Moscow Embassy Intrerview Avalability

[nekotakacho 60]

On 9/13/2018 at 1:08 AM, Aanastasiia said:

Hello!

is it even possible to get an interview in Minsk? I thought they didn’t accept foreigners even for tourist visas, and I’m not sure they do K1 in Minsk at all... but I don’t know for sure. Can you let me know when you find it out?

Hi, I contacted the Minsk US Embassy and they said they cannot process immigration visas (K1, etc). They suggested to contact others.

 

I have contacted both Kiev US Embassy and Georgia Embassy in Tbilisi and they both are willing to take our case. Unfortunately, we dont have our NVC case number yet but when we do, we will submit to the Kiev embassy.

 

My fiancee too does not want to go to Ukraine for this, but will do so if necessary. This will give her parents the opportunity to join her in Kiev, for their US tourist visas for our wedding.

 

I don't know why she doesn't want to go to Tbilisi for the visas, as we were just there in January and have friends there to help. I would go to Georgia because it's just easier I think, but that's just my opinion....

[nekotakacho 60]

On 9/15/2018 at 9:44 PM, dkmfan85 said:

It doesn't sound like my fiancee wants to go to Ukraine, but she also doesn't want to wait. 🤷‍♂️ I guess we're in it for the long haul. 😪

You are braver than us. It seems the Moscow Embassy is finally at capacity. My fiancee has expected this and has been keeping an eye on it. But our fears are finally reality, and we've already waited half a year for this process...good luck. Kiev said they could have it done quickly! Consider Tbilisi even, it's nice there.

[Aanastasiia 22]

1 hour ago, nekotakacho said:

Hi, I contacted the Minsk US Embassy and they said they cannot process immigration visas (K1, etc). They suggested to contact others.

 

I have contacted both Kiev US Embassy and Georgia Embassy in Tbilisi and they both are willing to take our case. Unfortunately, we dont have our NVC case number yet but when we do, we will submit to the Kiev embassy.

 

My fiancee too does not want to go to Ukraine for this, but will do so if necessary. This will give her parents the opportunity to join her in Kiev, for their US tourist visas for our wedding.

 

I don't know why she doesn't want to go to Tbilisi for the visas, as we were just there in January and have friends there to help. I would go to Georgia because it's just easier I think, but that's just my opinion....

Thank you for your reply!

Me and several other girls tried to switch the embassies at the NVC level. It didn’t work for any of us. (They just ignored my written request for over 2 weeks and when we would call - they would say to wait for the written response🤷🏼‍♀️) 

So now my case is in transit and I wait for it to hit Moscow, so Kiev will be able to take it directly from there.

It’s just FYI, ‘cause I spent a lot of time worrying&sending emails&seeking for info and at the end it just led to nothing:(

[nekotakacho 60]

2 hours ago, Aanastasiia said:

Thank you for your reply!

Me and several other girls tried to switch the embassies at the NVC level. It didn’t work for any of us. (They just ignored my written request for over 2 weeks and when we would call - they would say to wait for the written response🤷🏼‍♀️) 

So now my case is in transit and I wait for it to hit Moscow, so Kiev will be able to take it directly from there.

It’s just FYI, ‘cause I spent a lot of time worrying&sending emails&seeking for info and at the end it just led to nothing:(

That's interesting. I have already been calling them for weeks now to see if our case is ready, but it hasn't been. I believe they told me they would be able to transfer it for me, if I catch it early enough. I will call them to clarify how to transfer at the NVC level.

 

Kiev said it shouldn't be a problem for them to do the transfer, but said it could take up to six weeks! I truly hope it doesn't take six weeks.

 

The Kiev US Embassy has been pretty fast at responding to my questions and are eager to transfer my case. I just don't have the case number yet. As soon as I get the text message from USCIS, I will call NVC to move it to Kiev. I hope this will be within 2 weeks from today. Fingers crossed.

Edited September 19, 2018 by nekotakacho

[dkmfan85 832]

7 hours ago, nekotakacho said:

You are braver than us. It seems the Moscow Embassy is finally at capacity. My fiancee has expected this and has been keeping an eye on it. But our fears are finally reality, and we've already waited half a year for this process...good luck. Kiev said they could have it done quickly! Consider Tbilisi even, it's nice there.

If it was up to me, my fiancee would be going to Kyiv to have it done, but I can't make her do something she doesn't want to do/feel comfortable with. The Russia/Ukraine tensions make her nervous to travel there. Maybe after trying to get an interview date in Moscow for a few weeks she'll change her mind.

Edited September 20, 2018 by dkmfan85

[GP1977 288]

10 hours ago, dkmfan85 said:

If it was up to me, my fiancee would be going to Kyiv to have it done, but I can't make her do something she doesn't want to do/feel comfortable with. The Russia/Ukraine tensions make her nervous to travel there. Maybe after trying to get an interview date in Moscow for a few weeks she'll change her mind.

I did see an incident there with customs which I thought was absolutely crazy.  I was leaving Kiev for a departure flight and sitting in one of the priority pass lounges.  A group of customs border agents (with machine guns) came into the lounge and started talking in russian to the guy sitting next to me. I dont speak any russian so I had no idea what was happening but I knew it wasn't something good based upon their tones.  After they left I asked the guy if he spoke English and he did so fluently.  I asked him what that was all about and he said he is a Russian citizen and he travelled to ukraine to visit family.  THe customs border agent at POE told him he would not be allowed into the country at the moment.  He didn't give him a permanent refusal - it was just a one time thing.  He didn't give him a reason and just said you wont be allowed in  right now. I am not giving you a permanent ban - just a time ban. He told him he would be allowed in later today or tomorrow but would have to take a flight out of the country and then re-enter.  THe gentleman proceeded to tell me that they took his passport and they would give it to him upon him getting onto a plane and departing the country. He was waiting for his flight to Belarus i believe and then would take another flight back to Kiev later that day.  I told him that it makes absolutely no sense and he said he thought it was because of the political situation.   I did ask him if why he didn't just bribe them and he laughed and said I dont want to risk anything and end up in jail.   So why I think what happened to him is rare - your fiance has valid concerns - and it appears as if the border agents can do as they please.

[nekotakacho 60]

19 hours ago, dkmfan85 said:

If it was up to me, my fiancee would be going to Kyiv to have it done, but I can't make her do something she doesn't want to do/feel comfortable with. The Russia/Ukraine tensions make her nervous to travel there. Maybe after trying to get an interview date in Moscow for a few weeks she'll change her mind.

I completely understand. I would suggest transferring your case to the US Embassy in Tbilisi. Aeroflot has cheap flights to Georgia, and it will save you 4-5 months of waiting. Just my two cents.

[nekotakacho 60]

On 9/19/2018 at 1:31 PM, Aanastasiia said:

Thank you for your reply!

Me and several other girls tried to switch the embassies at the NVC level. It didn’t work for any of us. (They just ignored my written request for over 2 weeks and when we would call - they would say to wait for the written response🤷🏼‍♀️) 

So now my case is in transit and I wait for it to hit Moscow, so Kiev will be able to take it directly from there.

It’s just FYI, ‘cause I spent a lot of time worrying&sending emails&seeking for info and at the end it just led to nothing:(

I called NVC today and they wouldn't give me any help or instructions on transferring my case from Moscow to Kiev, because....it's not approved (NOA2) yet.

 

I asked for theoretical situation and instructions and he was hesitant to truly help me.

 

They said I can intercept it at the NVC level but I have to be fast. They will only have the case a few days before sending it across the ocean. I have to play this game and dance with them, just to save ourselves another 6 months of waiting!!! I thought that the usual waiting game in Russia was bad...but damn. This takes the cake!!

Edited September 20, 2018 by nekotakacho
typo

[nekotakacho 60]

9 hours ago, GP1977 said:

I did see an incident there with customs which I thought was absolutely crazy.  I was leaving Kiev for a departure flight and sitting in one of the priority pass lounges.  A group of customs border agents (with machine guns) came into the lounge and started talking in russian to the guy sitting next to me. I dont speak any russian so I had no idea what was happening but I knew it wasn't something good based upon their tones.  After they left I asked the guy if he spoke English and he did so fluently.  I asked him what that was all about and he said he is a Russian citizen and he travelled to ukraine to visit family.  THe customs border agent at POE told him he would not be allowed into the country at the moment.  He didn't give him a permanent refusal - it was just a one time thing.  He didn't give him a reason and just said you wont be allowed in  right now. I am not giving you a permanent ban - just a time ban. He told him he would be allowed in later today or tomorrow but would have to take a flight out of the country and then re-enter.  THe gentleman proceeded to tell me that they took his passport and they would give it to him upon him getting onto a plane and departing the country. He was waiting for his flight to Belarus i believe and then would take another flight back to Kiev later that day.  I told him that it makes absolutely no sense and he said he thought it was because of the political situation.   I did ask him if why he didn't just bribe them and he laughed and said I dont want to risk anything and end up in jail.   So why I think what happened to him is rare - your fiance has valid concerns - and it appears as if the border agents can do as they please.

 

I think if your intent to enter at the POE is for a US K1 Visa, I don't think they will give you that kind of trouble. I'm sure it's always possible, but I suspect your neighbor in priority pass lounge was already flagged for security reasons prior to this incident. I don't think all Russians are treated this way. At least I hope not.

[Aanastasiia 22]

14 minutes ago, nekotakacho said:

I called NVC today and they wouldn't give me any help or instructions on transferring my case from Moscow to Kiev, because....it's not approved (NOA2) yet.

 

I asked for theoretical situation and instructions and he was hesitant to truly help me.

 

They said I can intercept it at the NVC level but I have to be fast. They will only have the case a few days before sending it across the ocean. I have to play this game and dance with them, just to save ourselves another 6 months of waiting!!! I thought that the usual waiting game in Russia was bad...but damn. This takes the cake!!

I’ll tell you my story: my fiancé called NVC several times before they got out case (it took them three weeks). Every time he mentioned Kiev. But they couldn’t do anything without a case. Alright.

Then he called and they finally had it that day. He asked about a transfer. They said to fill out the form on their website. I did it the same day.

Our case was at NVC for 13 days.

I think I already told you that I never got an answer to my request.

We called two more times during these 13 days. We were told that they “will reply when they will reply”.

Here we are, our case made it to Moscow today....

 

 I would be truly happy for you if you are able to do it. Just don’t really count on it... Cause we did all we could and... ended up in Moscow anyway😂 It’s like “all roads lead to Moscow” now.

So I wish you the best of luck and be sure to let me know how it goes for you!

[nekotakacho 60]

3 minutes ago, Aanastasiia said:

They said to fill out the form on their website. I did it the same day.

WOW!!!!! Do you happen to know what form that is? It's like a magic form, haha.

 

My fiancee will not like to hear this news...but thank you for sharing. This is getting so crazy!

 

I did submit this question about the form to "AskNVC", and haven't heard anything from  NVC via email. Now I am worried!

Someone else on here said they were able to do it though...

Edited September 20, 2018 by nekotakacho

[Aanastasiia 22]

3 minutes ago, nekotakacho said:

WOW!!!!! Do you happen to know what form that is? It's like a magic form, haha.

 

My fiancee will not like to hear this news...but thank you for sharing. This is getting so crazy!

 

I did submit this question about the form to "AskNVC", and haven't heard anything from  NVC via email. Now I am worried!

Someone else on here said they were able to do it though...

“AskNVC” is exactly the form they asked us to fill. It seems like they don’t check it at all😆

 

I actually only know people who transferred at the embassies level. The one girl who did this said it only took 3 days to transfer it from Moscow to Kiev. So if it is true, that it’s not that bad that NVC didn’t transfer it itself...

 

Btw, only now I see that you don’t have your NOA2 yet? In order to call NVC and discuss something with them, or text to the embassies even - you need NVC number. Which will take 2-3 more weeks after USICS approval. So I’m afraid you really don’t have to worry about transferring for another month or so.

[GP1977 288]

36 minutes ago, nekotakacho said:

 

I think if your intent to enter at the POE is for a US K1 Visa, I don't think they will give you that kind of trouble. I'm sure it's always possible, but I suspect your neighbor in priority pass lounge was already flagged for security reasons prior to this incident. I don't think all Russians are treated this way. At least I hope not.

This all happened in Kiev, not in the USA.  I believe it happened because of the political situation taking place in ukraine right now with the dispute over crimea. No idea if he was flagged but just odd that he was told to leave the country and then could re-enter. 

 

 

[nekotakacho 60]

25 minutes ago, GP1977 said:

This all happened in Kiev, not in the USA.  I believe it happened because of the political situation taking place in ukraine right now with the dispute over crimea. No idea if he was flagged but just odd that he was told to leave the country and then could re-enter. 

 

 

I understand where it was. I also understand that if you have an interview at the US Embassy in Kiev, you most likely will not receive such treatment. He obviously was flagged, Russian security strictly enforces immigration law, unlike the USA. It's normal, I have seen Russian security act just as intense (in Sochi, when Putin visited for the casino opening day). My American friend traveled to Kazakhstan and was harassed daily by their police with machine guns. They just wanted bribes. All he ever did in jail was threaten to call the US Embassy and magically he was released.

Edited September 20, 2018 by nekotakacho
story update

[nekotakacho 60]

39 minutes ago, Aanastasiia said:

“AskNVC” is exactly the form they asked us to fill. It seems like they don’t check it at all😆

 

I actually only know people who transferred at the embassies level. The one girl who did this said it only took 3 days to transfer it from Moscow to Kiev. So if it is true, that it’s not that bad that NVC didn’t transfer it itself...

 

Btw, only now I see that you don’t have your NOA2 yet? In order to call NVC and discuss something with them, or text to the embassies even - you need NVC number. Which will take 2-3 more weeks after USICS approval. So I’m afraid you really don’t have to worry about transferring for another month or so.

Correct, I am trying to intercept this baby early. But you are crushing my dreams and hopes, hahaha. If it only takes 3 days for Kiev to transfer it themselves, I wont worry about it. But Kiev told me it could take up to six weeks. 

 

But from judging by people's timelines on here...it's less than 3 weeks(?)

Edited September 20, 2018 by nekotakacho