Interview at Warsaw embassy - case transfer from Moscow

[millefleur 5,037]

13 minutes ago, ninjakid said:

That made me think Poland is the only option now and other embassies even know it.

It seems to be the case. I saw on VJ one person get theirs successfully transferred to Kazakhstan but the applicant had ties to that embassy (had previously done a K-1 there.) I saw someone else mention they were successfully transferred to Georgia but again I think the applicant also had ties to justify it. It seems like the only place accepting people without any ties to that country is Poland.

 

The only other places worth trying are Israel and Kyrgyzstan. Israel has visa free travel to Russia and Kyrgyzstan just recently opened up their IV unit. Could be worth looking into those for others still trying to avoid a Schengen country.

[TBoneTX 43,133]

2 hours ago, millefleur said:

Israel

Just in the last half-hour, this came in:

"Because of corona, no individual tourists are allowed only tour groups of minimum 5, as well as individuals who have Israeli citizen close relatives (even they need special permission)."

 

[millefleur 5,037]

11 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

Just in the last half-hour, this came in:

"Because of corona, no individual tourists are allowed only tour groups of minimum 5, as well as individuals who have Israeli citizen close relatives (even they need special permission)."

Good to know. I figured it was not really an option given how strict Israel has been about vaccines and lockdowns.

 

At least getting a Schengen visa is possible right now and the Schengen zone allows Russians to travel for tourism. It is unfortunately a huge added expense and often requires going through multiple countries before arriving in Poland. Annoying, time consuming, expensive...but doable.

[zolotinka 47]

On the DoS site Russians are categorized now as a Homeless Nationality and Warsaw is mentioned as a selected post for IV. I didn’t find any information about automatic transferring of cases on any embassy site though.

[millefleur 5,037]

9 minutes ago, zolotinka said:

On the DoS site Russians are categorized now as a Homeless Nationality and Warsaw is mentioned as a selected post for IV. I didn’t find any information about automatic transferring of cases on any embassy site though.

Thank you for this! Finally something official from the DoS. Here's the link in case anyone wants to see it:

https://fam.state.gov/fam/09FAM/09FAM050404.html

 

Why is "Russians" and "Warsaw" in purple and in italics? A bit strange. I don't see an explanation for that anywhere.

 

It says of "homeless nationalities" here:

 

Quote

9 FAM 504.4-8(E)(3)  (U) Processing Homeless Cases

(CT:VISA-986;   12-18-2019)

(U) The National Visa Center (NVC) will screen and assign all petitions for homeless beneficiaries to the appropriate post for processing.  The original post code will be maintained in instances where that benefits operations at NVC and post.

 

Not really clear. If NVC will "screen and assign" does that mean cases will go to Warsaw by default now?

 

 

Edited October 22, 2021 by millefleur

[TBoneTX 43,133]

8 hours ago, millefleur said:

Why is "Russians" and "Warsaw" in purple and in italics?

Maybe because it's the newest entry.

[yul250 9]

Hello everyone! 

 

I've been following this thread for a while and decided to post progress for my parents' IR-5 visas:

 

I've requested case transfers from Moscow to Warsaw on 08/11/2021 (DQ since March 2021). On 09/07/2021 the request was approved and on 09/09/2021 we got new WRW case numbers. On 10/14/2021 we got interview notices for 11/04/2021. Unfortunately, they won't be able to make it since my sister is due to have her first baby around that time and they don't want any additional stress for her or them during that time. I've emailed Warsaw embassy the same day we got the interview notice but they still haven't responded so I called a few days ago and they told me I can only reschedule if they miss their interview. So that is what we're planning on doing.

 

Hopefully we'll be able to schedule another interview for them sometime in January, giving them plenty of time to get everything else taken care of, including a Schengen visa (theirs expired last year). We're planning on doing Estonian visas.

 

I'm a bit worried about COVID vaccines but so far I'm asking them to get Sputnik V since it should be approved by WHO very soon (hopefully). If not - they'll need to get J&J while they're in Europe. Anyone else has any ideas on what to do with the vaccine?

 

[marpolsdofer 7]

On 9/22/2021 at 10:18 AM, solstice said:

We sent an email off to support@ustraveldocs.com 

 

How in the heck did you manage this we have been waiting on a interview since May of 2020. I have fired off emails to them to transfer my step son back in May and June this year only to have them respond in September. They basically said to bad we will figure something out later. My senators aid got a email from them saying Moscow is still working.

I have sent emails to Warsaw in July, Aug, September and they never responded.

[marpolsdofer 7]

On 10/23/2021 at 10:22 PM, yul250 said:

Hello everyone! 

 

I've been following this thread for a while and decided to post progress for my parents' IR-5 visas:

 

I've requested case transfers from Moscow to Warsaw on 08/11/2021 (DQ since March 2021). On 09/07/2021 the request was approved and on 09/09/2021 we got new WRW case numbers. On 10/14/2021 we got interview notices for 11/04/2021. Unfortunately, they won't be able to make it since my sister is due to have her first baby around that time and they don't want any additional stress for her or them during that time. I've emailed Warsaw embassy the same day we got the interview notice but they still haven't responded so I called a few days ago and they told me I can only reschedule if they miss their interview. So that is what we're planning on doing.

 

Hopefully we'll be able to schedule another interview for them sometime in January, giving them plenty of time to get everything else taken care of, including a Schengen visa (theirs expired last year). We're planning on doing Estonian visas.

 

I'm a bit worried about COVID vaccines but so far I'm asking them to get Sputnik V since it should be approved by WHO very soon (hopefully). If not - they'll need to get J&J while they're in Europe. Anyone else has any ideas on what to do with the vaccine?

 

What did you use for contact to transfer. We keep getting the middle finger from Warsaw and everyone else.

[Wouter 141]

11 minutes ago, marpolsdofer said:

How in the heck did you manage this we have been waiting on a interview since May of 2020. I have fired off emails to them to transfer my step son back in May and June this year only to have them respond in September. They basically said to bad we will figure something out later. My senators aid got a email from them saying Moscow is still working.

I have sent emails to Warsaw in July, Aug, September and they never responded.

So sorry to hear that you have been waiting for so long, I know how infuriating and soul crushing it is.

There are several email addresses to try for Warsaw and people get different responses for each so it's worth to keep trying them all:

support-poland@ustraveldocs.com

support@ustraveldocs.com

immigrantvisawarsaw@state.gov

Is your step son an 'immediate relative' (i.e. unmarried and under 21 years old)? It is my impression that Warsaw currently only takes on cases for immediate relatives or K-1 visas.

 

[marpolsdofer 7]

1 minute ago, Wouter said:

So sorry to hear that you have been waiting for so long, I know how infuriating and soul crushing it is.

There are several email addresses to try for Warsaw and people get different responses for each so it's worth to keep trying them all:

support-poland@ustraveldocs.com

support@ustraveldocs.com

immigrantvisawarsaw@state.gov

Is your step son an 'immediate relative' (i.e. unmarried and under 21 years old)? It is my impression that Warsaw currently only takes on cases for immediate relatives or K-1 visas.

 

I have tried all 3 of them emails. Only thing I get back is this email no longer works, no response, or long time for them with no answers. Senators aid has been stone walled as well and she been at this since August.

Yes he is 17 unmarried. The thing is my wife is worried if we don't get its one son once he graduates he has to go to the Army. My wife is on border line depression and reminds me daily she is about to leave me over this.

[millefleur 5,037]

39 minutes ago, marpolsdofer said:

I have tried all 3 of them emails. Only thing I get back is this email no longer works, no response, or long time for them with no answers. Senators aid has been stone walled as well and she been at this since August.

Yes he is 17 unmarried. The thing is my wife is worried if we don't get its one son once he graduates he has to go to the Army. My wife is on border line depression and reminds me daily she is about to leave me over this.

Forget emails. Try calling:

https://www.ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/contact-us

https://pl.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/

 

Also, call Moscow. This is getting critical because of the army situation. Moscow is still handling "emergency" cases.

https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ru/ru-main-contactus.asp

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

 

Annoy as many phone numbers as possible until you get an answer.

[Wouter 141]

I wholeheartedly agree with @millefleur. Remember, it is your 1st amendment constitutional right as a US citizen to 'petition the Government for a redress of grievances' which includes US embassies since they are part of the government. This means there is no limit to how persistent and annoying you are allowed to get (without being abusive or threatening of course).

 

 

Edited October 27, 2021 by Wouter

[marpolsdofer 7]

4 hours ago, millefleur said:

Forget emails. Try calling:

https://www.ustraveldocs.com/pl/en/contact-us

https://pl.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/

 

Also, call Moscow. This is getting critical because of the army situation. Moscow is still handling "emergency" cases.

https://www.ustraveldocs.com/ru/ru-main-contactus.asp

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

 

Annoy as many phone numbers as possible until you get an answer.

We have called Moscow many times and they just tell us well we are still working call the NVC. Call NVC and they Moscow is not working and we don't know anything. We have called a few others and they say you have to send us a email then the answer is no.

 

The question for Moscow is when does it be come critical? He is not 21 so the rules out aging out and he wont be required to go to the Army for one year until he graduates next semester. That would put him at the age of 19 by the time he would even be able to come here after that.

[millefleur 5,037]

38 minutes ago, marpolsdofer said:

We have called Moscow many times and they just tell us well we are still working call the NVC. Call NVC and they Moscow is not working and we don't know anything. We have called a few others and they say you have to send us a email then the answer is no.

This is beyond frustrating. I would reach out to your local representatives and senators to deal with the NVC. It seems like they are the problem. I know you mentioned a senator's aid, but did you try both senators and the representatives in your distinct/city?