.

Dec 7th, 14th,18th, 19th, 20th case was touched.

Dec 21st ready for Pick up. Dec 23rd pick up passport with no visa.  Was told due to holidays they resent passport incase Husband needed it, and to return it back on Jan 9th.

Jan 15th, sent off passport back to Embassy, Jan 16th case updated and received passport. 
Jan 24th case touched. Feb 1st sent email asking if they needed anything from us, replied Feb 5th stating still going thru AP, no change on website. Feb 13th, case was touched. March 5th sent email (not by travel docs) asking what we are waiting on, received auto email, unsure if case touched was touch per auto email.
March 5th, 7th case was touched. Also UStraveldocs passport states "There is no status update available for the passport number submitted"

March 15 Sent message via ustraveldocs about what's going on etc etc.
March 19: reply from Embassy Stating we have been approved and should get visa in 1-2 business days! 

March 20th: Issued!!!!! ViH: March 21st.
POE: Aiming for April 26th. 

Our Visits

Spoiler

Him: J1 Visa (no 2 home requirement) May 2015-Nov 2016 Officially met: Late July 2015 Started relationship mid-Aug 2015

Business trip B1 (Him): May 2017 - Nov 2017

2nd Business trip (Him): Feb 2018 - May 31st 2018

2nd visit hopefully when he moves to the USA.

ROC (LA, CA Area): sent  April: 12th 2021, Case transferred June 17th. Bios Jan 4th 2022. Ready for schedule interview Jan 5th 2022. Interview scheduled on Jan 11th 2022 for Feb 18th 2022. Approved at interview. Green card sent Feb 23rd 2022. Green Card in hand Feb 28th 2022. 
Next N-400: Submitted May 27th 2023, bios being reused. 

IR-2 (Step daughter, Ukraine): Sent June 7th, 2021 via online. Case was actively being looked at since Nov 2nd 2021. Approval Feb 16. Case sent to NVC Feb 19th 2022. Interview Dec 17, VIH 18th, POE Dec 26th 2022.

BigRedCat Explorer

BigRedCat   36

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted
10 hours ago, CM&KV said:

My husband has both Ukrainian and Russian passports, Ukrainian per birth place, and Russian by Russia taking over Crimea back in 2014 (we hope this won't cause a problem). He does fear if he goes to Ukraine he won't be able to get back to Russia.

That is exactly what my mother in law said - she was also born in Ukraine doesn't want to risk going to Ukraine for the visa interview and not being let back into Russia. Its over 6 months we've been waiting for an interview. 

 

Trump is meeting with Putin in about a week, hopefully he can smooth things over with Russia and we will start seeing some interviews available again. 

LenaT Explorer

LenaT   95

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted (edited)

I applied for a B1-2 visa for my mom in Kyiv on July 5th and she got it. It was rather easy to schedule it and everything. My aunt lives in Ukraine and my cousin helped a lot, because I couldn't do anything except filing DS-160 from Russia.

My recommendation  will be to go to Kyiv or any other country, waiting for a slot in Moscow is tiring and may lead to nothing..

Edited by LenaT
LenaT Explorer

LenaT   95

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted
On 07.07.2018 at 9:47 PM, BigRedCat said:

That is exactly what my mother in law said - she was also born in Ukraine doesn't want to risk going to Ukraine for the visa interview and not being let back into Russia. Its over 6 months we've been waiting for an interview. 

 

Trump is meeting with Putin in about a week, hopefully he can smooth things over with Russia and we will start seeing some interviews available again. 

Coming from Crimea for a man and from Russia for a woman is different. I myself just returned from Ukraine and I travelled alone on my way back. Everything seemed absolutely normal and we had a woman visiting her native village, even though she's been living in Russia for over 20 years now. It is fine, we didn't experience any problems. If you are a young man coming from Crimea, I would stay in Crimea, just in case.. 

Dashinka Grand Master

Dashinka   24,647

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted

I just returned from Russia and on that trip we met a woman who is an English teacher and she mentioned she and a group of friends want to travel to the US in the future.  I mentioned to her the long wait times to get a B2 interview in Moscow and told her she should start planning that part of the overall trip fairly soon.

Visa Received : 2014-04-04 (K1 - see timeline for details)

US Entry : 2014-09-12

POE: Detroit

Marriage : 2014-09-27

I-765 Approved: 2015-01-09

I-485 Interview: 2015-03-11

I-485 Approved: 2015-03-13

Green Card Received: 2015-03-24 Yeah!!!

I-751 ROC Submitted: 2016-12-20

I-751 NOA Received:  2016-12-29

I-751 Biometrics Appt.:  2017-01-26

I-751 Interview:  2018-04-10

I-751 Approved:  2018-05-04

N400 Filed:  2018-01-13

N400 Biometrics:  2018-02-22

N400 Interview:  2018-04-10

N400 Approved:  2018-04-10

Oath Ceremony:  2018-06-11 - DONE!!!!!!!

  • 2 weeks later...
BigRedCat Explorer

BigRedCat   36

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

Yeah still no openings for interviews - last time I had notice of one in Moscow was months ago and it apparently was filled in a few minutes. What are they doing at the embassy now, nothing? It is totally ridiculous. It appears as though Russian citizens just have very very low chance of ever getting a US B1 visa to visit. 

 

 

  • 3 weeks later...
LenaT Explorer

LenaT   95

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted
On 7/29/2018 at 10:54 PM, BigRedCat said:

Yeah still no openings for interviews - last time I had notice of one in Moscow was months ago and it apparently was filled in a few minutes. What are they doing at the embassy now, nothing? It is totally ridiculous. It appears as though Russian citizens just have very very low chance of ever getting a US B1 visa to visit. 

 

 

The strangest thing is that there are still numbers in the visa bulletin, which means some people are regularly interviewed!! How does it happen?!

  • 2 weeks later...
BigRedCat Explorer

BigRedCat   36

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted
On 8/20/2018 at 7:38 AM, LenaT said:

The strangest thing is that there are still numbers in the visa bulletin, which means some people are regularly interviewed!! How does it happen?!

It says the current wait time for an interview is 300 days. I have no idea who is actually getting an interview since none are ever available. 

  • 2 weeks later...
BigRedCat Explorer

BigRedCat   36

Posted
Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
  • Author
Posted

So I am going on about 10 months waiting for B2. It doesn't look like Moscow is processing anything nor will they. I am guessing the money paid for the interview is a loss - we will have to pay again for an interview in another country and pay for flights etc. What a mess. 

 
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