Visa approved; can't fiance process here in the US since he is here visiting?

[10uhcn 0]

I am a US citizen and met my fiance while on a mission in Latvia. 2 weeks ago, he came to the US with me on a visitor visa waiver.

2 days ago, our I-129F petition for fiance visa was approved. We are inquiring as to why would they make him return to Latvia to be interviewed at the US Embassy there? Can't he get the medical checks here in the states and be interviewed here in the US?

I can't seem to convey to the USCIS phone staff that the trip back to Latvia is unnecessary bureaucratic red tape. He is already here! He is supposed to stay here as a visitor until mid-June. There is no reason to go to the embassy in Latvia.

Can anyone give me suggestions, directions, similar situations, success stories, contact information? I am not sure who or where to go to appeal that he just be processed here.

[Hypnos 6,576]

What you propose cannot be done within the US.

[Ryan H 3,812]

Can't he get the medical checks here in the states and be interviewed here in the US?

No

Furthermore, your title topic is a misnomer. USCIS only approved the petition you filed, no visa has been approved since an interview at the Embassy has not taken place.

Edited March 28, 2014 by Ryan H

[baron555 934]

We are inquiring as to why would they make him return to Latvia to be interviewed at the US Embassy there?

Because those are the rules.

Can't he get the medical checks here in the states and be interviewed here in the US?

No, there are no US Embassies in the US.

I can't seem to convey to the USCIS phone staff that the trip back to Latvia is unnecessary bureaucratic red tape.

It's your problem not theirs.

He is already here!

Then he will return back.

He is supposed to stay here as a visitor until mid-June. There is no reason to go to the embassy in Latvia.

If he wants a K-1 there is.

Can anyone give me suggestions, directions, similar situations, success stories, contact information?

Follow the rules and stop trying to invent new ones. You will not win this.

[divikaki 8]

Unfortunately, the entire premise of the K1 is that the beneficiary of the petition is abroad. That's just how it works. As has been stated in previous responses, the approval of your I-129F Petition was just that, the approval of a petition and not a visa approval.

At this point your approved petition is being forwarded to the NVC then it will be forwarded to (presumably) the Latvian embassy if that is what your application listed. The embassy will then send your fiance instructions regarding the steps that must be taken prior to scheduling an interview including but not limited to filling out DS-160 which is the actual visa application. Once all the steps are complete he schedules an interview in Riga (or whatever you detailed on your application).

I would advise not doing anything silly, like getting married while he is there in the US if you are thinking about it. The process in Latvia for K1 is really fast. Once the embassy has his approved petition, he can set up an interview probably within the week assuming he has all his necessary documentation (birth certificate, police certificate, medical examination, etc). If you had to refile for a marriage visa, that would be a shame.

He'll have to return home and finish the process by the rules like the rest of us.

Edited March 31, 2014 by divikaki

[baron555 934]

The embassy will then send your fiance instructions regarding the steps that must be taken prior to scheduling an interview including but not limited to filling out DS-160 which is the actual visa application.

Will be sent to the foreign address you listed on the 129f or G325A form.

[divikaki 8]

The embassy will then send your fiance instructions regarding the steps that must be taken prior to scheduling an interview including but not limited to filling out DS-160 which is the actual visa application.

Will be sent to the foreign address you listed on the 129f or G325A form.

In our experience with the Riga Embassy, "Packet 3" was sent via e-mail and via regular mail. So this shouldn't impose any problems. And I would be happy to share this information with the OP if they want to know what Riga requires for Packet 3, although I believe it's also basically all layed out on the embassy website.

[SparklePony 238]

I can't seem to convey to the USCIS phone staff that the trip back to Latvia is unnecessary bureaucratic red tape. He is already here! He is supposed to stay here as a visitor until mid-June. There is no reason to go to the embassy in Latvia.

Can anyone give me suggestions, directions, similar situations, success stories, contact information? I am not sure who or where to go to appeal that he just be processed here.

There is a reason for him to return: to interview at the Embassy so he can receive a K1 visa, which he will use to enter the US and receive the I-94 so he can Adjust Status after marrying you. That's why things are done this way. Any other way around this could be considered immigration fraud. Just be happy that you can actually enjoy this time with him and not be apart like so many of us.

There is really no way around this, no one to contact, no success stories. You want to have him with you in the US legally, the right way, then these are the rules of the game.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

You have not had a visa approved. You had the I-129F petition approved. That petition approval grants your foreign fiance(e) the eligibility to apply for the K-1 visa at the US consulate in the country in which they legally reside. There are no US consulates in the US. The Dept. of State issues US visas, not your local USCIS office. You must interview at your appropriate US consulate abroad.

[10uhcn 0]

Divilkaki, Jay-Kay, and SparklePony,

Thank you so much for your kind and informative responses. The address on file for him is in Riga and that is the embassy through which he will interview.

For those of you with Latvia experience, could he conduct any of his medical exams here in the US? Would that avoid his having to pay to have his records translated?

Another question, will the letter/packet sent to his address be written in English?

Thank you again for your encouragement.

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Divilkaki, Jay-Kay, and SparklePony,

Thank you so much for your kind and informative responses. The address on file for him is in Riga and that is the embassy through which he will interview.

For those of you with Latvia experience, could he conduct any of his medical exams here in the US? Would that avoid his having to pay to have his records translated?

Another question, will the letter/packet sent to his address be written in English?

Thank you again for your encouragement.

No. You cannot have a K-1 medical exam in the US. It must be done by a designated panel physician abroad for your consulate.

Info can be found directly from the US embassy website for your country.

Medical > http://riga.usembassy.gov/med_exam_en.html

Medical examinations from any other physicians or clinics cannot be accepted.

K-1 instructions > http://riga.usembassy.gov/imm_rga2_en.html

Edited April 3, 2014 by Jay-Kay

[SparklePony 238]

All medical exams for the K1 visa have to be completed in the country of origin/residence. This is because those records will be reviewed by the staff at the Embassy. This means he will have to have his medical in Latvia.

As for the Packet/letter sent to his address, I don't know specifically for Riga, but mine was sent in English. The information regarding the medical is written in English, Portuguese, and French (because I have to go through the Paris Embassy even though I'm in Portugal).

Hope this helps.

[divikaki 8]

Since I think I am the only active poster with Riga experience, I'll do my best to tell whatever I can.

Like has already been said you will need to have your medical in Riga since that is where the interview will take place. Only one doctor in Latvia is able to do the medical. She's easy to get into and she was able to provide my fiance with his results in 4 days (His appointment was on Monday, he picked them up on Friday). This is partly because the x-ray is done at another location. The results do not have to be translated regardless, so that is not something you have to be worried about.

Once your fiance gets his case number (starts with RGA), he can call to Dr. Caune and make an appointment. If you're hoping for your fiance to return to the US asap, he would ideally make the appointment for right after he returns to Latvia from his current trip to the US. He'll just need to take his vaccination passport and report from his primary care physician if he has it when he goes to see her.

http://riga.usembassy.gov/med_exam_en.html

Other things you need to be doing.

1. Obtain his birth certificate. Also obtain any name change certificates if applicable. The embassy accepts documents in English and Latvian, no translation required. However, we got my fiance's translated just to have in case when we go to the states since it is much easier to do here.

2. Obtain his police certificate. This was also a very quick process. But there's no sense in not getting started.

http://photos.state.gov/libraries/latvia/231771/PDFs/police_clearance_letter_latvia2.pdf

3. Court/Prison Records; Military Records; Marriage Termination Records. We didn't have or need these. But they're required if they apply to you.

Since you're in the US, make sure your I-134 and all supporting documentation is in order so your fiance has everything he needs when he goes back for his interview.

Basically just get everything, or as much as you can, ready now. Then he can go home, get the medical done and go for his interview. I would suggest scheduling the interview at least one week after the medical. And just so you know, my fiance received his visa in hand 3 days after the interview (interview Monday, visa on Thursday) and could have had it on... Wednesday but he didn't have time to meet the courier. So things are speedy here.

And yes, they send all the information in English.

Good luck. Let me know if you have any questions.