Question about K-1 Visa Process Post NOA2

[YozhikandBulochka 3]

Ive got a question. So the NVC has sent and received the approved application in Moscow. What is the next step? I gave them a call yesterday and they said we have to pay for the Visa upfront using an MRV receipt before we can schedule an interview. Also they said they would send her some information but most of it can already be found online as to what to bring for the interview. I was expecting them to first send packet 3 then set up interview then pay for Visa, then possible approval. Im a bit confused by this very strange order of things. anybody filing in Moscow had the same process or can someone give insight as to whether this is ok? Thanks

Yozhik

[Misha & Ira 113]

Here is a copy and paste from a similar question in a pm....it starts a little before where you are...forgive me for not editing...

Congratulations on your NOA2! We got ours the day after I came back from visiting Ira...it made coming back without her a little better.

What I did was to call the NVC daily...at this point they will tell you (if you speak to a live person) that it takes up to 15 business days to get into the system. But...it varies. I also wrote them at NVCinquiry@state.gov . What you are interested in is getting your case number. When you do this, use as the subject the NOA case number - starts with EAC if you went through Vermont. In the body of the letter include your name and DOB and her name and DOB. I simply asked for the status of the case and the number. I also attached a scan of our NOA2. This got the best response.

We got our NOA2 on the 4th...the NVC did not register it until the 18th. When I called and it was in their system they told me it would be several days in processing so I did not call again until the 22nd. When I call then, they told me that it had already been forwarded to the Embassy on the 20th...so much for several days of processing. Anyway...when you have your case number (it will start with MOS) you can start to set up for your interview.

You will need to go to http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ru/ and create an account. A word of caution, I had thought to go set up a trila account so I could guide Ira through the process...but this site is not conducive to making trial runs. Two pieces of information become unchangeable once you enter them...her passport number and heer name. Once locked in, this information can only be changed by the site admin. I mistakenly used her internal passport number and they made me send a scan of her international passport in order to change it. They told me that creating multiple accounts would cause problems. Fortunately the support staff is helpful and seemingly available 24/7. (I work nights and was calling at 7-9pm EST) The phone menu is in english, but they will answer the phone in Russian..I just asked for English as my Russian is not quite enough for this.

After that your fiancee must fill out DS-160 (it is for this form you need your case number I believe) and print it out and take it to the designated bank and pay for her visa. The information on the Embassy site is outdated. The visa is no longer paid for the day of the interview but prior to be able to schedule. It then takes two full business days for the bank to input the payment information into the system. After the bank enters the information into the system you can schedule your interview. The good news is that when I was talking to the people back in late October, the ustraveldocs people told me that the first available date was Nov 1! It seems that there is no real backlog or difficulty in getting an interview date. We chose our date because her son will be out of school that week, but she could have chosen earlier. Not many dates were not available.

Also, for the DS-160 you will need a digital passport picture to upload as part of the form.

Packet 3 is all online now....the following links will have all the information you will need

http://moscow.usemba...ov/fiancee.html

http://moscow.usemba...packet4-eng.pdf

Here is the number for Embassy visa services that you can call locally (718) 425-8337. Another thing to do is have her call them and they too can walk her through in Russian if she needs.

http://moscow.usemba...contact-us.html

She should have already requested her police report as this will take the most time to get. Also in the meantime, getting all of her vital docs (birth certificate, divorce decrees...anything of this nature) translated into english. As long as her docs are in Russian, they do not need to be certified translations.

Tracking your package from the NVC to the embassy is found in this thread. You will need the date they tell you it shipped and enter it in the DHL tracking site as shown in this example. In the screenshot, they had told me my petition shipped on the 20th.

http://www.visajourn..._1#entry4970692

[ONA 133]

There is no such thing as Packet 3 in Russia.

Your fiancee will receive an e-mail from the consulate with the instructions.

She will have to pay the visa fee ay VTB24 bank. More information (and the payment slip) can be found here: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ru/ru-niv-paymentinfo.asp#options'>http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ru/ru-niv-paymentinfo.asp#options

Then she should wait for 2 days and schedule her appointment here: https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/

More instructions here: http://moscow.usembassy.gov/fiancee.html and here: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/ru/ (both websites are available in English and Russian)

After that your fiancee must fill out DS-160 (it is for this form you need your case number I believe) and print it out and take it to the designated bank and pay for her visa.

K-1 applicants do not fill out DS-160. They fill out DS-156.

[YozhikandBulochka 3]

Thank you so much guys =) I really Appreciate it. This information is very useful and helpful. ()b

[YozhikandBulochka 3]

Thank you so much guys =) I really Appreciate it. This information is very useful and helpful. ()b

[noamoore 0]

How much is the fee? and does it get paid in rubles?

I know there is probably an obvious answer somewhere, but I got the $340 wrong, so I figured I would ask. Thanks))

[ONA 133]

How much is the fee? and does it get paid in rubles?

$350.

It's paid in rubles, the amount can be found on the payment slip (I posted the link above)

[Misha & Ira 113]

Last I checked (And what we paid) the site was set to 33Rub to the dollar for a total of 11550Rubles....this worked out that day to be more than what is should have been...todays rate is 30.62 last I checked...worked out to $377

[daryl&lada 8]

I have paid at VTB24 on 10-30-2011 and it was 11550 in RUB. In two days dates for the interview were already avalable on the site.

Lada

Edited November 11, 2011 by daryl&lada

[noamoore 0]

$350.

It's paid in rubles, the amount can be found on the payment slip (I posted the link above)

Thank you and good luck to everyone. The waiting is getting to me a lot more than her. My Julia told me that I am not very patient and that I am not used to waiting for a very long time. I told her that is not true and tried to explain to her about the DMV:))))))

[YozhikandBulochka 3]

unfortunately we decided to renew her russian passport for 5 years before I left Russia so that she doesnt have to worry about come back in case it expires....so we have to wait for that to arrive before we can pay for the visa fee because the passport number will change. T_T She should receive it on the 20th so Monday or tuesday we should know about interview.

[daryl&lada 8]

unfortunately we decided to renew her russian passport for 5 years before I left Russia so that she doesnt have to worry about come back in case it expires....so we have to wait for that to arrive before we can pay for the visa fee because the passport number will change. T_T She should receive it on the 20th so Monday or tuesday we should know about interview.

Good luck!