Hello fellow Ukraine fiance's/fiancee's (husbands/wives)!!
-Newbie here - well, have been a member for a week or so, but took me a week to read through all 39 pages of discussions.
(enjoyed reading everyone's stories and comments..)

Anyway, just submitted my I-129f about 2 weeks ago, and I am starting to work on the embassy/interview stuff.
(Even though I am probably a good 4 months away from our petition approval - gotta love the CSC..)

What I know.
-After approval, petition is sent to NVC and hangs out there a while (week to a month)
-When done at NVC - I get notified, and also get the Case Number ('KEV' number)
-Then gets sent to US Embassy in Kiev
-Embassy enters into their system, and sends packet to my Fiancee
(my understanding is that this is very slow)

Interview:
-From what I read, Cannot set up an interview until Embassy receives packet, and enters into their system.
(Although, it sounds like some people have somehow set up even before they get it into their system.)

Now - to know when they have in their system - can either:

-Wait for the packet from embassy to be delivered to my Fiancee. (Even the website suggests this is very slow and to not wait for the packet.)

Or
-Can send like weekly emails to 'kyiviv@state.gov' - asking if they have entered the info into their system
Or,
-Can do the 'PIN' thingy, and pay the $12, and call once a week or so to see if they have the info entered into their system

Question - am I right with my 2 options to speed things up?

Also

Everything I read says that we can just do the 'Download packet' thing - instead of waiting for the packet.
http://kiev.usembassy.gov/visa_K1K2_eng.html - 'Download information packet HERE.'

Question
-Does this download thing contain the EXACT same forms and information that thing they send?
(I know the website says it is, just kind of hoping for confirmation from someone who has actually seen both)
-If so, it doesn't matter that the forms are EXPIRED? (Do they send 'expired' forms as well?)
-If so, I could then just print, and fill out the DS-156 and DS-156K forms at any time right?
(Is there ANYTHING in the packet they send that is needed at the interview that is not in the downloadable packet?)

-I am heading back to Ukraine this summer, and I want to bring her as much stuff as I can.
(I want to bring the filled out DS-156 forms, my Financial information, copy of original petition, etc.)

Thanks much for any help!!

-Good luck to anyone still in the process,
-and Congrats to everyone who has finished the process.

Also, I noticed someone on here was from Minnesota
-I would like to get in contact with any guys from MN who now have (or will have) Russian speaking wives.
-I hear it is easier for the women to move here and adjust to living here if they can hang out with and talk with other Russian speaking women who have gone through the same thing.
(I live in the Cities - and my email is yyz26@hotmail.com)

Sean (Fiancee is Natalia - from Kherson, Ukraine)

Hi it seems like you have found and read everything you need and yes the mail is very very slow if it ever gets there my husband is yet to receive any mail from NVC and our case is scheduled for interview 7/15 My suggestion to you is just make sure everything is submitted correctly Good Luck

Sean hi,

Nice to hear that another Ukrainian girl has found a love of her life ! I hope you'll get a fast approval. We had to wait five months back in Fall but it seems that everything moves much faster now.

You got everything right. Yes, as soon as your petition approved, it'll be mailed to NVC but they process them very fast. I'm sure that the Embassy will receive it not later than three-four weeks after the approval date. They will send you two letters in mail - one after they receive it and one after they'll send it to the Embassy. I started calling the Embassy after two weeks; I figured, if they charge me $12/8min, it's all on me, so I kept calling once a week and asking if my petition had reached them. I'd advice you to do the same thing. But it's still a bit to far.

If you go to visit your fiancee in summer, you'll have to bring her filled and notarized form I-134, Affidavit of Support plus all supporting evidence you can. She'll need it for the interview. On a top of it, my then-fiance sent me detailed phone bills and copies of his plane tickets and boarding passes when he's visiting Ukraine (in our case he also sent me my bank statements with the address on it showing that we'd lived together for about a year before I left to Ukraine to wait for K1). Your fiancee will need to obtain a police certificate and to do the medical. People who are not from Kiev usually schedule the medical a day prior to the interview but if your fiancee's willing to travel to Kiev before that, she can do it too. The instructions say that she'll need to have a NVC # to schedule the medical but they don't really require that. If you need the info about where to apply for police certificate in Donentsk, I can email it to you (she'll also to need to obtain police certificates from all countries where she lived 6 months or longer from the age of 16.) Also, the birth certificate needs to be translated and notorized.

Mostly important for Natalia to start gathering the documents way before the interview. Police certificates are valid for one year. I'd do the medical closer to the interview anyway but it's still not a problem. You've found a right Information Packet; use it. It's an exact copy of what the Embassy will send you via regular mail after getting you case from the NVC. Just keep checking for updates; the fee may change or how you pay for the interview, but the list of required docs will remain the same. To fill DS-156/K is the last and the easiest step. To gather everything else is what requires more time .

Good luck!
Masha

Somehow I just realized that I've typed Donetsk instead of Kherson

You seem to have it all together pretty well. The suggestion to bring the financial documents along with the Affadavit of Support is a pretty good one. The process is relatively simple once the case number in Kiev has been assigned. She should take the time to get any other important documents translated also, such as school records, health records and organize her personal belongings she wishes to bring.

Remind her that electrical devices won't work here, so plan on buying new ones for her. The physical should be scheduled pretty close to the interview date since she will be in Kiev at that time. She needs to understand that the policy is to send the passport with visa by overnight delivery to her home. That process usually takes about a week after the interview, so if she doesn't live in Kiev, she should plan on going home. Assuming that everything goes well, she could probably leave within two to three weeks after the interview. (You need to give her time to say goodbye).

Depending upon when you receive the approval and the case is shipped to the embassy the final process can generally be fully completed in three weeks, which means you are looking into her beautiful eyes. The interview can sometimes be quite demeaning and harsh, but tell her to be upbeat and happy and it will be easy.

You need to remember that after her arrival, she will need time for her body clock to readjust. Two to three weeks is generally enough to get her sleeping normally but she will still feel a little out of sorts for some time. Also, there will be some homesickness. If you can, find some stores with Russian/Ukrainian goods and take her there when she starts showing signs of missing home. She'll love you for it.

Most of all, be patient. Take the time until approval to start preparing your home for her. Clean it good, maybe paint or get new carpeting and make room for her things in the closet and dresser.

Best of luck, this is going to be a great journey together.

Fwaguy is from MN
Mrs. Fwaguy is from Kherson

Masha and '1 happy guy' - thank you very much for the information and also the validation of what I do know.
-I really appreciate it.

Regarding the 'Police Report'
-We just talked about this yesterdady, and I just told her to talk to a local police office, and ask them where she should apply for the 'Police Report'.
-I am assuming they can tell her - but Masha, if you know where to go in Kherson, it would really help us out.


-'fwaguy' - we seem to have a lot in common, both in Twin Cities area, and both with ladies from Kherson.
(granted, if the age you have listed on your profile is right - we are just slightly different in our ages...)
-Do you think 'Mrs. fwaguy' would be interested in talking with my Natalia once she gets here?

Thanks much,
Sean (and Natalia)

Slightly different? The DOB is not correct...

Mrs. Fwaguy would be happy to speak... she has a couple of former Khersonites she still speaks with...

Here is the link (it's in Ukrainian only.) In the bottom of the page you'll find "ADDRESSES OF THE INFORMATION SERVICES... ("АДРЕСИ ИНФОРМЦИОННЫХ СЛУЖБ...."). Click on it and the list of regional offices will pop up. They have one in Kherson.
If it won't work - the phone number in Kherson is (0552)22 31 36.

http://dit.centrmia.gov.ua/pos.htm

Good luck !
masha

Masha
-Thank you so much for the information on where to get Police Report.
-I will pass this on to my Natalia - she will really appreciate it.


fwaguy
-ok, maybe a little more than 'slightly different' - was only like 40 years.
-ya know - I was going to be very impressed if that was your real age - to have the energy to go through this process at 79 would have been quite impressive..
-I will shoot you a 'personal message' as we get closer to Natalia getting here to Minnesota.

thanks again,
Sean (and Natalia)

I received my NOA2 on May 30th. I noticed (like many do) that my case was touched again the following day, so I knew they mailed my petition to the NVC on the 31st. I waited 2 days to start calling the NVC. You can not use their automated system, because the NVC does not track K-1 petitions and they are not entered into their automated tracking system. So, you must talk to a live Operator, and this can be very difficult, as the lines are always full. You must be very patient, and call back often. I had the most luck very late at night, just before they close at 11PM Eastern. Sure enough, on June 3rd they told me they had received it, and they gave me my "KEV" case number. They will give you some BS about how it takes 2 to 4 weeks to process, but with a K-1 it is always processed in a matter of days. I continued to call back, and only 2 days later, they told me it was mailed to the Embassy (on June 5th).

OK, so now it's time for the "DSL tracking trick"! Once you know the date the NVC sent it out, you can track it via the DSL website. For instance, the shipment reference for me is EXP 05 JUN 2008A. Sure enough, DSL picked up the package on the 6th, and off it went. They will only send one package to Kiev per shipment. My package was 7 pounds, so that's a lot of petitions! I even signed up for email notifications as the package is tracked. Anyway... because it was picked up on a Friday (today), I went back to look at prior Friday shipments. So now I even know that the package will arrive on the morning of Tuesday, June 10th, and I even know the name of the guy who will sign for it!

So, I plan to call them on Wednesday, to make sure they have entered it into their system! Once they confirm, I will have Iryna call them immediately to setup the earliest possible interview, as we also downloaded the info packet and have all our paperwork ready to go. I have NO IDEA when the earliest interview will be, I hope we do not have to wait much longer! The web site for the Embassy concerns me, because on the Visa page, they have a large box entitled "Latest News", and it states "Currently, all the appointment slots for the nearest weeks are booked and, unfortunately, we are not able to add additional appointments at this time." However, there is no date posted for when this "Latest News" bulletin was added, so for all I know, it has stated this for a year...

When the interview appointment is set, I will begin to make my travel plans. Iryna will travel to Kiev the day before the appointment to have her medical exam. After the interview she will return home and wait for the visa. Meanwhile, I will fly out to help her pack up her stuff, and I will return to the States with her. That is the plan, I hope it all works out...

Unfortunately, because of the run-up in fuel costs, I decided to look at the prices for airfare... very depressing! I just returned home from my last visit a little over 3 weeks ago. Those tickets cost me $820 round-trip (Boston->Kiev). Now I need two sets of tickets to bring her back with me, and they are now $1400 each!!!! It's enough to make a grown man (me) cry!

Oh well... you can't put a price on love...
Good luck!

- Scott

hey Scott - great information - I will definitely use your tactics when my time comes.

I noticed that 'Latest News' on the 'US Embassy in Kiev' web site as well - but if you look right under where it says 'Latest News'
- it says 'Special Information for Belarusian Applicants' - so I am guessing/hoping that the news only refers to
'Belarusian visa applicants' - and not all applicants?

And, I feel your pain for the airline ticket prices - I flew to Kiev from Minneapolis/St. Paul in late March for $650, and I am going back to Kiev in September - already bought my tickets - $1270... - nice!!
(really hoping the prices come down when I go again to bring my fiancee back in November/December.)

Good luck with interview - hopefully no problems.
Sean

Where did you find that price? I paid $1500 (MSP-ODS) for July....

Pretty much every web-site - Orbitz, NWA.com, Expedia, etc.
-Flying Northwest/KLM the whole way - connect in Amsterdam.

When I was looking, July was definitely more expensive then September, and Odessa was always at least a couple hundred dollars more than Kiev (KBP), so that is why I fly into Kiev, and drive to Kherson from there.

So, it doesn't surprise me you had to pay $1500 to fly to Odessa for July.

Sean

Scott,
I have a question for you. My petition was received at the NVC last Thursday, June 12th. I assume it will go out to Kiev today or tomorrow. Were you able to schedule an interview date in Kiev yet? Just curious as to how far out they are scheduling interviews?

Thanks
John

No, we have not scheduled an interview yet.
Our petition was delivered to the Embassy late on the 9th. I have been calling the Embassy every day (I somehow got someone to cough up a direct line to the visa consulate), and they still haven't entered it into the system. He told me it can take 10 business days before the petition could be in the system and they send out the Information Packet. I was hoping today was the day, but it's a public holiday, and they are closed! So hopefully tomorrow or Wednesday she will be able to schedule her interview. We will see...

But I spoke to a very nice fella by the name of Gerald (Gerald and Vinera), and they recently set up their interview for July 9th, which means the interviews are currently being scheduled about 30 days out. I'll post again when we get our interview date.

- Scott

3-5 weeks lead time has been a very typical scenario in Kiev for quite some time.

OK thanks.
I hope my petition left the NVC last Friday - I checked DHL and it appears that (unless I am missing something) that they mailed shipments on Friday the 6th and shipments on the 13th. So, I wonder if they are only shipping once a week.

Yes, I would appreciate it if you could let me know when you get an interview date, trying to plan time around work as I will go to Kiev to be with Ulyana for the Interview. Appears based on FWAGUY's comment that it will probably be around 4 weeks or so from this week.

John

While the lead time for the interview appears to be fairly predictable, the transit time from NVC to the Embassy IS NOT very predicatable....

READ Kev 1

• 3. POLICE CERTIFICATES:
Applicants aged 16 years and older must submit a police certificate from the country of nationality and the country of residence at the time of visa application, if the applicant has resided there for six months or more. (For example, an 18 year old Russian citizen residing in Ukraine must present a police certificate both from Russia and Ukraine).
Police certificates are also required from all other countries where the immigrant visa applicant has resided for one year or more after the age of 16 including the republics of the former USSR. Fiancée visa applicants must present a police certificate from all countries where they resided for 6 months or more after the age of 16.
A police certificate must also be obtained from the police authorities of any place where the applicant has been arrested for any reason, regardless of how long he or she lived there. Police certificates must cover the entire period of the applicant's residence in any area. A certificate issued by the police authorities where the applicant now resides must be of recent date when presented to the consular officer. The term "police certificate" as used in this paragraph means a certification by appropriate police authorities stating what their records show concerning each applicant, including all arrests, the reasons for the arrests, and the disposition of each case of which there is a record. In Ukraine the certificate IP-1 must be obtained in the oblast centers from the Departments of Information Technology at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The police certificate is valid for ONE YEAR.



I guess this means if she lives in Kherson which is in Odessa Oblast(region) she must get her police report from Odessa

Masha, my fiancee is from a city in the Odessa reion called Belgorod -Dnestrovskiy
Do you have any idea where she must go to get her Police Report? I dont see it here http://dit.centrmia.gov.ua/deps/regions.htm

Cant I cal lthem myself to setup the interview?
Its easier if I charge my CC for the call $12, otherwise she has to go to the bank and pay it and get a PIN

It is 2 separate processes. When you phone the Call Center, follow the prompts to obtain a PIN code with a Credit Card. You will get an Operator who will take your CC info, and then they will tell you the PIN code. Give this PIN code to your girl, and she will use it when she calls to schedule her interview.

Sean,
I guess you're right. Just let her call Odessa and make sure that is where Natalia will need to apply for a police certificate. I'm afraid she'll have to travel to Odessa because they require a national passport.
masha

hi Masha - That was user 'Muddy' (not me) asking about his fiancee in the 'Odessa Region called Belgorod - Dnestrovskiy'
-Natalia was able to order her police report in Kherson with no problem - she lives in Kherson.
(at least that is my understanding of what she told me - we do have communication problems quite often....)

thanks much,
Sean

Kherson is NOT in Odessa Oblast.... A police report can be retrieved IN Kherson.... Have her go to the main police station near Ushakova Street.

At 4 o'clock this morning (EDT), I was able to finally schedule her interview. She has it the morning of Friday, July 18th, so they are a full month out. It sucks that we have to wait yet another month, but at least now I know the dates, and I can begin preparing for my final trip to go get her. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...

- Scott

Oh sorry then

I'm glad that Natlia was able to get her police certificate. Good luck with the rest!
masha

Many people would "kill" for only a 4 week lead time for an interview....

Scott,
Good that you've been able to schedule the interview! That's a bit of a long wait but summer is always a busiest season - with people trying to get tourist and student visas... Good luck for the intervew!
Masha

Student and tourist visas are processed by the non-immigrant visa (NIV) unit... K-1/2/3/4 as well as CR/IR1 visas are processed by the immigrant visa (IV) unit... The are different parts (departments) of the consulate.... 3-5 weeks lead time is almost always what you see for the IV unit, unless there was a recent cancellation that you can get....

Scott,
Good to hear that you got the interview scheduled. I have another question. How did you determine when the Embassy had your petition "logged" into thier system so you could schedule the interview?

I called NVC last night and they said the petition was sent out to Kiev yesterday. If in fact it did go out yesterday, it was hopefully on the DHL shipment that was sent yesterday. The packet weighed 3lbs, so hopefully our petition was in there. Based on transit, I would assume our petition would hit the embassy tomorrow, the 18th. How many days did you wait until you knew the petition arrived until you could schedule the interview?

Thanks, also, I am confused as to the comments about paying a $12 fee to be able to schedule the interview - can you explain how you set up your interview? Many thanks in advance.

John

The embassy gives themselves 10 days to go through the mail to put into the system... Once in the system the call center in Poland sees your file. The $12 fee (for up to an 8 minute phone call) is paid when you call the call center to make the appointment.

Thanks Masha, I'm sure the interview will go smoothly. I see from your timeline that you received your visa 3 days after the interview. Is this because you stayed in Kiev, or did you receive it so soon by mail? I was thinking of going the week following her interview, and come back together, but 1 week might be pushing it...

- Scott

My wife's interview was May 5th last year... I was scheduled to arrive on May 18 with us all departing on May 27th... We were "sweating" a bit because the person who is named on the delivery package MUST sign for it themselves and we wanted to visit the "in-laws" but were afraid to leave Kherson until the package arrived. Fortunately it arrived 7 days after her interview and all worked perfectly....

First, if the NVC says it was mailed yesterday, they really just mean sent to the mail room. So, your DSL reference code is EXP 16 JUN 2008A, which should be picked up by DHL this afternoon. You will be able to start tracking it tomorrow.

It takes the Embassy about a week from when they receive the petition to enter it into their system (they claim up to 10 business days). A few days after the package has been delivered, start calling them daily to see if it is in the system. It took about 7 days for ours to be entered. The direct phone number to the consulate for K-1 visas is +380444904422 (call between 8:30 - 4:30 Kiev time and give them the KEV case #). Once they confirm you are on the system, she can call and schedule her interview.

OK, now the PIN thing. To setup an interview, you do not call the Embassy, it is a call center. In order to use the call center, you must have first purchased a PIN code that allows you up to 8 minutes with a live operator at the call center. So the first thing you should do is purchase the PIN, you can do that now. To do this, call 888-889-3780 and follow the prompts to purchase a PIN using your credit card. You will be switched to an operator, who will take your CC info, and they will give you your PIN (charge is $12). You will use this PIN again later when you or she calls to schedule her interview (I setup the interview for my girl).

- Scott

Can anyone tell me how many digits the PIN code is. I called this morning from the US and had extremely bad connections, but succeeding in paying for and obtaining a PIN. I then called to try and see if the case could be scheduled for an interview, but the connection is very poor and once I enter 6 or 7 digits, the reponse is that I have entered an incorrect pin, then i try again and the line goes dead - tried twice already. The PIN code I received is 12 digits long.

Also, I called the embassy in Kiev on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, had a terrible time getting someone to pick up the phone each time, but all three times the individual answering the phone appeared to actually look in the computer & tell me the case was not logged in yet. I call today, a women answers the phone, I ask the same question - she says they cannot answer that question over the phone, send an email. When I said they did it the last three days for me, she said someone had broken the rules and they are not allowed to asnwer that question over the phone........

Thanks

Oops! I hope that wasn't my fault!

As I mentioned, it was a fluke that someone else at the Embassy ponied up that direct number to the Consular section. Every day when I called, the guy didn't seem thrilled, but he tried to lookup my info directly on the computer anyway. Oh well...

My PIN code is also 12 digits.

Hello

I had had the same problem you are having, all the same.

The PIN the operator gave me was invalid(Karina or maybe it was Galina)

I called NVC and was told the case was sent to Kiev on 6/11, checked the DHL and a package was sent to Kiev on 6/11

The PIN did not work, the operaot tell me to try a different phone, I tried my cell phone same problem. Call the number 5-6 times, everytime same problem, bad PIN. Talked to the operator again, and she said she will answer my question but then she must deactivate the PIN, do I agree? I said Yes.

She said the info on their web site is incorrect, I must wait for them to mail the package to my fiancee then we can schedule an interview, she also told me they have not entered the case in their computer. I dont know what is going on here

I will call the embassy again and I hope this time another operator answers the phone



the telephone number is at the bottom of all their emails, BTW the 888-889-3780 never works, very bad connection. The PIN i got was 12 digits

Sincerely,
Public Liaison Unit
Consular Section
U.S. Embassy,
Kyiv, Ukraine
Tel.: +38/044/490-44-22
Fax: +38/044/484-45-70
Please visit our website at http://kyiv.usembassy.gov for more information about consular services

Why don't you just let a person in Ukraine to phone the number? I guess it'd be easier and they speak Russian/Ukrainian, too.

I honestly have never had any problems with the pin code but with those losers who were answering the phone, i.e. their extreme incompetence.

Hello

All was great today, not like last week
The 800 number is working fine
I tried the 12 digit PIN that the female operator gave me last week, the PIN that did not work last week, the PIN worked today believe or not
A very nice man not the female operator answered the phone and I scheduled the interview for August 13

Stay away from the female operator name Karina or Galina, I cant believe she told me the information regarding downloading the information packet is incorrect and that my fiancee must wait until she gets the packet in the mail and all the documents before she can call the embassy and schedule the interview.

hey 'muddy' - glad to hear you finally got through, and for the warning aoubt Karina/Galina..

Was August 13 the earliest date you could get an interview, or just the date you chose?

Also - how did you (or anyone) get your timeline to show on the bottom of your responses.

thanks,
Sean

Sean,
To have your timeline on the bottom of the response, you have to go to My Assistant -- then to - Edit My Forum Signature. You have to type it in there, Save, and then we'll see that.
What I couldn't figure out, how to have your picture next to your nickname on forum? I can see you did that no problem. Any advice??
masha

My controls
Edit Avatar

1-I did not choose the date, it was the earliest date
2-mariapoe is correct about the the timeline and signature

Thanks 'mariapoe' and 'muddy'
(and the ever wise 'fwaguy' for instructions on inserting a picture..)
-That was simple - I was thinking a timeline summary should somehow automatically insert from the 'Timeline' section.

Sean

Had somebody in Ukraine phone the call center yesterday. She got through and got the same BS that Muddy got. "Case not in the computer but you must wait until she receives packet 3 before you can schedule an interview anyway. Wait until she receives the packet and she can call and make interview appointment."

I will personally call in about 5 or 6 hours to see if the case is logged into the system. But the information they are spewing is totally inaccurate and misleading. It is unbeleivable. I sent a email message to the Kiev Embassy last Thursday asking if the case was logged into the system, to date, no response to the email - one week tomorrow.

John

Yes, they have not answered my email from last week either

By the way I monday first I called Tel.: +38/044/490-44-22 not the call center to see if my KEV # was complete. if they have recieved my documents from NVC and if they had entered the info into their computer system, he said yes, I said then I would like to schedule an interview, and he then transfered me to their call center. When I was transfered to the call center I was very happy that Karina/Galina did not answer, it took about 4 minutes to schedule the interview, I told I already had the info packet.

Got up at 2:30am Chicago time to call the call center. The 800 number was down - "I'm sorry, this number is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later" Still the same now three hours later.
Tried calling the "in Ukraine" number but cannot get through.
The last time I called the Embassy Consulate directly to inquire if my case was logged into the system, I got scolded and said that cannot give that information out over the phone and to send an email......

I am going to try and call the consualte directly, because if I don't get through today, I will have to be looking at next as everything will be closed tomorrow....

Calling the Embassy directly will get you nowhere, you must contact the Call Center to set up the interview. Maybe the Embassy will be closed tomorrow, but are you sure the Call Center will be? I can't imagine they (I think they're actually located in Poland) care about this American holiday.