Interview at Warsaw embassy - case transfer from Moscow

[millefleur 5,046]

9 minutes ago, C@m said:

That’s a fair assumption indeed, especially because Russians need a Schengen visa to make it to Warsaw. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, the US has decided to make Warsaw the official embassy to process Russian k1s.

It makes little sense anymore. I wish they would move the embassy for Russians to somewhere like Kazakhstan or Armenia, would be so much easier for everyone right now.

[TBoneTX 45,024]

The alternative sites for processing visas, anywhere in the world, depend on having enough consular personnel (COs + staff) to handle the extra workload, enough room to station and house them, and the usual factors such as political stability in the particular country.

[ovb 9]

Hi Everyone. We just got our interview scheduled for April 1, 2022. I don't see how we can manage this on such short notice. Is it even realistic to get a schengen visa from Russia at this point? I'm going to call the US Embassy in Warsaw and inquire about rescheduling. Does anyone have any suggestions/comments?

[Mike20090622 45]

6 minutes ago, ovb said:

Hi Everyone. We just got our interview scheduled for April 1, 2022. I don't see how we can manage this on such short notice. Is it even realistic to get a schengen visa from Russia at this point? I'm going to call the US Embassy in Warsaw and inquire about rescheduling. Does anyone have any suggestions/comments?

That’s what I am worried, my fiancé doesn’t have a job and I wonder if she can even get a Schengen visa 

[slavaskii 886]

31 minutes ago, ovb said:

Hi Everyone. We just got our interview scheduled for April 1, 2022. I don't see how we can manage this on such short notice. Is it even realistic to get a schengen visa from Russia at this point? I'm going to call the US Embassy in Warsaw and inquire about rescheduling. Does anyone have any suggestions/comments?

Question: since when were you waiting at NVC? I'm a bit confused as to how Warsaw is scheduling interviews, as some say it's taking forever but others are citing times like this. Are they manually scheduling Russian transfers, perhaps? And are a lot of spaces just temporarily blocked off for refugees? Thanks!

[ovb 9]

Our case was transferred from Moscow to Warsaw on November 9, 2021. I really don't know how the scheduling process works...

[Phoenix8489 0]

1 hour ago, ovb said:

Hi Everyone. We just got our interview scheduled for April 1, 2022. I don't see how we can manage this on such short notice. Is it even realistic to get a schengen visa from Russia at this point? I'm going to call the US Embassy in Warsaw and inquire about rescheduling. Does anyone have any suggestions/comments?

Hey! Awesome news! Yeah, I wonder how this would work... Maybe Poland could give a special case permission for this trip?.. I'd try to contact Poland embassy in US, Poland embassy in Moscow, Poland itself... There should be a way!!!  Have you contacted them or have expedited anything? We still haven't heard anything... Please keep us posted how it all goes!!! Kate

[ovb 9]

45 minutes ago, Phoenix8489 said:

Hey! Awesome news! Yeah, I wonder how this would work... Maybe Poland could give a special case permission for this trip?.. I'd try to contact Poland embassy in US, Poland embassy in Moscow, Poland itself... There should be a way!!!  Have you contacted them or have expedited anything? We still haven't heard anything... Please keep us posted how it all goes!!! Kate

Thank you!! It's a good suggestion. I'll try calling them tomorrow. It's too late for Moscow now. In the meantime, I got through at the US Embassy in Warsaw. They told me that if we miss our interview date, we can reschedule for another date via their web site - the site where we got our UID number. There we'll have to fill out a form and answer a series of questions after which we'll be offered new interview dates. Unfortunately, the person I spoke with could not tell me what would our new timeline look like if we have to reschedule. Will we have to wait another few months?... We also just spoke with a visa agency in Moscow. They told us that to get a schengen visa now takes about 2 weeks, and even then no one guarantees that we'll get it in time. And, yes, everyone is now using that VIP service, so the line is long either way.

[Phoenix8489 0]

8 hours ago, ovb said:

Thank you!! It's a good suggestion. I'll try calling them tomorrow. It's too late for Moscow now. In the meantime, I got through at the US Embassy in Warsaw. They told me that if we miss our interview date, we can reschedule for another date via their web site - the site where we got our UID number. There we'll have to fill out a form and answer a series of questions after which we'll be offered new interview dates. Unfortunately, the person I spoke with could not tell me what would our new timeline look like if we have to reschedule. Will we have to wait another few months?... We also just spoke with a visa agency in Moscow. They told us that to get a schengen visa now takes about 2 weeks, and even then no one guarantees that we'll get it in time. And, yes, everyone is now using that VIP service, so the line is long either way.

Not sure how long the wait would be, but don't think it would be over 2 months... Question..... Did you just wait on the interview letter or did you try to call them/sent a request for expediting? IDK if I can do anything right now, dad's Schengen ends on 3/22.

[Phoenix8489 0]

On 3/12/2022 at 4:24 PM, rikko said:

I assumed it couldn't be in Poland because EU airspace was closed to Russian planes, I thought he would be barred from entering Poland. 🤔

 

But despite that, he's now residing in Armenia on a work visa. It would be easier for us to interview there because he wouldn't need to get a Schengen visa and his new place of residence is there. 

 

I still haven't gotten an email back from the US embassy in Armenia but I've received my NOA2 in the mail, with my fiance's beneficiary/alien number. 

 

If I wanna ask to transfer a case between embassies do I call NVC now before it's sent out, or do I call once it's in Poland and ask them to send it to Armenia? 🤔

Hey, rikko! If I remember correctly, we emailed at immigrantvisaswarsaw@state.gov in order to transfer the case from MOS to WRW.

[ovb 9]

3 hours ago, Phoenix8489 said:

Not sure how long the wait would be, but don't think it would be over 2 months... Question..... Did you just wait on the interview letter or did you try to call them/sent a request for expediting? IDK if I can do anything right now, dad's Schengen ends on 3/22.

Are you able to bring your dad to Warsaw and have him wait for the interview date there?... We did not request any expediting. Just waited. It is so puzzling how this line works. Wasn't your case transferred to Warsaw a few days earlier than our? And yet I know some applicants shared here that their cases were transferred in December and interviews were scheduled for February.... One thing that the US Embassy in Warsaw really emphasized to me this morning was that each case is treated on an individual bases. For example, if we end up needing to reschedule our interview, we'll be offered to choose from specific dates based on our specific case. In other words, I always thought that immigrant visa cases (at least in the same category, eg IR5-Parent of US Citizen) are treated similarly, but I'm realising now that this may not be the case.

[Phoenix8489 0]

On 2/25/2022 at 10:31 AM, Alexsf308 said:

Was it an email from the consulate or NVC?

Hey, Alexsf308! Is there any progress on your case?

[Phoenix8489 0]

17 hours ago, ovb said:

Are you able to bring your dad to Warsaw and have him wait for the interview date there?... We did not request any expediting. Just waited. It is so puzzling how this line works. Wasn't your case transferred to Warsaw a few days earlier than our? And yet I know some applicants shared here that their cases were transferred in December and interviews were scheduled for February.... One thing that the US Embassy in Warsaw really emphasized to me this morning was that each case is treated on an individual bases. For example, if we end up needing to reschedule our interview, we'll be offered to choose from specific dates based on our specific case. In other words, I always thought that immigrant visa cases (at least in the same category, eg IR5-Parent of US Citizen) are treated similarly, but I'm realising now that this may not be the case.

Yes, he is on the old tourist visa with me in US (he received it before applying for immigration).

I wonder what to do: 1. Take him to Greece (visa issuing countrycountry) and Poland; and then try to extend the visa? (I heard it is rare and I don't know how likely they will extend it or what needs to be done for it).

2. Try to call Schengen embassies in US and see if he, as a B1 visa holder (tourist), could apply in embassies/consulates in US for a Schengen visa.... So confusing!

 

Have you figured out if your mom can get a Schengen visa before the interview? Which embassy are you guys applying to; Greece?

Edited March 15, 2022 by Phoenix8489

[Phoenix8489 0]

On 3/14/2022 at 5:11 AM, Mike20090622 said:

That’s what I am worried, my fiancé doesn’t have a job and I wonder if she can even get a Schengen visa 

I think, she can, but there should be a sponsoring form of some sort that you could fill in for her.

[ovb 9]

3 hours ago, Phoenix8489 said:

Yes, he is on the old tourist visa with me in US (he received it before applying for immigration).

I wonder what to do: 1. Take him to Greece (visa issuing countrycountry) and Poland; and then try to extend the visa? (I heard it is rare and I don't know how likely they will extend it or what needs to be done for it).

2. Try to call Schengen embassies in US and see if he, as a B1 visa holder (tourist), could apply in embassies/consulates in US for a Schengen visa.... So confusing!

 

Have you figured out if your mom can get a Schengen visa before the interview? Which embassy are you guys applying to; Greece?

Are you saying that your dad is currently in the United States? If this is the case, he shouldn't have to apply for a US immigrant visa. He can apply for adjustment of status directly. I'm pretty sure I saw a formal statement about it somewhere when US designated Russia a "homeless" nation last fall. I would call US Department of State to confirm.

 

My understanding is that the fastest Schengen one can get in Russia in to Italy, and even that takes about two weeks via VIP service. What's worse, there are no medical appointments available earlier than April 15th. So, I really don't think we can manage this timeline.