Russian K1 question and asylum (split)

[egur 8]

We already had our invitation to Warsaw and an interview scheduled for April when the war broke out and now we cannot go, because there are no planes and no one in Europe is issuing Schengen visas. We are on K1 fiance visa from Russia. So what are people doing in our situation? Are they asking for transfers to Erevan, Armenia or somewhere else? I don't think Bucharest will work, because they are in the EU and due to the sanctions there is no way to get there from Russia right now. Any suggestions? Has anyone tried anything that actually worked?

[millefleur 5,046]

24 minutes ago, egur said:

We already had our invitation to Warsaw and an interview scheduled for April when the war broke out and now we cannot go, because there are no planes and no one in Europe is issuing Schengen visas.

Is this true? I haven't heard. Only official news I saw was Czech Rep was not issuing visas to Russian citizens.

[.yana 597]

On 3/8/2022 at 10:36 AM, egur said:

We already had our invitation to Warsaw and an interview scheduled for April when the war broke out and now we cannot go, because there are no planes and no one in Europe is issuing Schengen visas. We are on K1 fiance visa from Russia. So what are people doing in our situation? Are they asking for transfers to Erevan, Armenia or somewhere else? I don't think Bucharest will work, because they are in the EU and due to the sanctions there is no way to get there from Russia right now. Any suggestions? Has anyone tried anything that actually worked?

There is a way to fly to EU via Turkey, UAE, Georgia currently (albeit even those air routes may soon be cancelled and train will be her only option).

 

I won’t speak for all countries but Italy announced few days ago that they will resume visa applications in Moscow. Look into what other EU consulates are open. 
 

Countries that temporarily banned visas to Russian Nationals are Czech Republic and Latvia. 

Edited March 11, 2022 by .yana

[Joey B 2]

Sadly the US is only considering Russian immigrant status right now and not Ukrainian, as they (Russians) can be considered for "Political asylum "the Ukrainians are considered "Refugees" and only granted 90 day extended Visas if they are already in the US. It's sort of backwards. My suggestion is get to Germany vs. Poland as Warsaw is overwhelmed and is handing off processing to Frankfort.  The southern border in US is broken, wierdly they are letting in South and Central Americans in by the Thousands, no papers or covid shots..

[egur 8]

Wait to receive the letter. It will have detailed instructions on what they want. Many times it will list options (i.e. choices - submit some of these, but not all required) of documents that they want to see. I recommend to submit as much on their list as possible in the greatest detail possible. And write everything as clear and as obvious as possible. They usually give 3 months to respond, but it's in your interest to collect this info and respond asap, because it will take them at least 1 month to process your response. It's nothing to worry about it. Most of these result from confusion in paperwork or something lacking that they wanted. 

[Simplytex 387]

On 3/14/2022 at 8:29 AM, Joey B said:

Sadly the US is only considering Russian immigrant status right now and not Ukrainian, as they (Russians) can be considered for "Political asylum "the Ukrainians are considered "Refugees" and only granted 90 day extended Visas if they are already in the US. It's sort of backwards. My suggestion is get to Germany vs. Poland as Warsaw is overwhelmed and is handing off processing to Frankfort.  The southern border in US is broken, wierdly they are letting in South and Central Americans in by the Thousands, no papers or covid shots..

Sorry, but where have you seen any information regarding Russians applying for asylum? I didn't think you can split for asylum from outside the US anymore - you need to be inside the US or at a port of entry (which basically narrows it down to Mexican border.) 

[millefleur 5,046]

12 hours ago, Simplytex said:

Sorry, but where have you seen any information regarding Russians applying for asylum? I didn't think you can split for asylum from outside the US anymore - you need to be inside the US or at a port of entry (which basically narrows it down to Mexican border.) 

You are correct. You can only apply for asylum inside the US, which means you have to get into the US with a valid visa. There are reports that people are crossing into the Mexican border, including Russians and Ukrainians, but none of these news stories ever seem to clarify what the situation is with their visas.

[Joey B 2]

Directly from my immigration lawyer..We are in South Florida and tons of Russians in Hollywood,Hallandale, Sunny isles, Fort Lauderdale . Russians are buying up properties like mad.My immigration lawyer is Polish and she said Warsaw overwhelmed and Russians slready in US are all doing a political asylum case

(Google also Miami Herald/Russian property frenzy)

[millefleur 5,046]

12 minutes ago, Joey B said:

Directly from my immigration lawyer..We are in South Florida and tons of Russians in Hollywood,Hallandale, Sunny isles, Fort Lauderdale . Russians are buying up properties like mad.My immigration lawyer is Polish and she said Warsaw overwhelmed and Russians slready in US are all doing a political asylum case

(Google also Miami Herald/Russian property frenzy)

How does that work with visas though? Merely buying property in the US doesn't mean you get some free entry into the country. I assume all of those people already have US visas.Oh, I just see that you said "Russians already in the US"....so that answers that.

 

As for Warsaw being overwhelmed, it's been that way for months now. The only type of "asylum" any Russians can apply for outside the US is Humanitarian Parole and that's a USCIS thing, Warsaw would not even enter into the picture until much, much later:

https://www.uscis.gov/forms/explore-my-options/humanitarian-parole

 

 

[Boiler 45,519]

Certainly makes sense that Russians in the US would consider their opportunity to obtain asylum, assuming they do want US Permanent Residence.

 

 

[nekotakacho 60]

Plenty of Russians are coming to the USA on B2 tourist visas and applying for asylum. and yes, you must be in the USA or at a POE to apply for asylum. Most Russians with B2 visas are already here in the USA now. Our friend from Siberia came to Miami last week because he had been arrested walking the street in Moscow. He was arrested for protesting but he was just walking home from work. Now he is on a black list in Russia which makes him unemployable. He spent a week in jail over this. He’s pretty upset.
 

The Us embassy in Moscow has been closed long before this “war” and has completely robbed the Russian people of hopes and also money. Literally US embassy stole their money on pending applications. We lost our money, and so did thousands of other people waiting on applications. 

We re-applied for my wife’s parents to get B2 visas in Budapest. We booked their appointments last September for this July. It was hard to find an appointment slot. They will fly through Turkey to meet us in Greece, and then to Budapest for their interviews.

 

I am going to encourage all our Russian friends and family to expedite their cases as well.
 

 

Edited March 28, 2022 by nekotakacho

[Boiler 45,519]

That does not surprise me at all, it will make things very difficult for Russians applying for a B visa,

 

Crazy as it sounds your chances would be better if you are a Putin supporter.

[.yana 597]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

Crazy as it sounds your chances would be better if you are a Putin supporter.

Care to elaborate?

[Boiler 45,519]

6 minutes ago, .yana said:

Care to elaborate?

 

Somebody who is anti Putin, has taken part in anti war protests etc would have a good claim for asylum. B is a non immigrant visa.

[.yana 597]

10 minutes ago, Boiler said:

 

Somebody who is anti Putin, has taken part in anti war protests etc would have a good claim for asylum. B is a non immigrant visa.

To apply for an asylum - you need to be in the US. One would need to apply for a B visa before seeking asylum, yes?