US Immigration from Russia

Hello all,

I am finishing up the packet for the K-1 visa I-129F petition for my fiancee who is Russian and lives in Russia. I understand that the chances of her receiving a Schengen visa to conduct the interview in Warsaw are very low and from what I've been reading on this forum Almaty, KZ looks like it could end up being the best option for the interview. Yerevan would be more convenient for us but I've read that they are refusing transfers (can anyone verify?) and it seems like a potential conflict is brewing there with Azerbaijan.

My question is for the initial location request on the initial application is it possible and advisable to immediately put down Almaty? It is question 62 on page 8 of the form. The exact wording is

"Your beneficiary will apply for a visa abroad at the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate at:

62.a City or Town _______

62.b. Country _______".

The form instructions appear to allow for it since they say:

"Item Numbers 62.a. - 62.b. U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate Requested.

Provide the city or town and country of the
U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate where your beneficiary will apply for his or her visa.
NOTE: Designation of a U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate outside the country in which your beneficiary resides does not
guarantee acceptance for processing by that foreign post. Acceptance is at the discretion of the designated U.S. Embassy
or U.S. Consulate."

So it seems like you can put an alternate location. I'm wondering if anyone has had success in immediately putting down a location besides Moscow and also if Almaty is still the best option. She does not have residency in any other country.

Thank you in advance for any advice and thank you to the community here for providing such a wealth of knowledge.

On 3/30/2023 at 12:54 AM, CyberKnight13 said:

If someone were to withdraw their petition to immigrate, even after their interview but before a decision was made on their visa, would there be negative consequences when they reapply? Could it be held against them? Could they be denied in the future based on this?

Hello,

Sorry to comment on your post. My wife and I recently got married in Cyprus, she lives in Moscow she's a Russian national, I'm just applying for the I-130. My question is are they processing this Visa's in country? I read somewhere that they get sent to Poland but then it's hard to get a Visa to go to Poland. I'm curious of your experience. Thank you!

I-129Fs: 11423 received - 8509 processed.

The backlog as of 12/31/2022 (remember, USCIS quarters start 3 months earlier than calendar ones - Q1 2023 is October - December, 2022) was 58,479 - that number, divided by 8509, is a terrifying 20.6-month delay for brand-new applicants.

May 2023 be gentler on everyone.

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/data/Quarterly_All_Forms_FY2023_Q1.pdf

Quarterly_All_Forms_FY2023_Q1.pdf

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.

Hi! My husband and I are looking at the CR-1 process and there might be a huge obstacle for us. As I understand, it is required to provide police clearance certificates from the countries where I resided before. In my case, I need to get a certificate from China and Cambodia as I spent over a year in both of these countries within the past five years . Generally speaking, it is nearly impossible to get these certificates since I do not reside in these countries anymore. These countries' embassies do not provide this document. In case with China, even if I go there, which would be a huge additional expense to the process that's already costly, there is a big chance that I won't be able to get the certificate. I might be able to find an agency that can get me the certificate from Cambodia but it would take months.

The question is: What if I am unable to provide police clearance certificate from the countries where I lived in the past five years? Would it mean that there is no way that I can apply for a Green Card through the consular process?

Maybe someone on this forum had a similar problem. Any advice or suggestion is highly appreciated.