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Delta7

B-2 Visa Denial - Tbilisi - Russian Citizen

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Filed: Other Timeline
2 hours ago, Delta7 said:

In the past 5 to 10 years, they have each traveled to a total of 5 countries in Europe and Africa (Egypt). They didn't overstay a single time. I totally get the fact that it might seem suspicious to bypass their home country's consulate, but it's a move simply because the wait times in Georgia are 10x less. My wife and I talked last night and I think they're going to file in Moscow and just wait it out and pray. 

If I'm not mistaken, Georgia was among the government's latest list of high overstay rates... the one they'd like to hone in on detailed screening for B1/B2 visas to "curve" the overstay trend. Even though no law has been passed yet from what I've seen, I'm sure these embassies are aware their respective country made the list and they have probably started implementing stricter observations when approving visas. So going to Georgia to interview might have actually been the bullet that hit your foot.

K1 Fiance Visa: 207 days & AOS w/EAD and AP: 180 days

Spoiler

K1 Fiance Visa: 207 days                                                                                                                               AOS from K1 w/EAD and AP: 180 days

09/12/18: NOA1 old site (9/17 new site)                                                                                                     05/22/19: AOS package mailed to Chicago, IL

01/28/19: NOA2 new site (old site never changed)                                                                                   05/24/19: USCIS Received date for AOS/EAD/AP

02/19/19: NVC Received                                                                                                                                05/29/19: Notice date for AOS/EAD/AP

02/20/19: Case Number Assigned                                                                                                               06/19/19: Biometrics Appointment

04/05/19: Interview - APPROVED!                                                                                                                06/14/19: Biometrics Completed - walk in

04/08/19: CEAC-NIV Application Received                                                                                                 08/06/19: Ready to be Scheduled for Interview Status

04/09/19: CEAC-NIV Administrative Processing                                                                                       10/11/19: Interview Scheduled status

04/10/19: CEAC- Issued                                                                                                                                 11/05/19: EAD/AP approved

04/12/19: Visa in hand                                                                                                                                   11/16/19: EAD/AP card Received

04/30-5/1/19: POE via IAH - Houston, TX                                                                                                   11/18/19: AOS Interview - APPROVED! same day status change to Approved, then New Card being Produced

05/10/19: I Do's!                                                                                                                                               11/25/19: Green Card in Hand

                                                                                                                                    

ROC:                                                                                                                                                                  

08/20/21: Filed ROC

08/23/21: USCIS received package

08/25/21: Text received/Case # assigned

08/26/22: Case transferred to NBC for "speedy processing"

 

Citizenship:

08/22/22: Filed N-400 online

08/22/22: NOA1/Biometrics Reused                                                                                                           

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Almost as annoying as unhelpful posters are ones who jump in clearly not having read previous posts and just repeating stuff that’s already been said (not in the sense of “agree” but in the sense of “hey here’s a new insight!”) At least 2 in the past page.

 

Btw on who is “qualified” to post: Having personally received 4 B visas, the first two when my ties were pretty dodgy (hence got only one year validity for each of those) as well as doing 2 applications for my husband and another 2 for my kids, I think I may know something about the B visa process.

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Filed: Timeline
1 hour ago, celie&joseph said:

If I'm not mistaken, Georgia was among the government's latest list of high overstay rates... the one they'd like to hone in on detailed screening for B1/B2 visas to "curve" the overstay trend. Even though no law has been passed yet from what I've seen, I'm sure these embassies are aware their respective country made the list and they have probably started implementing stricter observations when approving visas. So going to Georgia to interview might have actually been the bullet that hit your foot.

I didn't know that Georgia was among the highest overstay rates. I think I'm going to encourage my in-laws to wait it out via Moscow for their next attempt. Thanks so much!

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Filed: F-2A Visa Country: Philippines
Timeline

You can also check out my signature link below for my parents' B2 application experience. I posted sample questions there. Might be handy. Best of luck!

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7 minutes ago, Delta7 said:

I didn't know that Georgia was among the highest overstay rates. I think I'm going to encourage my in-laws to wait it out via Moscow for their next attempt. Thanks so much!

 

18 hours ago, SusieQQQ said:

 

The B2 refusal rate for Russian nationals is under 15%. That’s not very high at all compared to many countries. 

But the refusal rate for Georgian nationals is over 62%. Maybe Tbilisi is just more used to denying than Moscow...add in the usual complication of a 3rd county application and possibly that’s why it ended badly for them. I’d suggest they just get on the waitlist for a Moscow appointment in the meantime.

.....

ok, i take it back, apparently it's not only new posters who don't read everything. lol.

Edited by SusieQQQ
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13 minutes ago, Delta7 said:

Yes, it was previously posted that REFUSAL rates were 62%, but not OVERSTAY rates.

But they are very closely related. High overstay rates lead to increased refusal rates. Low overstay rates lead to low refusal rates (and possible VWP inclusion).

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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Filed: Other Timeline
31 minutes ago, geowrian said:

But they are very closely related. High overstay rates lead to increased refusal rates. Low overstay rates lead to low refusal rates (and possible VWP inclusion).

 

1 hour ago, SusieQQQ said:

Almost as annoying as unhelpful posters are ones who jump in clearly not having read previous posts and just repeating stuff that’s already been said (not in the sense of “agree” but in the sense of “hey here’s a new insight!”) At least 2 in the past page.

 

Btw on who is “qualified” to post: Having personally received 4 B visas, the first two when my ties were pretty dodgy (hence got only one year validity for each of those) as well as doing 2 applications for my husband and another 2 for my kids, I think I may know something about the B visa process.

 

I'm not sure if all this is stemming from my comment, but I was pointing out the recent "extra" security the administration wants to place on high overstay rated countries (that already face high scrutiny and denial rates as Susie mentioned).

 

Wasn't trying to step on anyone's toes, just give new insight on current events that influence what was already said.

K1 Fiance Visa: 207 days & AOS w/EAD and AP: 180 days

Spoiler

K1 Fiance Visa: 207 days                                                                                                                               AOS from K1 w/EAD and AP: 180 days

09/12/18: NOA1 old site (9/17 new site)                                                                                                     05/22/19: AOS package mailed to Chicago, IL

01/28/19: NOA2 new site (old site never changed)                                                                                   05/24/19: USCIS Received date for AOS/EAD/AP

02/19/19: NVC Received                                                                                                                                05/29/19: Notice date for AOS/EAD/AP

02/20/19: Case Number Assigned                                                                                                               06/19/19: Biometrics Appointment

04/05/19: Interview - APPROVED!                                                                                                                06/14/19: Biometrics Completed - walk in

04/08/19: CEAC-NIV Application Received                                                                                                 08/06/19: Ready to be Scheduled for Interview Status

04/09/19: CEAC-NIV Administrative Processing                                                                                       10/11/19: Interview Scheduled status

04/10/19: CEAC- Issued                                                                                                                                 11/05/19: EAD/AP approved

04/12/19: Visa in hand                                                                                                                                   11/16/19: EAD/AP card Received

04/30-5/1/19: POE via IAH - Houston, TX                                                                                                   11/18/19: AOS Interview - APPROVED! same day status change to Approved, then New Card being Produced

05/10/19: I Do's!                                                                                                                                               11/25/19: Green Card in Hand

                                                                                                                                    

ROC:                                                                                                                                                                  

08/20/21: Filed ROC

08/23/21: USCIS received package

08/25/21: Text received/Case # assigned

08/26/22: Case transferred to NBC for "speedy processing"

 

Citizenship:

08/22/22: Filed N-400 online

08/22/22: NOA1/Biometrics Reused                                                                                                           

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1 minute ago, celie&joseph said:

 

 

I'm not sure if all this is stemming from my comment, but I was pointing out the recent "extra" security the administration wants to place on high overstay rated countries (that already face high scrutiny and denial rates as Susie mentioned).

 

Wasn't trying to step on anyone's toes, just give new insight on current events that influence what was already said.

Not disagreeing....I was just pointing out the relationship between overstay rates and refusals.

Timelines:

ROC:

Spoiler

7/27/20: Sent forms to Dallas lockbox, 7/30/20: Received by USCIS, 8/10 NOA1 electronic notification received, 8/1/ NOA1 hard copy received

AOS:

Spoiler

AOS (I-485 + I-131 + I-765):

9/25/17: sent forms to Chicago, 9/27/17: received by USCIS, 10/4/17: NOA1 electronic notification received, 10/10/17: NOA1 hard copy received. Social Security card being issued in married name (3rd attempt!)

10/14/17: Biometrics appointment notice received, 10/25/17: Biometrics

1/2/18: EAD + AP approved (no website update), 1/5/18: EAD + AP mailed, 1/8/18: EAD + AP approval notice hardcopies received, 1/10/18: EAD + AP received

9/5/18: Interview scheduled notice, 10/17/18: Interview

10/24/18: Green card produced notice, 10/25/18: Formal approval, 10/31/18: Green card received

K-1:

Spoiler

I-129F

12/1/16: sent, 12/14/16: NOA1 hard copy received, 3/10/17: RFE (IMB verification), 3/22/17: RFE response received

3/24/17: Approved! , 3/30/17: NOA2 hard copy received

 

NVC

4/6/2017: Received, 4/12/2017: Sent to Riyadh embassy, 4/16/2017: Case received at Riyadh embassy, 4/21/2017: Request case transfer to Manila, approved 4/24/2017

 

K-1

5/1/2017: Case received by Manila (1 week embassy transfer??? Lucky~)

7/13/2017: Interview: APPROVED!!!

7/19/2017: Visa in hand

8/15/2017: POE

 

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59 minutes ago, Delta7 said:

Yes, it was previously posted that REFUSAL rates were 62%, but not OVERSTAY rates.

The most common reason for denial is 214b - concern that the applicant will overstay

There are clear trends at embassies as noted already on refusal rates which are linked to how often previous nationals have overstayed (otherwise publication of refusal rates is meaningless... )

Sorry, I guess to regulars here the correlation is obvious, perhaps I should have realized it needed to be more fully explained to a newbie

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline

@Delta7 I think the CO might've looked at this as desperation to come to the US because why would they go to Georgia when Yekaterinburg in Russia is currently open for tourist visa interviews and has a wait time of 1-2 months? See for yourself:

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html

 

So there's no reason to "wait it out" for Moscow. Just have them go to Yekaterinburg. I know someone who recently applied for a B visa there and was approved.

Edited by millefleur

🇷🇺 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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Filed: Timeline
40 minutes ago, millefleur said:

@Delta7 I think the CO might've looked at this as desperation to come to the US because why would they go to Georgia when Yekaterinburg in Russia is currently open for tourist visa interviews and has a wait time of 1-2 months? See for yourself:

 

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html

 

So there's no reason to "wait it out" Moscow. Just have them go to Yekaterinburg. I know someone who recently applied for a B visa there and was approved.

(Edited) I know this was one of the embassies they closed a few years back. It must have reopened? Thank you so so much! I’ll have them look into it. 

Edited by Unlockable
Inappropriate language
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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
Timeline
1 minute ago, Delta7 said:

I know this was one of the embassies they closed a few years back. It must have reopened? Thank you so so much! I’ll have them look into it. 

There are currently 3 consulates in Russia offering visa services:

 

Moscow, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok

https://ru.usembassy.gov/visas/

 

Depending on where they live in Russia, maybe even Vladivostok makes more sense for them. The reason we talk about Moscow a lot here on VJ is because Moscow is the only place that does immigrant visas (and K-1's). All of them currently do non-immigrant visas such as visitor visas and student visas.

🇷🇺 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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“When starting an immigration journey, the best advice is to understand that sacrifices have to be made... whether it is time, money, or separation; or a combination of all.” - Unlockable

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