Master5

You are doing it right, middle name field should be left blank. Patronymic is not a middle name, but if someone uses it as a middle name it doesn't seem like causing many problems either. In Russian external (travel) passports patronymic is not being translated to English, they list only first and last name in English.

Thanks for sharing! The correct translation from Russian would be "The US is looking for an accessible country for issuing immigrant visas to Russians". They move so slow though. Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Israel - they could just spread the case load between those 5 long time ago.

Hi guys! Finally got a positive reply from Jerusalem! They sent me an email asking to confirm the transfer and I replied back with confirmation. I wonder what's the next step I have to take? Our case is already passed NVC stage and interview has been scheduled for it in Warsaw. Also, could someone DM me the Telegram group handle for Jerusalem-specific chat? @To_the_moon @Peter1025 @Simplytex

What Telegram chats are those? I'm trying to transfer the case to some other embassy right now, to a country that doesn't requite a damn visa to enter for Russian citizens. If that fails then we'll try to get a visa from Spain, but that will be next year. Israel embassy still didn't reply to my email about the transfer after 2 weeks, and next week they have Hanukah

I called to USTravelDocs Polish number and spoke to the customer representative. In short: they can't do anything, they just provide the same information that's available on their website, like robots. She just keeps saying the same thing over and over: you can either reschedule or transfer the case to another Embassy but we can't help you with anything on our side. BTW, I was able to reschedule the interview already using USTravelDocs website, just in case. It's not clear at all what happens if you just miss the interview, the customer service girl was unable to answer that simple question.

Hi @Moscowmojo! What's the email address you used for contacting Kazakhstan embassy? I can't find any email address for IV enquiries on their website. My wife got a Schengen visa refusal recently (yes, we showed 400,000RUB in her account and travel reservations, bunch or other supporting docs), so I'm trying to transfer the case to some country where you can actually travel to. BTW, Romania does require a visa for Russian citizens as well. Now imaging traveling like that with little kids as in our case!

Speaking about Serbia: anyone can share the email address to contact them? Serbian embassy website doesn't seem to have an IV section.

I don't see any phone number for IV enquiries on U.S. Embassy Israel website, only the email address. The Polish embassy website does have a phone number though.

Hi guys! As some of you may know, my wife got a Schengen visa refusal from Hungary so she won't be able to attend the IR1 visa interview next week in Warsaw. On Dec 5th I wrote to the U.S. Embassy Jerusalem asking for the interview transfer but they haven't replied yet. Then I wrote to support-poland@ustraveldocs.com asking for further steps but they replied with some incomprehensible nonsense, seems like they didn't bother to read my message in full. I wonder what to do now? Should I reschedule the interview in Warsaw using ustraveldocs website and then try to obtain a Schengen visa for my wife from another country? Should I wait until interview date passes to reschedule (that's what it says on ustraveldocs website)?

I don't know, overstaying the visa in Europe would be my last concern really. I'm trying to get my wife to US not to Europe, and I have more important things to worry about. I personally have zero desire to visit continental Europe, been there many times already. Bunch of nations that have been in war with each other for hundreds of years (and really still don't like each other). But all of the sudden they decided to create the Schengen zone and use the same currency. High taxes, low pay, borderline socialism really. UK did the right thing exiting that mess.

Congrats! I wouldn't worry too much about overstaying Schengen visa If everything goes well next time she comes to Europe with the US passport!

AirBnB prices seem to be about the same as in Warsaw, $200-250/night for a 2-3bd. Maybe just a bit higher on average than in Warsaw. Do they conduct interviews in Jerusalem only or also in the Tel-Aviv branch?

Congrats! Did they explain why it took so long? I actually wouldn't mind to spend some extra time in Israel, it's warm there unlike in Warsaw. And importantly there are direct flights to Tel-Aviv from Russia. Compare that to booking 3 separate flights to get to Warsaw: you have to exit the terminal, go through the passport control, get your checked-in luggage and recheck-in it again, twice. All that while pretending to be just a tourist going to see the beautiful city of Budapest, hehe. Traveling in such manner with little kids going to be exhausting as hell.

I see, thanks! I have already emailed them. If they deny then I'm not sure what to do next. Our family is stuck in Russia because of this damn Schengen visa situation, unbelievable. My wife has no prior Schengen visa history and I heard that may be the problem. They's couldn't pick a harder location to get to for a Russian citizen than Warsaw.

Update on our case: we got a Schengen visa denial from Hungary. No time to re-apply for France or Spain now. We'll be trying to transfer the case to Jerusalem. It looks like for a Russian citizen it's easier to cross US-Mexican border these days then to get to Warsaw. I find this whole situation where you need to obtain one visa in order to be interviewed for another visa perverted beyond believe.

Hi @Cheddy! You wrote to Jerusalemivinquiries@state.gov, correct? I wonder how dramatic the letter needs to be? My wife just got a Schengen visa denial to go to the scheduled interview in Warsaw, I'm thinking about asking for a case transfer to Jerusalem. I have already tried Armenia and Georgia a few months back but they denied.

I'm preparing my 4th document submission to NVC and I wonder if other people having similar experiences? NVC keeps mishandling my submitted documents, both financial and civil. For example, they improperly titled one of the the documents and now asking for its re-submission. Also, I attached my most recent W2 form that covers Poverty Guidelines many times over and then they ask for my 1099s. It just feels unreal. Every re-submission takes 2.5 months to review, I have my whole family stuck in Russia because of this. On top of that they no longer have a phone line to call them. Anyone having the similar experience with them? Is it discrimination or just incompetence?

Please share your experience in getting Schengen visa to get to the interview in Warsaw. I've heard that Poland doesn't issue any visas to Russians at all and best chance (50/50) would be Italy. I wonder if the following would help when applying for a Schengen visa from Italy: Attaching interview invitation letter from NVC. Attaching copy of US passport of a spouse traveling with an applicant. Related question: when the packet of documents arrives to the applicant before the interview, what it contains? I've specified my US address as a mailing address for that packet because Russian Post Office is notoriously unreliable. Re-sending those packets by DHL to Russia is currently impossible, but they can make the scanned copies for me over there. Will the copies be accepted to get to the interview? Or maybe NVC also emails those documents to the applicant?