So help needed with my Russian Fiancée K-1

[kingfisherb90 5]

Hi first time poster here.

Trying to follow the checklist here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/family-immigration/nonimmigrant-visa-for-a-fiance-k-1.html#5 

My I129-F was granted, and her case was sent to the NVC, which then assigned it to the US embassy in Warsaw Poland. 

We have not yet requested an interview date. 

 

A few basic questions.

1. Where do I submit my I-134? This website says they are only accepting online applications for the Uniting for Ukraine program: https://my.uscis.gov/forms/declaration-of-financial-support/start/overview

Do I do it in USCIS or CEAC? 

 

2. Speaking of CEAC do I need an "Invoice ID Number" ?

I cannot seem to locate one in any of the paperwork they have sent her. She has a profile here: https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/ and we paid the $265 to the US embassy in Warsaw. 

Is this because she is getting a "non-immigrant" visa?

 

3. The DS-160, I assume she just goes here: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ and fills one out? 

 

Thanks! 

 

 

 

[Lynxyonok 316]

1 hour ago, kingfisherb90 said:

Hi first time poster here.

Trying to follow the checklist here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/family-immigration/nonimmigrant-visa-for-a-fiance-k-1.html#5 

My I129-F was granted, and her case was sent to the NVC, which then assigned it to the US embassy in Warsaw Poland. 

We have not yet requested an interview date. 

 

A few basic questions.

1. Where do I submit my I-134? This website says they are only accepting online applications for the Uniting for Ukraine program: https://my.uscis.gov/forms/declaration-of-financial-support/start/overview

Do I do it in USCIS or CEAC? 

 

2. Speaking of CEAC do I need an "Invoice ID Number" ?

I cannot seem to locate one in any of the paperwork they have sent her. She has a profile here: https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/ and we paid the $265 to the US embassy in Warsaw. 

Is this because she is getting a "non-immigrant" visa?

 

3. The DS-160, I assume she just goes here: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ and fills one out? 

 

Thanks! 

 

 

 

Wow.

 

Please do not take our silence for ignorance.

 

It's just that you're so much farther ahead than most of us.

[slavaskii 886]

2 hours ago, kingfisherb90 said:

Hi first time poster here.

Trying to follow the checklist here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/family-immigration/nonimmigrant-visa-for-a-fiance-k-1.html#5 

My I129-F was granted, and her case was sent to the NVC, which then assigned it to the US embassy in Warsaw Poland. 

We have not yet requested an interview date. 

 

A few basic questions.

1. Where do I submit my I-134? This website says they are only accepting online applications for the Uniting for Ukraine program: https://my.uscis.gov/forms/declaration-of-financial-support/start/overview

Do I do it in USCIS or CEAC? 

 

2. Speaking of CEAC do I need an "Invoice ID Number" ?

I cannot seem to locate one in any of the paperwork they have sent her. She has a profile here: https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/ and we paid the $265 to the US embassy in Warsaw. 

Is this because she is getting a "non-immigrant" visa?

 

3. The DS-160, I assume she just goes here: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ and fills one out? 

 

Thanks! 

 

 

 

Question 1: Your fiancee brings your I-134 to the interview. That is the only time it is ever considered by the Government, as once she arrives in America and applies for Adjustment of Status, you'll fill out the I-864 on her behalf. You see the 'Uniting for Ukraine' comments because USCIS has required that document to be submitted online exclusively for those participating in that program.

 

Question 2: Don't worry about anything like that now. Does she have a case number? That's the more important thing. I was told the invoice ID was apparently important (I think it's also called the NVC number?), but it was never asked for. The case number begins with WRW if I'm not mistaken.

 

Question 3: Yes, that's right. But do note the DS-160 can 'expire,' so it's probably best to fill it out once she can schedule the interview. Don't worry if information changes from the time you submit till interview, you can call Warsaw and have them update the DS-160. 

[To_the_moon 94]

5 hours ago, kingfisherb90 said:

Hi first time poster here.

Trying to follow the checklist here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/family-immigration/nonimmigrant-visa-for-a-fiance-k-1.html#5 

My I129-F was granted, and her case was sent to the NVC, which then assigned it to the US embassy in Warsaw Poland. 

We have not yet requested an interview date. 

 

A few basic questions.

1. Where do I submit my I-134? This website says they are only accepting online applications for the Uniting for Ukraine program: https://my.uscis.gov/forms/declaration-of-financial-support/start/overview

Do I do it in USCIS or CEAC? 

 

2. Speaking of CEAC do I need an "Invoice ID Number" ?

I cannot seem to locate one in any of the paperwork they have sent her. She has a profile here: https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/ and we paid the $265 to the US embassy in Warsaw. 

Is this because she is getting a "non-immigrant" visa?

 

3. The DS-160, I assume she just goes here: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ and fills one out? 

 

Thanks! 

 

 

 

If you have already paid the consulate fee you can go ahead and schedule an interview online. You don't "request" the date and the embassy does not provide it for you. So I would suggest getting a spot as soon as possible because the closest date you will find right now is for March 2023. But keep monitoring the calendar and you should be able to reschedule if something closer pops up. 

 

And don't worry about the Invoice ID, you check the status of your case at CEAC in the "immigrant visa" section using your case number from NVC.

Edited October 4, 2022 by To_the_moon

[kingfisherb90 5]

14 hours ago, slavaskii said:

Question 1: Your fiancee brings your I-134 to the interview. That is the only time it is ever considered by the Government, as once she arrives in America and applies for Adjustment of Status, you'll fill out the I-864 on her behalf. You see the 'Uniting for Ukraine' comments because USCIS has required that document to be submitted online exclusively for those participating in that program.

 

Question 2: Don't worry about anything like that now. Does she have a case number? That's the more important thing. I was told the invoice ID was apparently important (I think it's also called the NVC number?), but it was never asked for. The case number begins with WRW if I'm not mistaken.

 

Question 3: Yes, that's right. But do note the DS-160 can 'expire,' so it's probably best to fill it out once she can schedule the interview. Don't worry if information changes from the time you submit till interview, you can call Warsaw and have them update the DS-160. 

Thanks for the reply! 

 

Q1:  So I just print and sign a copy and give it to her? I don't have to mail it to USCIS or CEAC?

Q2 : She does have a case number with a WRW prefix 

Q3:  As far as I can tell she can schedule the interview now, so we will have her do the DS-160 and then schedule it, assuming thats right.

 

 

 

[kingfisherb90 5]

15 hours ago, Lynxyonok said:

Wow.

 

Please do not take our silence for ignorance.

 

It's just that you're so much farther ahead than most of us.

 

It has been a long slog to get here, 13ish months from I129-F to approved case status, then 2 more months for the NVC approval and being sent to the embassy, it is a long slog. 

 

 

[slavaskii 886]

1 hour ago, kingfisherb90 said:

Thanks for the reply! 

 

Q1:  So I just print and sign a copy and give it to her? I don't have to mail it to USCIS or CEAC?

Q2 : She does have a case number with a WRW prefix 

Q3:  As far as I can tell she can schedule the interview now, so we will have her do the DS-160 and then schedule it, assuming thats right.

 

 

 

No worries! Always happy to help.

 

Q1: That is correct, print/sign/give to her. No mailing to Government. I physically handed the copy to my wife when I visited her in Warsaw for the interview, but I'm 99% sure they accept scanned signatures anyway. Plus, Petitioners aren't allowed into the Embassy, so I basically just showed up for good measure.

 

Q2/Q3: Wonderful! That's really the only number you'll need from here on out. I'll merge your third question with this one. How it used to work was that, as soon as you got your WRW number and filled out a DS-160, you could schedule your interview right away. The Embassy then changed that and forbade anyone from scheduling an interview until they got an email (the 'welcome packet') from the Embassy, because people were trying to schedule interviews before anything was even close to being ready. I am not sure where things stand now, but did your fiancee get an email from Warsaw Embassy yet? It'll have 3 documents in it, one of which being general instructions.

 

You may schedule medical now with the WRW number; given how backed up the medical facility is, might not be a bad idea. I think it's good for six months. However, interview appointments were also heavily delayed themselves, to the point where they very well could be six months out. Unfortunately, I appear to be the last person to have done K1 in Warsaw, hence I was the last person to see the calendar. For reference, they were booking January 2023 appointments back in May. 

 

Best of luck. Does your fiancee have a Schengen visa already and a WHO-approved vaccine?

[To_the_moon 94]

53 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

How it used to work was that, as soon as you got your WRW number and filled out a DS-160, you could schedule your interview right away. The Embassy then changed that and forbade anyone from scheduling an interview until they got an email (the 'welcome packet') from the Embassy, because people were trying to schedule interviews before anything was even close to being ready. I am not sure where things stand now, but did your fiancee get an email from Warsaw Embassy yet? It'll have 3 documents in it, one of which being general instructions.

 

I guess I have the most recent experience from September.

 

1. People can schedule their appointments without the welcome packet. 2. You can schedule your appointment prior to completing DS-160, so I recommend getting an appointment today and filling the DS-160 closer to the interview date, as it requires the most recent info. 3. The email from the embassy now includes 4 documents. 

[kingfisherb90 5]

1 hour ago, To_the_moon said:

I guess I have the most recent experience from September.

 

1. People can schedule their appointments without the welcome packet. 2. You can schedule your appointment prior to completing DS-160, so I recommend getting an appointment today and filling the DS-160 closer to the interview date, as it requires the most recent info. 3. The email from the embassy now includes 4 documents. 

 

Thank you for the insights, yes she got the "Welcome Packet" with 4 attachments, it looks like within the system we can schedule the appointment. 

 

 

[kingfisherb90 5]

2 hours ago, slavaskii said:

No worries! Always happy to help.

 

Q1: That is correct, print/sign/give to her. No mailing to Government. I physically handed the copy to my wife when I visited her in Warsaw for the interview, but I'm 99% sure they accept scanned signatures anyway. Plus, Petitioners aren't allowed into the Embassy, so I basically just showed up for good measure.

 

Q2/Q3: Wonderful! That's really the only number you'll need from here on out. I'll merge your third question with this one. How it used to work was that, as soon as you got your WRW number and filled out a DS-160, you could schedule your interview right away. The Embassy then changed that and forbade anyone from scheduling an interview until they got an email (the 'welcome packet') from the Embassy, because people were trying to schedule interviews before anything was even close to being ready. I am not sure where things stand now, but did your fiancee get an email from Warsaw Embassy yet? It'll have 3 documents in it, one of which being general instructions.

 

You may schedule medical now with the WRW number; given how backed up the medical facility is, might not be a bad idea. I think it's good for six months. However, interview appointments were also heavily delayed themselves, to the point where they very well could be six months out. Unfortunately, I appear to be the last person to have done K1 in Warsaw, hence I was the last person to see the calendar. For reference, they were booking January 2023 appointments back in May. 

 

Best of luck. Does your fiancée have a Schengen visa already and a WHO-approved vaccine?

 

Q1: Got it, I will print copies and sign/scan them, as well as bring wet ink signature version with me.

Q2. Yes she got the Welcome Packet with 4 attachments, instructions etc. 

 

New Q's

Q4: Would you recommend she go to Moscow for the medical appointment? She may have to go there for the Schengen Visa, so 2 birds 1 stone...

Q5: No Schengen Visa yet, she is in Irkutsk so we are trying to find an option where she won't have to travel a long distance to apply for the Visa. (We will be visiting in a 3rd country in November, so will apply after that). I assume we will apply for the Schengen Visa after we get the appointment date, and will request a date range of like 1 week before 3 weeks after. 

Q6 : WHO approved Vaccine? This is new to me, she got the Russian vaccine (2 shots) last year, does she need a new one?  

 

[slavaskii 886]

3 hours ago, To_the_moon said:

I guess I have the most recent experience from September.

 

1. People can schedule their appointments without the welcome packet. 2. You can schedule your appointment prior to completing DS-160, so I recommend getting an appointment today and filling the DS-160 closer to the interview date, as it requires the most recent info. 3. The email from the embassy now includes 4 documents. 

Thank you for the update! That's really interesting they're still letting people schedule without the packet and now also the DS-160. I distinctly recall someone posting here saying the Embassy 'cracked down' on it... but very helpful to know if untrue. Do you recall when interviews are booked out until now?

30 minutes ago, kingfisherb90 said:

 

Q1: Got it, I will print copies and sign/scan them, as well as bring wet ink signature version with me.

Q2. Yes she got the Welcome Packet with 4 attachments, instructions etc. 

 

New Q's

Q4: Would you recommend she go to Moscow for the medical appointment? She may have to go there for the Schengen Visa, so 2 birds 1 stone...

Q5: No Schengen Visa yet, she is in Irkutsk so we are trying to find an option where she won't have to travel a long distance to apply for the Visa. (We will be visiting in a 3rd country in November, so will apply after that). I assume we will apply for the Schengen Visa after we get the appointment date, and will request a date range of like 1 week before 3 weeks after. 

Q6 : WHO approved Vaccine? This is new to me, she got the Russian vaccine (2 shots) last year, does she need a new one?  

 

Q4: I think that really depends on when you can score an interview and also how long the Warsaw doctor will take. I would probably suggest the Moscow doctor, though, solely because if you do medical in Warsaw, you'll need to book at least several weeks there (iirc it took nearly a week for the results to come back, and it can take around a week, at minimum, to get your passport back from the Embassy). 

 

Q5: I caution that getting a Schengen visa appears to be very difficult from recent experiences here. Has she traveled within the Schengen zone before? Also recall that, because Poland has closed its borders to Russians traveling from outside the Schengen zone into Poland, she'll have to first go through another Schengen country (like Germany). My assumption is that it'd be best for her to fly to whatever country granted her the visa and then go to Poland from there. 

 

Q6: I confirmed this earlier today, the CDC is still requiring that all non-immigrant travelers (with limited exception) have a WHO-approved vaccine prior to arrival. That includes K1 and does not exclude Russians/Belarusians. It also means that Sputnik isn't allowed. You can try waiting it out and hoping the CDC changes course by the time you get your visa, but as of now, she'll need another vaccine. Janssen is the best choice IMHO because you can leave within 7-10 days of the injection (otherwise, you'd need a second dose and wait around 2 weeks), but many EU countries have stopped giving it to young women. Alas.

[To_the_moon 94]

8 hours ago, slavaskii said:

Thank you for the update! That's really interesting they're still letting people schedule without the packet and now also the DS-160. I distinctly recall someone posting here saying the Embassy 'cracked down' on it... but very helpful to know if untrue. Do you recall when interviews are booked out until now?

March 2023, but since the entrance restrictions in Poland, a lot of people have been dropping their appointments. I even saw a spot for October 18th a couple of days ago but we have already transferred our case to Israel. Also, I could clearly see the slow down in scheduling. I guess people are unsure whether or not they will be allowed into Poland in 2023 and stopped scheduling way too early. Hope this will improve the overall wait times for others. 

 

 

9 hours ago, kingfisherb90 said:

 

New Q's

Q4: Would you recommend she go to Moscow for the medical appointment? She may have to go there for the Schengen Visa, so 2 birds 1 stone...

 

Also, the medical in Moscow is much more beneficial. The results are ready in 1-2 days and the whole process is super easy if you have childhood medical records. It is hard to book an appointment there too, but they open scheduling one month at a time, so you definitely don't need to wait until 2023 to get your medical done. Your fiancée can also call them and ask for an appointment outside their scheduling calendar, sometimes they will book you in. But you need to make sure the embassy accepts a medical exam from Moscow if you will be transferring your case from Poland. Just in case you fiancée won't be able to get a Schengen visa. 

Edited October 5, 2022 by To_the_moon

[To_the_moon 94]

 

9 hours ago, kingfisherb90 said:

Q6 : WHO approved Vaccine? This is new to me, she got the Russian vaccine (2 shots) last year, does she need a new one?  

Sputnik V vaccine grants the completion of the medical exam in Moscow, but you will need a WHO-approved one to board the plane to the US... 

[slavaskii 886]

9 hours ago, To_the_moon said:

March 2023, but since the entrance restrictions in Poland, a lot of people have been dropping their appointments. I even saw a spot for October 18th a couple of days ago but we have already transferred our case to Israel. Also, I could clearly see the slow down in scheduling. I guess people are unsure whether or not they will be allowed into Poland in 2023 and stopped scheduling way too early. Hope this will improve the overall wait times for others. 

That's incredible information, thanks for letting us all know. I want to say - though I may be mistaken - that Warsaw is no longer allowing you to reschedule to an earlier appointment? I think I saw that in reference to B1/B2, but if that's the case, it could explain the slowdown; nobody feels like scheduling an appointment they may inevitably need to cancel and get further back in line. But March 2023 isn't bad at all considering how things have been, I was very afraid it would already be June/July.

 

The slowdown in I-129F approvals probably has also helped somewhat (though that's a double-edged sword). Amount of new applicants dwindles by the day.

[To_the_moon 94]

2 hours ago, slavaskii said:

 I want to say - though I may be mistaken - that Warsaw is no longer allowing you to reschedule to an earlier appointment? I think I saw that in reference to B1/B2, but if that's the case, it could explain the slowdown; nobody feels like scheduling an appointment they may inevitably need to cancel and get further back in line.

I'm pretty confident that's not the case for immigrant visas, at least not yet. Though, they only let you reschedule 3 times, after that you will need to pay the consulate fee again. So anyone can get an earlier spot, as there have been a lot of cancellations lately.

 

Believe me or not, most of the appointments are taken by people who have not yet received their NOA2s... That's one of the most disturbing things that drives me crazy about local Telegram chats, which recommend scheduling appointments way too early, hoping to get their approvals on time. But as you know, USCIS does not seem to be punctual or improving their processing time, so that is the result we get. Appointments get cancelled within the unrealistic timeframe, with little chance for other people to reschedule and get to Poland in time. I wish the Warsaw consulate did something about that and closed free-scheduling for people without approval notices. That would just make the situation much better.