Transferring K1 Visa from Warsaw, Poland to Turkey

[PakistaniRussian 83]

Hi everyone,

 

We applied for a K1 visa and got NOA1 on 1/03/22. We put down the embassy location as Warsaw, Poland based on guidance for Russian applicants. With all the recent issues of Russians trying to enter Europe, we wanted to explore a different option. We both are residents of Turkey and we wanted to see if we can transfer our case to either the Istanbul or Ankara location. Our reasoning is that we are both residents and it would save us time and money (having to fly back to Russia, get a Schengen visa, go to a European country, and then go to Poland - where there is a lot of scrutiny to Russian passport holders.) 

 

My question is do I reach out the Turkish (Istanbul/Ankara) locations now or after NOA2 approval? I've heard conflicting information from many sources so I wanted to get someones input from here.

 

Notes:

• I'm a US Citizen, my fiancee is Russian
• We both have been living together in Turkey since 2021 as Residents and we both hold valid resident permits
• We got NOA1 for our K1 visa application and listed Warsaw, Poland as our Embassy Location

 

 

[Chancy 6,242]

1 hour ago, PakistaniRussian said:

My question is do I reach out the Turkish (Istanbul/Ankara) locations now or after NOA2 approval?

 

Wait for NOA2 and NVC case number.  If you listed your fiancee's address in Turkey as her current physical address in the I-129F, the case will likely be sent to Ankara, not Warsaw.  If not, you may request for case transfer to Ankara on the basis of your fiancee's resident permit in Turkey.  Whether it is accepted or not, depends on the consulate, but it is likely that they will accept.  By the way, Ankara is the only consulate that handles K1 cases in Turkey.

 

[PakistaniRussian 83]

Thank you so much. Okay, we'll wait for NOA2 and NVC case number. We listed her Russian address, but ever since we submitted and gotten NOA1, we moved and have been living in Istanbul, Turkey.

 

 

[Chancy 6,242]

2 hours ago, PakistaniRussian said:

We listed her Russian address

 

Then the approved petition will most likely be assigned a case number for Warsaw.  No need to wait for NVC case number before requesting case transfer.  Around a week or so after you get NOA2, send a request to NVC to assign the case to Ankara instead.  Attach a scan of your fiancee's resident permit in Turkey.

 

[PakistaniRussian 83]

Thank you again @Chancy I appreciate all your help and advice. I'll reach out to NVC after NOA2 and ask them to assign the case to Ankara.

[PakistaniRussian 83]

UPDATE: Turkey just rejected our renewal for a resident permit request for 2023 and now we are going to live in South East Asia while we wait NOA2 approval. Is an Ankara transfer still possible (we were Turkish residents for 1 year and have been going to Turkey on and off for past 2 years). ??

Edited January 10, 2023 by PakistaniRussian
missed a date

[PakistaniRussian 83]

Update: We finally got our NOA2!! 

 

Taking Chancy's advice and I will wait 7 days or so and send a request to the NVC to assign the case to Ankara. I'll make sure to attach a scan of my fiancee's resident permit with an explanation that she has been living in Turkey since December 2021.

 

I'll keep everyone posted with an update. 

 

 

On 11/30/2022 at 8:45 AM, Chancy said:

 

Then the approved petition will most likely be assigned a case number for Warsaw.  No need to wait for NVC case number before requesting case transfer.  Around a week or so after you get NOA2, send a request to NVC to assign the case to Ankara instead.  Attach a scan of your fiancee's resident permit in Turkey.

 

 

[Chancy 6,242]

2 minutes ago, PakistaniRussian said:

I'll make sure to attach a scan of my fiancee's resident permit with an explanation that she has been living in Turkey since December 2021.

 

Congratulations on the I-129F approval!  Was your fiancee able to renew her Turkish residence permit?  If not, and the permit clearly shows a past expiration date, NVC could deny the transfer request.  Still worth sending the request anyway.  If it does get denied, try requesting a transfer to Almaty instead.  No proof of residence required.  Seems cases for Russian beneficiaries are being moved over to that consulate little by little.

 

[PakistaniRussian 83]

Just now, Chancy said:

 

Congratulations on the I-129F approval!  Was your fiancee able to renew her Turkish residence permit?  If not, and the permit clearly shows a past expiration date, NVC could deny the transfer request.  Still worth sending the request anyway.  If it does get denied, try requesting a transfer to Almaty instead.  No proof of residence required.  Seems cases for Russian beneficiaries are being moved over to that consulate little by little.

 

Hey there, luckily my fiancee was able to renew her Turkish Residence permit, its valid until 2024. Thank you for asking

[TBoneTX 45,591]

2 hours ago, PakistaniRussian said:

We finally got our NOA2!!

The "luck o' the Irish" on St. Patrick's Day.  Great to hear!

[DK999 14]

On 3/18/2023 at 5:50 AM, PakistaniRussian said:

Hey there, luckily my fiancee was able to renew her Turkish Residence permit, its valid until 2024. Thank you for asking

Did you hear back from the NVC about transferring? I'm assuming you used the public inquiry form?

 

I tried the same thing shortly after getting NOA2, and they responded asking for proof of residence in our new country. I sent it. Heard nothing back for a month, messaged them again, and they responded with basically the same email as the first time, as if it was never read...

 

So I'm even bothering with them anymore. I'm just going to contact the embassy directly. 

[PakistaniRussian 83]

1 minute ago, DK999 said:

Did you hear back from the NVC about transferring? I'm assuming you used the public inquiry form?

 

I tried the same thing shortly after getting NOA2, and they responded asking for proof of residence in our new country. I sent it. Heard nothing back for a month, messaged them again, and they responded with basically the same email as the first time, as if it was never read...

 

So I'm even bothering with them anymore. I'm just going to contact the embassy directly. 

I haven't reached out yet, planning to do it in the next fews (we just got NOA2 approval online 3 days ago, so waiting a few days). We will be doing so via the public inquiry form. Did NVC receive your case already and provide you with a case number?

[DK999 14]

1 hour ago, PakistaniRussian said:

I haven't reached out yet, planning to do it in the next fews (we just got NOA2 approval online 3 days ago, so waiting a few days). We will be doing so via the public inquiry form. Did NVC receive your case already and provide you with a case number?

Yes, NVC got my case, gave me a case number. When you use the public inquiry form, you're emailing an outsourced "call center," not the State Department. So the results I got were not surprising. 

 

Hopefully you have better results. Good luck

[PakistaniRussian 83]

On 11/30/2022 at 9:45 AM, Chancy said:

 

Then the approved petition will most likely be assigned a case number for Warsaw.  No need to wait for NVC case number before requesting case transfer.  Around a week or so after you get NOA2, send a request to NVC to assign the case to Ankara instead.  Attach a scan of your fiancee's resident permit in Turkey.

 

Update: I reached out to NVC yesterday about the transfer request and attached the Turkish Residency documents. They responded to me today and said that they have to wait for my approved petition to be received before they can start a transfer request. I was told to wait another couple of weeks based off of NVC timelines, so I will reach out again around April 5th and give everyone an update. 

[TBoneTX 45,591]

1 hour ago, PakistaniRussian said:

I will reach out again around April 5th and give everyone an update. 

Good luck!