Slade&Natasha

Thanks for the report and congratulations on the results. Yeah,opening the nevelope is something people ask about here all the time, so it is not a heinous crime, just a nuisance.

Sounds like they have a real b!tch working there and that is too bad as there didn;t seem to be any need for that. Once everything is settled you may want to contact the consulate and report that.

Moscow does not allow the US citizen to attend the interviews, Kiev does and I have never heard of such behavior there (not to say it never happened) but I think 3-4 US citizens sitting just a few feet away may temper things a bit

On the other hand, Ms Congeniality (love the name) sounds just like any number of low level Ukrainian bureaucratic clerks I dealt with. Some people get a little authority, or think they do, and go a bit ape-sh*t with it. Wait until you deal with the US Social Security office

Best of luck to you.

Thanks! And yeah, the open envelope was more of a '*jaw drop* ####### do I do now?!' kind of scare more than anything else, I was glad to be able to sort it out easily though, that's for sure.

'Ms Congeniality' was actually Slade's idea!

And ya know, I know she was giving me a hard time for one reason or other, generally, I would not have cared, had it not been for my 4 year old being with me. I still don't think I care enough to file an official complaint.

I'm not looking forward to having similar experiences here, what with getting my married name stamped on my travel passport (at the Russian embassy, freaking w00t >.>), amongst others, but ah well, I'm just glad that the initial hurdle is over and done with, you know?

i was wondering who would be the one to notice that.

I've been saying it all along.. =/

That's all I was going for. If I was being snarky in my responses, it was not in relation to this issue.

Don't forget to link your new thread on here, to make sure that we eliminate ALL confusion about non-immigrant vaccination requirements!

"Anyone missing a shot needs to cancel their interview." I hope that's not the case. But, if it is, we need to make sure folks know about it.

Quote where that exact phrase was said, I'd like to see. I'm having trouble locating it.

And what kind of person would cancel a trip to Moscow based solely on a thread they read on VJ, anyway?

Does the K-3 visa even exist these days? Since you're going down the non-immigrant visa route.

This thread was initially, about immigrant visas - and in my replies, I kept conveying what I believe is true, or what my opinion is, or what my experience was in the context of immigrant visas, specifically, as an applicant married to and living with a USC. What is so difficult to understand there? And why are you arguing with me about non immigrant visa requirements?

The way I read that was they won't get their visa without their vaccinations.

It's already been noted that I have reading issues.

IMMIGRANT VISAS, slim. Like the one I was applying for. It's part of the requirement for immigration applicants.

Why are you bringing up non immigrant issues, when I repeatedly tell you, that I am talking to you about -immigrant- visas and the aspects revolving around that. Then you tell me I am confusing the non immigrants - I am -not- talking about non immigrant visas, my experience and depiction of events is about another subject.

You are the one who's likely going to confuse people - Russian citizens married to US citizens who could possibly be looking for information and come across this thread, based on looking up spouse immigration and the timeline Slade and I have on here, and will read the thread only to see you going on about how they don't need vaccines for immigration? You don't think that could be potentially confusing? Does it not go both ways in that respect?

I believe a separate thread for the non immigrant visas such as K-1 and the vaccination requirements or therefore possibly lack of, is what's needed here. And you being the one who's most concerned, I think you should be the one to start it and do some research on the matter, don't you think?

I think Slim may have a point though, the K-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa and in the past the vaccinations were not required for the visa. They ARE required to do AOS though, which is where you sort of go from 'non-immigrant' to 'immigrant' status. But maybe that has changed?

Fact of the matter is - I've described what my experience was going through all this. I've been living with and married to my husband throughout all this, so in general, it differs to what the average K-1 applicant has to go through.

At my medical exam, for an immigrant visa I needed vaccination records, which I brought with me. However, I stated that whilst waiting for my turn at the medical exam, I witnessed some rough treatment towards the people who did not bring sufficient records of vaccinations - why that was, I have no idea, nor do I know what kind of visa they were applying for and why.

How many Russian/American couples do you know? How long have they been married? How many relationships did they go through before?

Wowza, all about me? You're starting to seem obsessed with me.

Naw, it's just that since you're the new self-appointed "helper" in the RUB forum, I figured you ought to have your facts straight before you go tellin folks what they "need" for their visa interviews.

I admire that you're trying to help. (That's why we're all here, isn't it?) But you have to keep in mind different visas do change the process slightly and what you needed may not be what someone else needs. With a little time, I'm sure you'll be able to field all the Q&A posted here - and do so without getting ruffled.

What are you on about? This was my story about going through the immigration process with the type of visa I had as well as the outcome, and it's made ridiculously obvious that this was the type of experience I had, not a template for what's about to happen to everybody.

People have already found this thread helpful - nobody's putting a gun to their head and telling them to read it, they choose to all by themselves. Get over it!

Got a problem with this thread? Report it to the moderators - if they deem it misleading, not helpful, off-topic, out of point or in any other way inappropriate, I'm sure they will be prompt to delete it.

I think you should try a 'Butthurt Anonymous' forum that would cater to all your current needs, because the only one who's worked up here, is clearly you. You've blatantly got your panties in a twist for one reason or other, and you're chasing after me for the sole purpose of arguing, and you are SO pathetic for that.

Get a gym membership instead, clearly, you could use some endorphins. You're far too petty of a person for me to waste my time any further.

A K-3 is a non-immigrant visa, so I can see where there would be confusion.

You know, anyone else asking I'd totally understand. I'm quite certain that slim is in this thread solely for the purpose of being annoying because as he's already stated:

I haven't stayed current with what's required and what's not because, quite honestly, I don't care.

So it's required now. Do you happen to know when it became a requirement?

Are you incapable of using Google? Everyone else manages, with great success!

Whoops!

Glad you have your facts straight now.

And yes, it's 'Koh-fye' from 'кофе', glad I taught you to read a 4 letter Russian word, sad that no one had bothered before.

Anything else you'd like to ask due to your inability to use a search engine?

Joking a bit but it is one of Alla's greatest fears her sons would become alcoholics and was very glad to get the youngest away from a culture that seems to cultivate alcoholics. Sergey will very rarely drink beer and about nothing else. I am thinking if he escapes 5 years in Moscow he will do OK.

Rice (at least when I was there in the 80s) was very much "study hard, play hard". We'd pull "double all-nighters" (ie >50 hours without sleep) to complete all our projects/homeworks for the week, and then go straight into Friday afternoon "TGs" where the free beer was flowing and the reggae blaring and not stop drinking until the wee hours of Saturday morning. Drinking age was 18 back then, so maybe things are different now. But as far as I know, Beer Bike is still around. That's where "chuggers" have to cleanly polish off a tall boy before the "bikers" make their way around the track. "Ironmen" (those who both bike and chug) are rare but do exist, but the biking always comes first. This was not always the case, as I understood.

And I won't even get started about "NoD" (Night of Decadence). So yes... Alla's fears are not completely unfounded.

What I try to do when I presume something is let folks know I'm presuming something and not advise them on things I don't know about. Hence, why I don't "help" so much here in the RUB forum. I haven't stayed current with what's required and what's not because, quite honestly, I don't care.

I could not care less about what you do, try to do, or fail to do.

Can you go troll someone else, elsewhere? Seriously. You're getting petty. Or go back to the pronoun thread and continue arguing with me over how to pronounce 'coffee' in Russian. Leave this thread alone.

Yes. To my knowledge the vaccinations are for AOS and not for initial entry since anyone can get vaccinated in the US. As I understood it, USCIS couldn't deny entry based on vaccinations. (Consider that vaccinations aren't available in all countries and/or cost a bunch of money the average immigrant may not have.)

Read that one carefully. For immigration purposes. Not necessarily for visa issuance.

Your presumption is no different than my presumption - not necessarily the facts.

At current, I have no idea what the requirements are for visa issuance. Back in the day when I sponsored someone to come here, they didn't need their shots to get their visa. They did, however, need them for AOS.

That may've changed and your presumptions could be correct. What I try to do when I presume something is let folks know I'm presuming something and not advise them on things I don't know about. Hence, why I don't "help" so much here in the RUB forum. I haven't stayed current with what's required and what's not because, quite honestly, I don't care.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO IMMIGRANT VISA APPLICANTS CONCERNING VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS

United States immigration law requires immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations (listed below) prior to the issuance of an immigrant visa. Panel physicians who conduct medical examinations of immigrant visa applicants are required to verify that immigrant visa applicants have met the vaccination requirements, or that it is medically inappropriate for the visa applicant to receive one or more of the listed vaccinations:

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B

Influenza

Influenza type b (Hib)

Measles

Meningococcal

Mumps

Pneumococcal

Pertussis

Polio

Rotavirus

Rubella

Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids

Varicella

In order to assist the panel physician, and to avoid delays in the processing of an immigrant visa, all immigrant visa applicants should have their vaccination records available for the panel physician's review at the time of the immigrant medical examination

I thought vaccinations were for AOS and not the interview.

Are you genuinely asking or just trolling for lack of better things to do? I don't even know with you anymore.

Required Medical Examination (Complete before visa interview)

Important Notice : Immigrant visa applicants should complete their medical examinations with authorized physicians before their scheduled interview dates. If you complete your medical examination after your visa interview, processing of your immigrant visa case will be delayed until the U.S. Embassy or Consulate has received your medical examination results. Therefore, applicants are strongly encouraged to complete their medical exams prior to their visa interviews.

Obtain the following records and bring them to your examination:

Your vaccination immunization records

Any prior chest x-rays

Copies of your medical history records

Your passport, identity card, laissez-passer, or travel document

Vaccinations

What vaccinations are required?

The following vaccinations are required for immigration purposes:

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis B

Influenza

Influenza type b (Hib)

Measles

Meningococcal

Mumps

Penumococcal

Pertussis

Polio

Rotavirus

Rubella

Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids

Varicella

What do I do if the applicant does not have a vaccination record?

The panel physician will work with the applicant to determine which vaccinations the applicant may need to meet vaccination requirements.

In other words, administer on the spot - because you need to get them done before your interview. Otherwise, my presumption is that at best, your case is delayed, at worst you are denied because you did not meet the medical requirements.

After successfully passing the medical exam - you get a sealed envelope to pass on the the embassy with your application and a chest x-ray that you had done at the medical exam, which you don't need to bring to the embassy.

You also get handed a photocopy of a document the medical exam physician put together for you (that is presumably, also in the sealed envelope for the embassy). All your vaccines (to date) are listed in a table. This you get to keep for yourself, and use in the States for whatever you need/want that requires it. Presumably, for the AOS if need be, that's what would be used for the 'vaccination assessment'.

Slim, you really like pulling his chain don't you. There is no comparison to US politics and those of most RUB countries. Freedom of speech, the press and right to assembly are not standard rights in many countries.

Damn, need mods to add a troll emoticon. Suppose this'll have to do:

Slade (this time)

Congrats!

Slade&Natasha’s experience helped us VERY much. Thank you guys!!!

Our pleasure - glad it helped! And a huge congrats on your visa! Wish you a long and happy life together in the US.

Did you go to Rice?

Indeed I did! Though it was over 20 years ago... Was a great experience, and I'd be thrilled if my kids went there as well.

Are you Brainy?

Some have said as much, but I don't listen to them.

Are you an alcoholic?

See answer above.

When I was giving information in order to obtain my police certificate in Moscow (I went through a company) they asked me for my current legal name, as well as any other names I've legally used. I believe that should you provide both, the background check would be conducted for both names.. I'm not 100% sure, of course, but I think it's that way

Are vaccines now required for the interview?

If a person is missing any vaccine that is on the 'required vaccinations' list, this would be determined during the medical exam - there's the option of getting them done on the spot. If you have had too few done and need say, 5.. I'm not sure if the clinics would administer such a cocktail at once, and thus.. most likely they wouldn't give out the sealed envelope, or at least not with a complete 'go ahead' from a successful medical exam. Being that is part of what's needed in order to successfully pass the interview, I'm not sure whether anyone would want to schedule an interview if you are missing documents from the medical exam, as that would presumably not go over well.

as a matter of fact, after reading the story about "Ms. Congeniality"( ) I start thinking that this kind of "I can spit on you and you have to love it" attitude is common among Russian staffers in different embassies. I have been a subject for their moody treatment a couple of times but I just learned to ignore them. Disturbing part is that once one jerk wanted me to hand deliver an original of the document that I was missing, stating that yes, I had to take 18 hours one-way train trip and one back to Moscow if I wanted visa. Yet, the moment an officer (the foreigner) heard our conversation (luckily he was standing nearby) he overruled jerk's order and said that a faxed copy was totally acceptable (btw, the document was of no importance). I am sure that such things happen all the time but not everyone is lucky enough to have an officer intervene and stop despotism.

Yep, that attitude is very familiar. I actually have had ugly run-ins with Russian staff in embassies more than I care to recall - the Korean embassy recently, now that woman was obnoxious. She literally said 'Just because your husband is American, you think you can jet all around the world, just like that?!' I was like O.o 'uh.. no, not really, that's why I'm here to apply for a visa..'

I've got no idea about what kind of services they provide in terms of information for the interview or the quality of that, but I can say that having dealt with Pony Express and their delivery methods and policies before - I was not happy with them at all. Their approach isn't very logical, and they require you to sign a document that states that you are content with their service and that all expected documents have been delivered and handed over to you -before- you even open the package, so you sign this at your own risk, kind of, in case something -is- missing. It's somewhat amusing to argue with the hard-headed couriers sometimes.

Last time, with document delivery from my immigration interview (the story is either on this page or the 2nd page in this section of the forum) they really screwed up - I marked that I would personally pick up documents from an office of theirs, and instead I got a headache and needless stress, long story, but if you're interested it's worth a read.

Good luck with everything

~Natasha

In the two months you've been on VJ you've done quite a bit. Keep up the good work!

I plan to!

So not true! I went there but I was also working full time at a job that would pay my tuition. Maybe that cut into my partying.

When I first interviewed at Rice as a HS Senior, the student population struck me as a bunch of brainy alcoholics. The following 4 years proved that my initial evaluation was indeed correct.

Did you receive an automated no-reply message last month after emailing to this address? Because this time, I did not receive this message...Yulia

Nope. Patience... patience...

How do you say "rose colored glasses" in Russian? (Or, maybe the better question is "how would you transliterate that into English?")

Better yet, I wonder how you say 'grown butthurt man'. 'Butthurt' really doesn't translate, I'm afraid - maybe you can implement your linguistic skills here, slim?

What’s the correct contact email address of the Moscow embassy? Is it like on the web site (support-russia@ustraveldocs.com) or like on the instructions to the interview (consulmo@state.gov)? In the past years, I used the latter one, but not sure if it is still the case.

consulmo@state.gov worked for us last month. Bear in mind that it took them a week to respond, so you'll likely need to be patient.