CR-1 Shortcut if living in Russia?

[Chip&Vera 3]

Hi,

I've been living in Russia for over a year with my wife and now starting on a CR-1 visa. My wife read on a Russian forumn that that there is a faster process if I have been living here for over 6 months. It's vague... but I had not heard of anything like this. Does anybody have info on it?

Chip

[p-ana 933]

Hi,

I've been living in Russia for over a year with my wife and now starting on a CR-1 visa. My wife read on a Russian forumn that that there is a faster process if I have been living here for over 6 months. It's vague... but I had not heard of anything like this. Does anybody have info on it?

Chip

It's called dcf, and I think it's possible to do so. https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/russia-uscis-moscow-field-office

[teeak 224]

Yes, that would be called DCF (direct consular filing) where instead of sending your Form I130 and other documents to the Chicago lockbox, you send it to USCIS' Moscow field office: http://moscow.usembassy.gov/uscis-i130.html

DCF is usually a fairly short process.

[Ryan H 3,790]

Moved from IR-1/CR-1 Process & Procedures to DCF Discussion.

[Lowens8 10]

Is there a certain amount of time you have to be in Russia to file as DCF?

[Penguin_ie 5,984]

Usually, you have to be in the country legally residing (ie not a tourist visa) for 6 months.

[Lowens8 10]

Usually, you have to be in the country legally residing (ie not a tourist visa) for 6 months.

Aww man, I'll only be there for about 3 months. Thank you!

[millefleur 5,035]

On 6/23/2016 at 8:58 PM, Chip&Vera said:

Hi,

I've been living in Russia for over a year with my wife and now starting on a CR-1 visa. My wife read on a Russian forumn that that there is a faster process if I have been living here for over 6 months. It's vague... but I had not heard of anything like this. Does anybody have info on it?

Chip

Howdy, I just successfully filed DCF in Russia.

 

If you have all of your documents ready and in order, you can get approved as fast as within a week of filing. If you want any advice, feel free to ask.

 

Just want to clarify for the other poster: it's not about just "residing in Russia for 6 months"....it's about having a legal residency in Russia for a period 6 months or longer. Let's say you have a work visa for a year, but you've only been in Russia for 3 months....you have legal residency status for up to a year, so you can file even though you've only been there three months.

 

EDIT: Just saw that this thread was months old.

Edited January 8, 2017 by millefleur

[Chip&Vera 3]

Please shed more light on "type of visa". I have a tourist visa, multi-entry and have been living here for almost 2 years. In all the docs I read from the US Gov, it was all about proving you are a couple and have actually been living here with no mention of the type of visa you have. What difference does it make to the US? All they really want to know is if you have a real marriage.

[millefleur 5,035]

9 hours ago, Chip&Vera said:

Please shed more light on "type of visa". I have a tourist visa, multi-entry and have been living here for almost 2 years. In all the docs I read from the US Gov, it was all about proving you are a couple and have actually been living here with no mention of the type of visa you have. What difference does it make to the US? All they really want to know is if you have a real marriage.

Howdy. I do know an American friend of mine who did DCF on a Russia tourist visa but they gave her flak for it. You will probably have to beg and convince them to accept you, as that is what she ended up doing. 

 

You can always call the Moscow USCIS Field Office and see what they say. That's the best bet. Or just show up with an InfoPass appointment and all your docs and argue with as needed if they don't like your tourist visa. If you live in Moscow and it won't be a hassle for you to go there, it's worth a shot. 

 

 

[Lenchick 133]

10 hours ago, Chip&Vera said:

Please shed more light on "type of visa". I have a tourist visa, multi-entry and have been living here for almost 2 years. In all the docs I read from the US Gov, it was all about proving you are a couple and have actually been living here with no mention of the type of visa you have. What difference does it make to the US? All they really want to know is if you have a real marriage.

As someone mentioned above you need to have a residence permit in Russia, a type of visa similar to GC I guess that would allow you to live as a resident. I think this is the rule for any DCF...It is the same in Germany, they allow those petitioner to file locally who have a legal residence permit in Germany. I hope it won't be difficult for you to get since you are married to a Russian woman?

Edited February 3, 2017 by Lenchick

[Lenchick 133]

10 hours ago, Chip&Vera said:

Please shed more light on "type of visa". I have a tourist visa, multi-entry and have been living here for almost 2 years. In all the docs I read from the US Gov, it was all about proving you are a couple and have actually been living here with no mention of the type of visa you have. What difference does it make to the US? All they really want to know is if you have a real marriage.

here is the Russian immigration official website that gives all the info about residence matters

http://www.grrf.ru/vid-na-zhitelstvo-v-rossii.html

[millefleur 5,035]

41 minutes ago, Lenchick said:

here is the Russian immigration official website that gives all the info about residence matters

http://www.grrf.ru/vid-na-zhitelstvo-v-rossii.html

There's no use trying to get the official Russian residence permit just for DCF, It's insanely complicated and takes months upon months of paperwork, medical testing, fees, etc. It's not really worth doing just for DCF. Russia is not Germany – nothing here is efficient and the laws don't make any sense, especially if they involve foreigners! There is no "marriage visa" here like in the EU, just this ridiculously complex paper maze residency permit called the "vid na zhitelstvo" that I mentioned before. OP will end up in Russia for at least another six months minimum just waiting for the permit if he applies. Total waste of time, might as well just apply via the Chicago Lockbox for the I-130 like everyone else then and skip DCF altogether as it would be faster than waiting for a vid na zhitelstvo.

 

I recommend the OP to try his luck as the USCIS Moscow might allow him with a tourist visa since I know of a case when it was allowed, it just took a little begging and pleading. I applied successfully via DCF with a work visa and they did ask to see my work contract in addition to the visa.

Edited February 3, 2017 by millefleur

[Lenchick 133]

2 minutes ago, millefleur said:

There's no use trying to get the official Russian residence permit just for DCF, It's insanely complicated and takes months upon months of paperwork, medical testing, fees, etc. It's not really worth doing just for DCF. Russia is not Germany – nothing here is efficient and the laws don't make any sense, especially if they involve foreigners! There is no "marriage visa" here like in the EU, just this ridiculously complex paper maze residency permit called the "vid na zhitelstvo" that I mentioned before. OP will end up in Russia for at least another six months minimum just waiting for the permit if he applies. Total waste of time, might as well just apply via the Chicago Lockbox like everyone else then and skip DCF altogether.

 

I recommend the OP to try his luck as the USCIS might allow him with a tourist visa since I know of a case when it was allowed, it just took a little begging and pleading. I applied successfully via DCF with a work visa and they did ask to see my work contract in addition to the visa.

oh it is not that easy to get a residence permit in Germany either unless you are probably American, but not for majority of other countries. There are lots of paperwork as well. Also, don't forget that to get a GC in the US it will take you longer than 6 months if not a year. not to mention all the fees and medicals as well lol a process that actually consists of two steps...yet you will have to remove conditions... So it is not that unfair after all with the Russian law. Well, if you can suggest him and know an easier route, then, you are right, why not.

[Chip&Vera 3]

I have seen posts here that in order to do a DCF in Russia, I need to be a permanent resident. A tourist visa won't cut it. I am getting little info calling and emailing the USCIS Moscow. As if they don't understand the distinction. 

 

Permanent residency requires an exam for Russian language. That is a nonstarter for me. But I have lived here with my Russian wife for almost 2 years. 

 

Assuming a tourist visa will be OK. What's the deal with having to prove I am living here? Don't they have that info in their passport travel database?