Interview at Warsaw embassy - case transfer from Moscow

[Gawain 23]

Thanks, but most Schengen countries have suspended routine service issuing visas to Russian citizens - because again, as you know the citizens themselves are responsible for the military exercise so we must cancel all Russians and everything Russian (I'm still being sarcastic)!

 

I have a way that she is still able still apply for a Schengen visa for her (humanitarian).  Right now I'm only interested in hearing about, or seeing a link to where someone has successfully purchased medical travel insurance for a Russian citizen for the purposes of obtaining a Schengen visa.  Otherwise, the reply does me no good.

 

 

 

Thanks!

[millefleur 5,047]

4 hours ago, Gawain said:

Thanks, but most Schengen countries have suspended routine service issuing visas to Russian citizens

Is this true? Where did you hear it from? I would appreciate sources, there have been so many panic rumors flying around that it's good to confirm.

[Gawain 23]

It is true.  But I should have said "some" and maybe not "most."

I go to the Estonian Embassy website.  Visas for Russian citizens stopped, except for humanitarian or some compelling reason.

I go to the Latvian Embassy website.  Visas for Russian citizens stopped, except for humanitarian or some compelling reason.

There are more.

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,093]

5 minutes ago, Gawain said:

It is true.  But I should have said "some" and maybe not "most."

I go to the Estonian Embassy website.  Visas for Russian citizens stopped, except for humanitarian or some compelling reason.

I go to the Latvian Embassy website.  Visas for Russian citizens stopped, except for humanitarian or some compelling reason.

There are more.

I mean, it's true that there are more, but I don't think it's "most" or even close to that. Though I think it is most Schengen area countries that border Russia.

[Gawain 23]

Here's another: On 24 Feb. 2022, the government of Lithuania suspended the issuance of visas for Russian nationals.  

 

and another: On 23 Feb. 2022, VFS Global, the Czech Republic’s visa processing service provider, announced that applications submitted in Russia for the Czech Schengen visa will be suspended until further notice. 

 

This is cause of concern as well: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/poland-calls-on-eu-to-completely-halt-issuance-of-schengen-visas-to-russians/

 

Get 'em while you can.  Welcome to the WOKE WAR (the Russian citizens themselves are responsible for the military exercise so we must cancel all Russians and everything Russian (I'm still being sarcastic)!

 

[millefleur 5,047]

3 hours ago, Gawain said:

This is cause of concern as well: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/poland-calls-on-eu-to-completely-halt-issuance-of-schengen-visas-to-russians/

The Poland thing has been old news for a while now. They can't dictate what other EU countries decide to do, that's just not how EU the works. A bunch of Schengen countries like Greece, Italy and Hungary are still issuing visas as far as I know. It's certainly not "most" Schengen countries, but a few out of 26 member states.

 

Even if Poland themselves suddenly decided they didn't want Russians coming in, that's basically in violation of the whole concept of the Schengen zone, so they would need to re-think whether they want to be Schengen or not anymore, and I would be shocked if they decided to take such a huge step back just to "own the Russians."

 

Any Russian who needs a Schengen visa should contact a competent and trustworthy travel agency who has experience securing them.

[slavaskii 886]

1 hour ago, millefleur said:

The Poland thing has been old news for a while now. They can't dictate what other EU countries decide to do, that's just not how EU the works. A bunch of Schengen countries like Greece, Italy and Hungary are still issuing visas as far as I know. It's certainly not "most" Schengen countries, but a few out of 26 member states.

 

Even if Poland themselves suddenly decided they didn't want Russians coming in, that's basically in violation of the whole concept of the Schengen zone, so they would need to re-think whether they want to be Schengen or not anymore, and I would be shocked if they decided to take such a huge step back just to "own the Russians."

 

Any Russian who needs a Schengen visa should contact a competent and trustworthy travel agency who has experience securing them.

Poland de facto had a Russian ban since COVID began, they accepted all vaccines but Sputnik. Technically, that means America has a Russia ban as well (because exceptions are handed out to everyone but Russians/Belarusians), but I digress.

 

One thing of note. Interviews are now backed up December 5, and most certainly the protesting Schengen countries will not lift visa bans until the war is over (and even then it's questionable depending on what the outcome is). An approved I-129F is only good for 4 months. What happens when packets get to Warsaw and the wait is over 4 months, does the embassy auto-extend? Though the visa issue isn't a concern for us, our interview is within 4 months of arrival to Warsaw but not within 4 months of approval. Should we be worried?

[TBoneTX 45,591]

5 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

What happens when packets get to Warsaw and the wait is over 4 months, does the embassy auto-extend?

Consulates typically extend "standard" petition validity (I-129F, I-130) for 4-month periods for up to a year.

It's usually automatic, but it never hurts to send an e-mail request (with case number in Subject line).

6 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

Should we be worried?

Nope.  To rest your worries, send an e-mail per above.  I'd bet anything that they're bending over backwards to be accommodating and flexible during this crisis.

[millefleur 5,047]

3 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

most certainly the protesting Schengen countries will not lift visa bans until the war is over

It still doesn't really affect a Russian's ability to get into the Schengen zone and then travel onward from there. If Czechia, Latvia, Estonia and others want to just not issue anymore visas to Russians, it's their loss. I'm sure Italy, Greece and Hungary are only glad to pick up the lost revenue. Even in these "banned" countries, if you took a bus into them, there's still no border between Schengen states, so you'd be able to get in. I have no idea how they were enforcing the vaccines for people already inside the Schengen zone....does anyone have any info on that? What if you travel via train between 2 Schengen countries, is anyone checking for vaccines?

 

Also, Russians can get vaccinated in Turkey. My MIL is in the process of this right now. Hopefully she won't have any issues traveling to other countries with the Turkish vaccination certificate. The only annoying thing about it is, you have to go twice to get the 2 shots.

[slavaskii 886]

5 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

Consulates typically extend "standard" petition validity (I-129F, I-130) for 4-month periods for up to a year.

It's usually automatic, but it never hurts to send an e-mail request (with case number in Subject line).

Nope.  To rest your worries, send an e-mail per above.  I'd bet anything that they're bending over backwards to be accommodating and flexible during this crisis.

Thank you so much! I try to limit how much I call Warsaw so as to not bother the poor, but super helpful, guy I routinely get Emails are unresponsive unfortunately. Thanks for alleviating my worries!

 

5 minutes ago, millefleur said:

It still doesn't really affect a Russian's ability to get into the Schengen zone and then travel onward from there. If Czechia, Latvia, Estonia and others want to just not issue anymore visas to Russians, it's their loss. I'm sure Italy, Greece and Hungary are only glad to pick up the lost revenue. Even in these "banned" countries, if you took a bus into them, there's still no border between Schengen states, so you'd be able to get in. I have no idea how they were enforcing the vaccines for people already inside the Schengen zone....does anyone have any info on that? What if you travel via train between 2 Schengen countries, is anyone checking for vaccines?

 

Also, Russians can get vaccinated in Turkey. My MIL is in the process of this right now. Hopefully she won't have any issues traveling to other countries with the Turkish vaccination certificate. The only annoying thing about it is, you have to go twice to get the 2 shots.

That's very interesting/helpful about Turkey, it's great you added that here. I doubt she'll have any issues with the Turkish certificate, it seems like many countries have given up trying to discern between the CDC card/EUDCC and the like. It was all unnecessarily complicated, people take only a fleeting glance at my documents (I have both CDC card and EUDCC). Is Turkey not distributing Janssen?

 

Also to the first point, my fiancee's aunt traveled by train recently from Poland to Germany and nobody asked her vaccine status - allegedly. I feel like this was an oversight, though, because Germany claims to have very strict covid policies. I'll also say that I traveled on a train in Switzerland recently with a final destination of Milan and nobody asked for any vaccine status, even while checking my ticket. There'd be literally no other time to conveniently do it. Strange.

[TBoneTX 45,591]

2 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

Thank you so much! I try to limit how much I call Warsaw so as to not bother the poor, but super helpful, guy I routinely get Emails are unresponsive unfortunately. Thanks for alleviating my worries!

You've been so unfailingly helpful in every thread in this forum that I feel honored in being able to offer a little support back.    And I'm sure that you're lavishing appreciation on the helpful guy in Warsaw, which is surely worth more than gold to him.

4 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

nobody asked her vaccine status [...] nobody asked for any vaccine status

Maybe common sense is finally taking over.

[millefleur 5,047]

5 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

That's very interesting/helpful about Turkey, it's great you added that here. I doubt she'll have any issues with the Turkish certificate, it seems like many countries have given up trying to discern between the CDC card/EUDCC and the like. It was all unnecessarily complicated, people take only a fleeting glance at my documents (I have both CDC card and EUDCC). Is Turkey not distributing Janssen?

Unfortunately no J&J in Turkey. Bulgaria is offering J&J but you have to take a bus there from Turkey and my MIL decided she'd rather go to Turkey twice than deal with Bulgaria. 🤣 She's getting Pfizer but I think they offer other multi-shot vaccines in Turkey as well.

 

There are a couple EU countries offering the vaccine to Russians but at astronomical prices, around 1000 EUR. Again for my MIL, she'd rather take that money and vacation in Turkey, so that's why she went with that.

 

7 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

Also to the first point, my fiancee's aunt traveled by train recently from Poland to Germany and nobody asked her vaccine status - allegedly. I feel like this was an oversight, though, because Germany claims to have very strict covid policies. I'll also say that I traveled on a train in Switzerland recently with a final destination of Milan and nobody asked for any vaccine status, even while checking my ticket. There'd be literally no other time to conveniently do it. Strange.

I wonder if people are just getting sick of being Covid police. Thanks for sharing that! Good to know. I hope the vaccine will not be a huge barriers for Russians travelling between Schengen countries then. I assume the only place really enforcing it is airports?

[slavaskii 886]

6 minutes ago, TBoneTX said:

You've been so unfailingly helpful in every thread in this forum that I feel honored in being able to offer a little support back.    And I'm sure that you're lavishing appreciation on the helpful guy in Warsaw, which is surely worth more than gold to him.

Haha, thank you! It was very relieving to visit this forum amidst my finals and impart some of my random knowledge on Eastern Europe You guys have all been incredibly helpful, I couldn't imagine doing any of this without your support. Speaking of "support," that Affidavit isn't going to complete itself! 

 

1 minute ago, millefleur said:

Unfortunately no J&J in Turkey. Bulgaria is offering J&J but you have to take a bus there from Turkey and my MIL decided she'd rather go to Turkey twice than deal with Bulgaria. 🤣 She's getting Pfizer but I think they offer other multi-shot vaccines in Turkey as well.

 

There are a couple EU countries offering the vaccine to Russians but at astronomical prices, around 1000 EUR. Again for my MIL, she'd rather take that money and vacation in Turkey, so that's why she went with that.

 

I wonder if people are just getting sick of being Covid police. Thanks for sharing that! Good to know. I hope the vaccine will not be a huge barriers for Russians travelling between Schengen countries then. I assume the only place really enforcing it is airports?

Good on her for not wanting to waste time on a bus to Bulgaria! I've heard nightmare stories about people back in September taking buses to Hungary only to be told at the clinic they were forbidden from giving out more shots. Definitely not a game you want to play. Plus - 1000 EUR?! That's legitimate robbery. There's no demand for these things anymore...

 

And yes, I think "common sense" is indeed taking over. There's so much fatigue with everything, honestly. My bag was 15 pounds overweight in Zurich and I complemented the United worker and she completely waived it - LOL. But yes, they do check the COVID certificate in airports, but everyone does it differently, it's strange. In Zurich they just took a fleeting glance. In Miami they took a picture and walked away with it. In Istanbul they checked it twice, once at check-in and once at an 'extra' security step prior to departure. Very strange.

 

I should also note that boosters are required for most EU countries if you exceed 9 months on your initial series, unlike the US. So for your MIL this would never be a problem, but it's worth mentioning that if someone does check a vaccine card in Europe, being vaccinated last year may no longer be sufficient.

[TBoneTX 45,591]

25 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

My bag was 15 pounds overweight in Zurich and I complemented the United worker and she completely waived it

At the risk of going off the thread's topic, here's a similar anecdote.

 

A few years ago, I was flying to Ecuador, with a suitcase that had gone there many times.

The United agent claimed that it was an inch over the permitted dimensions.

After some fruitless debate, I asked, "Are you regular U [United], or Continental U?"

She said, "Continental U."

I said, "The wrong airline bought the right airline.  I really miss Continental's way of treating passengers; don't you miss that, too?"

She softened and let my suitcase be checked.

[Mike20090622 45]

It’s confusing reading different posts:

1. For Russian to travel to Poland, they should be vaccinated using American shots like Pfizer or j&j and Moderna? Russia shots not acknowledged?

2. When we do the DL 160 form, we do immigrants or non-immigrants?