US Immigration from Russia

Hello everyone,

Quick question to all of you folks that are more experienced on the CR1 side of things. My other half is Russian, she lives there. I cannot just simply go there due to the current world situation, so we just meet in 3rd countries. Our next trip will probably be in Dubai or Turkey due to the relatively ease of travel for her to be able to go there.

Now we are also in the process of deciding if go with K1 or CR1, for CR1 my question now is, I read somewhere that the interview is had where you get married. Example, if we go to Turkey and get married there, then our Visa interview WILL be in Turkey? Am I correct in this? I cannot marry her on Moscow for obvious reasons that is somewhat dangerous for me to go.

Another thing would be to do a Utah Zoom Marriage, which apparently it is fully recognized by USCIS and there are no issues with it whatsoever according to some posts here. Is that correct?

In the case that we marry using the Utah Zoom Marriage, where do we have our Interview? (Assigned consulate for Russia is Warsaw, Poland. Problem is that Russians cannot enter there unless they get REALLY creative, so most people doing K1 for example are having the case transferred to Turkey, or Kazakhstan.)

As a side question, any idea if AFTER applying to CR1, will it be ok for her to apply for B2 so we can at least meet here whenever we want while she waits for the I-130 to process?

Thank you all in advance!

some of you have been waiting to get your I-751 adjudication for a long time . So here iam adding the previous post about how to file a Mandamus in Federal Court. See the post attached here should you want to file a mandamus in Federal court. It will cost you $402 to file the lawsuit in federal court and get your i-751 adjudicated in about 60-90 days from the day of filing with court.

i have also attached a sample case of I-751 mandamus for reference. Read about it and ask questions . i will be happy to help those that are looking to DIY . you can use the content of sample case and change personal information that apply to your i-751 case

i-751 sample case Writ of Mandamus (1).pdf

Hi everyone!

My girlfriend and I met while on a trip. We exchanged numbers we were purely friends then. She went back to her country, and I came back to US. We kept talking as friends and as usually things goes, we planned a trip to see each other for 2 weeks, we did and it was amazing and all great. Because we have been talking for so long and also because we are already planning another trip to see each other and be together, we also discussed the K1 possibility since we do want to be together. I have not proposed yet, and I completely understand the whole K1 process and it's requirements. However one thing stood up to me, do I need to be engaged to her before starting the process? Can I start the process, get engaged, then marry as soon as she come? I have evidence of our intentions, due to chats, and also photos of us together since we were a relationship pretty much from day 1 since we just clicked. Will have even more photos on the second trip but that is like 2 months from now.

In essence, any issues I submit now and don't have specific wedding plans or are not engaged yet? Even though I do plan on getting engaged with her.

Hello Everyone, new to the forum!

I was wondering, USCIS has varying wait times for Visa processing centers (K1), for example Texas and California have 16.5 months wait time as of now. However Vermont for example has 5, and Potomac 14 I think.

Obviously we all want our cases to be approved and followed as fast as possible. But is there even a way to decide where does your application go to? For example I do not mind traveling to Vermont for 1 or 2 days just to submit my application there. (I live in FL). Or can you specify so in Form 129F? I understand patience is key and part of the process, but it just feels so off that processing centers have such a varying degree of wait times.

Thanks in advance!

Hello everyone,

I would like to share my timeline. Please follow up with yours if you are waiting or have already passed an immigrant interview in Warsaw, Poland (Eb-2 category NIW).

DQ Feb 7 2023

Still waiting an email from NVC/consulate.