hello people....new to the board...really overwhelmed with all this information....

my story is met a girl from kazan, russia last summer..she went back to russia and came back this summer via work/study program....went back to russia to finish her school and will wait to file for k-1 visa and then live happily ever after !
really glad to find more people in a similar situation like me !

anyways...my question is i saw the timelines listed for the embassy in russia...if i read it right..it takes approximately 5-6 months from start to finish?
i have hired a lawyer for this process but still want to know everything..would appreciate help on where to start reading specifically about russia

thanks in advance

Go here for more info...I hope

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showforum=98

bruc

My suggestion to you is to not make any plans based on how long it should take to process your visa. If you must think about the future, think about 1 year from beginning to end. It probably will not take that long, but there is a possibility it may take longer.

But forgetting all that, it seems that Russian K-1's have been taking between 5-9 months. A few have gone into Adminstrative processing and taken 2 years, you just never know. It also depends on what service center your petition is sent to. If it is sent to VSC, you may save 2 months as opposed to if you had to send it to CSC. The USCIS adjutation is the biggest "UNKNOWN" in the process. Once you get past that point it the processing time becomes more predictable.

Good Luck !!! and check out the guides section...

Welcome to the board!
Read the guidance first.

Good luck on your journey, if you already hired an attorney it is probably too late to let you know if you case is straightforward you likely can do the process yourself, save a bundle. All you need are the guides here, and when stuck, post your question.

Anyway, good luck!

I agree with Ready4ONE. I used an attorney for my first (failed) K1. It was a well known K1 attorney and it was not worth the thousand or so it cost me, for sure. The second time my sweetheart and I did everything ourselves with much less problems. I simply used the guides in this forum and some common sense.

When the beneficiary has a previous immigration history (like this one) it can't hurt at all to have a set of professional eyes on the case.

This OP has, I'm sure, his own reasons for hiring an attorney.

thank u guys very much for the replies....
the thing is i havent actually started the paperwork with the attorney..i am getting stuff together...and will file in november because my fiancee is going to school in russia and will finish in august...i dont want the process to go too fast because she needs to finish her school...and i dont want to take too long...i want her on a plane the second she finishes school....
as for the lawyer..she really wants to hire a lawyer...but i also want to know the process...thats why i am here...so i can stay on top of the lawyer...
will continue to do more reading......would appreciate any other advice !

i am in virginia..so guess i will send to vermont center?

thanks again !

With our visa, I was more worried about Olga's end since her English is fair to poor and the documentation from Moscow is in English, I just filled in the forms for her to copy, she passed with no problems!

Thanks to one of our own's SOs, who gave Olga some much desired help...in Russian!

We did not hire a lawyer but Olga wanted one. I just explained to her that lawyers are VERY expensive (tell me that isn't true! ) and unneeded.


All that is left is for me to win the lottery!

Where to start?

FIRE YOUR LAWYER BEFORE YOU GET CHARGED ANY MORE MONEY!!!

Then, go to the GUIDES section at the top of this website, and read through the K-1 visa guide. It is an AMAZINGLY easy process, and if you use a lawyer, you'll just kick yourself in the @$$ later because the money the lawyer charges you is the money that you could use for her plane ticket.

Now, you said that "she wants a lawyer?" Why? Security, piece of mind? Or, "I bribed my way into the U.S. using fake documents the first couple of times and I don't want to mess this one up?" Either way, don't worry. Things like that happen in Russia, and that's why we have our own forum. (That has recently been inundated with American Women who feel really sorry for those beautiful young girls overseas that are being "bought" by perverted old fat men here that can't get any women at home so they're forced to "buy" them overseas... and that's just wrong... I feel so sorry for them... wah, wah, wah.... (Sorry about the diatribe against the A/W... just been pissing me off lately. "I wanna ###### about something that I know nothing about.") So, let us know a little bit more about your questions and concerns, and we can probably walk you through the whole process. Basically, it goes like this:

You fill out G-325A, I-129F, a copy of your passport/driver's license etc., and gather together "proof" of meeting within the last two years. She fills out G-325A, (translated) copy of birth. cert., passport, etc. and sends it to you. You enclose a check (was $170, think it still is) and send in the "K-1 Packet" to your service center. You wait about two or three months (all depending on your case) then they send it to the NVC (another couple of weeks or months) then they send it to the embassy in Moscow and they schedule her interview date. (Also another couple of weeks or months.) Then, she flies over here and you live happily ever after.

There's a little more to it, but that's the basics. Welcome to the forum, and keep on reading and posting. The guys here have all made it through with flying colors lately and are a LOT of help. Good luck on your Visa Journey!

slim, a handful (less than 6) of women = an innundation?

Might not be that simple in terms of saving your money. If you hired a lawyer you probably paid the retainer fee which is the whole amount. Trying to recover that by saying the lawyer worked for less in quantum merit is going to be hard. Might require a lawsuit if the lawyer is stingy.
And if you stick with the lawyer your case is probably going to take longer than usual. Reasons:
1. All communications go through your lawyer. He files all the things Slim mentioned when he has time. For example if you got an RFE you would respond immediately. A lawyer responds when he has time, but always within the 90 day period to avoid malpractice. Your case reaches his desk when the deadline approaches.
2. You know all the information that should go with the forms. Instead of writing it in, you have the lawyer do it. This extra middleman between the USCIS (remember G-28 you signed in the lawyer's office) will slow down the process and increase chances of error as information might not be entered properly by the lawyer because you know all the facts and not him. All clarifications cost time as he has to call you each time or schedule an appointment to meet with you.
3. Since the lawyer is your official representative if you have inquires about your own case, the government might not want to speak to you!

my girl is pretty stubborn..if i fire the lawyer...she will be real upset and if something bad happens...she will blame me forever...anyways...the lawyer gave me a real good deal...less than $1000...used him before for other stuff...........u guys brought up lots of good points...thank u very much...

new questions..

1. what is the thing about online visa application form?

2. she has been issued 2 visas to the USA before through work/travel program.....and went back before her visa expired....do u think it will make it easier on her?

3. i am writing the letter about how we met...does it need to be just how we met or somethings we did while we were together...should it be nice and short...or the longer the better?

4. can u tell me what these acronyms are?
nvc
vsc
csc

5. i think i will use vermont center if i live in virginia?

thanks again !

1. Good question, never heard of an "online visa application" for a K-1 to the USA.

2. certainly that will need to be included on some of the forms, particularly once she received the packet. some of the questions are have you been to the USA, when, what visa.

3. for our I-129F, I wrote how we initially met, 1-2 lines. Several paragraphs about my trip to Russia since the question specifically asks about the personal meeting. I ended it with 1-2 lines about our ongoing relationship, emails everyday, weekly phone calls.

4. NVC= National Visa Center
VSC= Vermont Service Center
CSC= California Service Center

5. IF you were filing it yourself, yes you would file it with the VSC (see above ) however it may need to be filed based on where your lawyer works, he would know.

I think people are just referring to the actual application.
http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/for...iles/I-129F.pdf
And when you get the NOA1 you can track your case progress online.
https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/index.jspWon't make much difference either way. Unless she lied on her past visa applications and that lie was discovered now then she would be inadmissable. However, when she was here the last time, you could have avoided this whole process by just getting married and doing adjustment in the country.I have no opinion here. There is no specific requirement for this in the I-129F.Find all your VJ acronyms here:
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...page=definition
And all other ones here.
http://www.acronymfinder.com/Vermont Service Center has jurisdiction over I-129F's filed by petitioners living in the following states:
Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia and West Virginia.
Your selection was proper.
However, isn't your lawyer doing all of this?

Am I reading way too much into this, or is this a potentional red flag? Why would your fiancee be preasuring you into using a lawyer? If you mess up, can't you live in Russia together? Or she doesn't want you like that? Also, does she have other immigration issues that she wants a lawyer to look over?
And, why does she have so little confindence in you doing it yourself?

I don't understand this... how does one just "live in Russia"? Last I checked they aren't handing out citizenships. How do you find a job in one of the most Xenophobic states on earth? Is it really that easy? I am curious how you come to this conclusion.

1. A spouse of a Russian citizen my register for citizenship after residing 5 years in Russia.
http://www.multiplecitizenship.com/wscl/ws...FEDERATION.html
To do so one enters on a private visa, fills out an application for permanent residency in Russia and is granted months later permission to reside in Russia as a temporary or permanent resident. Upon 5 years you register for citizenship.
http://waytorussia.net/business/legal-status.html (scroll towards the bottom about the section covering residency)
Best part is that his fiancee would do the paperwork in Russia, and perhaps she won't mess up.
2. His best job in Russia would be to teach upper level English at the local university. His job will involve teaching an entire class in English and thus require minimum Russian to get by. Surprisingly, having a US diploma in just about anything is highly valued in Russia, as I spoke with the dean of local university on this topic on my second visit to Russia.
Or he can pursue any job and learn Russian the same way we require our ladies to learn English in order to live in America.
3. "Xenophobic" Russia, generally does not discriminate against Americans or western Europeans. The only form of discrimination he is most likely going to run into is being a target of crime in terms of locals assuming he is wealthy because he is American.

Lastly,
In reality what I meant by my original post is that the OP should propose this to his fiancee in response to her insisting on a lawyer and not trusting his abilities to do the process himself. Kind of reverse psychology that Slim always talks about as a red flag test.

Exactly!


I don't see why she would insist on a lawyer except for two reasons;

1. In her eyes, that's a "guarantee" that she will get the visa. "Oh, he hired a lawyer, so we WILL get the visa." (And in Russia, when you pay someone, something gets done. So maybe that's her logic there. Or on all those Hollywood movies (and Jerry Springer) they say "I got a lawyer" and that's when things start going their way.)

Or, 2. Her previous entries into the States were not 100% legal on the Russian end. (This is the one I'm leaning toward.) But like I said previously, that doesn't really matter. In truth, USCIS probably takes no time investigating how she obtained the visa in Russia, only just punches her A-number into the computer to see if she entered/exited on time and without incident. So in that respect, since she did just that, I believe any C/O in the world would see that as "OK. She didn't scam the system the first TWO times, why would she do it now. K-1 visa approved." But, maybe not. We here on VJ have no factual insight to that issue at all. We can analyze the trends and formulate a hypothesis based on that... but what's a hypothesis? A theory. That's it.

As far as presenting the story of how you met on the K-1 (I-129F) I wrote a really detailed description:

"Met in Moscow while on holiday, July 2005. See enclosed photos and tickets."

Passed! Visa approved. All they need is "proof" that you met in person within the last two years. They don't need to know that you walked hand-in-hand through Red Square and sat on the bench staring into each other's eyes in the Teatralnaya Metro Station... let her tell the C/O all that stuff at her interview. For the application process just simply state: We met HERE on this DATE. See Evidence.

Remember with all government paperwork: KISS!
Keep
It
Simple,
Stupid

Give them exactly what they ask for. Anything less, and you'll be asked (at their convenience) for more. Give them more, and it will just increase your chances of being delayed because they'll have more to "investigate." (Or more to lose, thus rendering your case "incomplete" and further delaying the process.)

Oh, I almost forgot.... YES, less than 6 A/W in the Russia forum that "showed up" and posted only after reading that a guy was "going shopping" for his (hot, young, foreign) fiancee is an inundation. Where were you all before when guys were asking, "how long does it take for the Packet 3 to get from Moscow to my fiancee's house in Yomama Oblast?" That's right... you weren't here. Why???? CAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW how long it takes for things in Russia to get done... AND YOU STILL DON'T. So by that rationale, please, read on. Educate yourselves on how the VJ process works in Russia. The more help we can get, the merrier. I'm also guessing that if more "this visa through Canada/England/Australia" process is so hard" people were to actually see what the process is like through Russia, they'd applaud these men (and hot, young, foreign women) for sticking it out. I look forward to seeing all of you back here soon! (Seriously though, I do, because I like to throw popcorn as well, and there's usually not much debate in the Russia forum since almost everyone on here is here for the same reason: "How do I get this person from Russia here to the U.S.?" and believe it or not... that works for us.)

I don't know why you have me confused/included in that group. Further, I've followed cases from a number of countries over the years, Russia being a particular one of them. I'd even go as far as saying that my input has been helpful to many going thru Moscow and FSUs over the years.

Try opening your mind to the possibility that you don't have everyone/everything figured out.

My ex- was the same. I told her she would have a difficult time getting permanent residency (LPR) because she was bailing on the marriage prior to fulfillment of two years of conditional status.

She told me: "oh this is no problem, I talk to other Russian girls, you just hire lawyer, you pay $3,000-$5,000 and they fix this for you..."

And yeah, go figure, couldn't tell her diddley-squat anyway... so I wish her lots of luck... (NOT!)

-- Dan

Hey Slim...check out meauxna's timeline. She's definitely helped many people see how long it took for her to get her husband over here to the U.S. She is so instrumental to the extistence of VJ. I'm indebted to her.

I'm not going to knock her or anyone for having (or not having) a timeline. The bottom line here is that everyone is on VJ to help each other out. Sure, it can be fun to push buttons as well, (I know I rather enjoy that part of it!) but I look at it like this: Call me what you want, say what you want, etc. But, when I'm asking a VJ related question, as long as you're saying the answer, and not "Well, I'm not going to answer because you support the terrorists (or whatever)" then I'm all good with that.

As far as I can tell, all the A/W that have been in here lately have "attempted" to be helpful, and that's all that really matters.

As for me needing to "open my mind and realize that I don't have everything figured out" I realize that already... that's why I'm not posting in the Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, etc., etc., etc., forums. I'm posting in the Russia forum about Russia related topics, which I do have at least a little bit figured out. When I get my mind "open enough" I'll be over in the Europe forum to comment on the appropriateness of how people there engage in the visa process. But, for now, I'll stick with what I've got figured out and stay right here in the Russia forum.

In her defense, how much does my full time line help you? Does it really help you to know that three years ago the CSC was talking 180 to 210 days to complete an I-129F? Does it help you that IMBRA didn't exist? Does it help you that I walked in and got our I-765 EAD on the same day because the lockbox was not even functional for the west coast two years ago? It's great history I suppose, but not much help.

Sure it's a help. Helps us know your not the most up to date person to answer those questions based on personal experience.

thank u all for answering all my questions...i just cant wait to file for the visa!!...i have all the paperwork ready on my side....as far as why she wants a lawyer..she doesnt have any previous immigration problems, and came legally with other visas...no probs whatsoever..both of us just want piece of mind i guess...

my last question...after all this paperwork gets processed and gets sent to moscow embassy, then she has alot of paperwork to do right? like medical record, police certificate? what else?
and at that time, i will need to do some more paperwork like proof of income and stuff?

thanks again!

She will receive a packet from the enbassy, it will contain DS-156, DS-156k, and DS-230 which she will need to fill out in English. I believe it also contains instructions on the medical exam which she will need to have done.

After you receive NOA2 you will need to gather some very important financial items, I-134. you will need to have a letter from your employer, a letter from your bank that includes current balance, amount deposited in the last 12 months, and date open.

I should note that Bank of America could not provide me with this information so I gave 6 months (which they could provide) along with a notorized letter stating the information requested.

Wells Fargo was wonderful, the nice man I talked to sat with me and added up not only this years information but also added everything up for the past 12 months!

I also included my previous years tax return though it is not require by the instructions, my case is a little strange as most of my income is from tips, my employer stated I earn $5.50/hour which happens to be what THEY pay me!

You should also send her all original documents at this time, remember file copies with USCIS, if they need an original, they will ask for one!

As I am sure Slim will tell you, you need to send that info to her ASAP (after NOA2). I used USPS Global Express, it takes about 2 weeks and costs about $30 compared to Regular mail that can take over 4 weeks or UPS/FedEx which can cost over $100!

As others have stated in the past and based on my experience there is no need to overkill the public charge issue. Just use your Tax Returns and W2s if you make more than 125% of poverty line based on the correct amount of dependents. Do not bother with assets and bank statements, that is overkill if you already meet the requirements.
Also if you gather this financial information including I-134 long before your interview you can send it by regular post $0.84. It should also get their in two weeks. If it doesn't do it again. You can always wait until a month or so before sending the more expensive way if all your cheap methods have failed. You are sending copies anyway.
Back in the day the forms came in Russian and we filled them out in Russian as well.