"Digital nomads" applying for green card

[nekotakacho 60]

1 hour ago, Cherie123 said:

My son had a similar situation. He and his wife were married in Tbilisi and lived there for a year after getting married. His lawyer told him to use our (his parents) address . It is now at the NVC stage. NVC assigned my daughter-in-law’s interview to Tbilisi, even though she is back in Moscow now. Now they are waiting for interview date. 

We tried to transfer to Georgia but had a difficult time even emailing them. They ran us in circles. We got engaged in Georgia, and it’s cheap and easy to go there from Russia. In fact, when we were in Tbilisi we ran into several friends from Moscow randomly on the street, there a lot of Russians there always. I’d say half of Georgians speak Russian too.

 

We had also tried Minsk but they would not accept it. They said they do not have the staff nor do they process immigrant visas. 
 

I know Spain was an option. Paris too. 
 

it is important to remember that your wife will have to have her medical examination in whichever country you transfer your K1 to. So choose wisely. My wife was hesitant to even think about considering a medical exam in Ukraine. 

 

 

[millefleur 5,046]

1 hour ago, nekotakacho said:

Yes I do know Israel processes b visas for Russians. They get maybe 30-50 a month when they’re processing them. They usually go in groups or charters.

If you could post about your experience with that i the RUB forum so that others know, I would appreciate it:

https://www.visajourney.com/forums/forum/98-russia-ukraine-and-belarus/

 

1 hour ago, nekotakacho said:

We had also tried Minsk but they would not accept it. They said they do not have the staff nor do they process immigrant visas. 

Belarus never processed immigrant visas, not even for their own citizens. Their applications go to Warsaw by default.

 

1 hour ago, nekotakacho said:

it is important to remember that your wife will have to have her medical examination in whichever country you transfer your K1 to.

According to recent posts in the RUB forum, the medical can now be done in Moscow and transferred to Warsaw. I would look into seeing if it's the same for other embassy transfers.

Edited October 18, 2021 by millefleur

[SalishSea 17,818]

3 hours ago, nekotakacho said:

Yes I do know Israel processes b visas for Russians. They get maybe 30-50 a month when they’re processing them. They usually go in groups or charters. Not only that, they speak Russian in Israel. Anything else you need help with?
 

why would the citizens of Russia complain to the Russian government about American government?? That is a very strange thing for you to suggest. Do you even know that the Russian government doesn’t care about the Russian people, much less the Americans politics or government? This isn’t New Zealand and they don’t pledge allegiance to the Queen of England.   I was certainly not suggesting the Russians complain to their government about the US government.  The US is not responsible for Russian domestic policy, no matter how hard you try to make it be.    And I doubt very much my kiwi husband has ever pledged allegiance to the queen of England, LOL.
 

And let’s be very clear here, the Russians removed the US staff AFTER the Russian staff was removed from the USA. How do I know? Because we deal with all these wonderful people on both sides of this stupid fence

 

[millefleur 5,046]

21 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

I was certainly not suggesting the Russians complain to their government about the US government.  The US is not responsible for Russian domestic policy, no matter how hard you try to make it be.

The US and Russia have been involved in a diplomatic crisis for years now. It's been a long game of #######-for-tat petty decisions back and forth between the two countries. There's no foreseeable solution to any of this. Neither country considers it a priority so it just stagnates. Both countries are at fault here and ordinary citizens on either side basically have no influence over the situation, yet they are the ones punished.

 

The point is that the "consulate shopping" thing doesn't really apply to people whose embassy has ceased to function. Those applicants have no choice but to "consulate shop." Also, to my understanding, while "consulate shopping" isn't exactly encouraged, there's no penalty for it. It's not like because you asked multiple embassies for a transfer that the odds of your case being rejected increases. I don't think "consulate shopping is "frowned upon" so much as it is just pointless for most people, because if your home country or country of residence has a functioning embassy then obviously the applicant would apply there. It's kind of similar to a DCF scenario: you need a good reason to ask for a transfer and then the embassy has to accept your case based on your circumstances. There's no punishment for asking.

Edited October 18, 2021 by millefleur

[SalishSea 17,818]

3 minutes ago, millefleur said:

The US and Russia have been involved in a diplomatic crisis for years now. It's been a long game of #######-for-tat petty decisions back and forth between the two countries. There's no foreseeable solution to any of this. Neither country considers it a priority so it just stagnates. Both countries are at fault here and ordinary citizens on either side basically have no influence over the situation, yet they are the ones punished.

 

The point is that the "consulate shopping" thing doesn't really apply to people whose embassy has ceased to function. Those applicants have no choice but to "consulate shop." Also, to my understanding, while "consulate shopping" isn't exactly encouraged, there's no penalty for it. It's not like because you asked multiple embassies for a transfer that the odds of your case being rejected increases. I don't think "consulate shopping is "frowned upon" so much as it is just pointless for most people, because if your home country or country of residence has a functioning embassy then obviously the applicant would apply there. It's kind of similar to a DCF scenario: you need a good reason to ask for a transfer and then the embassy has to accept your case based on your circumstances. There's no punishment for asking.

Right.  I was simply suggesting that the OP make sure Tel Aviv will conduct visitor visa interviews for non-Israeli citizens prior to sending the parents there, because i would think with limited resources, the focus would be on interviews for immigrant visas, or interviews for B visas for citizens.  

[HRQX 4,145]

On 10/18/2021 at 10:31 AM, Jorgedig said:

I was simply suggesting that the OP make sure Tel Aviv will conduct visitor visa interviews for non-Israeli citizens prior to sending the parents there

OP's parents aren't applying for visas since they already reside in the US. OP's wife is Russian:

On 10/17/2021 at 6:19 PM, nekotakacho said:

Tel Aviv has virtually no waits for visa processing.

Tel Aviv doesn't process K-1, CR-1, etc. type visas since only Jerusalem has an IV unit: https://il.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/

Edited October 23, 2021 by HRQX

[millefleur 5,046]

**One reply not related to OP's original question split and moved to RUB forum.**

 

VJ Moderation

[From_CAN_2_US 1,106]

Do you hold a visa for any country, namely work/ student/ dependent visa? If so, whatever address you are living at while in that country is your permanent address. This could be your AirBnB.
 

If you do not have a visa anywhere, you are still a resident of the US. You do not have legal residence anywhere else. You are just travelling for work/ vacation to other countries. You can enter your parent’s address as your permanent address on the i130 form. That should answer your question for the what permanent  address to enter into your i130.

 

For the beneficiary, again the same thing. Does she have a visa (work/ student/ dependent) to any other country than Russia? If not, she is still a resident of Russia. She will have to interview at the same consulate as all other people living in Russia (which I understand from other posts here is Warsaw)
 

The only exception here is if she has citizenship in another country (not sure if Russia allows that). If so, she can choose interview there too.

 

You would not qualify for DCF unless you have a legal residence anywhere else - which again depends on whether you have any visa anywhere else. You can’t file DCF as a resident of the United States just on a work trip/ vacation abroad.

Edited November 3, 2021 by From_CAN_2_US

[smoothoperaytor 40]

On 10/13/2021 at 9:17 PM, DK999 said:

Hello, I'm really glad I found this site after a lot of digging around. 

 

My wife and I just got married in the Republic of Georgia (the country). I'm American and she's Russian. I have started the I-130 petition online and I'm already going a bit crazy after an online chat with one of the reps at USCIS. 

 

In short, I don't currently reside "permanently" anywhere and it will be that way for the foreseeable future. We work remotely (for a foreign company) and will be traveling from place to place. In fact, I'm traveling to Russia next week to meet her family for the first time!

 

That said, our intention is to move to the US to live permanently. I have always maintained multiple US bank accounts, credit cards, a US address (my parent's house), a driver's license, etc. 

 

The question that the rep couldn't answer is this: what is my "permanent address" when I file if I am not physically present in the United States, and I may be moving from place to place every month or so? I have browsed this forum a bit and I've read up on DCF, but I don't know if 1) we would qualify and 2) if it's even possible considering that the US consulate in Moscow is barely operational because of staffing shortages.

 

Any advice or guidance is much appreciated. Thank you in advance! And apologies if I don't respond shortly after sending this---it's getting late in Tbilisi! Thanks again. 

My situation is very similar to yours; I'm an American, work online, and my wife is Russia. We were married this year and are now going through the marriage visa process. We're a little further along than you — the NVC step — and we're also spending time in Tbilisi until Nov 13th or so. If you'd like to meet and discuss this crazy and stressful process, we can. 

 

A lot of rules put into place haven't considered new trends and technologies. Working online is one example. That's why it's best to keep things simple, I think, and adjust your responses. For example, since you're "traveling" from place to place you're not residing anywhere permanently. Your permanent address — the one you get mail and pay bills from — is in the US. Even if you're not physically there, that's your address. I haven't been in the US more than a month in the past two years and the address I now use is one I haven't physically been to. But when it comes to where I legally reside, the US address is the one I use.

 

Quote

That said, our intention is to move to the US to live permanently.

This is most-important thing and should be proven.

 

As for your other questions about the consulate, that's been answered and brought up in this thread already, I think. Basically, your wife needs to get a schengen to a country that accepts Russians, such as Greece, and then travel from that country to Warsaw, Poland. Keep in mind you have several months before you get to the interview step, so maybe things will change by then.

[smoothoperaytor 40]

On 10/18/2021 at 4:41 PM, Cherie123 said:

My son had a similar situation. He and his wife were married in Tbilisi and lived there for a year after getting married. His lawyer told him to use our (his parents) address . It is now at the NVC stage. NVC assigned my daughter-in-law’s interview to Tbilisi, even though she is back in Moscow now. Now they are waiting for interview date. 

Do you know if the NVC assigned location was automatic? I've heard it sometimes is. I'm also at the NVC stage. It says "Current case review time: As of 1-NOV-2021, we are reviewing documents submitted to us on 08-AUG-2021" and the final docs for our case were submitted on October 15th. I think this means we have to wait until they get to our case, but I'm not sure. 

[smoothoperaytor 40]

On 10/18/2021 at 6:09 AM, millefleur said:

Warsaw has never been declared as the de facto embassy for Russians

It looks like it has now. 

 

https://fam.state.gov/FAM/09FAM/09FAM050404.html#M504_4_8_E_1

 

https://www.bal.com/bal-news/united-states-russia-added-to-the-homeless-nationalities-list-immigrant-visa-applicants-must-apply-in-warsaw-poland/

[DK999 14]

5 hours ago, smoothoperaytor said:

My situation is very similar to yours; I'm an American, work online, and my wife is Russia. We were married this year and are now going through the marriage visa process. We're a little further along than you — the NVC step — and we're also spending time in Tbilisi until Nov 13th or so. If you'd like to meet and discuss this crazy and stressful process, we can. 

 

A lot of rules put into place haven't considered new trends and technologies. Working online is one example. That's why it's best to keep things simple, I think, and adjust your responses. For example, since you're "traveling" from place to place you're not residing anywhere permanently. Your permanent address — the one you get mail and pay bills from — is in the US. Even if you're not physically there, that's your address. I haven't been in the US more than a month in the past two years and the address I now use is one I haven't physically been to. But when it comes to where I legally reside, the US address is the one I use.

 

This is most-important thing and should be proven.

 

As for your other questions about the consulate, that's been answered and brought up in this thread already, I think. Basically, your wife needs to get a schengen to a country that accepts Russians, such as Greece, and then travel from that country to Warsaw, Poland. Keep in mind you have several months before you get to the interview step, so maybe things will change by then.

Hey, I appreciate the response. Would've loved to meet up in Tbilisi but we're actually in Russia now. I've also talked it over with someone from CitizenPath who has basically said the same as you. In her words,  "USCIS doesn't like digital nomads." So we're going to keep it simple and even though we've made it a little bit "harder" on ourselves, we're confident it should work out in the end. 

[smoothoperaytor 40]

3 hours ago, DK999 said:

Hey, I appreciate the response. Would've loved to meet up in Tbilisi but we're actually in Russia now. I've also talked it over with someone from CitizenPath who has basically said the same as you. In her words,  "USCIS doesn't like digital nomads." So we're going to keep it simple and even though we've made it a little bit "harder" on ourselves, we're confident it should work out in the end. 

No problem. Enjoy Russia and meeting the family. I remember my first time meeting my wife's family. There are a lot of nuances to the culture and daily life there compared to the US. We left for a while to avoid the cold winter. We'll probably return in a few months.

 

The keep it simple approach is best. Don't try to explain your lifestyle of traveling and working online. It's not necessary. All it does is open the doors to more questions.

[DK999 14]

On 11/8/2021 at 3:12 PM, smoothoperaytor said:

No problem. Enjoy Russia and meeting the family. I remember my first time meeting my wife's family. There are a lot of nuances to the culture and daily life there compared to the US. We left for a while to avoid the cold winter. We'll probably return in a few months.

 

The keep it simple approach is best. Don't try to explain your lifestyle of traveling and working online. It's not necessary. All it does is open the doors to more questions.

One more thing: you mentioned the importance of emphasizing our intent to settle in the US---is there a section of the I-130 specifically for this purpose? For instance, is there a section to submit pdfs of US bank statements, proof that I've voted absentee, filed taxes while abroad, etc? 

 

Or is there some other method of proving this intent? I don't own property in the US and we both work remote for a foreign company, so that certainly doesn't help. I want to essentially explain to them, "We don't live and work in the US right now, but we WILL once we get this green card."

[Redro 4,611]

15 minutes ago, DK999 said:

One more thing: you mentioned the importance of emphasizing our intent to settle in the US---is there a section of the I-130 specifically for this purpose? For instance, is there a section to submit pdfs of US bank statements, proof that I've voted absentee, filed taxes while abroad, etc? 

 

Or is there some other method of proving this intent? I don't own property in the US and we both work remote for a foreign company, so that certainly doesn't help. I want to essentially explain to them, "We don't live and work in the US right now, but we WILL once we get this green card."

You submit that information with the I-864 (Affidavit of Support) at the NVC stage. You'll have to show sufficient income and US domicile (or intent to re-establish US domicile).

Then when your wife goes for her interview the embassy will decide if they accept your evidence.

Sometimes COs can be easy going and other times (check out the Canada forum) they'll want the US citizen to move back to the US before the beneficiary. 

Edited November 10, 2021 by Kor2USA