Well I have been reading the NVC forums and I'm a bit confused. So I thought I would just come out and ask. What happens after NOA2? Here is how I understand it, please correct if wrong:

1. 2-3 weeks for file to get to NVC from USCIS
2. NVC will process and send file to Moscow - few weeks? (any other forums to be filled out at this stage?)
3. Interview is scheduled once Consulate receives file
4. interview packet is sent out (will both parties be sent something?)
5. packet of info is mailed to consulate
6. Medical exam for benificiary
7. interview (2-3 months after NVC receives case if not caught in AR)

I'm just trying to get a realistic time line, how in the hell do they expect you to have wedding plans finalized when you don't even know when the person will be here to attend, argh..

Once the NVC forwards the file to the Embassy, they send out a packet 3. One of the forms (DS-230I) you must fill out and return immediately. Once you have all the other info gathered that is needed, I-134, birth certificates, passport, police records, court certificate (if needed)...etc, etc. You then return the Applicant's Statement of Readiness To Be Interviewed. You will then receive your interview date. I'm not sure of any of the timelines for Moscow. And I am only assuming that it works the same in Moscow as it does Sydney. If it doesn't, sorry...I'm no help.

Try this link...it may be of more help

http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/inde...&cty=Moscow

After the NOA2 all contact is with the beneficiary only.

Your wedding plans are the least of their concern. All they care about is that you plan to marry. If you are planing a large and expensive wedding you really should look into "wedding insurance" or calculate realistically how much of your deposit you will lose in case the bride is not here as planned.

The following information should be disregarded as mostly false and incorrect. Moscow will send you a packet as soon as it it gets your case outlining when your interview date is and what documents to bring. Because the assumption that all consulates are the same is wrong, VJ created separate forums for different regions.

For the most part, you've got it right.

However, from this point on, you need to be in the Russia Forum, and only the Russia Forum for all business related questions. The "AOS, NVC, K, etc." sections are good for general information, but as Satellite pointed out, you're going to get some bad info that's probably going to mess you up. (Albeit from well-intentioned folks.) Here, we've been through it, or are going through it still, and Moscow is a "special" place to say the least.

Basically, you're almost done. You need to send your fiancee a financial support packet. (It'll probably be something like an I-134, tax statements, paycheck stubs, letter from employer, etc. Check the Visa Journey Guides section for complete instructions.) In a couple weeks (anywhere from 2 to 20) she will receive a packet (Moscow only sends ONE packet) with documents to fill out and instructions on where to go and what to do prior to her interview.

She needs to get (at minimum):
A police check
A medical check

(If applicable)
Divorce certs (translated)
Birth certs (translated)
Ex-Spouse custody info (translated)
Etc.

Most of the next steps are up to her. The only thing you actually "do" is send that financial packet to her. She'll hand-carry that to the interview along with the packet she received and filled out from the embassy. You guys realistically have a few months before your interview, so take this time to get your story straight and collect "evidence" of a true relationship. As for now, relax. Try to be patient, and stick around here on the Russia Forum. We'll get you through it!

Welcome, and good luck!!!

You got some good advice here so far. As far as planning the wedding, you should understand that your fiancee's visa is good for six months from date of issuance. So, even though she might be approved, let's say in August, you don't need to bring her here right away. You can wait to plan the wedding date and then make sure she arrives in time for you to meet the 90 day deadline in which to marry.

I know you've been waiting a long time and maybe you've been apart the entire time. A few more weeks or months won't matter if you are planning a really nice wedding. Remember, the idea here is to marry for the rest of your life.

Exactly, look at several of the time lines and make a rough guestimate and then I would add one month, that way if you get her here 40 days ahead of the wedding you have extra time for fittings and other stuff. My wife and I decided that we would get the civil wedding out of the way so we could process paperwork and in the meantime plan a church ceremony and wedding party that would fit into our schedule without having to wait of the government to do its thing. Also it gives her a chance to pick some things out(i.e place settings, bridesmaid dresses, etc) go shopping and the like and get used to things here. My wife and I have almost finished picking out a church and she has been here 7 months.

You sound like you're on top of things!

Um sounds can be deceiving.

Are you guys going to get married before the baby's arrival? I've never heard a woman saying "I want to be about 8 1/2 months pregnant in all of our wedding photos. Can we make sure we reserve the church at that time?" But, who knows, maybe that's what you're going for! Maybe a Russian superstition about fertility or something?

We had the civil ceremony in december with plans to do the church thing 6 months later or so, then in january we found out we were pregnant and that made us change our plans. I suggest we do a wedding and baptism at the same time but Elena said "NO you cant do that" Besides where do you find maternity wedding gowns, I am not going to Kentucky to look at wedding dresses(or halter tops and cuts offs)

Way too many Russian marriages occur because the bride is a few months pregnant. I wouldn't count that as a tradition.

I live right across the river from Kentucky, so if you need someone to ship you something, I can take care of it. They have a deal on maternity gowns right now, it's summer, so all the halter tops and cut offs are moving, but the gowns aren't.




It's a "tradition" here as well! (I'm actually in my parent's wedding photo... granted, you can't see me under all that white gown material and the "oven"... but I'm in there somewhere!)

This is very useful Kym... is there such a page for Frankfurt, Germany??

Yes,
http://www.visajourney.com/consulates/inde...p;cty=Frankfurt