big_tex_69

@Olvaranim Thanks !!!

@Olvaranim what is a TAL ? not sure on the terminology

@K1visak2 it has been about a month and a half for us. from previous advice i got from others on the forum, it seems like us embassy in poland is doing this to almost every russian fiancee. the polish website https://pl.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas-fiancee-visa/case-status/?_ga=2.259673613.648768127.1712750814-153925293.1710862596 says that most cases take 60 days for administrative processing, but based on what @rikko has experienced it could be much much longer.

@rikko man sorry to hear that, that is ridiculous 😬 we interviewed on the 20th of February, they asked for all of the additional information including resume, we gave it to them the next day. CEAC website didn't show update until 29-February. Then nothing for 1 month and then asked for it again because the printout was hard for them to read. so we emailed it directly to them like they asked. The CO then responded and said thank you. I'm hoping it is being worked on

@rikko per the us embassy in poland's website https://pl.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas-fiancee-visa/case-status/?_ga=2.265004428.228747549.1710862596-153925293.1710862596 Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a consular officer. Applicants are advised of this requirement when they apply. Most administrative processing is resolved within 60 days of the visa interview. When administrative processing is required, the timing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case. You can check the status of your visa application on ceac.state.gov. i was planning on emailing them at the end of this month to check in.

oh my goodness... It's "reigning" dad jokes

All of the folks on this forum are amazing. I do appreciate the help and sharing of knowledge !!! Kudos to all of you !

@rikko @JayFromTexas Thanks !!!! Wow this thought hadn't ever crossed my mind

WOW !!! ok, let me see if i am picking up what you are laying down. Do you mean they could have put the case in AP because of something about me ? I was in the US Army for 8 years ( 89 - 97 ) honorably discharged after two 4 year enlistments. And work in the IT field. I also had a minor scrape with the law back in 97 that was expunged. A thought just popped in my head just now as to why they asked for the "petitioners" Resume. They could be doing background checks on me ?

We initially tried to get her case moved to another embassy after being shot down from multiple times, the Jerusalem embassy was the next that was on the list, but then October 7th happened and we both agreed, she will get Schengen to Hungary and then we will drive to Poland. A couple of thoughts, that this doesn't have anything to do with Warsaw, I've been formulating this theory that the 221(g) AP would happen anywhere we go because she is Russian, and we are not interviewing in her home country, and regardless of what embassy we went to, the red flags follow her just because she is Russian and interviewing in a 3rd country. Caveat: this is my own thought not based on anything other than various different posts on this forum as well as Internet searching in general. My advice would be to not make travel plans for her to come to the USA with you after the interview. And to expect that you will get a 221(g) Administrative Processing needed. That way you won't be as crushed as we were. Godspeed and best of luck !

No Sir, the Schengen gave her the right to enter Hungary, and then to enter the other countries. Driving from Budapest to Warsaw was a breeze Hungary -->Slovakia-->Czechia-->Poland. You can google map it and street view the border crossings. The skeletons of the border crossings are the only things that still exist today. I highly recommend following the speed limit laws and other than that it was like driving from Texas to Illinois. Very easy

@millefleur she graduated from a music conservatory 🤣 and is the most non political person i have ever met. although her home city that she was born in was one of those "closed cities" i mentioned. otherwise she is clean as a whistle. I just pray this is easy but don't want to jinx it

Just a bit of an update on the process: my point here is two fold: 1. get valuable answers to questions and 2. repost aggregated processes / info that I can share with others. If I can help reduce the level of pain, frustration, and the emotional toll that this process takes and learn through the process is a win win for everyone. In general terms the INA 221(g) "Administrative Processing" hold is essentially just a holding pattern stage that potentially any visa application can go through ( regardless of visa type; in my case K-1 ). There could be any number of issues that raise a flag for a consular officer that simply requires more investigation into the beneficiary's background. Country of Origin City ( birth or residence ); for example in Russia there are closed cities that are considered strategically important Military service Occupation / Education of Beneficiary ( or close relatives ) Or anything else that might seem like a potential national security concern Or anything else that just seems generally "fishy" In reality it seems legit, the US Government wants to vet people applying for visas and that can take time. That is the revelation I think folks on this forum need to understand, it is in general a national security question that needs to be answered to the fullest the application can be, which is a good thing. Unfortunately the processes and inconsistencies everyone experiences is problematic. Personally, after reading many of these threads, I now have a 180 degree change of opinion in our experience with our CO's process. He advised my fiancée the visa was "refused". He gave my fiancée the form ( essentially all the same questions on the DS-5535 form but just on a piece of paper ) at the end of the interview and emailed us 1 week later giving us at least an update. After educating myself on the process and reading the horror stories on some of these other threads, although I was disappointed with the refusal, I now understand the process and can work intelligently towards getting this thing approved. At this point I will pray and leave it in the hands of the highest authority and do my best to fulfill any further requests from the CO as quickly as possible Will keep posting any follow up nuggets I find

Thanks @TBoneTX Thanks @millefleur I went through and did a metric ton of googling and binging yesterday evening after creating the post. Caught a lot of good information that I am trying to digest, jot down and then repost here probably later today. Basically my Spidey sense is telling me every Russian national coming through Warsaw is going to get a 221(g) pending "Administrative Processing" regardless of how squared away your documents are. I'll write more of a summary later on my findings.

I wanted to give folks who were having the same difficulties as we were some insight that worked perfectly for us. From the welcome letter from the Warsaw embassy, they indicate the approved medical exam locations, we chose this one. They were friendly, efficient, and explained all of the costs and what would be needed, and regularly do these medical exams for the Embassy so they know exactly what is needed. For us this worked out very well, because of our ages, she only needed to have the X-Ray for TB test done at an offsite X-Ray place ( rentgen.pl ) no appointment necessary. So because of this, we went to get the X-Ray, they told us it would be ready in 3-4 hours. 3-4 hours later we showed back up picked up our X-Ray and then drove to the clinic. We had the sealed envelope for our interview ready by the time we left the office. Our case was a little different because she did not need a blood or urine test. If these tests are required, it takes several days to get those results, but those tests can all be done at the same place that does the X-Ray. Basically our plan was this: 1. Fiancée applied for Schengen visa to Hungary 4 weeks out 2. We both flew into Budapest 3. Rented a car, drove to Warsaw ( about 8 hours or so ) : NO ISSUES with BORDER CONTROL ! 4. Stayed in Warsaw while waiting for our Medical Exam appointment and Visa Interview I hope this helps and folks find this useful. Curt

Hi All, Just looking for some guidance here because I am a bit confused. After her interview on the 20th of Feb 2024, the consular advised my fiancée that he would be refusing the Visa under the INA 221(g) and gave her the dreaded "white slip" that had these boxes checked: In the actual white slip they indicated 1. Passport 13. Additional Information I attached 2 jpg files: actual_white_slip.JPG ( in russian ) Englsh_for_reference.jpg They also gave my fiancée a separate sheet of paper with the list of questions that they had for her for the "additional information" requirement as well asked for a copy of my resume ( ??? ) and asked for it to be emailed to an address at the Warsaw consulate. We immediately went back to our hotel, filled out all the questions and I happened to have a copy of my resume and we emailed to the address specified. Several days later the Consular that did our interview responded back to us with this: Dear Madam, Thank you for provising us the additional information. We would like to let you know that your case remains denied under INA 221(g) pending the results of administrative processing. We will contact you when it is complete. Please be aware that it may take up to several months to complete. We are not able to estimate how long it may take. Sincerely, Immigrant Visa Section A couple of questions that come to mind: 1. How are we supposed give them our passport and her to travel back home ? 2. Since the CO himself responded with Thank you for provising us the additional information, do we need to actually submit the passport ? 3. Does this visa application actually go back to USCIS ? 4. Because this is a "white slip" realistically are we screwed ? Thanks in advance ! Curt

Thank You ! I also read this somewhere official as well but was not sure.

Thanks to all y'all. we've had such a ####### show journey with this process and all of the complicating factors. now i am off to ask traveldocs to extend her i-129f petition as it expires in mid january. i have been documenting my process along the way almost obsessively. i think i will post about that experience here to maybe save another couple some headaches.

Hi all, We have had a long journey on our K1 process but we finally have an interview date set in Warsaw in late February for my Russian Fiancée. Today we tried to schedule the medical exam at the IOM (International Organization for Migration) in Moscow from the link that was in the information email we received from the US Embassy in Poland. But when we go through the process of scheduling, at the point of selecting a date for the exam, there are no available dates to select, nor are any dates available for the rest of the year. My question is: is the medical exam office at the IOM (International Organization for Migration) in Moscow open for business ?

Hi All, I finally got my NOA2 after 11 months, California Service Center where the petition had been sent to was estimating 16.5 so I feel lucky. Now a new set of questions arises. Which are making me nervous, so any helpful responses would be appreciated. Maybe someone else out there has the same questions and this can help them too. Basically since embassies in Russia have stopped processing visa's and Poland is a bust because of such bad relations, we want to move our case to Costa Rica ( for several reasons ) Here goes: 1. Does DoS / NVC ever mail anything to the Fiancee or does all mail come to me, the petitioner ? << Everything I have found indicates the mail gets sent to the petitioner but everything is a little vague. 2. Does anyone know the process ( details ) for moving the case to another country ? << After USCIS approves the petition, they forward it onto the NVC and the NVC takes 4-6 weeks to process. It is during this time I think, you want to try and move the case. I believe the process to get it moved includes contacting the country you want to move it to, and then contacting the NVC but I am a little fuzzy on the details 3. What happens if the I-129F petition approval expires during this process ? I understand the petition is good for 4 months, but even the process alone could extend past the timeframe the petition is good for. I'm sure I'll have more questions, but this is my starting point. curt