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Chip&Vera

CR-1 Shortcut if living in Russia?

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It means that you have some sort of visa that allows you there past the normal visitor time or permanent residency.  Sounds like you're just living there after illegally overstaying a tourist visa.  Which means your petition should go to Chicago.  You could try filing dcf of course, that's your prerogative.  But it may waste time and money. 

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

~~Related question merged with existing thread. Please don't start a new thread for every question.~~

Spoiler

Met Playing Everquest in 2005
Engaged 9-15-2006
K-1 & 4 K-2'S
Filed 05-09-07
Interview 03-12-08
Visa received 04-21-08
Entry 05-06-08
Married 06-21-08
AOS X5
Filed 07-08-08
Cards Received01-22-09
Roc X5
Filed 10-17-10
Cards Received02-22-11
Citizenship
Filed 10-17-11
Interview 01-12-12
Oath 06-29-12

Citizenship for older 2 boys

Filed 03/08/2014

NOA/fee waiver 03/19/2014

Biometrics 04/15/14

Interview 05/29/14

In line for Oath 06/20/14

Oath 09/19/2014 We are all done! All USC no more USCIS

 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Canada
Timeline

Being that you just wasted 8 months trying to figure out whether DCF is available you could have filed for the CR/IR and be the interview stage by now. 

 

You can risk trying trying to do DCF being a tourist. I doubt you will get lucky. Stop wasting time and file. 

Spoiler

Met Playing Everquest in 2005
Engaged 9-15-2006
K-1 & 4 K-2'S
Filed 05-09-07
Interview 03-12-08
Visa received 04-21-08
Entry 05-06-08
Married 06-21-08
AOS X5
Filed 07-08-08
Cards Received01-22-09
Roc X5
Filed 10-17-10
Cards Received02-22-11
Citizenship
Filed 10-17-11
Interview 01-12-12
Oath 06-29-12

Citizenship for older 2 boys

Filed 03/08/2014

NOA/fee waiver 03/19/2014

Biometrics 04/15/14

Interview 05/29/14

In line for Oath 06/20/14

Oath 09/19/2014 We are all done! All USC no more USCIS

 

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https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-uscis-office/international-offices/russia-uscis-moscow-field-office

 

Big list here.

 

Be sure you understand your visa.   People mistake their 10 and 5 year multi-visit visas for thr USA all the time. It means you get multiple visits but each one still can't be longer than a normal tourist visit of 180 days.  But maybe yours is different. 

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Russia
Timeline

Right now, I'm trying to find info about DCF requirements. If you would like to help, I will be grateful. If you would instead like to presume you know anything at all about my life circumstances and feel compelled to judge my actions based your knowledge, I am not interested. 

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Did you read the link? It has the requirements for proving residency in Russia on it.  You're welcome. Good day. 

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Russia
Timeline
9 minutes ago, NikLR said:

Did you read the link? It has the requirements for proving residency in Russia on it.  You're welcome. Good day. 

Yes, very helpful. That sharky reply was to the prev poster. 

 

OK, so this seems definitive. I need permanent resident card. Damn!

 

==========================================================

From link:
For petitions filed at this field office, you must submit one or more of the following:

* Residency permit or card
* Work contract or other employment documents

* In addition, other evidence of residency may include (leases, etc.)

================================

 

Since the staff that is answering my questions at the Moscow Consulate doesn't seem to know this, I wonder if this is a case of lagging web content. When this list was written, I think it was not possible to live in Russia for 6 months or more since all tourist visas were 3 months. Now the standard is 3 years. I will continue to try to nail down an answer from the bureaucrats. 

 

Thanks!

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Ya know, you could just send the petition to the chicago lockbox.  

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.  - Dr. Seuss

 

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Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Russia
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On 2/3/2017 at 2:41 PM, 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 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.

If I try the DCF route with the tourist visa (and lots of begging) will I get an answer quickly on whether they will allow it? Seems like it may be worth it to make an appt and give it a try before going the Chicago route. 

 

 

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
6 hours ago, Chip&Vera said:

If I try the DCF route with the tourist visa (and lots of begging) will I get an answer quickly on whether they will allow it? Seems like it may be worth it to make an appt and give it a try before going the Chicago route. 

 

 

Yes, you will get an answer quickly. But you have to go there and try your luck and make an InfoPass appointment to do so. 

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview 

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

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  • 2 weeks later...
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Russia
Timeline
On 2/6/2017 at 2:23 PM, millefleur said:

Yes, you will get an answer quickly. But you have to go there and try your luck and make an InfoPass appointment to do so. 

 

Seems the 3 year visa is OK if supported by other evidence. Here is the answer I finally got.

 

Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 4:28 PM
To: DHS, Moscow
Subject: Re: FW: FW: DCF IR-1 Visa

 

It is very important to know what "legally reading" means. Does is require "permanent residence" documents from Russia. This is a much different status than tourist visa. 

 

I have a 3 year tourist visa and I can prove I am living in Russia. Is that OK?

---------------

Dear Sir,

We have to see more evidence when 3 year tourist visa, like apartment lease, Russian driving license etc.

 

Sincerely,

USCIS Moscow Field Office Public Liaison Unit

 

 

 
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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
5 hours ago, Chip&Vera said:

 

Seems the 3 year visa is OK if supported by other evidence. Here is the answer I finally got.

 

Sent: Monday, February 06, 2017 4:28 PM
To: DHS, Moscow
Subject: Re: FW: FW: DCF IR-1 Visa

 

It is very important to know what "legally reading" means. Does is require "permanent residence" documents from Russia. This is a much different status than tourist visa. 

 

I have a 3 year tourist visa and I can prove I am living in Russia. Is that OK?

---------------

Dear Sir,

We have to see more evidence when 3 year tourist visa, like apartment lease, Russian driving license etc.

 

Sincerely,

USCIS Moscow Field Office Public Liaison Unit

 

 

 

That's great to know! Awesome. Thanks for updating everyone here.

🇷🇺 CR-1 via DCF (Dec 2016-Jun 2017) & I-751 ROC (Apr 2019-Oct 2019)🌹

Spoiler

Info about my DCF Moscow* experience here and here

26-Jul-2016: Married abroad in Russia 👩‍❤️‍👨 See guide here
21-Dec-2016: I-130 filed at Moscow USCIS field office*
29-Dec-2016: I-130 approved! Yay! 🎊 

17-Jan-2017: Case number received

21-Mar-2017: Medical Exam completed

24-Mar-2017: Interview at Embassy - approved! 🎉

29-Mar-2017: CR-1 Visa received (via mail)

02-Apr-2017: USCIS Immigrant (GC) Fee paid

28-Jun-2017: Port of Entry @ PDX 🛩️

21-Jul-2017: No SSN after three weeks; applied in person at the SSA

22-Jul-2017: GC arrived in the mail 📬

31-Jul-2017: SSN arrived via mail, hurrah!

 

*NOTE: The USCIS Field Office in Moscow is now CLOSED as of February 28th, 2019.

 

Removal of Conditions - MSC Service Center

 28-Jun-2019: Conditional GC expires

30-Mar-2019: Eligible to apply for ROC

01-Apr-2019: ROC in the mail to Phoenix AZ lockbox! 📫

03-Apr-2019: ROC packet delivered to lockbox

09-Apr-2019: USCIS cashed check

09-Apr-2019: Case number received via text - MSC 📲

12-Apr-2019: Extension letter arrives via mail

19-Apr-2019: Biometrics letter arrives via mail

30-Apr-2019: Biometrics appointment at local office

26-Jun-2019: Case ready to be scheduled for interview 

04-Sep-2019: Interview was scheduled - letter to arrive in mail

09-Sep-2019: Interview letter arrived in the mail! ✉️

17-Oct-2019: Interview scheduled @ local USCIS  

18-Oct-2019: Interview cancelled & notice ordered*

18-Oct-2019: Case was approved! 🎉

22-Oct-2019: Card was mailed to me 📨

23-Oct-2019: Card was picked by USPS 

25-Oct-2019: 10 year GC Card received in mail 📬

 

*I don't understand this status because we DID have an interview!

 

🇺🇸 N-400 Application for Naturalization (Apr 2020-Jun 2021) 🛂

Spoiler

Filed during Covid-19 & moved states 1 month after filing

30-Mar-2020: N-400 early filing window opens!

01-Apr-2020: Filed N-400 online 💻 

02-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received online 📃

07-Apr-2020: NOA 1 - Receipt No. received via mail

05-May-2020: Moved to another state, filed AR-11 online

05-May-2020: Application transferred to another USCIS field office for review ➡️

15-May-2020: AR-11 request to change address completed

16-Jul-2020: Filed non-receipt inquiry due to never getting confirmation that case was transferred to new field office

15-Oct-2020: Received generic response to non-receipt inquiry, see full response here

10-Feb-2021: Contacted senator's office for help with USCIS

12-Feb-2021: Received canned response from senator's office that case is within processing time 😡

16-Feb-2021: Contacted other senator's office for help with USCIS - still no biometrics

19-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice - canned response from other senator's office 🌐

23-Feb-2021: Interview scheduled - notice to come in the mail

25-Feb-2021: Biometrics reuse notice arrives via mail

01-Mar-2021: Interview notice letter arrives via mail  ✉️ 

29-Mar-2021: Passed interview at local office! Oath Ceremony to be scheduled

13-Apr-2021: Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

04-May-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 Unable to attend due to illness

04-May-2021: Mailed request to reschedule Oath to local office

05-May-2021: "You did not attend your Oath Ceremony" - notice to come in the mail

06-May-2021: Oath Ceremony will be scheduled, date TBA

12-May-2021: Oath Ceremony re-scheduled for June 3rd, then de-scheduled same day 😡 

25-May-2021: New Oath Ceremony notice was mailed

16-Jun-2021: Oath Ceremony scheduled 🎆 - DONE!!

17-Jun-2021: Certificate of Naturalization issued

 

🎆 Members new and old: don't forget to fill in your VJ timeline! 🎇 https://www.visajourney.com/timeline/

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I wonder what other things you can provide besides those things. I might be heading to Russia near the end of the year and following this path. I assume home stay visa requires the same things.

 

 

Only thing we could maybe do is lease, if you use other things than this, please let us know!

I-130 CR1 Timeline  Visa has been issued!!!!!! = ^.^= YAY!

Spoiler

Service Center - Texas

Sent Jan 2nd 2018  PD: Jan 3rd 2018

E-notification: Jan 8th 2018 NOA1 Hard copy: Jan 12th 2018

NOA2: June 28th 2018, new website. Old website: July 17th sent to DOS (finally appeared July 29th, after 206 days after petition sent and stating not found) Emails & texts: nothing. Hard Copy states NoA2 is June 27, 2018.

NOA2: Hard copy: July 2nd 2018

Sent to DOS: New Website: July 18th 2018. Old website July 17th (Case number was finally found after 206 days of submitting petition, appeared on July 29th.)

Received NVC: July 24th 2018, per calling NVC option 5. 

New Case number #: Via email August 21st 2018. While on the phone with the hubby. Case is PIVOT. 

Fees paid August 21st 2018. Marked as paid on August 23rd 2018.

DS-260 filled and submitted:  August 27th 2018

AOS documents filled and submitted: August 29th, 2018

IV Documents: Submitted August 31st, 2018

Case Complete: September 11th 2018 via website 
Received Interview data: From embassy Oct 13, from NVC: Oct 15th.
Interview: originally Nov 27th, rescheduled to Nov 29th.

AP

Spoiler

Nov 26th 2018 AP.
Interviewed on Nov 29th, was told everything is good, asked for CV / resume, kept passport.

Nov 29th Email submitted.

Nov 30th They sent us an email for a physical copy.

Dec 3rd Submitted. Dec 4th They received.

Dec 7th, 14th,18th, 19th, 20th case was touched.

Dec 21st ready for Pick up. Dec 23rd pick up passport with no visa.  Was told due to holidays they resent passport incase Husband needed it, and to return it back on Jan 9th.

Jan 15th, sent off passport back to Embassy, Jan 16th case updated and received passport. 
Jan 24th case touched. Feb 1st sent email asking if they needed anything from us, replied Feb 5th stating still going thru AP, no change on website. Feb 13th, case was touched. March 5th sent email (not by travel docs) asking what we are waiting on, received auto email, unsure if case touched was touch per auto email.
March 5th, 7th case was touched. Also UStraveldocs passport states "There is no status update available for the passport number submitted"

March 15 Sent message via ustraveldocs about what's going on etc etc.
March 19: reply from Embassy Stating we have been approved and should get visa in 1-2 business days! 

March 20th: Issued!!!!! ViH: March 21st.
POE: Aiming for April 26th. 

Our Visits

Spoiler

Him: J1 Visa (no 2 home requirement) May 2015-Nov 2016 Officially met: Late July 2015 Started relationship mid-Aug 2015

Business trip B1 (Him): May 2017 - Nov 2017

2nd Business trip (Him): Feb 2018 - May 31st 2018

2nd visit hopefully when he moves to the USA.

ROC (LA, CA Area): sent  April: 12th 2021, Case transferred June 17th. Bios Jan 4th 2022. Ready for schedule interview Jan 5th 2022. Interview scheduled on Jan 11th 2022 for Feb 18th 2022. Approved at interview. Green card sent Feb 23rd 2022. Green Card in hand Feb 28th 2022. 
Next N-400: Submitted May 27th 2023, bios being reused. 

IR-2 (Step daughter, Ukraine): Sent June 7th, 2021 via online. Case was actively being looked at since Nov 2nd 2021. Approval Feb 16. Case sent to NVC Feb 19th 2022. Interview Dec 17, VIH 18th, POE Dec 26th 2022.

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  • 2 weeks later...
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Russia
Timeline

Now that one can reside in Russia using a 3 year multi-entry visa, the "proof of legal residence" rules have changed. You do not need to show a residency permit or work contract as is still stated on the government website. This was confirmed by email to USCIS Moscow (see above) and by the fact that my I-130 DCF application was accepted by them with no argument whatsoever.

 

What I used to prove legal residence:

* An apartment lease (translated) with my name on it.

* Russian address registrations for the past 2 years (you only need 6 months).

* An affidavit from a Russian friend attesting to my living here. (probably not needed)

* Passport stamps which verify my travels. 

 

Further info on DCF in Moscow. The clerk who reviewed my package was extremely helpful and patient and had me correct several items, using white-out. She then took it to the officer on duty and came back with the official acceptance of my DCF. And the surprise of the day, since my wife was there with me, they conducted our interview immediately. To top off the good fortune, I had my reply in email in 2 days -- APPROVED. 

 

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