Schengen visa for a Russian citizen to get to the interview in Warsaw

[slavaskii 885]

20 minutes ago, Simplytex said:

Just for clarification, @smoothoperaytor is married, and spouses don't need to be vaccinated for travel purposes. The travel restriction for non-immigrants (including K visas) has been extended through at least Jan 8 2023, and it could just as easily be extended further.

 

Its weird but the COVID vax requirements to my best understanding are:

 

For the medical exam (this seems more permanent change, won't likely have COVID vax requirement removed):

• At Moscow: physician will grant a waiver, that an approved vaccine isn't available
• Poland/Other location: physician will probably not grant a waiver, so then applicants should be ready/get a US/WHO approved vaccination (which can take time now that J&J is less available.)

For travel (until at least Jan 8th 2023) regardless of country of origin:

• USC, residents, or intending immigrants including spouses with IR/CR visa - do not need to be vaccinated
• Non-immigrants, including K visa - needs proof of vaccination

 

Oops - thank you for the clarification that he's married! The word "wife" should've given it away You're correct about everything you've posted above. I sincerely hope the restrictions aren't extended past January 8.

[Master5 12]

On 11/21/2022 at 7:37 PM, Simplytex said:

Just for clarification, @smoothoperaytor is married, and spouses don't need to be vaccinated for travel purposes.

 

Does it mean that my wife (IR1 case) doesn't need to be vaccinated in Warsaw during the medical examination? It looks like Russian COVID vaccine is not approved by WHO or FDA

[Simplytex 386]

7 hours ago, Master5 said:

Does it mean that my wife (IR1 case) doesn't need to be vaccinated in Warsaw during the medical examination? It looks like Russian COVID vaccine is not approved by WHO or FDA

If you get the medical done in Warsaw, then I'm not sure, honestly. There might be some other folks who have done medical in Warsaw, my naive assumption would be for the "worst case" that since an approved vaccine is available in Poland... Might be worth a call ahead of time to the doctor's office, if they are willing to give that info.

[toki4004 1]

On 11/18/2022 at 9:28 AM, Simplytex said:

It's kinda frustrating that people are booking the medical appointments. Do you know if it's possible to book the appointments without having proof of interview? Because if its 3 mo out as you said, then my wife is probably going to have to do the same as you, and just go stay in Moscow while calling every day... I'd be very glad if you can provide more info about the medical process regarding testing at a different clinic, my wife is up to date on everything w/ records (except for US-approved covid vaccination...) 

 

My mother tried to get ahead and schedule her medical before the invite to the interview but they told her she can't do that! So, she waited and got the invite to the interview, called to schedule the medical apt and was told- we can't get you in time for your interview. She called them and argued: "you told me to wait and now you are saying too late?! Find the time." So, they found a time late in the day or something weird like that.

Edited November 27, 2022 by toki4004

[Master5 12]

Update on our case: we got a Schengen visa denial from Hungary. No time to re-apply for France or Spain now. We'll be trying to transfer the case to Jerusalem. It looks like for a Russian citizen it's easier to cross US-Mexican border these days then to get to Warsaw. I find this whole situation where you need to obtain one visa in order to be interviewed for another visa perverted beyond believe.

[Simplytex 386]

On 11/17/2022 at 3:41 PM, Simplytex said:

So my wife just went to Nizhny Novgorod to submit the paperwork for her Italian visa. 

 

A bit annoyed, because we couldn't find many appointment spots online, but in the "office" the two women working there said that walk-in appointments were totally fine, but just had to pay an extra ~1250 rubles...

 

That said, she went fully armed with lots of travel and financial evidence, and the clerk said from a paperwork standpoint everything looked ok, but it then has to get sent to the Italian embassy in Moscow, and it will take about 15 business days if they don't need anything else, otherwise it would be up to 45 days to process. Since we are traveling Dec 17 either to Serbia or Italy, it's not like we can send any more info, so it'll either get approved or not.

 

@smoothoperaytor and @Master5, just wondering how things are going for y'all. Success will getting visa or medical done?

Just as a random update, my wife's visa finished processing in Moscow last Friday, was handed over to the courier on Monday, finally in her hands today (Wednesday). She has an approved Italian Schengen visa!

It's date of validity is just over 30 days, but also on the visa it says its only valid for 20 of those days - something which I find a little annoying, because our trip is also only 20 days, so what if her flight on the way out gets cancelled or has issues... As someone who is risk-averse, that just is a minor thing but don't want her stuck with a black mark on her record. In any case, Christmas holidays here we come!

[Master5 12]

On 12/7/2022 at 8:34 AM, Simplytex said:

Just as a random update, my wife's visa finished processing in Moscow last Friday, was handed over to the courier on Monday, finally in her hands today (Wednesday). She has an approved Italian Schengen visa!

It's date of validity is just over 30 days, but also on the visa it says its only valid for 20 of those days - something which I find a little annoying, because our trip is also only 20 days, so what if her flight on the way out gets cancelled or has issues... As someone who is risk-averse, that just is a minor thing but don't want her stuck with a black mark on her record. In any case, Christmas holidays here we come!

Congrats! I wouldn't worry too much about overstaying Schengen visa If everything goes well next time she comes to Europe with the US passport!

Edited December 9, 2022 by TBoneTX
Word edited to avoid TOS violation

[slavaskii 885]

On 12/7/2022 at 8:34 AM, Simplytex said:

Just as a random update, my wife's visa finished processing in Moscow last Friday, was handed over to the courier on Monday, finally in her hands today (Wednesday). She has an approved Italian Schengen visa!

It's date of validity is just over 30 days, but also on the visa it says its only valid for 20 of those days - something which I find a little annoying, because our trip is also only 20 days, so what if her flight on the way out gets cancelled or has issues... As someone who is risk-averse, that just is a minor thing but don't want her stuck with a black mark on her record. In any case, Christmas holidays here we come!

 

On 12/7/2022 at 10:18 AM, Master5 said:

Congrats! I wouldn't worry too much about overstaying Schengen visa If everything goes well next time she comes to Europe with the US passport!

On the topic of Schengen visas, Fragomen has a good page detailing the consequences of overstays and the new EES system coming in 2023. While it seems like the most common penalty is a fine, I presume that even a one-day overstay will be caught at exit control and interrogated. 

 

Granted, if she (eventually) returns on a US passport, she won't need to go through the whole applying for a Schengen process. Nonetheless, the new EES system probably works like our version of ESTA, and a previous overstay could result in a denial. I don't mean to get off-topic or anything, just wanted to notate this for the sake of information.

Edited December 9, 2022 by TBoneTX
word in quote edited to avoid TOS violation

[Master5 12]

On 12/7/2022 at 10:44 AM, slavaskii said:

 

On the topic of Schengen visas, Fragomen has a good page detailing the consequences of overstays and the new EES system coming in 2023. While it seems like the most common penalty is a fine, I presume that even a one-day overstay will be caught at exit control and interrogated. 

 

Granted, if she (eventually) returns on a US passport, she won't need to go through the whole applying for a Schengen process. Nonetheless, the new EES system probably works like our version of ESTA, and a previous overstay could result in a denial. I don't mean to get off-topic or anything, just wanted to notate this for the sake of information.

I don't know, overstaying the visa in Europe would be my last concern really. I'm trying to get my wife to US not to Europe, and I have more important things to worry about. I personally have zero desire to visit continental Europe, been there many times already. Bunch of nations that have been in war with each other for hundreds of years (and really still don't like each other). But all of the sudden they decided to create the Schengen zone and use the same currency. High taxes, low pay, borderline socialism really. UK did the right thing exiting that mess.

Edited December 9, 2022 by TBoneTX
word edited to avoid TOS violation

[TBoneTX 43,175]

Two posts and a quote have been edited to avoid a Terms of Service violation:

"Attempt to bypass the Forums language filter through the use of alternative characters to spell profanities [...]."

 

Strong feelings are natural; however, let's keep things on as high a level as we have been, despite the unspeakable frustration.  Thanks.

[Lynxyonok 316]

On 11/17/2022 at 4:41 PM, Simplytex said:

So my wife just went to Nizhny Novgorod to submit the paperwork for her Italian visa. 

 

A bit annoyed, because we couldn't find many appointment spots online, but in the "office" the two women working there said that walk-in appointments were totally fine, but just had to pay an extra ~1250 rubles...

 

That said, she went fully armed with lots of travel and financial evidence, and the clerk said from a paperwork standpoint everything looked ok, but it then has to get sent to the Italian embassy in Moscow, and it will take about 15 business days if they don't need anything else, otherwise it would be up to 45 days to process. Since we are traveling Dec 17 either to Serbia or Italy, it's not like we can send any more info, so it'll either get approved or not.

 

@smoothoperaytor and @Master5, just wondering how things are going for y'all. Success will getting visa or medical done?

So, what kind of evidence did you provide?

Asking for a friend

 

Actually, asking after looking at a brand-new Spanish Schengen denial. Ouch.

[Simplytex 386]

1 hour ago, Lynxyonok said:

So, what kind of evidence did you provide?

Asking for a friend

 

Actually, asking after looking at a brand-new Spanish Schengen denial. Ouch.

 

Evidence we provided was based on what they put on their website:

• Her job provided an employment letter (one month validity, per visa documentation site)
• Russian bank statement (I think total balance around 200k RUB?)
• Her apmt title doc (can't remember, maybe car papers as well?)
• Copies of domestic and intl passports
• Ticketed flights to Italy (not dummy bookings - I provided CC statements showing the purchases)
• Dummy bookings for hotels
• Letter from Chase Bank (US) that my wife is an authorized user with full spending privilege on my Chase Sapphire card (~$30k limit)
• Financial guarantee letter from myself (spouse) in English and Italian (had a coworker translate it), with attached:
  • savings/checking account statements (~$15k for the accounts provided),
  • my employer wage statement
  • marriage cert, my US passport, copy of her NVC petition page/I130 approval

 

The last couple attachments to the financial guarantee letter were more to prove relationship and (in my head, at least) show that 'my' resources are 'her' resources even though her name isn't on any US bank account yet.

[Lynxyonok 316]

10 hours ago, Simplytex said:

 

Evidence we provided was based on what they put on their website:

• Her job provided an employment letter (one month validity, per visa documentation site)
• Russian bank statement (I think total balance around 200k RUB?)
• Her apmt title doc (can't remember, maybe car papers as well?)
• Copies of domestic and intl passports
• Ticketed flights to Italy (not dummy bookings - I provided CC statements showing the purchases)
• Dummy bookings for hotels
• Letter from Chase Bank (US) that my wife is an authorized user with full spending privilege on my Chase Sapphire card (~$30k limit)
• Financial guarantee letter from myself (spouse) in English and Italian (had a coworker translate it), with attached:
  • savings/checking account statements (~$15k for the accounts provided),
  • my employer wage statement
  • marriage cert, my US passport, copy of her NVC petition page/I130 approval

 

The last couple attachments to the financial guarantee letter were more to prove relationship and (in my head, at least) show that 'my' resources are 'her' resources even though her name isn't on any US bank account yet.

 

Thank you so much for this. Onto saving her Schengen visa with the new information I go...

[Simplytex 386]

1 hour ago, Lynxyonok said:

 

Thank you so much for this. Onto saving her Schengen visa with the new information I go...

Good luck! Just out of interest, are you looking to get a single entry or 6mo/1yr visa? How many Schengen visas before?

 

I was talking to my wife today and we were wondering about if maybe the next visa she gets could be 6mo multiple entry (she's only had the one to Italy so far), since that would give us a lot more flexibility in planning the interview trip.

[Lynxyonok 316]

3 minutes ago, Simplytex said:

Good luck! Just out of interest, are you looking to get a single entry or 6mo/1yr visa? How many Schengen visas before?

 

I was talking to my wife today and we were wondering about if maybe the next visa she gets could be 6mo multiple entry (she's only had the one to Italy so far), since that would give us a lot more flexibility in planning the interview trip.

Just the very first entry visa for the purpose of boarding a cruise ship...

 

A 68-year-old mymra (ask your wife to explain that) said "nyah"