Husband from Russia visiting me in USA (no pending Cr1 paperwork)

[slavaskii 886]

16 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

This may be a relevant thread for a B2 from Russia or Belarus.  I forgot to mention in my previous response, but I agree with the others, he would need to disclose his marital status on the B2/DS160 anyway.  You do not want to lie there as it could bring big headaches when the spousal visa application comes around.

 

 

Thanks for linking me in on this.

 

I can confirm that tourist visas in Warsaw for non-residents is currently backed up to November/December 2023. If he can gain residency, that drops dramatically to around June 2022, but Polish residency is a six-month process from the time you gain 'permission' to enter the country on a special status. I confirmed with Warsaw, and perhaps this will be beneficial for others, that the Karta Polaka is not sufficient residency (the easiest 'permission' for Belarusians/Russians to get - the 'proof of Polish heritage'), so you need the Karta Pobytu (the actual 'green card' equivalent) to be eligible for the expedited resident queue. 

 

Things are also complicated by the fact his son will be treated separate, so your appointment will be made for two people. Based on the information we have now, in order for him to have a shot at the tourist visa when you'd like, he'd have to pay $320 (2x the MRV fee) and wait for two people to cancel for this year. Unfortunately, hundreds of people are checking daily for just that. It got so bad that Warsaw put in an anti-botting system to prevent applicants from spamming refresh on the scheduler.

 

My comments on the possibility of a tourist visa is this: it is possible to get one as a SO of an American, but not on the first try. My fiancee got one from Minsk on her third visit and had always disclosed everything about our relationship to the Embassy. The second time they informed her to wait a year, so we did, and on the third try I came too and waited outside. She told that directly to the officer and they approved her. So I can't say it's impossible to get a B2, but it's not at all easy and will almost certainly involve denials.

Edited May 12, 2022 by slavaskii

[millefleur 5,046]

The odds are very much stacked against him getting an approval for a US tourist visa. USC spouse, from Russia and therefore has to go via Poland or some other consulate thus wait times will be absurdly long, plus he has family in Florida. All of this makes his ties in the US very strong compared to ties in Russia.

 

Since you are married, they will be wondering why you live apart. Obviously most spouses want to live together. If you intend to file the CR-1, expect an automatic rejection. They will assume immigrant intent 100% and they wouldn't be wrong for doing so.

 

4 hours ago, GreyGergei said:

I am unable to travel as well, as I recently became a caregiver to an injured family member.

I think your best bet is: file the I-130 and consider an expedite since you are taking care of a sick family member. If you can prove your husband being in the US is essential to you as the USC financially, they may expedite the case. You just need to make a strong case for why it's a hardship to you (USC) and how your husband solves that problem.

Edited May 12, 2022 by millefleur

[Ontarkie 14,218]

~~Moved to Tourist Visas, from Ir1/CR1 P&P - the topic is about visiting~~

[mari04 100]

There is 0 chance of getting visa for a Russian citizen now for clear reasons. I would not even bother. 
even CR1 nowadays will be heavily scrutinized with long APs. If you really want to be with him I would move to Russia. My former business partners from Russia who have tons of money and no connection to the government and large business in US cannot get any visa. 

Edited May 12, 2022 by mari04

[Redro 4,611]

12 hours ago, GreyGergei said:

My husband was the one who was postponed it as we were concerned with travelling to the US if we started paperwork (I'm not sure why we thought that). And also he's been extremely busy with his business and now the war.  We're just not sure when/what to do next but miss each other terribly.

 

I am unable to travel as well, as I recently became a caregiver to an injured family member.

 

But appreciate all the replies. Will keep researching.

Having a petition on file or not having a petition on file doesn't really change his odds of obtaining the visa. 

One needs to be honest about ties to the US. If he is honest and has good reason to return to Russia after his vacation he should be approved.

A poster a few months back was approved for a tourist visa with a pending I-130. 

So, having a USC spouse or partner is the issue. Not having an I-130 on file. 

You can and should file for the I-130 as soon as possible. It can take 1-2 years. 

 

[Redro 4,611]

12 hours ago, GreyGergei said:

Thank you all.

 

He is Armenian and his friend( who is also is Armenian and lives in Russia) was able to get the tourist visa in Armenia a couple of weeks ago.  My husband's situation is only different in that he is married to me, a US citizen.

When your petitions for your husband and stepson are approved. Make sure to request a change of consulates to Armenia. 

As mentioned before, applicants out of Russia are interviewing in Warsaw so if you have another consulate you can interview at I would pursue that lead. 

Edited May 13, 2022 by ROK2USA

[Redro 4,611]

12 hours ago, GreyGergei said:

Thank you all.

 

He is Armenian and his friend( who is also is Armenian and lives in Russia) was able to get the tourist visa in Armenia a couple of weeks ago.  My husband's situation is only different in that he is married to me, a US citizen.

Where did the friend interview and do you know when the friend applied?

It looks like interview wait times for visit visas out of Yerevan is 658 days. 

[MMDG 106]

13 hours ago, GreyGergei said:

Hello,

My spouse and I married last October but we haven't started any of the CR1 paperwork and are considering waiting and doing the IR1 later.

 

During this time, my husband wants to try to apply for a tourist visa to come visit me in the US for a few months end of this year. My stepson would be coming with him.

 

I am concerned because he is from Russia and with the war, I feel he may be more scrutinized. I am also unsure what he can say when he arrives. He has family in Florida (and I'm in Minnesota) so I'm wondering if he can say he's here to visit family, in general?

 

My husband does have a business in Russia so he has every intent on returning there. And my stepson has school. I am sure we can get documents from both of them showing their intent to return but just looking to see if anyone has any guidance.

 

We would also plan to purchase round trip flights to help show our good intentions.

 

I got multiple tourist visas to USA while married to my American citizen husband with no ties to my North African “high fraud” country with no job,oh I also a dual citizen and has a SYRIAN nationality! I got my first visa to USA DURING the beginning of our civil war there AND I entered USA pregnant at 6.5 months with a note from my doctor that I was allowed to fly and faced no issues at all.

they gave me a visa solely on my tie being married to my husband and American kids,I listed him as my sponsor that he is paying for my expenses there since I also had NO BANK ACCOUNT or savings.

 

each time I got a 2 years (max for my country) multi entry visa.

 

I visited for a month each time I went there with no problems and at entry to USA I was given the max time allowed for a tourist visa

 

i know a lot of comments say your husband most likely won’t get the visa but in my case it was different and you won’t lose anything by trying.

I think it all depends on the individual case and person.

 

[millefleur 5,046]

6 minutes ago, MMDG said:

I got multiple tourist visas to USA while married to my American citizen husband with no ties to my North African “high fraud” country with no job,oh I also a dual citizen and has a SYRIAN nationality! I got my first visa to USA DURING the beginning of our civil war there AND I entered USA pregnant at 6.5 months with a note from my doctor that I was allowed to fly and faced no issues at all.

This is insanely uncommon. I'm glad for your situation that you were approved but it's extremely out of the ordinary.

 

In the situation of OP, given the extremely long wait times now to even get a tourist visa interview, I don't think it makes sense for OP to wait to file the I-130. If there is an eventual plan to immigrate to the US, then it's better to start that sooner than later.

[millefleur 5,046]

@GreyGergei Can you please fill in your profile to show what nationality your husband is? It's not clear if he's Russian or Armenian (or both.) It will help you get better answers on this site.

[Redro 4,611]

13 minutes ago, MMDG said:

I got multiple tourist visas to USA while married to my American citizen husband with no ties to my North African “high fraud” country with no job,oh I also a dual citizen and has a SYRIAN nationality! I got my first visa to USA DURING the beginning of our civil war there AND I entered USA pregnant at 6.5 months with a note from my doctor that I was allowed to fly and faced no issues at all.

they gave me a visa solely on my tie being married to my husband and American kids,I listed him as my sponsor that he is paying for my expenses there since I also had NO BANK ACCOUNT or savings.

 

each time I got a 2 years (max for my country) multi entry visa.

 

I visited for a month each time I went there with no problems and at entry to USA I was given the max time allowed for a tourist visa

 

i know a lot of comments say your husband most likely won’t get the visa but in my case it was different and you won’t lose anything by trying.

I think it all depends on the individual case and person.

 

That is great news! 

There are always outliers and every case is different. 

No one is telling OP her husband should not apply for the visitor visa but rather receiving a tourist visa is not guaranteed and not filing the I-130 doesn't help the case or hurt it. Also, the wait times these days for visa appointments is super long out of most countries. So, if they are counting on getting the tourist visa before applying for I-130 they might be delaying the move to the US by several years. 

[SalishSea 17,819]

15 hours ago, GreyGergei said:

Thank you all.

 

He is Armenian and his friend( who is also is Armenian and lives in Russia) was able to get the tourist visa in Armenia a couple of weeks ago.  My husband's situation is only different in that he is married to me, a US citizen.

Just do it the right way and petition for a spousal visa.