I have a better idea of my wife's experiences during her trip to Moscow for the med exam and dreaded interview.
The problem was not the interview but the med exam at the AOM (the one most folks recommend). I don't know why but they made my wife run all over Moscow (to three different hospitals!) for extra blood work. All tests were normal. I can only speculate that my wife went for a CR-1 visa and that may require more tests than for a K-1 visa.
It is a miracle she made her interview.
Full Version: Lessons from Moscow
Further comments & suggestions:
Take care of the med exam early if possible...don't book it one or two days before the interview unless you like to gamble, especially if it's a CR-1 visa interview. K-1 maybe be different.
My wife had the exam two days before the interview and almost did not make her appointment. And she only got her final med papers by being strong and determined with the AOM staff who were very unkind to her. One staff woman was extremely rude and angry (probably the same woman who was very nasty to my wife when she called to book her appointment). The AOM people told her to come back in a FEW DAYS for her final papers (this is on the day of her interview!)...as if people have lots of extra days in expensive Moscow to run around for tests and exams and embassy appointments don't matter.
Although many folks seem happy with the clinic, I don't not recommend AOM from my wife's experience. AOM is a big medical facility that offers many medical services...and doing the visa exams is small potatoes to them apparently.
When all was said and done, my wife arrived at the embassy two hours late after her struggles with the AOM staff earlier. She was literally running to get there. By the time she got through security it was 10:30 am. Fortunately. she was able to still have the interview...but it was a very long and tough 2 days for her.
During the interview itself, she was asked about 10 or 11 question: How did you meet? (The officer actually asked for the internet dating site...maybe for IMBRA?) Where did you first meet? What does your husband do in the USA? What will you do in the USA? How many times did he visit you in Russia? Why did you decide to marry in Russia? And some question about phone numbers which I still don't understand....but maybe he looked at the phone bill evidence we provided. The officer did look at some of our photos and emails and other evidence. Again, I don't know if they conduct interviews differently for CR-1 visa versus K-1 visas.
My wife spoke mostly Russian to the interview officer and she said his Russian was not very good, so she used some English at times to help him...I found that amusing.
It looks like we are not going to have a AP/AR delay in getting her visa...I tracked it with DHL and it was shipped out...so hopefully early next week she'll have it in hand...and we'll breath a big sigh of relief.
Take care of the med exam early if possible...don't book it one or two days before the interview unless you like to gamble, especially if it's a CR-1 visa interview. K-1 maybe be different.
My wife had the exam two days before the interview and almost did not make her appointment. And she only got her final med papers by being strong and determined with the AOM staff who were very unkind to her. One staff woman was extremely rude and angry (probably the same woman who was very nasty to my wife when she called to book her appointment). The AOM people told her to come back in a FEW DAYS for her final papers (this is on the day of her interview!)...as if people have lots of extra days in expensive Moscow to run around for tests and exams and embassy appointments don't matter.
Although many folks seem happy with the clinic, I don't not recommend AOM from my wife's experience. AOM is a big medical facility that offers many medical services...and doing the visa exams is small potatoes to them apparently.
When all was said and done, my wife arrived at the embassy two hours late after her struggles with the AOM staff earlier. She was literally running to get there. By the time she got through security it was 10:30 am. Fortunately. she was able to still have the interview...but it was a very long and tough 2 days for her.
During the interview itself, she was asked about 10 or 11 question: How did you meet? (The officer actually asked for the internet dating site...maybe for IMBRA?) Where did you first meet? What does your husband do in the USA? What will you do in the USA? How many times did he visit you in Russia? Why did you decide to marry in Russia? And some question about phone numbers which I still don't understand....but maybe he looked at the phone bill evidence we provided. The officer did look at some of our photos and emails and other evidence. Again, I don't know if they conduct interviews differently for CR-1 visa versus K-1 visas.
My wife spoke mostly Russian to the interview officer and she said his Russian was not very good, so she used some English at times to help him...I found that amusing.
It looks like we are not going to have a AP/AR delay in getting her visa...I tracked it with DHL and it was shipped out...so hopefully early next week she'll have it in hand...and we'll breath a big sigh of relief.
I think my post breaks some kind of record...zero replies from such a talkative group. I think the Russia forum is really a K-1 forum so we few CR-1 folks don't fit in so well. Apples and oranges.
If anyone cares, my wife got her visa in hand within 5 days of interview.
If anyone cares, my wife got her visa in hand within 5 days of interview.
QUOTE(visaveteran @ Jun 25 2008, 07:39 PM) 
I think my post breaks some kind of record...zero replies from such a talkative group. I think the Russia forum is really a K-1 forum so we few CR-1 folks don't fit in so well. Apples and oranges.
If anyone cares, my wife got her visa in hand within 5 days of interview.
If anyone cares, my wife got her visa in hand within 5 days of interview.
Make a post about how you got scammed, or your that you are having problems with your wife, THEN you will get lots of replies!!
Congrats
Congratulations to you and your wife!!! I do appreciate you sharing her med exam and interview experience. It's good information for me to have. Thanks!
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