US Embassy in Moscow - Still Closed

[Chauncey 138]

6 minutes ago, Giodude said:

Yup, I forget sometimes I even applied for the K-1 visa lol. It's been so long! I checked CEAC and it just says my case is at NVC. That's all. I tried calling their office but the answering machine says they are full and to call back later. Then just hangs up.

Yes I have no idea. I'll be in the same boat as you in a couple of months. Something's gotta change soon

[Chauncey 138]

Honestly, how does it make sense that uscis is continuously working and sending approved petitions but the embassies aren't? They've gotta think at some point, well we have thousands of applications being held at NVC they can't hold any more, we have to start dealing with them. Otherwise, USCIS and NVC aren't gonna work well either if nothing ever gets completed. The system just won't work anymore

[Giodude 40]

5 minutes ago, Chauncey said:

Honestly, how does it make sense that uscis is continuously working and sending approved petitions but the embassies aren't? They've gotta think at some point, well we have thousands of applications being held at NVC they can't hold any more, we have to start dealing with them. Otherwise, USCIS and NVC aren't gonna work well either if nothing ever gets completed. The system just won't work anymore

Yeah... what a year 😪. We can't even visit them yet. Borders remain closed, but I'm hopeful that the vaccines will begin to lighten things up.

[Chauncey 138]

7 minutes ago, Giodude said:

Yeah... what a year 😪. We can't even visit them yet. Borders remain closed, but I'm hopeful that the vaccines will begin to lighten things up.

I know I'm so surprised they kept their borders closed this long! I didn't expect that. But they seem to be distributing the vaccine pretty quickly so yes hopefully things will be looking up soon 🙂 

And thanks for your input, not many Moscow filers are very active on here so I feel a bit alone

Edited January 5, 2021 by Chauncey

[millefleur 5,046]

49 minutes ago, Chauncey said:

Honestly, how does it make sense that uscis is continuously working and sending approved petitions but the embassies aren't? They've gotta think at some point, well we have thousands of applications being held at NVC they can't hold any more, we have to start dealing with them. Otherwise, USCIS and NVC aren't gonna work well either if nothing ever gets completed. The system just won't work anymore

It's really a mess. The Moscow Embassy prior to Covid used to be so good about K-1's and immigrant visas. Then overnight when Covid hit, it was like someone flipped a switch. Supposedly USCIS is claiming that applications went down (hence their budget crisis), but with Embassies being closed there will still be a huge backlog, not matter how you slice it.

[CamGeniia 37]

Our case is also at NVC since late July. We have not seen each other since the end of October 2019. We keep thinking something will change soon. Russian Christmas is January 7 so I don’t expect much this week.

[Chauncey 138]

11 minutes ago, millefleur said:

It's really a mess. The Moscow Embassy prior to Covid used to be so good about K-1's and immigrant visas. Then overnight when Covid hit, it was like someone flipped a switch. Supposedly USCIS is claiming that applications went down (hence their budget crisis), but with Embassies being closed there will still be a huge backlog, not matter how you slice it.

Exactly! So I don't get how they think it's okay to still be closed. The mayor of Moscow just said government workers are now eligible for the vaccine...why can't they get it and then start doing their jobs again? 🤔

[Chauncey 138]

3 minutes ago, CamGeniia said:

Our case is also at NVC since late July. We have not seen each other since the end of October 2019. We keep thinking something will change soon. Russian Christmas is January 7 so I don’t expect much this week.

Right they are closed until next Monday of course since they observe all holidays in both countries. Power to you as well, I hope things start moving soon!

[CamGeniia 37]

1 minute ago, Chauncey said:

Right they are closed until next Monday of course since they observe all holidays in both countries. Power to you as well, I hope things start moving soon!

Thank you. It’s good to see this topic moving again. Hopefully one of us posts some good news soon!

[Chauncey 138]

2 minutes ago, CamGeniia said:

Thank you. It’s good to see this topic moving again. Hopefully one of us posts some good news soon!

Yes! We should all try to keep it alive, it's nice talking to you guys knowing I'm not the only one stressing out about it all

[CamGeniia 37]

Just now, Chauncey said:

Yes! We should all try to keep it alive, it's nice talking to you guys knowing I'm not the only one stressing out about it all

Absolutely my thoughts. This would be much easier if we could get into Russia to visit our loved ones. 

[Chauncey 138]

32 minutes ago, CamGeniia said:

Absolutely my thoughts. This would be much easier if we could get into Russia to visit our loved ones. 

Definitely. Those doing IR1/CR1 are really lucky they can still can get in by private visa. But the government doesn't recognize us sadly

[Caboose29 173]

4 hours ago, Chauncey said:

Yes! We should all try to keep it alive, it's nice talking to you guys knowing I'm not the only one stressing out about it all

I’m sure I’ll be joining in the commiserating soon. I’m hoping to have my K1 submitted by the end of the month. 
 

I hope these vaccines really are effective. 

[Giodude 40]

5 hours ago, CamGeniia said:

Our case is also at NVC since late July. We have not seen each other since the end of October 2019. We keep thinking something will change soon. Russian Christmas is January 7 so I don’t expect much this week.

Hey same here. Actually, November 2019 is when I saw my fiancee. I can't believe we already entered 2021 🤯🤯.
My application is at NVC since September. We just continue waiting, right?

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

19 hours ago, millefleur said:

Since you are in for a long wait, consider meeting up in a 3rd country to make things more tolerable. Another VJ member did this @Strawberrymermaid and she had a good time. So far it looks like everyone applying to the Moscow Embassy is in for a looonggg wait with no clear end in sight. 😕

Heck, pre-covid, of the four times Anastasia and I met before she got here, only once was in Russia.

 

19 hours ago, Caboose29 said:

Russians don't need a visa to visit Turkey.  Turkish e-visa for USC is 5 minutes and $50.  Both she and I could fly to Turkey to meet.  It was SSSOOOOOO worth it!!

Just a note that as of Dec 31 or Jan 1 (not sure which), you need to show a negative PCR test for covid to enter Turkey.

 

19 hours ago, Caboose29 said:

My fiance and I both are optimistic about things improving soon with the vaccines coming available.  I'm really hoping to make it to her hometown this summer (fingers crossed).

We were planning on visiting Russia this summer, as it will have been almost two years since my wife has seen her family in-person and they haven't seen our son in-person yet (filed for his passport last week, and hoping Russia will be taking regular visa applications by the time we have that -- which won't be for ~3 months, apparently -- to get a visa for him). I have told my wife that I'm willing to make an exception to my normal "no non-emergency visits to Russia in winter" policy if we can't reasonably travel until late 2021 🤣.