I had called DOS and they told me that moscow embassy had sent the packet 4 on July 20th.
It has not yet reached yet. I am trying to find out how does embassy send this packet - DHL or
pony express or the russian postal department?

Regular Russian Post, it may take some time.

Yes, that is correct and it is just like pony express but with a horse that is dead.

More than half of all items Sasha and I have mailed to each other in the past 2 years has been lost or stolen while in the hands of Russian postal workers. It's my understanding that mail theft is quite common in Russia. Fed Ex or DHL is the only way to go. Costs a fortune, but more reliable. When the embassy sends out their packets, they use regular post. Just 5 years ago there was a huge problem with postal workers there. Most of the time i really love Russia, but there are times when I just can't stand it. I know this is off topic but, have you ever been to a Russian bank in January? It will drive you crazy. 5 people working behind the counter, but only one person doing any real work. And do they really need 90 minute lunch breaks?? Anyway....

Have you visited the U.S. embassy web site and tried to download packet 3 and 4? If your fiancee has that possibility then do it.

I had to laugh about the postal system comments. Now that my wife is here in America, she can't believe that we would use the mail to make payments or send anyone something important. As bad as we think the U.S. Postal Service is, it's still pretty reliable.

Apparently, the moscow embassy only sends out 1 packet and they call it packet 4 (interview packet; per what was told to me by the DOS operator here). On the moscow embassy website, it just lists what are documents needed for the visa interview (copies and pasted below) - so we are sort of following that and prep'ing according to that. Most of the forms can be downloaded from the website also - so that way all is ok. Just wanted to get a formal notice of interview etc from the embassy - its kinds nice that way

Fiancé(e) or K1(K2) Visa Procedure
According to U. S. immigration law, I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) may be filed with and approved by one of the BCIS (Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services) offices in the United States. The petition may not be filed or approved by overseas BCIS offices or U. S. Embassies and Consulates. In order to file I-129F Petition the petitioner must be a U. S. citizen. I-129F must be filed with BCIS district office having BCIS jurisdiction over the petitioner's current or intended residence in the United States.

Information regarding the procedure of filing I-129F Petition and documents to be submitted can be found on BCIS web page at www.uscis.gov Form I-129F can be obtained at any BCIS Regional Service Centers or the closest to the petitioner's residence BCIS office in the United States.

Approved I-129F Petition will be forwarded to the appropriate U. S. Embassy and the petitioner will be notified of I-129F Petition approval.

Attention: "The International Marriage Broker Regulation became law in January 2006 establishing a deadline for DHS to begin asking petitioners of K-1 Fiancee Visas for additional information. Approximately 1100 petitions filed after the March 5, 2006 deadline were approved in error and sent through the National Visa Center (NVC) to 95 Immigrant Visa issuing posts worldwide. American Embassy Moscow has been instructed to return its invalid cases to the NVC. Petitioners and beneficiaries should direct all inquiries to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services at the following number: 800-375-5283 or contact the Service Center where the petition was filed."

Once interview at the Embassy has been scheduled, the beneficiary is provided via mail with an invitation letter and information sheet outlining the steps to be taken.

Online Immigrant Visa Appointment Schedule Information makes it possible to obtain information regarding interview dates for those already scheduled. The information can be also received by contacting the Embassy Visa Information Service.

Please Note: The American Citizen petitioner may not attend the interview with his or her fiancé(e).

Attention! Beginning October 25, all K1, K2, K3 and K4 visa applicants must submit a completed Electronic Visa Application Form. The Electronic Visa Application Form must be filled out online at http://evisaforms.state.gov. After filling out the form online, applicants will be able to print a copy of their visa application form, which will include their data in a barcode format.

The Electronic Visa Application Form is not available in the Russian language. Answers to the questions on the application must be in English and must use English characters. The applicants are welcome to use the Russian language translation to guide them through the online English Electronic Visa Application Form.

Effective October 25, 2006, the old version of the application form DS-156 will not be accepted.

Instructions and List of Documents for Fiance(e) Visa Interview
Please read through these instructions before the interview and follow them carefully because they are the most complete available. All documents should be supplied ON THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW.
Children immigrating with you must also be present at the interview.
Please note that no one may accompany applicants into the Embassy's visa waiting room. This includes American citizens, attorneys, sponsors, friends, and family members.
Each applicant should bring all the required documents.
Copies and translations of each document into English are required. Translations must be notarized only when the original is in a language OTHER than Russian. (e.g. a translation from Ukrainian into English must be notarized, translation from Russian into English does not need to be notarized).
Payment. Please pay the application fee ($100 dollars for each applicant) ON THE DAY OF THE INTERVIEW only after an Embassy employee instructs you to do so. We accept dollars and rubles. Credit cards are not acceptable.
It is necessary to submit the original DHL airway bill for express delivery of your visa after the interview.
Tickets. We strongly advise not to buy tickets or make any final travel arrangements before you receive a visa.


List of Documents for Fiancé (e) Visa Interview

1. Biographical form DS-230 filled out in English (part 1 and part 2). A separate form must be filled out for immigrating child over 16 years of age.
2. Completed Electronic Visa Application Form DS-156. ( The Electronic Visa Application Form must be filled out online at http://evisaforms.state.gov. After filling out the form online, print a copy of the visa application form. The Electronic Visa Application Form is not available in the Russian language. Answers to the questions on the application must be in English and must use English characters. The applicants are welcome to use the Russian language translation to guide them through the online English Electronic Visa Application Form). A separate Electronic Visa Application Form DS-156 must be filled out for immigrating child.
3. Supplement DS-156K form. The form must be filled out in Russian. DO NOT SIGN DS-156K. No DS-156K supplement is required for immigrating child.
4. International Passport with a photocopy of the first page and the page with information about immigrating child if the child's name in included in the parent's passport.
5. Original birth certificate, photocopy and translation into English.
6. Police certificates in all names as well as all dates of birth ever used. Police certificate must contain references to each place (subject to the jurisdiction of the Russian Federation) in which the applicant lives or has lived for more than six months since attaining the age of 16. This includes localities where applicants have lived during university studies. If the applicant was on military service, he/she should bring the certificate from the local draft board. If an applicant has lived abroad for more than one year, a police certificate must also be submitted from the country in which he/she lived. Police certificate validity is one year since the date of issuance.
7. Evidence of termination of prior marriage(s) (if applicable), original, photocopy and translation into English.
8. One color non-glossy full-face photo 50x50 mm for visa. The eye level should be between 28mm and 35mm from the bottom. Another two pictures will be required for medical examination.
9. Visa application fee of $100 (or ruble equivalent) for each applicant
10. Documents confirming relationship: photos of Petitioner and Beneficiary together, letters to each other, phone bills, airplane tickets, emails, etc.
11. Results of Medical Examination in a sealed envelope. The medical must be taken at one of the embassy-designated medical centers. It takes 2 days to complete the medical examination.
12. Financial documents from the petitioner – a US citizen: please note, that Affidavit of Support (form I-134) is not required, but may be requested. The document must be notarized. Please submit financial documents to show that the applicant will not become a public charge in the United States. Such documents may include, but are not limited to:
    - Most recent year tax returns (form 1040) or tax transcripts from IRS
    - Copy of bank account
    - Earnings and leave statement
    - W-2 forms
    - Letter from employer

Whew, you have done your homework. The only thing I could suggest is sending an email to the embassy(visa control) with the case number and your fiancee's name and ask what date and time is the interview. Explain that she has not received the notice and doesn't want to miss her appointment due to a foul up in the postal system. Remember the case number is the new one issued from NVC.

They use regular post. It will be a manilla color full size 8 1/2 by 11 envelope. My Elena calls it the "Yellow packet" just like she refers to my tan boots "yellow shoes."

She received her packet about 1 1/2 weeks after it was mailed.

Oh... and here's a picture of mailboxes in typical russian flats. They are ALL like this - on every floor.

I've had a very different experience with the Russian post. My cards and letters all arrive. Years ago, they often arrived opened, but they arrived.

I've sent my wife about 25 parcels by USPS Global Express Mail. In Russia, they go through a Russian express post system. Every parcel has arrived and every item in every parcel has arrived (sometimes rather worse for handling, but present and intact).

It may be relevant that my wife lives in Akademborodok, a scientific city that is a suburb of Novosibirsk. Others places are different.

(And, yes, I've been to a Russian bank in January (more than once) and got fine service, faster than I sometimes get at American banks.)

It took 18 days for my wife to get packet 4.

My Global Express Mail parcels take a mean of 13 days to arrive from the middle of the USA, with a standard deviation of about 2 days.

Our packet 4 was sent out on July 26th, but so far she hasn't received it. I figured I would give it till next week. What is the right recourse if we don't have it by then?? Email Embassy requesting another packet be sent?

When I emailed the embassy because my wife's packet 4 was so slow in arriving, they reassured me that the US embassy moscow webiste lists everything that she needs to gather for her interview. The forms are all available on the web and for one of them you must be connected to the web anyway to fill it out.

There's no reason for her not to be gathering everything she needs now -- and the same for you.

Oh -- and although I've had very good luck with USPS global express mail in sending her gift parcels, I used DHL to send my documents to her. One parcel took 6 days by DHL and the other took 3.

Good info, thanks!