I-130 for parents in Russia

[polk2233 1]

I am in the process of filling out I-130 for my parents living in Russia. Obviously, the Embassy in Russia is no longer processing immigrant visas. They initially designated Warsaw instead, but now I see that parents of a US citizen can also apply in Almaty and Tashkent https://ru.usembassy.gov/visas/. Looks like IR-5 means that exact category. Is that so and has anyone tried applying in one of those locations? This would be a big help for my parents in terms of ease of travel and language issues. Thanks!

[Boiler 45,731]

You are looking 2 years out and things change.

 

However from what I have seen most beneficiaries do not interview in Warsaw, mainly due to the difficulty getting there.

[polk2233 1]

Thanks for your response but I am not sure I understand... If they don't interview in Warsaw, where do they interview?

 

Back to the original question, I wanted to check if Almaty and/or Tashkent is an option for Russian citizens.  

[Rooky89 2]

@Boiler you seem a lot more active/updated than me, so I could be wrong. I just lurk around here when I've needed to file an I-130 in 2018, and a I751 in 2020 and N400 in 2021. My wife just filed an I-130 for her mother in Russia. The estimated timeline upon submission was 5-6mo. I assume after that it'll be approved/denied. Barring a request for additional information which would add time, if approved it would be moved to an Embassy. If I've researched correctly, IR-5 interviews for parent I-130 petitions automatically get assigned to Almaty now. @polk2233 I believe you have to still fill out the petition with Moscow listed as the Embassy your parent is eligible for, but I'm sure @millefleur might be able to give more insight. There's also a Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, subforum that has a lot of useful information specific to your situation. 

[Boiler 45,731]

Whose estimated timeline?

 

I am sure there are exceptions but an I 130 seems to be taking 13 to 15 months.

 

I would not get to excited about the Consulate now, we are looking at the end of next year and a lot can happen.

[Rooky89 2]

@Boiler She submitted the case online in July 2024, and in the myProgress tab it lists the "Estimated time until case decision: 4 Months". I'm not saying it'll be done in 4 Months, but the USCIS website is indicating this for our specific petition, with the following disclaimer "This estimate is based on general processing times for cases similar to yours. Your case may take more or less time to process based on specific circumstances. [Learn more about processing times.] (https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/)"

[Boiler 45,731]

Good luck finding an I 130 that was processed in 4 months.

[OldUser 6,976]

3 minutes ago, Rooky89 said:

@Boiler She submitted the case online in July 2024, and in the myProgress tab it lists the "Estimated time until case decision: 4 Months". I'm not saying it'll be done in 4 Months, but the USCIS website is indicating this for our specific petition, with the following disclaimer "This estimate is based on general processing times for cases similar to yours. Your case may take more or less time to process based on specific circumstances. [Learn more about processing times.] (https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/)"

Estimated time is a joke.

Somebody got message "Your case is taking longer" in their estimate status 9 days after filing. I wouldn't pay any attention to what it says. 

Edited October 28 by OldUser

[polk2233 1]

Thanks all for your responses.

 

31 minutes ago, OldUser said:

the USCIS website is indicating this for our specific petition, with the following disclaimer "This estimate is based on general processing times for cases similar to yours. Your case may take more or less time to process based on specific circumstances. [Learn more about processing times.] (https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/)"

 

This web site is giving me the following:

 

Processing time for Petition for Alien Relative (I-130) at All Service Centers

80% of cases are completed within

15.5 months

 

 

[appleblossom 2,802]

1 hour ago, Rooky89 said:

@Boiler She submitted the case online in July 2024, and in the myProgress tab it lists the "Estimated time until case decision: 4 Months". I'm not saying it'll be done in 4 Months, but the USCIS website is indicating this for our specific petition, with the following disclaimer "This estimate is based on general processing times for cases similar to yours. Your case may take more or less time to process based on specific circumstances. [Learn more about processing times.] (https://egov.uscis.gov/processing-times/)"

 

Ignore the MyProgress thing completely, it's not reliable. 

 

If she submitted in July 2024 then you should hear next summer sometime.

 

Good luck. 

[millefleur 5,047]

**Moved from Bringing Family Members of US Citizens to America to RUB regional forum**

[rikko 93]

On 10/25/2024 at 1:53 AM, polk2233 said:

I am in the process of filling out I-130 for my parents living in Russia. Obviously, the Embassy in Russia is no longer processing immigrant visas. They initially designated Warsaw instead, but now I see that parents of a US citizen can also apply in Almaty and Tashkent https://ru.usembassy.gov/visas/. Looks like IR-5 means that exact category. Is that so and has anyone tried applying in one of those locations? This would be a big help for my parents in terms of ease of travel and language issues. Thanks!

Email Almaty and Tashkent, explain the difficulty in getting to Warsaw legally/without fraud, and feel free to email other embassies like Jerusalem and Belgrade. If it hasn't been assigned to Warsaw yet you may be able to request it go to Almaty or Tashkent directly instead of requesting a case transfer.