Schengen questions - Russian spouse to interview in Warsaw (CR1)

[zimothy 2]

My wife and I received her visa interview appointment today for December in Warsaw, Poland. I've been reading a lot of threads on these forums on related topics but I'm unsure about many of the logistics involved here and was hoping to find someone who has been through this process. 

We've been a little torn about this because the Schengen process seems like a huge pain compared to transferring our case to somewhere like Almaty, Kazakhstan. However, we're also wary of what sort of delays transferring could introduce to this already lengthy process. Currently we're looking at Hungary or Italy as likely candidates to apply for a Schengen. 

 

If anyone has been through this process and can provide any guidance at all, we would be extremely grateful:

 

1. As far as I can tell, my wife will need to travel to Moscow in order to apply in person after making an appointment (via VFS Global for Hungary or Italy's VMS).
2. Purpose of travel: When applying, is it correct that the stated "purpose of travel" should be tourism? (Presumably we're all doing it "wrong" by not applying through Poland, but since that isn't possible... ) 
3. Health insurance: Open to recommendations here, but Italy's VMS provides links to some Russian sites we might be able to use. 
4. Travel plans: We're supposed to provide proof of travel (plane tickets / return trip) and accommodation (hotel bookings). This is where it gets really confusing for me.
   • Entry should be through the country issuing the visa - but can the return ticket simply be from Warsaw? 
   • We live apart so I'll be traveling from the US. Should my tickets be included or would they be considered irrelevant?
   • My understanding is that we're supposed to at least stay an equal number of days in the country of entry as any other Schengen country we intend to visit. That said, it isn't clear to me how we're supposed to know how long we need to stay in Poland. I've read that the time it takes to receive the visa after the interview is variable and it's possible we would even need to extend our stay, meaning cancelled flights and so on.
   • If we actually manage to go to Poland, the interview goes well, and her immigrant visa is issued - can we just cancel all existing travel plans and fly to the U.S. together from Warsaw?
5. Financials: My plan is to write a sponsor letter and provide my own pay stubs, bank statements, and a copy of our marriage certificate. I've also added my wife as an authorized user on a credit card after reading that in another thread. Is there anything else I should do? 

 

We aren't attached to Hungary or Italy either - so if anyone has had recent success with other countries please let me know. Thank you.

[zimothy 2]

Adding since I can't edit my post anymore - I have a friend who is suggesting that instead of trying to necessarily "balance" days in the country of entry like Italy vs. days in Poland, simply plan a trip to Italy, then leave Italy during that trip for Poland. 

 

This sounds mechanically simpler but also sounds like we'd be breaking some kind of rules? I don't know.

[Caboose29 173]

My wife, then fiancé got a Schengen visa in Pyatigorsk, she’s from southern Russia, Ossetia. She got a visa to go to Greece (tourist). After 24-36 hours in Greece she took an “excursion” to Warsaw for several days. After doing her K1 interview in Warsaw she flew directly back to Russia to put affairs in order before coming to USA. I believe she could have flown straight to USA after getting K1. She had to wait over the weekend to get her passport with visa the following week. I booked her an Airbnb in Athens, and Warsaw. 

[zimothy 2]

26 minutes ago, Caboose29 said:

My wife, then fiancé got a Schengen visa in Pyatigorsk, she’s from southern Russia, Ossetia. She got a visa to go to Greece (tourist). After 24-36 hours in Greece she took an “excursion” to Warsaw for several days. After doing her K1 interview in Warsaw she flew directly back to Russia to put affairs in order before coming to USA. I believe she could have flown straight to USA after getting K1. She had to wait over the weekend to get her passport with visa the following week. I booked her an Airbnb in Athens, and Warsaw. 

 

Appreciate the response! When she applied for her Schengen visa, were the provided travel plans exclusively related to Greece (e.g., a complete stay with a return flight)? Was the flight to Poland purchased in advance, or after she arrived in Greece? Were there any complications when leaving Greece for Warsaw (being asked why she was leaving)?

 

Thank you again.

[Caboose29 173]

I’ll find out.