Time after the interview for visa issuance

[Michael/Svetlana 0]

Hello my friends. Svetlana and I have made it to her interview. It is on the 21st of july. I plan to accompany her home and am in the process of buying airline tickets but have run into a problem. I do not know the time it takes for the embassy in Moscow to issue her the visa. My questions are, can you request expedited service and how long does it normally take? I may be forced to buy return tickets after the visa is issued but I do not want to due to added cost. Anyone have any information? I appreciate your help and good luck to everyone.

[Barbara J 115]

Hello my friends. Svetlana and I have made it to her interview. It is on the 21st of july. I plan to accompany her home and am in the process of buying airline tickets but have run into a problem. I do not know the time it takes for the embassy in Moscow to issue her the visa. My questions are, can you request expedited service and how long does it normally take? I may be forced to buy return tickets after the visa is issued but I do not want to due to added cost. Anyone have any information? I appreciate your help and good luck to everyone.

Are you talking about going to her country for interview? Would you not need return ticket for yourself? No you can't expedite it unless you had an emergency. Like matter of life or death and as you have no timeline I gather this is a straight forward K1 visa process so no you don't get special treatment. You wait like we all had and have to.

[mishab 1]

I do not know how long it takes from the interview to the visa being delivered, but you can try moving the interview date to an earlier date. note that the police clearance takes 3 wks to complete...

[Petersburg 5]

I am assuming the question is : when your fiance will have her passport back after the interview? If so, as far I know , it takes an embassy 1 to 3 business days to return the passport (and I am assuming you will pick up passport at the embassy) .

[Neonred 3,446]

You will get a lot better info over in the RUB forum.

Most are getting the passport and visa package in a week or less if all goes well and depending on where she lives because it is sent back to her by DHL. Some have received it in three days.

I also went over for my then fiancee's interview and to be sure we had the passport and visa package held at the DHL office in Moscow. On our return to the US we stopped at the DHL office and picked it up.

[Neonred 3,446]

I am assuming the question is : when your fiance will have her passport back after the interview? If so, as far I know , it takes an embassy 1 to 3 business days to return the passport (and I am assuming you will pick up passport at the embassy) .

No, you won't be picking up the visa at the embassy. You must pay for DHL delivery.

[san diego 407]

I did the same hing. My fiancee had her interview on April 21st. I booked tickets back for April 29th. She received her visa by picking it up at the closest to embassy DHL facility on April 27th. Basically, your visa should be at the DHL facility 3rd business day morning after the interview.

[Darnell 8,478]

*** not a K-3 visa topic, moving to 'Russia, Ukraine and Belarus ' forum ***

Edited May 31, 2011 by Darnell

[james&olya 1,121]

I had the same question. Olya interviewed on the 13th and the visa arrived at her home in Kazan by DHL on the 18th. I understand you have the option of addressing the DHL envelope you buy to go instead to a local DHL office in Moscow where you can pick it up in person. This is the fastest way to get it if being in Moscow is an option. Pick-up direct from the embassy is not an option. If you live in a remote area I have heard it can be 2-3 weeks to get it but in the major cities it should be 5-7 days.

[baron555 934]

I had the same question. Olya interviewed on the 13th and the visa arrived at her home in Kazan by DHL on the 18th. I understand you have the option of addressing the DHL envelope you buy to go instead to a local DHL office in Moscow where you can pick it up in person. This is the fastest way to get it if being in Moscow is an option. Pick-up direct from the embassy is not an option. If you live in a remote area I have heard it can be 2-3 weeks to get it but in the major cities it should be 5-7 days.

But.....one should never ever book any airplane tickets until the visa is firmly in hand......or be ready and willing and without crying, lost whatever monies you spent on prebooking if there is a delay in receiving the visa. Stranger things have happened.

You do know that the visa will be valid to use for 6 months after issuance....so you would be fine in adding a month or two to when you expect to have it.

[SMR 368]

But.....one should never ever book any airplane tickets until the visa is firmly in hand......or be ready and willing and without crying, lost whatever monies you spent on prebooking if there is a delay in receiving the visa. Stranger things have happened.

You do know that the visa will be valid to use for 6 months after issuance....so you would be fine in adding a month or two to when you expect to have it.

I bought the tickets ahead of time. Like you said, it's a risk. But it seemed calculated and I was ready to take the hit if it happened. Everything worked out and she got the visa in time.

[Lena and Igor 5]

I bought the tickets ahead of time. Like you said, it's a risk. But it seemed calculated and I was ready to take the hit if it happened. Everything worked out and she got the visa in time.

I believe there is merit in taking one day at a time. I was sure that Lena's medical was going to be a breeze last month and yes, most are but, she was required to return the next week for repeat studies. I will not buy the ticket until she has her visa in hand. Damn the additional cost!

[san diego 407]

But.....one should never ever book any airplane tickets until the visa is firmly in hand......or be ready and willing and without crying, lost whatever monies you spent on prebooking if there is a delay in receiving the visa. Stranger things have happened.

You do know that the visa will be valid to use for 6 months after issuance....so you would be fine in adding a month or two to when you expect to have it.

I agree. Worked for me though. This is a risk, but calculated risk and was well worth it! Traveling back together after months of separation was a delight!!

[Neonred 3,446]

I agree. Worked for me though. This is a risk, but calculated risk and was well worth it! Traveling back together after months of separation was a delight!!

Same here.

[james&olya 1,121]

I bought the tickets ahead of time. Like you said, it's a risk. But it seemed calculated and I was ready to take the hit if it happened. Everything worked out and she got the visa in time.

We did the same. The tickets were cheaper that way and we were reasonably certain we would be approved without AP. And we were ready to spend extra if the visa was to be delayed. My philosophy is that life is short and I did not want to waste another month apart from my loved ones if I did not have to!

Edited June 1, 2011 by james&olya