Bunny Gurl

We are really happy about the outcome of my mom's interview on October 17th this year in Almaty, Kazakhstan. My mom's visa was granted during the interview after a very short conversation between her and the consular officer. Let me provide you with more details. So, after the date was scheduled, which I told about in a separate topic, I also scheduled my mom's medical exam on October 14th. It went really smooth and even superficial. They only X-rayed her chest, no other tests or labs were run (she is 76). What I liked most is that you don't have to come again for picking up the results - they send them straight to the embassy. Their policy said, it can take up to 72 hours, that's why we took enough time before the interview - 3 days - to avoid any disappointment. Apparently, our fears were in vain. On the interview day we've arrived at the Samal business center, where the Embassy is located, 20 minutes prior to the scheduled time and asked, when we can enter. The guards told us, we could get in already. Very smooth and convenient security procedure. You leave your purses and cellphones at the security and go upstairs with just your documents, cash and essential items. They escort you in the elevator up to the Embassy office door. The first step there was checking our paperwork. Unfortunately, my mom brought wrong photographs. They were made like for Schengen visa. While the U.S. visa requires 5x5 cm. So, we had to return and go to the nearest photo salon to make proper photos. It took around 25 minutes, and we still were back at the Embassy before 11 am (the scheduled time was 10:30) This time everything went just fine - I've submitted her documents at the paper check desk, while enjoying the amazing view of Almaty through the 17th floor window. Only the original birth and divorce certificates were taken from us. They haven't even looked at the notarized translations, i was preparing so thoroughly. In a short while my mom was invited to the consular's window. The officer, a young black Muslim girl, wearing a hijab, was very sweet and polite. She spoke Russian, with a really heavy accent, though. But she only asked my mom 2 questions: tell me about your daughter's life in the USA, and: do you have any grandchildren? After literally 2 minutes of that conversation the officer announced: your visa has been granted! I asked, when the passport can be picked up, and she said - not tomorrow, definitely. But she was wrong - the very next day, on Friday at around 3:50 pm I've received an email saying the visa is ready for being picked up at the Visametrics center. I called a cab through Yandex Go, which is quite popular in Almaty and really dirt cheap, and around 4:30 I already had my mom's passport with the visa handed to me. As for the travel recommendations: Russian citizens with no Schengen visa can only have 1 layover in Schengen zone, no more than 24 hours between the flights. Take that into consideration, when you book the airplane tickets.

Thank you!!!

My mother's interview has been finally scheduled for October 17th - in less than 2 weeks from now. Everything seems to be ready. But I am still worried, that they won't grant her the visa on the day of the interview. We need some luck here. Send us some good vibes!

It's for my mother. Which one is that?

The email with the appointment date I received says something which I don"t understand: Before traveling to your consular appointment, please check the Department of State Visa Bulletin to confirm that your priority date is still current. If it is not, you will need to reschedule your appointment when the priority date becomes current to continue your case processing. This does not apply for K visas (Fiancé(e)/Spouse/Child), Boarding Foils and Returning Residents (SB1). When I click on that link, that's what it shows (see attached image) Does anyone know, what that means?

I believe, my experience can be helpful for someone. My mother's interview for IR-5 visa was initially scheduled on June 18th. It wasn't possible for us to attend it on that date. When I called the U.S. consulate in Almaty, they told me to wait till the scheduled date and then I'll be able to reschedule it through their website https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-kz/iv/users/sign_in But that information was wrong. In fact, I simply had to go to HOME ➡️CONTINUE➡️EXPEDITE THE APPOINTMENT after logging into my account and finding the scheduled interview information. Expedite doesn't necessarily mean you are requesting expediting. I actually requested delaying the interview through that button. My request was approved in less than a week. Now we have the interview scheduled on October 17th this year. Wish us luck!

My mom was initially scheduled her interview on June 18th this year, but we couldn't go, because it's too hot for her there in the summer, she is an elderly and not a well person. I called the embassy in Almaty, and they told me, after the scheduled date passes, I'll be able to open the scheduling page an pick my own date. I've been trying to do that since June 18th. So far there were only 2 available dates - on July 11 and 18th. Neither of those suit us. We'd prefer September the 27th. They don't schedule it for you over the phone. I also tried to write an email to the office, which scheduled the interview initially, they are saying, they can't help and just refer me back to the scheduling page. My concern is if there is any deadline after the case has been approved, for obtaining the interview date. Also, does anyone have a recent experience scheduling the interview for IR-5, like we are trying to do now? Can you give any tips to succeed?

U.S. Consulate in Almaty ADDRESS: Samal-2, 97 Zholdasbekov Street, Almaty, Kazakhstan, 050051 HOURS OF OPERATION: Closed PHONE: +7 (727) 250-48-02 EMAIL: Almaty@state.gov

I simply wrote an email to the U.S. embassy in Almaty. They replied within a couple days, saying they are accepting my Mom's case. Soon I received an email from NVC with the new case number for Almaty.

I was mildly insulted with the automatic supposition, that I am low income😀 But thank you for the answer anyway.

For 2022 I only have 1099. Will that do?

Hello, guys, I have just received the following message from NVC: Please submit every 2022 W-2, 1099, and Schedule form for Petitioner. What is Schedule form, please?

May I ask you, how long it took you to get the interview scheduled after you've submitted all the paperwork at NVC?

I also had to fight for Almaty. Despite what you said, my mom's case was assigned at Warsaw in October 2023.

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.