OK, my situation is really quite tough - Russian Fiance

[ah-no 27]

22 minutes ago, millefleur said:

Any country's embassy will not help you in this situation so there's no point to contact them directly by phone. It's better to just research on your own to see how to get permanent residency or a legal way to stay in those countries. All that info should be online, either on the embassy site or government websites, so that you can figure out if it's viable to stay in any of those countries long term. Maybe even try YouTube, there might be good resources there as well. Good luck!

To be clear, getting residency is not the issue, and this is not why I am contacting them — this can and will be done. The issue is finding embassies that will allow their residents to apply for visas (like a Schengen to conduct a marriage visa interview in Poland, for instance) or conduct interviews within said residence country on the basis of that legal residency. 

I'm trying to determine this before embarking on the residency question. Thus, the necessary research (with embassies, if possible, but so far, not working).

To be clear, I'm talking about something like a 1 year "temporary" residence permit or something like this. There are a number of different terms for it, depending on the country. 

Thanks for your response. 

Edited March 3, 2022 by ah-no

[millefleur 5,039]

3 minutes ago, ah-no said:

The issue is finding embassies that will allow their residents to apply for visas (like a Schengen to conduct a marriage visa interview in Poland, for instance) or conduct interviews within said residence country on the basis of that legal residency. 

I'm not sure I'm understanding? You mean you're wondering about US embassies abroad where she can conduct her immigrant or fiance visa interview?

 

It's very easy: as long as she can provide some proof of legally residing there (key word is legally), then she can interview at any US embassy anywhere. She just has to be a legal resident there, that's all. She could interview in the Bahamas, France, Turkey, Mexico...it doesn't matter, as long as she has actual residency there and not just some short stay tourist visa. Tourist visas and anything that's not long term will not work, getting a long term Schengen visa is really difficilt (she either has to get a job or have some other legit reason to stay there) hence why I suggested looking at other options.

[ah-no 27]

9 minutes ago, ah-no said:

To be clear, getting residency is not the issue, and this is not why I am contacting them — this can and will be done. The issue is finding embassies that will allow their residents to apply for visas (like a Schengen to conduct a marriage visa interview in Poland, for instance) or conduct interviews within said residence country on the basis of that legal residency. 

I'm trying to determine this before embarking on the residency question. Thus, the necessary research (with embassies, if possible, but so far, not working).

To be clear, I'm talking about something like a 1 year "temporary" residence permit or something like this. There are a number of different terms for it, depending on the country. 

Thanks for your response. 

It appears that the Netherlands allows Georgian residents to apply for a Schengen based on a Georgian residence permit. It doesn't specify if it's permanent or temporary, but it's a start. Some other Russians have reported to me privately that it is possible to get a Schengen abroad in some cases, so this could be helpful going forward.

[millefleur 5,039]

4 minutes ago, ah-no said:

It appears that the Netherlands allows Georgian residents to apply for a Schengen based on a Georgian residence permit. It doesn't specify if it's permanent or temporary, but it's a start. Some other Russians have reported to me privately that it is possible to get a Schengen abroad in some cases, so this could be helpful going forward.

I'm still not understanding what your goal is? If she moves to Georgia, there is a US embassy in Georgia, there's no reason to go to the Netherlands after that? Why would the Netherlands factor in if she has Georgian residency?

[ah-no 27]

3 minutes ago, millefleur said:

I'm still not understanding what your goal is? If she moves to Georgia, there is a US embassy in Georgia, there's no reason to go to the Netherlands after that? Why would the Netherlands factor in if she has Georgian residency?

I'm sorry if I'm not making it clear:
There are multiple "types" of residency. There is "temporary" residency, and then "permanent" residency. Generally, the "temporary" is one year, renewable, while the "permanent" is more open ended. I've encountered a lot of language on various sites related to the marriage visa process, that seem to specify "permanent" residency as a requirement. But others are more vague. 

So the Netherlands, is a way to get to the EU if necessary, since right now Moscow's embassy is closed and the interview point has been moved to Poland. (Of course, this is all just crazy speculation, but since residency is not quite simple, it's good to lay out the options, since some countries may have different rules)

If she can have an interview there based on her residency permit, that would be great! But this point above, I can't find info on it that is concrete.

Edited March 3, 2022 by ah-no

[Redro 4,602]

20 minutes ago, ah-no said:

To be clear, getting residency is not the issue, and this is not why I am contacting them — this can and will be done. The issue is finding embassies that will allow their residents to apply for visas (like a Schengen to conduct a marriage visa interview in Poland, for instance) or conduct interviews within said residence country on the basis of that legal residency. 

I'm trying to determine this before embarking on the residency question. Thus, the necessary research (with embassies, if possible, but so far, not working).

To be clear, I'm talking about something like a 1 year "temporary" residence permit or something like this. There are a number of different terms for it, depending on the country. 

Thanks for your response. 

For marriage, consider Utah online marriage. You can get married while you're both in different countries and then you can meet up where ever she is currently staying to consummate the marriage (for petition purposes). 

The marriage visa process is fairly long (we've been waiting 8 months for our NOA2 and some people wait as long as a year or more). 

As soon as the petition is approved you can request they move the interview from Moscow to where ever she has residency. 

Going through K1 or CR1 you have at least a year to figure out your partner's legal residency. 

If CR1 visa is approved sooner you can delay the NVC stage. 

K1 is taking about a year to NOA2 so you'll only have to request the place to interview a year from now. 

Edited March 3, 2022 by Kor2USA

[millefleur 5,039]

3 minutes ago, ah-no said:

So the Netherlands, is a way to get to the EU if necessary, since right now Moscow's embassy is closed and the interview point has been moved to Poland. (Of course, this is all just crazy speculation, but since residency is not quite simple, it's good to lay out the options, since some countries may have different rules)

You do not need to go through Poland, it's not like having a Russian passport means = must only interview in Poland, even if they live somewhere else. But the key thing is, for her to interview in a different country/different US embassy, she needs some kind of residency there. Temporary/permanent, doesn't matter. If she likes in Turkey, she interviews in Turkey as a Russian citizen, etc. People can interview in different countries if they live there, it's not a problem. Same for any country on Earth as long as they have a US embassy and she lives there legally.

 

I've said it before, I would forget going to Europe/Schengen countries unless she has some connection there that can get her residency. It was and always has been very, very difficult to get residency for Russians in the Schengen zone. It's most likely just simply not an option. Is there some connection/path for get to get residency in the Netherlands? If not, most likely it's impossible. She'd have to be sponsored for a job or have some other reason to stay long term, which will be the requirement for any Schengen country residency.

[ah-no 27]

5 minutes ago, millefleur said:

You do not need to go through Poland, it's not like having a Russian passport means = must only interview in Poland, even if they live somewhere else. But the key thing is, for her to interview in a different country/different US embassy, she needs some kind of residency there. Temporary/permanent, doesn't matter. If she likes in Turkey, she interviews in Turkey as a Russian citizen, etc. People can interview in different countries if they live there, it's not a problem. Same for any country on Earth as long as they have a US embassy and she lives there legally.

 

I've said it before, I would forget going to Europe/Schengen countries unless she has some connection there that can get her residency. It was and always has been very, very difficult to get residency for Russians in the Schengen zone. It's most likely just simply not an option. Is there some connection/path for get to get residency in the Netherlands? If not, most likely it's impossible. She'd have to be sponsored for a job or have some other reason to stay long term, which will be the requirement for any Schengen country residency.

No desire to get EU residency, never mentioned, not on the table. I only mentioned it because it seemed reading this forum, that Poland was pretty much the only place accepting Russians for interviews. And maybe best not to apply in Russia for a Schegen in that case, so was seeking alternatives. But now, the residency thing seems more clear. Hopefully it's viable. Thanks.

Edited March 3, 2022 by ah-no

[millefleur 5,039]

3 minutes ago, ah-no said:

No desire to get EU residency, never mentioned, not on the table. I only mentioned it because it seemed reading this forum, that Poland was pretty much the only place accepting Russians for interviews. And now, the residency thing seems more clear. Thanks.

Poland is the only place accepting Russians who live in Russia as the Moscow Embassy is closed. Russians who legally live abroad can interview in that country. Hope that helps!

[ah-no 27]

Just now, millefleur said:

Poland is the only place accepting Russians who live in Russia as the Moscow Embassy is closed. Russians who legally live abroad can interview in that country. Hope that helps!

Yes, it's good information, just what I'm seeking. Of course, I'm trying to find some official source of this, and cannot. But a few people have expressed this, so it seems to come from somewhere. Thank you. 

[Redro 4,602]

1 minute ago, ah-no said:

Yes, it's good information, just what I'm seeking. Of course, I'm trying to find some official source of this, and cannot. But a few people have expressed this, so it seems to come from somewhere. Thank you. 

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

Immigrant visas to the United States are processed for citizens and residents of Poland, Belarus, and Russia at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw.

[millefleur 5,039]

3 minutes ago, ah-no said:

Yes, it's good information, just what I'm seeking. Of course, I'm trying to find some official source of this, and cannot. But a few people have expressed this, so it seems to come from somewhere. Thank you. 

I'm not sure there's an official source but @Kor2USA is doing that right now, she's from a different country but she lives in Korea, thus she will interview in Korea (if I remember correctly.)

 

We've also seen many Russians successfully move to Georgia, China and other countries and interview there. It happens all the time. It goes by your current residency/where you live rather than your citizenship.

[Redro 4,602]

8 minutes ago, millefleur said:

I'm not sure there's an official source but @Kor2USA is doing that right now, she's from a different country but she lives in Korea, thus she will interview in Korea (if I remember correctly.)

 

We've also seen many Russians successfully move to Georgia, China and other countries and interview there. It happens all the time. It goes by your current residency/where you live rather than your citizenship.

Yep! I live and work in South Korea but I'm from South Africa. I've not been home for several years and I know two South Africans, a Brit and a Filipina who've interviewed through Seoul. There is also a Russian on VJ  who is planning to interview in Korea as she has residency here. 

Edited March 3, 2022 by Kor2USA

[mam521 1,805]

4 minutes ago, Kor2USA said:

Yep! I live and work in South Korea but I'm from South Africa. I've not been home for several years and I know two South Africans, a Brit and a Filipina who've interviewed through Seoul. There is also a Russian on VJ  who is planning to interview in Korea as she has residency here. 

Lots of foreigners live in Canada and wait out the process, interviewing in Montreal.  Not uncommon at all to interview where you live, irrespective of where you were born.  

[Redro 4,602]

3 minutes ago, mam521 said:

Lots of foreigners live in Canada and wait out the process, interviewing in Montreal.  Not uncommon at all to interview where you live, irrespective of where you were born.  

The truth is... the physical address you use for I-129F or I-130 is usually the address they'll use to determine your consulate (they don't pay attention to the consulate you specify). 

Several members have been caught out because they've moved home after filing and are no longer a resident in said country. 

I've read the process to move the interview is fairly painless as long as you can provide proof of residency. 

Edited March 3, 2022 by Kor2USA