Altair17

MY k1 got to moscow embassy and we're trying to schedule an interview; looks like we need to pay the $240 fee to some VTB24 in Russia to get a receipt number which would be entered into the website to allow scheduling screen to show up.

As you all know Russia gets unreasonable number of holiday days, and it would be a noticeable ~2 weeks delay before this can be done unless one of the branches would be working.

The question is... is there any humanly way to pay this fee online using credit/debit/check/certified check (hek, Im willing to go to my bank and make them wire money). Anyone done this before for Russia embassy?

MY k1 got to moscow embassy and we're trying to schedule an interview; looks like we need to pay the $240 fee to some VTB24 in Russia to get a receipt number which would be entered into the website to allow scheduling screen to show up.

As you all know Russia gets unreasonable number of holiday days, and it would be a noticeable ~2 weeks delay before this can be done unless one of the branches would be working.

The question is... is there any humanly way to pay this fee online using credit/debit/check/certified check (hek, Im willing to go to my bank and make them wire money). Anyone done this before for Russia embassy?

mjqjazzbar, did you even finished reading a response from Caryh? He is giving you a gold mine of info, and you're responding by restating your original question?

You've got to create a document that would be very long, very detailed, very precise, very easy to follow that would include all the info on how you met, travelled to her, etc Expect to spend 12-16 hrs preparing and perfecting this document, at least.

Caryh should be charging you by the hour for a detailed response like this.

I received mine just days later, and I think its is important in the process down the line as mine says not to throw it away.

try to contact uscis directly

remember, they will be checking your jobs against your tax records, so anything you've done for cash (I know how college is) would not be included, any job that you held even for 4 hours but ended up paying taxes for should be on the list. Dont be afraid to use additional pages, i know someone who used half a stack of paper for one of the immigrational forms while form itself was only 2 pages.

And yes, do not forget to put "see attached page", or better yet put a specific number of a page where each part begins (if multiple pages need extra space)

hope you have a good job now, so you dont have to do the mess with sponsors.

flcutuations you are mentiuoning are an estimate of the speed with which Service Center progresses at this moment, thus the estimate for a particulat case can and does moves around under assumption that Service Center will continue moving at the same speed it is right now. I think in the end of august-early september I was looking at estimated mid January, and then as october reached its middle it was speeding up to the point where estimate was shifting for earlier date every day, it got to around Dec 5, stayed there, then came up to 9-10, and that's when I got it.

And remember, its for the first touch, so if you get RFE - that adds additional time.

I received my NOA2 on the 2nd day within the range predicted here, VSC

a) you will have to file a waiver if you file another petition within less than 2 years of the previous, first waiver is granted for sure, however if you change your mind one more time - u might be in a tougher world, make sure it follow through with your commitments this time.

b) there is a guest visa, its called tourist. She can try filing for it in Kiev but will need to prove that she intends to come back: has property, investments, good job, etc; if she travelled through europe - will be an easy one; if she never travelled is in the sweet age of 20-30, has no kids, few relatives and no high-end job to come back to - chances are slim. You go to Kiev, or you both go to some warm place like caribean or turkey.

c) you definetly need to tell her about "first attempt" as she will find out sooner or later, and trust me, you do not want to start a family with a lie like this.

best of luck, but imho wait at least 6 months from the moment you meet your lady to the moment u file K1 to just make sure she is into you.

checked my email this morning, and there it was! I am super happy, we almost started arguing about why its taking so long!

June filers: its coming!

see http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/402790-k1-visa-denied-public-charge-pretty-outraged/

in other word government wants to make sure that your future husband does not becomes a public burnen (collecting food stamps is the most common example, but it also includes rent assistance, social security, disability, public health insurance, etc) and wants YOU to show that either you make enough money to prevent this from happening (thus 125% poverty level for 2) or in some cases you're allowed to get a sponsor (your brother) to become your warrant: in case your husband collects those benefits your brother will have to repay that money or face IRS problems.

What makes this situation bad you're receiving those benefits, and if I was the officer deciding this case I would not even look at sponsor documents and deny the petition; not sure how tough Ghana is but someone was jsut declined in Italy and their case wasnt as complex. Lastly your brother needs to make enough money to show 125% poverty level income for all dependants involved

Dola, if you filled in may and still havent received NOA2 or RFE its time to call USCIS and file a service request

well, it depends what you're waiting for. and yes, pls fill timeline so that it will be easy to track your case.

if you just filled K!, and waiting for NOA1 then u should have it any moment, if you're waiting for NOA2 - join the line, takes about 6 months now.

yes it will affect it, you're receicing a benefit that will likely extend to your family as well, and that is exaclty what US government is trying to avoid; you need to either a) graduate, get a good job, file taxes for 2-3 years with steady income and then file for K1, or b) go to Ghanna, marry her, come back, file CR1, get a sponsor (and yes, sponor needs to cover 125% of poverty level for him, you, your kids, your future wife/her kids, and the rest of his family, hopefully your brother is a rich man)

btw, u have almost full timeline? is this for a different person or you're not talking K1?

congrats, enjoy your wedding!

I'd advise you to double check with other Mexico couples, as lack of certificate will deny a visa.

I know for sure Russia needs that, and it took about 3-4 weeks to get it.

congrats, but I'm jelaous, same filing day here. cant wait

so, new question! at what point I am going to be able to place a service request that they would not be able to deny saying you just need to wait few more weeks?

bsd058, you have the right screen shots that I was ref to.

In my personal opinion I thing that the one with the graph has an update which is more recent than the one from the table, which only says as of Dec 5 we are able to inform you that on October 30th our VSC processed an application that came in on May 28. Stats from this web site confirm it, there are plenty of June fillers that have received NOA2.

My question, is it worth spending some time trying to find a supervisor or person in charge within that USCIS help line that would be able to understand the logic above and will start whatever the process they have for expediting/finding out case status. Anyone done this before? Or should I jsut do the usual thing through senator/lawyer?

just called and talked to a girl that sounded like she is in Phillipines, she strongly insisted that as of December 5 they're processing may 28th. but again there is inconsistency with the graph that shows up below case status that now says it takes 5.2 months instead of 5.6

its the interpretation of that table, any more takers on that?

I noticed yesterday that USCIS updated the time frame document (http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=42360)

Just wanted to get a second opinion before I call USCIS, it shows as of December 5 they were processing May 28th for K1, however on the top there is a line that confuses me: Field Office Processing Dates for Vermont Service Center as of: October 30, 2012

Does this means that they processed may 28th on October 30th?

Also if I login into the uscis case status page it shows that current K1 visa handling time is 5.2 months (was 5.6 up to yesterdays update), my 5.2 and 5.6 months are up. Im planning to call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 later today, but I was wondering if I am requesting case update or trying to launch some kind of complaint that they're taking too long?

Okay, so you are saying that you faked a military card? Well, I am sure he didn't do that. While he doesn't have whatever the "official" military card is that the corrupt military people in his hometown wanted a bribe to give him, he does have some document saying he didn't serve that was given to him when he applied for his passport. He didn't think he needed it (even though I told him he did) because the medical examiners said he didn't need it. So, no fake documents, but possibly one that is not "sufficient" evidence. I do not blame the Ukrainian government for requiring this, either. They have to make sure they aren't letting law breakers leave the country permanently. Governments are there for a reason, and rules and such as well. My biggest beef is that this becomes so personal and so heart-wrenching. AND that they are so unclear with us at this point.

thank you for your advice... i'll contact you again when i need to know how to fake documents or bribe people...

I do not have contracts in Ukriane any more, I was happy to walk away clean from that mess years ago when USSR was falling apart.

Alla and Gary tried to expain it. It was not a fake papers, it was a real document that was issued by a corrupted military person knowing that what he is doing is a major crime, but considering that he received a bribe of an amout equal to his official 10 year salary at a time (it was enough to buy a domestic 3 year old car or really small one bedroom apparment) he was willing to take the risk knowing that my parents would not sell him out as well.

You will need to go to ukraine to experience it all first hand yourself.

Bribery is an every day thing. Same as aids, same as poverty, same as lack of self respect, and many other things I hope you'd never see with your own eyes.

Ask Genya how much did they wanted, because I am afraid than in the end it will be easier to pay than to go K3.

Ashley, I am not 100% sure what exactly took place, but being born in Ukriane and being familiar with their local laws I think I got a very bad feeling.

By logic they are not required to check that military card (used to be called Military Ticket, back in my time) when one travel to USA or any other country as a tourist or a student since they have an intention of comig back. In this case they're probably trying to make sure that he either went to the Ukrainian army (I had to pay several thousands to by whats called "white ticket", so that an official document is issues that would show I am sick to the point where I cannot serve in the military), or performed "alternative" services (doing cheap dirty manual labor that nobody else wants to do).

Since I get a perception that Genya never went to Ukrainian army nor served that alternative program he most likely has some fake or near fake document for that Military Ticket, which would explain why he would not bring it with him altogether, and then left it before they can ask any questions about it (I'd do the same thing myself). If this is correct I suggest the following course of action:

a) YOU get in touch with this embassy and yell at them requesting status of this case. They'll tell you what the restriction is, and it might be request for additional info (in which case you supply it, and aok), or it might be that Military ticket.

b) one of you (probably you) will need to get a lawyer practicing international immigration law an being familiar with ukraine. Lawyer is needed to avoid personal contacts with the officials by Genya, as he can be sent to jail for 6 years if they create a case of avoiding serving in the army. Hint: I had to pay to avoid this myself. Lawyer needs to research on the matters, and if he confirms that reuqest for that military ticket is not needed (this is a visiting visa, where he can later adjsut the status, and then have to handle official ukraine process of abandoning citizenship) send an official letter to the cosulate of ukraine saying that they're BSing trying to imply a requirement which is not needed. And I suspect that most people that you're aware that got visas were ukrianian girls that do not need to serve in the army.

c) whatever you do it needs to be done fast before they can serve visa denial, since after that you'd be in a considerably worst place.

message me directly in case you need further advice.

CSC is still super fast, take a look at VSC

it a request for additiona information, what info are they requesting?