centurion

Got to agree with you slim. I have been gone for awhile and feel like my wife when she misses an episode of Lubov kak lubov (love how love).

The Embassy will mail her a packet explaining the next step of the process

I.e. Medical examinations, what documents to bring Etc.

The biggest reason for denial is NOT having all the necessary documents. This does not mean she is outright denied. Often times the Embassy will tell them you are approved pending submission of the required document.

All I provided was

1. A letter from my employer that stated monthly salary and how long I have been employed there.

2. Letter from my bank stating the current balance and how long the acount has been open.

3. A copy of Last years tax return

We had no problems

The important thing is simply to provide evidence to back up what you put on the affidavit of support.

This is in addition of course to proving that you make the required amount over the poverty level.

Interesting enough 8/18 USCIS finally cashed the checks. Then a trip to the mail box the same day produced the NOA1.

We filed our Application for AOS on Aug 4. Per postal service tracking it was picked up on Aug 6.

We have not heard anything since and checks have not been cashed. I am wondering what others experience has been as far as how long they waited until they received a response?

Is their anyway to find out the status without having an NOA1 with a file number? It seems we have waited a longer time than should be normal.

Congratulations Slim. Now the next step of the journey will begin for you also.

Neon,

Have you done anything as far as Social Security yet? I have heard two things.

1. If she requested a social Security Number on the Visa App, they will send her a card which should take 3 to 4 weeks.

2. If she requested SSN on the Visa APP, we still have to go in to the SS Office to have one issued.

What have you experienced or heard on this ?

I found that my ATM card worked just fine in any bankomat (ATM ) machines. The one downfall is that

some banks charge a fee for international Visa transactions in addition to the normal fees. Also most of the machines have a maximum amount you can take out. Still often the fees for a large amount $ 200

would be less than WU.

This list is possible qustions that could be asked at the interview. Something to keep in mind is that the Embassy knows only the information provided in the I 129 / I 130 , biographical data and Application for visa. If your significant other does not know or forgets the answer to a question, they could just about give a convincing answer. I think the biggest factor is that they appear confident in their answers.

# How did you meet your fiance?

# When did you meet in person?

# How long have you known each other?

# When was the last time you met your fiance? Where?

# When did your fiance propose?

# What do you love about your fiance?

# When are you going to travel to the US?

# Have you ever been to the US?

# If so, on what kind of visa did you travel to the US? How long did you stay? When did you return?

# What is your birthday?

# What is your fiance's birthday?

# Where was your fiance born?

# What does your fiance do for living?

# Where does your fiance work?

# What is your fiance's designation at work?

# Does your fiance have any brothers and sisters?

# Where does your fiance live?

# Where do your fiance's parents live?

# Do you have any brothers and sisters?

# What do your parents think about this engagement? Do they approve of it?

# When did your fiance divorce?

# Why did your fiance's first marriage not work out?

# Does your fiance have any children? How many, how old? Do they live with your fiance?

# Are you willing to take care of your fiance's children if they live with him/her?

# When and where are you going to have the wedding?

# How much time have you spent together?

# Did you have an engagement party?

# Did you make a formal announcement of your engagement to family and friends?

# How do your families feel about your plans to get married?

Thank you Neon. I read your posts and used the information to help Olga prepare. I also made travel plans based on your information about Atlanta. I could have arranged a cheaper flight though Atlanta but based on your post decided to fly direct into Denver instead.

Based on my experience I would reccoment to anyone pay the extra money and fly into Denver.

British air has a flight from London and Lufthansa has one from Franfurt. Both airlines service Moscow.

JamesT

I think you will be Ok. We also did most of our communicating via SMS. If Katya has a cell phone it may be possible for her to

get her phone records. Looks like your a bit short on time though. Still I think you will be fine.

Neon I hope your wedding is a huge success and wish you the best. I will be looking for your post concerning the next adventure AOS.

Have not been around for Awhile and have received some PM's about our status and timeline. So I figure it was time to post.

Olga had her interview on May 3. I traveled in late April to be with her during the process.

She went to Moscow for her medical exam before I arrived and experienced the same treatment at MOM as was written in an earlier post.

We flew to Moscow on the Monday the 1st and got situated in the apartment I rented. We stayed in the "OLD ARBAT" apartment leased through GoToRussia.com. The apartment was nice, very clean and cost was $159 per night (( much cheaper than the decent hotels in the area). It is also within easy walking distance from the Embassy ( about 15 minutes). We spent the second day locating the Embassy and taking the little one to the Moscow Zoo.

The morning of the 3rd we arrived at the embassy around 7:50 am. There were quite a few people lined up. I though we were in for quite the wait. It turned out however that most of the people were there early to wait for other visas Tourist, work Etc. At 8 am those waiting for fiance/spouse visas were allowed to the front of the line. First the Militsia checked their passports ( ???? ) then then proceded to the Embassy guards who checked the pink invitation form against their list. Then security checked their bags, wanded them with the metal detector and allowed them inside. Items such as cell phones had to be left and picked up after the exited the embassy.

Her experience inside the Embassy has been hard to decipher. She speaks English well enough to communicate. We had been going over all the possible questions Etc. She said she was so nervous that she forgot all her English and did the interview in Russian. She thought that the Woman who conducted her interview was nice but did not speak Russian very well. Olga does not remember what questions she was asked other than How we met (she was to nervous). For the most part questions were the same as have been listed in previous posts on the forum. The interviewer seemed more interested in proof of our relationship ( photos, letters/cards, phone records Etc.) Thankfully we had enough of both. The only possible problem area for us was the requirement that Fathers give permission for children to leave. Fortunately, Olga did not include the little ones father on his birth certificate. So she was able to prove that his biological father has no interest in him.

At the end of the interview she was told that she approved for the Visa. She spent the rest of the day in shock. She had been told by several people that her chances were only 50/50.

There were some women who did not receive visas. All for the same reason, Documents.

Make sure that they have them. Women who did not have all the documents necessary were told to submit them later and they would be approved.

Also do not trust the information on the embassy website in english. The information given to the women is different and the two versions contradict each other.

I worked constantly in preparing the documents for the interview and we still worried.

We returned to Ufa on May 5 and DHL delivered her visa on May 6.

Olga our 3 year old and I arrived home on the 21st. We went through immigration in Denver. Other than a 5 minute wait in line, Immigration took about 10 minutes to process her visa. The C & I officer was very polite and nice.

Now the new Journey begins adjustment to the states and another process of documents and government Bureaucracy for the AOS.

All questions are welcome and any Advice on the AOS and registering and changing her passport will be greatly appreciated.

I find it interesting if this is due to the new marriage agency law. Last I read about it a federal Judge

issued a restraining order due to a lawsuit based on constitutional issues.

As I have been in Russia for the past month, I could have missed out on something ?

She will require a militsia report for each place/city that she states that she has lived at on the G325 biographical data. The embassy will also most likely check this against her passport. When she requests the report from Ufa, make sure she checks it carefully. They did not do my fiancee's report correctly and she had to request they correct the original.

I know of only 2 Universities in Ufa. Is she a doctor or in Aerospace tech ? ( just curious my Fiancee lives in Ufa)

Just write the date the same as you would here unless it it stated otherwise. There should be a box to

check the box there unless they changed it. I usually get my visa through GotoRussia.com.

Guess I am lazy it is just easier.

Your fiance's answer sounds to me like the "typical I do not want to be bothered with your request answer" I will mail my fiancee and ask her. I will let her know she can write and answer how she made the request in Russian.

There is no requirement to have a plane ticket before or at the interview. Most Embassies specifically state "do not buy a plane ticket before the interview"

I can not speak for all embassies or situations. I do believe that the majority will let you know if the interview was a success upon completion.

My fiancee requested her militsia report soon after we received the NOA2. It took some time and she received it on the 27th of March. The report was simple since she has lived in the same city her entire life.

In looking at the report it was discovered they only reported on her Maiden name. The report did not include her former married name which she changed from after her divorce. Fortunately, since we started working on this right away, there was time to contact the militsia about the error. They have promised to correct it and she will have a new report on the 13th. Still plenty of time before the interview. Lesson learned it pays to start early.

I can not recall the procedure but it is possible to to complain about poor treatment by Customs and immigration officials. Believe is or not it does make a difference also. Generally the information the want

it the date and time. Name or discription of the official that was the assH Etc.

I have only had 2 bad experiences with customs people. The 2nd time I asked the guy his name. When he asked why I wanted it I told him I didn't spend a year overseas after being activated by the reserves to have him treat me the way he was and it was my intention to make a complaint. This actually brought an apology and 180 degree attitude change.

I still think it is a ####### shoot with the FSU postal service. I can remember sending 2 exactly the same sized packages from the UAE. Both sent the same day at the same time. One arrived in 6 days and the other one month. B)

I didn't find the DS 230 Here on Visa Journey. I did do a search on the net and find it. It is pretty much the same as the DS 156. Were are filing for on a K 1. So per Satellite won't need it. I sent a Email to the Embassy for clarification anyway. Don't much expect to get an answer from them though. I have sent them 2 questions of which they only found time to answer one. That took 1.5 weeks and was concerning her interview date. Push comes to shove we will probably complete it anyway. It will only take a few minutes and she will have peace of mind.

She will have her police background on the 27th. Fortunately she has lived in the same city her entire life.

Thus the check was not difficult. Hopefully they did it on both her maiden and former married name as requested. If not we still have some time to request another one. It takes about 3 weeks in her city.

She has decided she wants to go to Moscow before I arrive for her medical. She still worries there will be problems there and wants to have time to take care of any problems in that area if needed.

I am assuming in the medical they are only checking for vacinations, HIV and xray for tuberculosis.

Thus she should be fine.

All your info and advice is greatly appreciated. Any more you can think of will be great.

Neonred Great info for all of us waiting for the interview.

You mentioned a DS 230. I have not seen this on the Embassy website. Is this something New and required in addition to the DS 156. I found the form on the net and it looks pretty much the same.

Anyone have any info on how the medical examinations went. Fast / slow what they docs did.

My Fiancee is strssing about everything. She is quite worried that anything that can go wrong will.

The more I can tell her, the less she worries.

From my recent experience it is considerably cheaper for them to purchase the ticket there. Lufthansa quoted $ 5200 for the fiance and son if I purchased the ticket here. The cost for her to purchase them there is $ 1700.

A co worker of mine worked as a travel agent. She informed me that purchasing the ticket in another country is always more expensive. No explanation why.

My lesson learned. Send her the money and information for your return flight.

I don't know what it is but it scares me.

Anyway tomorrow is your day. I wish you the best. Any secret info about the medical exam ?

My fiance is trying to get as much done as possible in an effort to get through it as quick and easy as possible.

I would venture to say if going to go that route Marry In Vegas (W/ Elvis of course) . What more proof of a spur of the moment marriage could you have ?.

On a serious note. I think that route could bring many more problems than it's worth. The potential risks of deportation and legal issues might not be worth it.

Somewhat of a continuation of my last thread which drifted into new questions.

I appreciate the responses and information reqarding the interview. Finally I did receive info and an interview date 05/03 from the embassy.

New question:

We now must condsider the issue of her / my (future) 3 year old child. I understand that he will require a visa.

He was listed on all documents in the petition. I have been given conflicting information concerning his need for a passport. She tried to get him one a few months ago and was denied. Reason being, he is not at the age ( 14 years ) that he needs one.

Has anyone dealt with the embassy on this ?

My first trip I registered with the hotel which is no problem.

The second trip we stayed in an apartment. I took some bad advice and booked a hotel room for one night. The intent being to bribe the hotel clerk to register the visa for my entire stay. No success on that.

Thus we went to the OVIR. Olga filled out a form and they registered the visa no problem or payment.

This was in Bashkortistan.

Hopefully the process will be a smooth and easy when I travel there next month.

Though as was previously stated all areas of Russia are different.