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Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted (edited)

Steve,

 

If it helps, tell your wife the interview is quite short.  My fiancee also mentioned that the CO was friendly.  She and I had spent a considerable amount of time prepping her for the anticipated interview questions.  My fiancee likes being prepared.  Her interview literally was 5 minutes long, very likely less.  He asked only 4 questions:

 

Where/how did we meet?

When was the last time wet met in person?

What does your petitioner do for work/living?

Where will you reside in the US?

 

The interview was seemingly a formality.  I would imagine a spousal interview would be even easier since you are already married.  So don't worry too much about interview prepping.

 

Edited by Caboose29
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted (edited)

@Caboose29 I sent her a screen shot of your comments about the simplicity of the interview. It seems that it is more a formality for some. I think it will help to ease her mind a bit and thank you for sharing.

Edited by StevenInAtlanta
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted
1 hour ago, StevenInAtlanta said:

@Caboose29 I sent her a screen shot of your comments about the simplicity of the interview. It seems that it is more a formality for some. I think it will help to ease her mind a bit and thank you for sharing.

I agree that the interview is very straightforward. Unless there were some loose ends in your case that need to be clarified or you had major red flags, they will just ask the basic questions and I would expect the interview not to last longer than 15 minutes max. Important thing to remember is, if they ask a question and she just genuinely forgets or doesn't know, just say that. Do not attempt to make up an answer, just be honest and tell them you forgot or don't know. If you make something up or say the wrong info, it can trigger suspicion if it doesn't match what they have on record. It rarely happens but just something to keep in mind, and that goes for any interview during immigration: whether it is at the Embassy, with CBP or USCIS.

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview 

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

  • 1 month later...
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted

UPDATE: NOTHING, NOT A PEEP...
Trying to bring my Russian citizen wife to the USA. We've been married (in the USA) since July 2017. I-129 finished and accepted over a year ago. We have been documentarily complete since 05-NOV-2020.

 

05-NOV-2020: Our (IR-1/CR-1) documents were qualified (DQ)
15-DEC-2020: Our change from assigned post from Moscow to Warsaw was communicated via email 

 

Now it's 23-JAN 2022 and we are wondering where the invitation email/letter is?
I've seen a few others have reported their invitations came within a week or two.

 

I've been reading several pages and post threads, probably 30-40 pages in total to get my mind wrapped around this process and to help manage my own and my wife's expectations. I just want to be prepared in advance and not have to rush rush rush at the last minute and wind up not being able to go to the interview because we are not COVID, travel visa, medically, translated document, etc ready.

 

QUESTIONS:

1. Could someone explain the difference in obtaining a single Vs multiple entry  Schengen visa. It seems that the fuse on a single is by nature fairly short (and less expensive) and a multi-entry is longer and more expensive. How long does it typically take to get either? It seems that most Russians are going through Greece to reach Warsaw Poland. So is the  Schengen visa obtained through the Greece embassy in Moscow? 

2. Looks like Russians can now get their medical requirements done in Moscow, then sent to the embassy in Warsaw. Is it possible to get the medical portion accomplished and sent before the interview invitation is received? How long does the medical last, surely it has a shelf life/expiration...

3. I am reading some conflicting reports that you have to stay (take a tour) in Greece for a few days, then go to Poland for the interview. Others have indicated they arrived in Greece, then flew next day to Warsaw. Can anyone clarify what the current requirements might actually be please?

4. Sputnik5 vaccine still not recognized in Poland, no current update available on it being approved or even the needed documents submitted for WHO approval. Looks like as long as you have a negative PCR the day or two before your trip you're good to go.  A rapid test may be required at the air port perhaps.  Any current updates on this?

5. I have a growing concern that if Putin decides to cross the Ukrainian border sometime soon as diplomatic peace talks fail, this might impact my wife's ability to enter Poland for her interview or it might delay the issuance of an interview date. Can anyone offer a thoughtful response on how this factor might impact our case. Should we consider moving the case from Warsaw to another embassy? How is that done, best places to move?

Staying patient, just trying to stay informed and be ready as we can be....

Thank you in advance to all that respond.

 

 

 

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted

My bad...I mistyped one of the dates...

 

05-NOV-2020: Our (IR-1/CR-1) documents were qualified (DQ)
15-DEC-2021: Our change from assigned post from Moscow to Warsaw was communicated via email 
So it actually took 13 months to get from documents accepted/qualified to being moved to Warsaw from Moscow.

 

Now it's 23-JAN 2022 and we are wondering where the invitation email/letter is?

  • 4 weeks later...
Filed: AOS (pnd) Country: Belarus
Timeline
Posted (edited)
12 hours ago, rikko said:

do you guys have any concerns with the russia-ukraine tensions and how it might effect visa processing?

No, it will not. Apparently, the State Department is still maintaining that they'll eventually be processing visas in Ukraine, so while it's certainly possible for Ukrainians to transfer elsewhere, I doubt that'll come to fruition. Warsaw is already overwhelmed with being the dedicated center for three nationalities. If we learned anything from how the Moscow embassy was handled, any decision to transfer Ukrainians elsewhere will happen much, much later, after the situation is ended definitively in one way or another. 

 

Edit: also, hello my fellow March filer haha

Edited by slavaskii

K-1 Visa Process: Complete 

I-129F Sent: 03/16/2021

I-129F Picked Up from Dallas Lockbox: 03/18/2021

NOA1: Received 03/17/2021 (backdated); notice date 04/08/2021

NOA2: 2/18/22 

NVC Received: 03/08/2022

NVC Case Number: 03/17/2022

Interview: 06/06/2022 —> Approved!

Wedding: 08/02/2022 🥳
 

AOS Process: Complete 

I-435/I-765/I-131 Sent: 08/09/2022

I-435/I-765/I-131 Picked up from Chicago PO Box: 08/10/2022

Priority Date: 08/10/2022 (NBC)

I-864 RFE: 08/25/2022

Biometrics: 09/08/2022 

Active Reviews: 09/08/2022 (EAD), 09/09/2022 (AOS)

RFE Response Sent: 09/15/2022

EAD / AP Approval: 06/06/2023 (approval notice in portal, no status update)

I-485 Approval: 04/19/2024 🥳

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted
On 1/25/2022 at 7:34 PM, Corp668 said:

Steve,

 

My case (K1) was transferred from Moscow to Warsaw right around Thanksgiving.  Just yesterday my fiancee got the documents from the Warsaw embassy by mail.... so that was 2 months.  Be patient, they are going out it seems but not nearly as quickly as usual.

Thanks for the reply @Corp668, it's good to read of someone that has actually moved along and know the amount of time it took their package to move forward. It gives us hope to know something more sometime sooner rather than much later.

Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted
14 hours ago, rikko said:

do you guys have any concerns with the russia-ukraine tensions and how it might effect visa processing?

Yes, I expressed that above in my last post but we have at least one response that makes sense that the potential impact is at this point just potential.  We are staying positive at this point but watching the news and other people's experience getting their visas through Warsaw.  This stuff from an outsider's point of view is bat sh^t cray cray.  So I am mostly trying to remain calm and just do the work.....

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted

Санкции ЕС могут сделать невозможными путешествия россиян в Польшу, заявил президент страны Анджей Дуда

"EU sanctions may make it impossible for Russians to travel to Poland, said President Andrzej Duda"

😬

Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted
1 hour ago, rikko said:

Санкции ЕС могут сделать невозможными путешествия россиян в Польшу, заявил президент страны Анджей Дуда

"EU sanctions may make it impossible for Russians to travel to Poland, said President Andrzej Duda"

😬

Source please?

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview 

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

Filed: K-1 Visa Country: Russia
Timeline
Posted
On 2/25/2022 at 3:11 PM, marpolsdofer said:

My wife just told me that but I looked it up. They just banned Russian airline from operating in the airspace.

So it just makes it bit harder to get there.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-60539303

 

Oh no...

 
Didn't find the answer you were looking for? Ask our VJ Immigration Lawyers.

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