Confused & Discouraged In Moscow [edited title / merged threads]

[Dima_April 9]

Hi

Dima and I had our interview in Moscow, this last Tuesday, March 15. The appointment was at 9:30 and we were not seen until almost noon. The interviewer asked what language we communicated in and we said English. She told Dima, he spoke well. She asked him what he intended to do for work in the United States and he said anything. I informed her that I have friend that offered to help him get a job possibly with a local Russian company. She then commented on he was leaving behind an excellent job in Russia.

Next, she asked when we decided to take our relationship to the next level and we said spring of 2015. She, said we moved quickly. Then she asked if he came on a tourist visa and of course he did. How are couples to meet? After this, she said you spent 5 weeks together and we said, yes. Finally she asked for us to say how we felt about each other.

She took no Skype conversations and limited emails. She would not take my letter of employment or bank statements, saying that this was not required for this type of visa. Then she simply brushed us off saying to check the website regarding the visa. This was three days ago and we have seen nothing. They did keep his visa.

[slimbolina 48]

I'm confused!! He had his interview and basically wasn't given a decision? How was it left, what was their closing statement at the end of the interview? I guess you need to contact the embassy to find out...

[Dima_April 9]

Yes, he had the interview and I joined him. To that, she asked me if it was difficult to obtain a Russian visa and if it was my first time in Russia. I told her, no it was not difficult and I planned to return in the spring.

The closing statement was she would review our email and we should check the site were he applied for the visa.

Yes, he had the interview and I joined him. To that, she asked me if it was difficult to obtain a Russian visa and if it was my first time in Russia. I told her, no it was not difficult and I planned to return in the spring.

The closing statement was she would review our email and we should check the site were he applied for the visa.

[Dashinka 23,390]

You mentioned she kept his visa. Did you mean his passport? This is usually a good sign. When Katya had her interview the IO did comment something like "welcome to the US", and kept her passport. She got it back in about twelve days.

Good Luck!

[vbtwo 54]

If they kept the passport than most likely the visa was granted. If they refuse the visa, they give back the passport right away. Still sounds pretty weird from what you describe.

[TBoneTX 43,434]

Maybe the CO had to run additional standard checks or had to run her preliminary decision by her Section Chief.

[Misha'sgirl 44]

It is strange that the CO did not outright tell you, "your visa has been granted" and then kept his passport, but it's a good sign that she kept his passport. Keep checking the website, your email, and the mail. I think it took 5-10 days for us to get his passport with visa back. And we were told to check the website, too. Sounds like it was granted. Congratulations and good luck!

[Dima_April 9]

Sorry if I misspoke about keeping his "visa" I meant to say passport. I'm texting from Dima's phone and the screen is small. They kept his passport and simply told us toshe wanted to look at the emails and we should continue looking online.

We are staying at the Sherston and I made a mistake and told her Sheraton. Dima, corrected me and that sent her into a tailspin. She asked if we were not staying together? Of course we are! Then she asked me why my email address was a Yandex account. Who bloody cares?

What really puzzles me is why she didn't look at the employment letter or bank accounts? She said non of that information was needed for this type of visa. If so, why ask for it on their website?

Again, meeting on a tourist visa, just how are people to meet? As I told her, we were going to meet in Korea, but I didn't know him or that country. I thought of my own safety and he was gentleman enough to elivate my fears (meeting on my home turf).

Sorry if I misspoke about keeping his "visa" I meant to say passport. I'm texting from Dima's phone and the screen is small. They kept his passport and simply told us toshe wanted to look at the emails and we should continue looking online.

We are staying at the Sherston and I made a mistake and told her Sheraton. Dima, corrected me and that sent her into a tailspin. She asked if we were not staying together? Of course we are! Then she asked me why my email address was a Yandex account. Who bloody cares?

What really puzzles me is why she didn't look at the employment letter or bank accounts? She said non of that information was needed for this type of visa. If so, why ask for it on their website?

Again, meeting on a tourist visa, just how are people to meet? As I told her, we were going to meet in Korea, but I didn't know him or that country. I thought of my own safety and he was gentleman enough to elivate my fears (meeting on my home turf).

[TBoneTX 43,434]

Rooting for you. Keep us apprised.

[pochemuchka 2]

Hey April,

I guess it sounds a little strange about the interview, but I wouldn't be too worried about it, I think. During my interview I swear, I thought the consular officer said you'll receive your visa in 3 days to my fiance! Mind you, the entire interview was conducted in Russian, because I argued with my fiance that my Russian was good enough ( ) to understand everything, in front of the officer . So once we finished, I went ahead and said hehe thanks, but like... could I please have my tax documents back now? And he's all why? And I'm like, well I need file my taxes! So he reluctantly gave them back to me. A few days later when I was back in America I asked my fiance what he was so worried about and he told me that he hoped his visa would get approved. And I said what are you talking about?! And he informed me that the officer said NOTHING about getting the visa in 3 days . Whoops. Well, regardless... the visa came in the mail in about 10 days. Baddabing baddaboom. No thanks to me

[Misha'sgirl 44]

Sorry if I misspoke about keeping his "visa" I meant to say passport. I'm texting from Dima's phone and the screen is small. They kept his passport and simply told us toshe wanted to look at the emails and we should continue looking online.

We are staying at the Sherston and I made a mistake and told her Sheraton. Dima, corrected me and that sent her into a tailspin. She asked if we were not staying together? Of course we are! Then she asked me why my email address was a Yandex account. Who bloody cares?

What really puzzles me is why she didn't look at the employment letter or bank accounts? She said non of that information was needed for this type of visa. If so, why ask for it on their website?

Again, meeting on a tourist visa, just how are people to meet? As I told her, we were going to meet in Korea, but I didn't know him or that country. I thought of my own safety and he was gentleman enough to elivate my fears (meeting on my home turf).

We were puzzled too, when the CO did not ask for hardly any of the docs we had prepared (that the website had told us to prepare).

We had printed so many documents, pictures, etc. for nothing (really) and had waited several hours before we were called to the little box where the CO was, only to sit through a 5 minute "Interview" where barely any of our prepared documents were viewed. I really don't care now, because at the end of the five minutes, when I saw the CO keep Misha's passport and declare that he approved the visa, we were extremely relieved and excited.

So, don't worry. When he gets his passport back, it sounds like it will have the visa. It shouldn't be much longer you have to wait.

As far as meeting on a tourist visa, we were not given the option. Misha applied but he was never approved, twice. So I came to him, for six months. But before that, we had met in Mexico, because it was the easiest place to meet. They say meet as many times, for as long as you can, and I think that is true: that really helped us in the long run.

[ONA 133]

I agree with the previous posters - the fact that they kept the passport is usually a good sign.

Don't worry about them not looking at your documents. The only thing the CO looked at at my interview was our pictures. That's it, and my visa was obviously approved.

Hope, you hear something soon!

Edited March 19, 2016 by ONA

[TBoneTX 43,434]

An unrelated post has been split from this thread into its own topic in this forum: "Does Moscow Embassy Prefer Petitioner's Presence? [split topic]."

[Dima_April 9]

Thank you everyone. We are still waiting to hear something back. The interview was on March 15 and we are still in AP!
Someone told me to compose an email and thank the CO and ask what the next procedure would be, just to bring the case back to their attention. I'm not sure if I should do that or not. Will it make them angry that I am not patient? Dima, is beginning to look at apartments in Moscow. This whole process is upsetting me. I thought we would have the visa by now.

[Dima_April 9]

I'm starting to worry. We had our K1 interview in Moscow, March 15, 2016. The CO said to watch the site and kept his passport. I've watched the site everyday and nothing has been updated. It simply remains AP, w. Mar. 15, date. They took his fingerprints electronically and therefore, all that information should be in the system almost instantly.

How long can they keep his passport?
What is the typical time frame for AP?
Would they deny you the visa, after having kept the passport?

I don't know what went wrong.