blaze203

The problem is that there is no way to contact them other than snail mail (see contus Us page). Otherwise, they send you straight to the NVC and we all know how useless that is.

Fingers crossed. There's an old saying in Dutch, Nee heb je, ja kun je krijgen - You have no but yes you can get - essentially nothing gained if you don't try. If others chime in also enough pressume might mount. Here's the page of the Immigration subcommittee members: https://judiciary.house.gov/subcommittees/committee-judiciary/subcommittee-immigration-integrity-security-and-enforcement

True. But worth a try to shed sunlight on this issue. What's happening to the OP and others is just awful.

We're getting in the weeds here and I don't want to hijack the OPs thread arguing this point. I believe you are incorrect, all these immigration processes are governed by the INA. US citizens have the right to petition for family members, and assigning cases to a consulate which applicants cannot legally access effectively bars US citizens from family reunification. That's the last I'll say on it.

Probably. I'm emailing several congressmen/women on the immigration subcommittee, using this language. There's probably other cases than i-130 too but it's the only one i'm familiar with. "Thank you for all you do. As a member of the Immigration subcommittee I bring this matter to your attention. US citizens with Russian/Belarussian family members are being denied their right under the INA to petition for immigration visas for these family members. When these US citizens petition through the i-130 process, the cases are assigned to the Warsaw, Poland consulate for consular processing (except for IR5 cases which go to Almaty). Because Poland has barred Russian/Belarussian citizens from attaining Schengen visas, these applicants are legally unable to attend consular interviews and as such are barred from attaining their immigrant visa. In addition, this policy is putting US citizens at risk. In desperation to circumvent this policy, Russian/Belarussian family members of US citizens are attempting to get Schengen visas in other countries. US citizens typically will escort their family members through Europe and are put at great cost and peril to attempt to get these family members to their consular interviews in Warsaw. Other petitioners are desperately trying to get transferred to a consulate were Russians/Belarusians can travel and that do not require residency, but this proves difficult and consulate often deny requests. One applicant was assigned to Jakarta for some mysterious reason, only to be denied by the consulate days before the interview when the US citizen had already traveled to Jakarta. US citizens are desperate to help their family members. Please work with the State Deparment to find an appropriate location for consular processing for the family members of these US citizens."

I believe there is, part of the INA under 1151.

This is great - could you message me the email? I had trouble getting through to the State Dept. They bounced my message saying I should contact the Bureau of Consular Affairs, like that would do anything. I did contact them again requesting my message to go to Blinken's office. Essentially, this policy is illegally barring American citizens to bring family into the US, as is their right. Although in our case we are IR5 and assigned to Almaty is still enrages me. I have contacted the WH also. I was just looking at contacting my state rep, but Jayapal is a great choice.

Hahahaha so very true. I have a picture from walmart that I've kept because it is just the absolute worst picture of me ever taken. From Holland I have one with mask indents on my face and my hair looking like I'd been in gale-force winds on a bike. Delightful.

Thank you so very much!! I was hoping someone would have a recommendation with a personal experience. Really appreciate it. This forum has just been a lifesaver!

I'll give my experience in lieu of Ben's - I have dual citizenship, Dutch and American (husband is Russian). Every country has very specific passport photo requirements. I have tried the passport selfie applications and have had no success - it's hard to get the right background, lighting, and head size. In renewing Dutch and US passports I've had passport photos rejected even from professional photo places. When I renewed an ID last year in Holland, the photography place was was next to the office that renews IDs, so it does a ton of them. Even the photographer there even said sometimes they reject the photos, even though he believes they conform to the passport standards. Secondarily to that is that the consular interview is incredibly stressful. People are on edge because there is so much at stake. People get denied visas because they can't produce the documents the office deems they need, and from what I've read here on the forum, it is not inconceivable they may ask for something you don't expect or have on you. So it is important to reduce any potential issue and get the things right that you CAN get right, such as passport photos. Last thing I would want is to be in a foreign country paying for expensive lodgings and being on a travel deadline and then have your application denied because of your passport photos and then somehow hope you can get a new appointment. To me it's a simple thing to avoid, just go to a reputable photo place and verify they do US passport photos and have experience.

Thank you! That is a helpful website, I have added it to my list. Yes, was not going to attempt a selfie, last thing we need is added stress because a photo is not right. Even though that can still happen when you use foreign services is my experience. It already took forever to get my father in law's picture for his Russian passport years ago because he is blind and one eye doesn't quite open, poor guy. Isn't your interview coming up @BenNomad? Good luck!!!

Does anyone know a good address for US passport photos in Almaty? Trying to prepare as much as possible in advance of the consular interview. Thank you!

If you are IR5 you can transfer to almaty via https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSep8AeOibjHn1Xpf95ON-7PViDDiQs6OgzO8dxE3ihZRSuJCA/viewform

Thank you, I think I came upon them before. Google translate does a decent job. They claim to ship to the US. The fact that it's cremated remains doesn't help. My beau is so busy, I try to help but yes, it would require his help.

It is frustrating. My Russian beau's mother passed in 2019 and he had to put his father in a senior facility because he could not manage by himself. Then covid hit and then the war. His mother's ashes are still in the apartment in Moscow and we have no idea how to get them here. That apartment was destined for demolition and we cannot even find out what the status of that is (supposedly a new building was supposed to be built and everyone would get a new apartment there). We have no idea how to manage it all. I-130 is in process for his father. I guess he could try taking the ashes with him when the time comes but we'd prefer to have them shipped. Unfortunately I am the researcher in the family but speak no Russian :(. I do have family in the Netherlands. Is it possible to ship from Russia to there?

Thank you for the update. Good for you on your perseverance and pushing the issue, it got you the result you wanted. Enjoy your time at home. Congratulations!!

Personally it's ok as one stream as it's Russians trying to figure out where they can get cases transferred from Warsaw or how to get Schengen visas. It's just amazing the government has offered no solution to this for visas other than IR 5.

I hope it works, keep us posted. That's interesting, I had not seen that note about IR5 before. That explains why our case got transferred so easily. It seems odd they have not seen fit to provide a similar processing post for IR1 for Russians.

Darn that sucks. Well I can't speak for others but I'd still like to hear how it goes for you. Keep us posted. The reply is similar to what I got from the Polish embassy in Russia. Seems weird they wouldn't say we only do certain IR cases. It's not like our case was life or death (although in our minds of course it is).

It is very weird that they continue to send cases to Warsaw. In our case, my husband's father is 87, handicapped, and physically not able to visit consulates and embassies in Russia to attempt to get Schengen visas to other countries; nor would he be able to travel to such countries and go back to Warsaw. If his visa is approved, it will be hard enough to try to get him to the US, and we'll likely have to make multiple stops with several weeks rest and fly first class so he can lie flat, possibly a medical escort from Moscow to Almaty. It will be a massive endeavor that we are not sure will succeed but we have no choice but to try. Each of these cases, for all of us, is fraught with much emotion and difficulties to which the US government appears to turn a complete blind eye. The immigration system is a large machine that grinds and grinds and it is only the most persistent and those who have access to resources that succeed. I also don't get why they mention ustraveldocs. I found it completely useless. A case of the right hand not knowing what the left hand is doing? I hope your second email to usakz is successful. Fingers crossed for you.

That's definitely new, it's amazing how quickly things change. I would email usakz with the information requested. For the supporting document I would add a letter stating that Russians cannot get Schengen visas for Poland. You could add an article like this one: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/poland-bans-russians-from-entering-its-territory-via-air-sea/. We did not need a document to support our request. We merely explained that my husband's father is Russian and is ineligible for a Schengen Visa. If you have a Schengen visa reject, add it, but I think everyone knows you cannot get one as a Russian. I emailed the Poland embassy in Russia and got an email from them within a few days that it would be impossible for his father to get a Schengen visa for Poland, so that might be something you could get and add. I wouldn't overthink it. We had a reply to our email within 2 days and the case was transferred immediately. I then emailed them for the new case number, which we got after a week. Good luck!

We were denied by NVC too but when we emailed Almaty they approved the transfer, so email usakz@state.gov. They emailed us back pretty much within a day or two and our case was transferred and we got an almaty case number within a week. Good luck and keep us posted!!

Thank you. We just got an email today that our case has also been transferred to Almaty! I noticed I can't log in anymore with my old case number. Do you know how long it takes to get a new case number. We had just paid the fees, they were in processing, I hope the transfer doesn't mess that up.

Thank you so much!