Denied K1

[gregcrs2 1,777]

I'm probably asking a stupid question but did he ever admit to smoking pot? Or caught smoking pot?

[Lowens8 10]

I'm probably asking a stupid question but did he ever admit to smoking pot? Or caught smoking pot?

Nope, and he passed his medical.

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

I'm probably asking a stupid question but did he ever admit to smoking pot? Or caught smoking pot?

In Russia smoking pot is not nearly as common as in the US and is very disapproved and downlooked at by the majority of the population. Very small amount of people use pot there and mostly they're among very young (like high school to early college), marginal or criminal layers of the society. So very unlikely that an adult decent member of society in Russia has this problem. It's simply not being accepted well by the society there.

- Victor from Russia

[gregcrs2 1,777]

Been to Russia 28 times and never saw it or smelled it there. Only asked because admitting to ever using it is an automatic denial.

I'm purely speculating but the last few things it could possibly be is the beneficiary stating something that contradicts the documentation provided, or that the CO suspects a falsified or altered document was provided.

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

I'm purely speculating but the last few things it could possibly be is the beneficiary stating something that contradicts the documentation provided, or that the CO suspects a falsified or altered document was provided.

In the another thread OP stated that during the AP consulate requested "more chat logs between us". I'm wondering if this has to do something with denial. If the problem would be in medical, criminal records or anything like this I don't see why consulate would ask for chat logs to look at. May be there're some contradictions between some documents/logs provided to consulate or something in the answers during interview what made CO want to see more communication between petitioner and beneficiary and then some red flag was raised?

- Victor from Russia

[Lowens8 10]

In the another thread OP stated that during the AP consulate requested "more chat logs between us". I'm wondering if this has to do something with denial. If the problem would be in medical, criminal records or anything like this I don't see why consulate would ask for chat logs to look at. May be there're some contradictions between some documents/logs provided to consulate or something in the answers during interview what made CO want to see more communication between petitioner and beneficiary and then some red flag was raised?

- Victor from Russia

All we ever talk about in chat logs is our future and recently how stressful this process is. Anything serious we always talk about via video chat so there's no miscommunication.

[Georgia16 2,858]

I'm very sorry to read this Lowens8!

[Ebunoluwa 6,136]

He has been married before to a Russian citzen a while ago and we sent the divorce document and translation. This is both of our first time with a K1.

When the USCIS gets the petition back is there still a chance of being approved after they review it again?

Even though the 221g says that it will be returned "for review" it will not be reviewed, no matter what the reason.

K1's used to be reviewed many years ago but are no longer, consulates still give out letters talking about "review "which

is utterly ridiculous.

I would contact another lawyer who understands there will be no review and focus on getting the reason of what

exactly is considered to be wrong with the form or documentation. You and your fiance can give the lawyer privacy releases

to try to get more info or file a FOIA which takes a long time.

In this case it would be better to marry and file a CR1 because if the same thing happens again and the CR1 gets returned

then it will be reviewed and you will get a letter from USCIS with the exact issue and will have 30 days to respond with a rebuttal.

Unfortunately this won't happen with a K1.

[gregcrs2 1,777]

That is true and very very unfortunate.

[Lowens8 10]

Thank you everyone for your help! Since it looks like the K1 is a no-go I guess I'll be moving to Russia for awhile. (Now I have to figure out what kind of Russian visa I need)

[gregcrs2 1,777]

As I remember, tourist visa to Russia only allows you a 30 day visit and up to 6 months on a business visa (biz visa was expensive to get).

But it's been a while since I last visited.

[CM&KV 72]

Thank you everyone for your help! Since it looks like the K1 is a no-go I guess I'll be moving to Russia for awhile. (Now I have to figure out what kind of Russian visa I need)

I hope this helps you. This information is correct, and has been repeated many times on travel sites, and I think I read it somewhere on the governments sites as well.

You can get a tourist or a private stay visa, which both will let you in for 6 months or so. If you plan on being a temp resident (No longer needing a Russian visa to visit). You need to past the Language, History and Culture, and they are done in Russian. ( I have a link to a demo test if you want it)

Btw this the company that issues Russian Visa's to the United States.

Tourist

http://www.ils-usa.com/main.php?id=travel〈=en

Private Stay

http://www.ils-usa.com/main.php?id=private〈=en

Tourist:

Tourist Visa Tourist visas are issued to US citizens, foreign nationals, and stateless persons whose purpose of travel involves cultural events, excursions, sightseeing, and/or general tourism.

It is issued on the basis of a confirmation that the foreign tourist is going to be hosted by a Russian travel agency.

A tourist visa may also be issued for conducting short-term business exchange, participating in exhibitions, auctions, and also in the case of medical consultation or examination. In this case, the Confirmation of hosting a foreign tourist should indicate the purpose of travel as “Aim Tourism” in the necessary field, and the visa is issued for the time period that corresponds with the Confirmation (no more than 30 days).

Regular tourist visas are either Single or Double entry, for a period of no more than 30 days. But in accordance with the simplified visa formalities agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States, US citizens are now able to obtain either a 3-year Multi-Entry Tourist visa upon request which exceed the 30 day stay limit.

It is recommended that US citizens apply for a 3-year, multiple-entry Tourist visa regardless of the dates of entry and exit, number of entries or period of stay indicated in the Confirmation of Hosting a Foreign Tourist issued by a hotel or tourist operator registered with the Federal Agency for Tourism of the Russian Ministry of Culture.

In order to apply for a 3-year multiple-entry Tourist visa, please indicate the full three year period as the length of stay in the Russian Federation when filling out the visa application. (ex. Date of Entry 25/10/2016 until Date of Departure 24/10/2019-minus one day )

Double-entry tourist visas are only issued when the second country is of the 'near-abroad' (CIS states, Baltics) or those that require return transit through Russian territory, such as China and Mongolia, etc.

In order to obtain a double-entry visa, the arrival city to be visited in the second country must be written in the travel itinerary and in the confirmation issued by the tour operator.

The maximum length of stay while traveling on a Single or Double-entry tourist visa is 30 days.

http://www.ils-usa.com/main.php?id=visa-info〈=en

Visa Durations

Single-Entry allows the foreign national a one-time entry into the borders of the Russian Federation.

Double-Entry allows the foreign national to enter and exit the Russian border of no more than two times.

Multi-Entry allows for unlimited entry into the Russian Federation within the visa period.

Do Note! In accordance with the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on the simplification of visa formalities for nationals of the Russian Federation and nationals of the United States of America effective September 9, 2012. US citizens are able to obtain multiple-entry business, private, humanitarian and tourist visas for a stay of no more than 6 months starting from the date of each entry that are valid for three years (36 months) from the date of issue of the visa.

Also Citizens of Russia can get a B1/2 visa that is under the same guidelines but lasts 3 years till expires, max stay per time is 180 days. (They need to show strong ties to Russia thought, and chances he might get denied a B1/2 visa since he has show immigration tent. )

Edited August 5, 2016 by CassandraMM

[Lowens8 10]

Thank you! I would be staying in Russia until he's approved so I wonder if there's a visa I can get that lasts longer than 6 months. Maybe just a work visa, or maybe there's a similar spouse visa that my fiancé can apply for once we get married.

[gregcrs2 1,777]

If you end up in Russia for an extended period, you may have difficulties with I-864 unless you have a co-sponsor. Anyway, just something to keep in mind. I wish you the best of luck!

[CM&KV 72]

Thank you! I would be staying in Russia until he's approved so I wonder if there's a visa I can get that lasts longer than 6 months. Maybe just a work visa, or maybe there's a similar spouse visa that my fiancé can apply for once we get married.

What you are planning on doing is something that I am researching as a possible path for my boyfriend and I. We want to be together, either in USA or in Russia. His parents live in Crimea.... so we don't know if that is even possible place for us to live. In the mean time I am working and trying to save up 10k before I am to "live" there for a short amount of time, USA money goes a really long way in a small village like my boyfriend's. For a month I can rent a really nice hotel room looking at the black sea for about less than 400 usd. We have a few people that can sponsor him, if needed.

If you get married in Russia (please correct me if I am wrong) you need to go to FMS(I think it is called Zags) apply for marriage, Documents need to be trans into Russia, unsure if you need an apsial(SP, I forgot how it is spell ><) wait a month for your date and get married. I am unsure if you can get married over there as a tourist visa, but I know you can on a private, I am wondering if it is because of the length of time from applying to get married to being married in Russia.(Multi gives you 6 months) You might be able to on a tourist and later return, after the 6 months are up on that entry and come back as a tourist again and wait with him.

I think your best bet is the private stay visa and after being in the country for 6 months apply for the spouse visa at the USA Embassy. I don't know if you need to be a tempo or perm resident for this or you can be living in Russia on a 6 month private visa come back and renew the time spent with a small gap. Worst case you might be able to do the overseas fiing.

Btw I do not know the timelines for most of these. In order to get the tempo resident permit in Russia, it takes about 6 months as well. You need a medical(I heard that this is only good for 3 months and can cost about 200 USD or more), FBI background check(Good for 3 months, done at the Embassy), and passing the Russian Language History and Law test(Good for 5 years and costs about 5300 Rubles depending on the School you take it at.) And I think you need to know the basic rules of the Russian Language.

Note: If my information is wrong, please correct me and please give links. Its been a few weeks since I looked up this information, and have been busy with a new job and studying Russia.