VisaQuestions2

3 hours ago, Olvaranim said:

First, your fiancée needs DS-160 (not DS-260 mentioned in your message) and the Embassy there should be the one, when she is actually going to have her interview. So you would need a new DS-160 for Warsaw. 

 

1. Kazakhstan or Turkey won't agree to take your case without a residency. The best and the fastest option is to apply for schengen. 

2. With K1 it's better to pick the interview date and then to apply for schengen visa. You can reschedule the interview appointment up to 3 times in Warsaw without additional fee. You can book the appointment ($265) even without an eligibility letter from Warsaw. 

3. Your fiancée (or petitioner sometimes) should receive said eligibility letter in 5-6 weeks (on average) after the notification from NVC. 

4. There will be no account on CEAC and no invoice number for K1. K1 doesn't acquire uploading anything. You bring all documents to the interview. 

5. If your fiancee's interview will be in Warsaw, the medical can be done in Moscow, Minsk, Warsaw, Krakov and before the interview.

It's faster and cheaper in Warsaw in comparison to Moscow, but in general the process depends on the age of an applicant. So in she is younger than 25, she would need additional 3 days in schengen area before the interview, and that might be inconvenient in case of extremely short-term schengen visa. If older than 25 you can receive the results the same day in Warsaw. 

 

Hello! Thank you for the follow up. 

So we filled out the Schengen application and didn’t receive any next steps. So we started calling and emailing consulates and visas centers. We were told from several people that Russians can not get a Schengen visa to Poland.

So the next questions are do you know what country we should use to apply for the Schengen and do you know if there will be any border checks or anything if my fiancé takes a train, bus, or even drive a car? 

On 7/3/2024 at 3:55 AM, rikko said:

When I asked Jerusalem with no reason/hardship provided, they denied my request for transfer.

When I told them I could not legally get to Poland months later and spoke about my issues with Schengen (no proof, just an explanation) my case transfer request was accepted. 

I provided no "proof", and I tried to keep the reason as concise as possible, but still touch upon all the important points. If your fiancé has residency anywhere you should try to transfer there. We would've transferred to the US Embassy in Armenia but they denied our transfer citing their embassy is small and already overloaded with Armenian and Iranian cases. Kazakhstan is another place you should consider, as I think they handle Russian family visa cases, but they're more likely to accept CR1 cases over K1. 

Good luck! The process sucks, but it'll all be worth it in the end, I'm sure.

(This is what I tell myself to not lose my mind)

I just wanted to add - just because Armenia (or anywhere else, for that matter) did not accept a transfer, doesn't mean you can't or shouldn't try anyways. Things are always changing. 

Sorry for late reply. Thank you for information. 

37 minutes ago, rikko said:

Email the embassy with a request and reasoning for why you should get the request.

It may be quicker to interview in Poland as it is a big embassy with the capacity to process many applicants. I am not sure how big the Turkish and Kazakh embassies are. However, if you are at high risk of a 221g/administrative processing, it will not matter where in the world you are interviewed, you will be subject to a lengthy and likely 10-16 month long AP, according to forum vinskogo. 

I still personally found it convenient to interview elsewhere. I did not like the Schengen visa song and dance. We chose Jerusalem, Israel (or rather, they chose to accept us. I'm glad they did.)

What is a 221g? My fiancé  would rather go somewhere else to avoid the whole dance as well. When you asked Jerusalem did you have submit proof or give a lengthy reason? 

On 4/8/2024 at 3:30 AM, aleksey23 said:

hello all,

i would like to say that i was in your shoes just recently, but, i have gotten the visa for my wife (russian citizen) did the interview in

warsaw poland, i also tried to move the interview to another country but, no avail.. so, i opened up a schengen visa for my wife for hungary, for two weeks,

they gave us the Schengen visa within two weeks (from st.petersburg visa center) we had the interview within a week or around 8 days after receiving the schengen visa, (just letting you

know how close all the dates were, and mind you my wife is pregnant about 2 months in..) we went to budapest hungary, stayed there for a few nights then went to poland by car. (also can go by bus, no checks on borders, i drove in a rental car, and no borders/no checks, do not worry) came to poland a day before the interview, and went to the interview the next day, my wife had the interview with a translator, apparently we didn't have like 2 docs they wanted... (i fault the uscs for this as they asked for a w2, while i didn't work any w2 in the past 3 years, so, i didn't send them) and they wanted my wives document for name change.. (weird) my wife returned from the interview, and told me they needed more docs.. so i sent them within an hour (1099's and name change).. they told her they would look into the docs and send us an email to return.. (we were short on time, with schengen visa and just by my booking dates/plans for poland, this was tuesday) i didn't wait for the EMAIL, as i know these guys DO NOT CARE FOR MY WIVES URGENT NEED OF A VISA TO THE US, i returned with my wife to the consulate the next morning, the day before (tuesday) when they told my wife they need extra docs, they also gave her a pink paper basically letting the people at the consulate door that she would return, they accepted her back in, and NOT ME, as i wanted to explain some things to these (dorks) the door lady didn't let me in... mind you i am the husband, sponsor, and petitioner.. so much for being a citizen.. and having any rights.. my wife went inside went to a window to complete the interview this lady spoke russian, so, no need for a translator, my wife told her, and gave her the requested docs (as we printed them out as well) and she LOOKED at the yesterday submitted docs (just pointing out that they would have taken all week to send us an email to return back, and by that time my wives schengen might have already been invalid for all they cared..) she took my wives passport and basically within a day or two the passport was ready.. we picked it up at the pickup location they suggest.. (it's a bit of a drive) but, got the visa, everything went according to plan, ask away would love to help

First, let me say thank you for taking the time to share this. I have some questions and would like your advise if you do not mind. 

In summary, we just started the process for K1 visa and we have been approved and sent to Warsaw. We have not applied for the Schengen at all. We were hoping that we could get transferred to Turkey or Kazakhstan so we filled out the ds-260 for Turkey. However, we have not received the welcome packet, or invoice number, or been able to create an account on the CEAC website. My fiancé is a Russian citizen, I am the USC and sponsor with no financial proof of employment for my fiancé We are hoping to learn from other people's experiences and avoid what we can.

1. Should we leave the k-1 visa in Warsaw and try and get a Schengen visa another route, does it seem to be quicker?

2. When you applied for the Schengen visa did you already have your interview set or do you schedule it after you got approved for the visa?

3. Do you remember about how long after you received the NVC notification of transfer to Warsaw, that it took for you to be able to schedule your interview?

4. Do you remember how you received your invoice number?

5. Did your spouse do her medical in Russia before the interview?

Forgive me if my questions are tedious. I just want to make sure I understand everything and know what to expect. Any recommendations or advise is welcomed.

On 4/8/2024 at 3:30 AM, aleksey23 said:

hello all,

i would like to say that i was in your shoes just recently, but, i have gotten the visa for my wife (russian citizen) did the interview in

warsaw poland, i also tried to move the interview to another country but, no avail.. so, i opened up a schengen visa for my wife for hungary, for two weeks,

they gave us the Schengen visa within two weeks (from st.petersburg visa center) we had the interview within a week or around 8 days after receiving the schengen visa, (just letting you

know how close all the dates were, and mind you my wife is pregnant about 2 months in..) we went to budapest hungary, stayed there for a few nights then went to poland by car. (also can go by bus, no checks on borders, i drove in a rental car, and no borders/no checks, do not worry) came to poland a day before the interview, and went to the interview the next day, my wife had the interview with a translator, apparently we didn't have like 2 docs they wanted... (i fault the uscs for this as they asked for a w2, while i didn't work any w2 in the past 3 years, so, i didn't send them) and they wanted my wives document for name change.. (weird) my wife returned from the interview, and told me they needed more docs.. so i sent them within an hour (1099's and name change).. they told her they would look into the docs and send us an email to return.. (we were short on time, with schengen visa and just by my booking dates/plans for poland, this was tuesday) i didn't wait for the EMAIL, as i know these guys DO NOT CARE FOR MY WIVES URGENT NEED OF A VISA TO THE US, i returned with my wife to the consulate the next morning, the day before (tuesday) when they told my wife they need extra docs, they also gave her a pink paper basically letting the people at the consulate door that she would return, they accepted her back in, and NOT ME, as i wanted to explain some things to these (dorks) the door lady didn't let me in... mind you i am the husband, sponsor, and petitioner.. so much for being a citizen.. and having any rights.. my wife went inside went to a window to complete the interview this lady spoke russian, so, no need for a translator, my wife told her, and gave her the requested docs (as we printed them out as well) and she LOOKED at the yesterday submitted docs (just pointing out that they would have taken all week to send us an email to return back, and by that time my wives schengen might have already been invalid for all they cared..) she took my wives passport and basically within a day or two the passport was ready.. we picked it up at the pickup location they suggest.. (it's a bit of a drive) but, got the visa, everything went according to plan, ask away would love to help

First, let me say thank you for taking the time to share this. I have some questions and would like your advise if you do not mind. 

In summary, we just started the process for K1 visa and we have been approved and sent to Warsaw. We have not applied for the Schengen at all. We were hoping that we could get transferred to Turkey or Kazakhstan so we filled out the ds-260 for Turkey. However, we have not received the welcome packet, or invoice number, or been able to create an account on the CEAC website. My fiancé is a Russian citizen, I am the USC and sponsor with no financial proof of employment for my fiancé We are hoping to learn from other people's experiences and avoid what we can.

1. Should we leave the k-1 visa in Warsaw and try and get a Schengen visa another route, does it seem to be quicker?

2. When you applied for the Schengen visa did you already have your interview set or do you schedule it after you got approved for the visa?

3. Do you remember about how long after you received the NVC notification of transfer to Warsaw, that it took for you to be able to schedule your interview?

4. Do you remember how you received your invoice number?

5. Did your spouse do her medical in Russia before the interview?

Forgive me if my questions are tedious. I just want to make sure I understand everything and know what to expect. Any recommendations or advise is welcomed.

On 4/8/2024 at 3:30 AM, aleksey23 said:

hello all,

i would like to say that i was in your shoes just recently, but, i have gotten the visa for my wife (russian citizen) did the interview in

warsaw poland, i also tried to move the interview to another country but, no avail.. so, i opened up a schengen visa for my wife for hungary, for two weeks,

they gave us the schengen visa within two weeks (from st.petersburg visa center) we had the interview within a week or around 8 days after receiving the schengen visa, (just letting you

know how close all the dates were, and mind you my wife is pregnant about 2 months in..) we went to budapest hungary, stayed there for a few nights then went to poland by car. (also can go by bus, no checks on borders, i drove in a rental car, and no borders/no checks, do not worry) came to poland a day before the interview, and went to the interview the next day, my wife had the interview with a translator, apparently we didn't have like 2 docs they wanted... (i fault the uscs for this as they asked for a w2, while i didn't work any w2 in the past 3 years, so, i didn't send them) and they wanted my wives document for name change.. (weird) my wife returned from the interview, and told me they needed more docs.. so i sent them within an hour (1099's and name change).. they told her they would look into the docs and send us an email to return.. (we were short on time, with schengen visa and just by my booking dates/plans for poland, this was tuesday) i didn't wait for the EMAIL, as i know these guys DO NOT CARE FOR MY WIVES URGENT NEED OF A VISA TO THE US, i returned with my wife to the consulate the next morning, the day before (tuesday) when they told my wife they need extra docs, they also gave her a pink paper basically letting the people at the consulate door that she would return, they accepted her back in, and NOT ME, as i wanted to explain some things to these (dorks) the door lady didn't let me in... mind you i am the husband, sponsor, and petitioner.. so much for being a citizen.. and having any rights.. my wife went inside went to a window to complete the interview this lady spoke russian, so, no need for a translator, my wife told her, and gave her the requested docs (as we printed them out as well) and she LOOKED at the yesterday submitted docs (just pointing out that they would have taken all week to send us an email to return back, and by that time my wives schengen might have already been invalid for all they cared..) she took my wives passport and basically within a day or two the passport was ready.. we picked it up at the pickup location they suggest.. (it's a bit of a drive) but, got the visa, everything went according to plan, ask away would love to help

First, let me say thank you for taking the time to share this. I have some questions and would like your advise if you do not mind. 

In summary, we just started the process for K1 visa and we have been approved and sent to Warsaw. We have not applied for the Schengen at all. We were hoping that we could get transferred to Turkey or Kazakhstan so we filled out the ds-260 for Turkey. However, we have not received the welcome packet, or invoice number, or been able to create an account on the CEAC website. My fiancé is a Russian citizen, I am the USC and sponsor with no financial proof of employment for my fiancé We are hoping to learn from other people's experiences and avoid what we can.

1. Should we leave the k-1 visa in Warsaw and try and get a Schengen visa another route, does it seem to be quicker?

2. When you applied for the Schengen visa did you already have your interview set or do you schedule it after you got approved for the visa?

3. Do you remember about how long after you received the NVC notification of transfer to Warsaw, that it took for you to be able to schedule your interview?

4. Do you remember how you received your invoice number?

5. Did your spouse do her medical in Russia before the interview?

Forgive me if my questions are tedious. I just want to make sure I understand everything and know what to expect. Any recommendations or advise is welcomed.

On 2/11/2024 at 4:53 AM, Bunny Gurl said:

No, my mom's case was initially assigned at Warsaw, as, probably, most of the Russian applicants' cases since the war started. That is, I think, really ridiculous - don't they know, that Russian people need a Schengen visa for that? So to go to a visa interview, they have to obtain another visa. Why not assigning all Russian cases at the countries, were Russian citizens can go without a visa? Wouldn't that make a better sense?

I am now working in Germany, and the most convenient for me would be getting my mom's case assigned at Frankfurt - I could bring her over, have her stay here with me in my apartment within a comfortable time, without any hassle. So, I started requesting for transfer. I wrote all over the place - to NVC, to Frankfurt Visa Unit, at its multiple emails, made several phone calls - but those guys only kept fobbing me off with all kinds of kisses off for about 3 months (the petition was approved in October). I was already considering to write to my senator for assistance, but then decided to walk on the path of least resistance. I wrote to Tbilisi (Georgia) and got a reply from them, that they only accept the cases of those who reside in Georgia and Azerbaijan. Since when, I wonder? My friend's mother had her interview there in March 2023. Then I wrote to Almaty and thankfully received an acceptance letter from them. The very next day I received the letter  from NVC, confirming the case reassignment with the new number.
I am not terribly disappointed, for Almaty is the place, where my mom can get the easiest way - no visa needed, and it's a short trip by train for her, since she lives in the city of Kurgan, which is right next to Kazakhstan border. 

 Do you mind explaining what you did and who you wrote to get your case transferred to Almaty? We have a K1 visa and would like for our case to be transferred from Warsaw as well.

Hello,

My question is very similar to everyone else's but I just want to make sure that the information is still current. My fiancé is in Russia and I am in the USC. Our K-1 was also sent to Poland but we have not applied for a visa based on the anticipation of being denied and the cost of the flight. Our preference is Turkey or Kazakhstan to save for the flight and have more flexibility monetarily. However, I have not been able to find the contact information for Turkey to ask will they accept it. Does anyone know the correct route to ask either country if they will accept our visa, including contact information?

Will it be quicker to keep it in Poland and just try and get there instead?

Overall we want the quickest yet feasible way of getting approval. If anyone has any new information, tips, advice, or suggestions... please share.

Also, I read someone say in one of the replies "The latest chat on telegram" Is telegram a platform that anyone can use to get information?