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Troubles with US Visa Portal - K-1 RUS

By marl_bro in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

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marl_bro Newbie

marl_bro   0

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Hello everyone! Before I begin, I must say this website has been a great help and the members have great input, thank you!

So I am currently trying to get my fiance from Russia over to the US on a K-1 Visa. Our petition has been approved and the consulate in Poland has given us instructions via email on how to proceed next. The email says, basically, to pay the visa fee and schedule an interview date.

 

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In order to start registration procedure, please log in towww.ustraveldocs.com website. You must first pay the K Fiance Visa application fee online, then schedule an appointment and choose your Mail Boxes Etc. point of contact to pick up your visa. Please follow payment instructions carefully.

 

To get some things out of the way, the DS-160 is completed and we have a confirmation number, but this is where our problems begin with US Travel Docs:

1) Even though the K-1 Visa is a non-immigrant visa, it seems like it is treated as an immigrant one, I don’t really get anywhere if I select “non-immigrant” on US Travel Docs.

 

2) The website gives us options to pick up my fiance’s documents in Russia, even though the email from the consulate says:

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You will be able to receive your passports with visas only 3-5 working days after the visa is issued on the street. Wiertnicza 115 in Warsaw from 10:00 to 18:00.

It seems odd it would offer locations ONLY in Russia to pick up documents, since, technically, she can’t travel back without her passport.

 

3) Finally, after the step with the location choosing, the website asks to provide a receipt for MRV payment. I know I am supposed to pay a fee, but there is no clarification on where I can do that. The email from the consulate states:

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The procedure contains several stages. First, you need to pay the visa fee for the MRV machine readable visa. You need to do this online using a credit/debit card/PolCard or using an online transfer. You can also pay the fee in cash at the applicant's bank, follow the link https://ustraveldocs.com/pl/ru/step-3 for complete instructions on paying the consular fee.

 

This isn’t very helpful because it is directing me to the same website I am having trouble with.

These are the issues I am currently trying to deal with and I would appreciate any experiences or knowledge some of you might have!

 

P.S. I am working on this case with an attorney, unfortunately they are as confused as I am. I have a consultation scheduled next week, but I thought I’d try here as well. I know almost certainly this is my mistake.

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TBoneTX Grand Master

TBoneTX   43,154

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Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Ecuador
 Timeline
Posted

Yes, the K-1 is a "hybrid" visa -- a nonimmigrant visa with immigrant intent. This is why interviews are in the Immigrant Visa units of the consulates.

06-04-2007 = TSC stamps postal return-receipt for I-129f.

06-11-2007 = NOA1 date (unknown to me).

07-20-2007 = Phoned Immigration Officer; got WAC#; where's NOA1?

09-25-2007 = Touch (first-ever).

09-28-2007 = NOA1, 23 days after their 45-day promise to send it (grrrr).

10-20 & 11-14-2007 = Phoned ImmOffs; "still pending."

12-11-2007 = 180 days; file is "between workstations, may be early Jan."; touches 12/11 & 12/12.

12-18-2007 = Call; file is with Division 9 ofcr. (bckgrnd check); e-prompt to shake it; touch.

12-19-2007 = NOA2 by e-mail & web, dated 12-18-07 (187 days; 201 per VJ); in mail 12/24/07.

01-09-2008 = File from USCIS to NVC, 1-4-08; NVC creates file, 1/15/08; to consulate 1/16/08.

01-23-2008 = Consulate gets file; outdated Packet 4 mailed to fiancee 1/27/08; rec'd 3/3/08.

04-29-2008 = Fiancee's 4-min. consular interview, 8:30 a.m.; much evidence brought but not allowed to be presented (consul: "More proof! Second interview! Bring your fiance!").

05-05-2008 = Infuriating $12 call to non-English-speaking consulate appointment-setter.

05-06-2008 = Better $12 call to English-speaker; "joint" interview date 6/30/08 (my selection).

06-30-2008 = Stokes Interrogations w/Ecuadorian (not USC); "wait 2 weeks; we'll mail her."

07-2008 = Daily calls to DOS: "currently processing"; 8/05 = Phoned consulate, got Section Chief; wrote him.

08-07-08 = E-mail from consulate, promising to issue visa "as soon as we get her passport" (on 8/12, per DHL).

08-27-08 = Phoned consulate (they "couldn't find" our file); visa DHL'd 8/28; in hand 9/1; through POE on 10/9 with NO hassles(!).

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October 2022 Contributor

October 2022   26

Posted
Filed: IR-5 Country: Russia
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Posted

The scheduling site does not always fit my situation completely (even though it is not unique by any means). Oftentimes, I have to choose the closest best option, but it eventually gets me where I need to go.

 

I don't have any ideas about deliveries to Russia. In some cases, Russian citizens may travel to and from Kazakhstan using their national ID (внутренний паспорт):

 

Нужен ли загранпаспорт в Казахстан в 2023 году: подробности (migrantvisa.ru)

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millefleur Veteran

millefleur   5,037

Posted
Filed: Citizen (apr) Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted
On 12/4/2023 at 11:01 AM, marl_bro said:

It seems odd it would offer locations ONLY in Russia to pick up documents, since, technically, she can’t travel back without her passport.

Sounds like an error. Obviously she needs her passport to travel abroad if she's in Poland.

 

In my experience the ustraveldocs site for Russia has a bunch of outdated info. That info about picking up the passport might apply to the very few emergency cases the Moscow embassy does actually process.

🇷🇺 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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BenNomad Explorer

BenNomad   80

Posted
Filed: IR-1/CR-1 Visa Country: Russia
 Timeline
Posted
On 12/4/2023 at 8:01 PM, marl_bro said:

It seems odd it would offer locations ONLY in Russia to pick up documents, since, technically, she can’t travel back without her passport.

If ustraveldocs is showing you Russian addresses for delivery/pickup, you need to contact support and they'll update your country to Poland. 

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