Hello fellow members. I'd like to say this seems to be the best forum on the internet for our mutual interest - visa for our loved one. This is my first post so please be gentle.

Quick history on me: I'm American and worked in Siberia for 3 years for BP. Fell in love and married a Siberian woman 12/29/06. Started the visa paperwork in Feb and I'm at the point where NVC has forwarded the approval to the USEm in Moscow and we're waiting for the USEm to contact my wife, sent her the packet and schedule her interview. Sorry, I don't know the terminology very well.

Here's my question: The NOA from the I-129F shows a validity date of "10/31/07 to 2/29/08". After reading much about the timelines of the USEm in Moscow, there's a distinct possibility my wife won't have her interview and get her visa until AFTER 2/29/08. I'm thinking maybe early March. Is this a problem? If so, how can I solve it?

Thanks so much in advance for your replies!

The consulates have permission to extend validity and routinely extend the I-129F validity.

Super! Thanks for the quick reply YuAndDan.

I have a followup question if anybody knows. I'm thinking about the future when my wife and I will want to go back to Russia and visit her family, probably once a year. My business visa expires soon and I'm not working in Russia anymore. What is the least painful way for me to get a visa and travel to Russia as the spouse of a Russian citizen? In other words does Russia have the equivalent of a spousal visa like the US has?

US Spousal visa is for Immigrations.

If you plan on visiting Russia you just get a normal Russian Tourist visa.

http://www.russianembassy.org/