K2 unable to get passport

[FriedrichS 0]

Hey all. Wish I'd been able to make it here sooner and on better terms, but I'm in a bit of a pickle.

My name is Friedrich and I'm applying for a K1 on behalf of my fiancee and two K2 visas for her daughters, age 16 and 11.

NOA1 November/04/2021
NOA2 January/19/2023

The NVC submitted everything to the embassy in Warsaw and I received an e-mail today saying to fill out form DS-160s for everyone within 48 hours to continue our case.

We had planned to submit our DS-160s and then try transferring her case to Jerusalem, El Salvador, Bishkek, or anywhere plausible that would take her case as it would be cheaper than getting them Schengen visas and bouncing around Europe to pass illegally into Poland.

 

The problem we're facing is that since August, the Russian Foreign Ministry has suspended the issuance of biometric travel passports indefinitely and her youngest doesn't have one. Since February, my fiancee's inquiries have only been answered that they may open services again at the end of March, but as of yet nothing. The 48-hour window the Warsaw embassy gave to file is not happening. Non-biometric passports are still being issued but from what I understand this is not good enough.

What are our options? What do I even say to the embassy?

Really feels like the whole world is against you sometimes. I really congratulate each and every one of you who's stayed the course through all of this.

[Allaboutwaiting 2,500]

As per travel state website: "If you are requesting a transfer for a K Visa, the receiving Embassy or Consulate has the discretion to approve or deny the acceptance of a K visa application from an applicant outside the consular district.  Contact the potential gaining U.S. embassy or consulate in writing to request a transfer of your case and include the reason for the transfer request.  If you paid the MRV fee at the original post and the transfer request to a new post is subsequently approved, a new visa fee will be required."

 

So you need to choose where you can travel to process the visa and then contact them to see if they accept your case. 

 

Regarding the passport, many countries don't have biometric passports yet or began issuing them quite recently, so lots of applicants worldwide get their visas in their non biometric passports. 

[JSWH 262]

Never heard of non-biometric passports were not good enough for a US Embassy. My daughter when she was a minor used to have one and the US Embassy in Moscow had no objections to sticking a visa in her passport. As long as a document issued by the state authorities it should be accepted by an Embassy. Your fiancée should apply for non-biometric passport for the daughter asap and get out of the country.

[Vashezzo 43]

I can't speak for every embassy, but when I contacted Belgrade and asked about biometric passports I was told they were not a requirement as long as the passport was machine readable. The ones Russia is currently issuing should be fine for a K-1.

[FriedrichS 0]

I see where I made the mistake. Everything I had seen was specifically about the Visa Waiver Program, which has nothing to do with my process. I'm an idiot. 🥴

The Warsaw embassy stated that it was fine to submit her DS-160 now and do the others later. My fiancee's is submitted. Should I wait until the youngest gets her passport and then resubmit it as a family application, or do it later?

And am I correct that it's necessary to submit to Warsaw first, pay the fees, and then contact the other embassies and request transfer?