Ron-Tanya

Ron, i did have question for you, how are you and Tanya bringing her things to America, are you leaving with four suit cases or are you shipping and which carrier, Regular old Belpost, do you know the costs?

Hi, we have been in this for over a year now. Each time we meet I brought a suit case full of her things back (4 trips) now she has most of her clothes here. She is leaving in the morning with one suit case 23kgs and one hand carried 10kgs. This pretty much takes care of what she wants to bring. The rest if any will be picked up at a later date. She is keeping her apartment so things will be secured. It would be very expensive to ship things here,so we thought if there is anything she did not bring would be cheaper to buy here. Ron

i don't know where to ask this, so I thought this is the best place

my wife went to her school doctor to get her vaccinations records and they lost them

now what do we do?

Same thing happened with my fiancee's records. Her mother is a Doctor (retired) and told her to go to the central hospital and they would have a copy. She did but was told she would have to go thru all her medical records and make copies of the shots and then they would sign the shot record. Fiancee's mother went there and raised hell and told the clerk it was her job to produce the shot record and next day it was ready. Just have to holler at the right clerk, loud and long. Its better than retaking the shots. Good luck

Congrats :dance:

I hope we don't get this goat or he was just having a bad day

one question where is the place you get the visa back, is it hard to find

We took a taxi, it is the main TNT office located in an industrial area across the river. We took the trolly back across the river and then a taxi back to the hotel. I recommend taking a taxi and having him wait. Arrive about 1400 as the visa's arrive

at 1330 and are promptly given out so you will be inside about 5-10 minutes. Take a copy of her passport to show.

Good luck, Ron

Got approved on 19 Nov, but was a hard interview because of one stupid mistake from our lawyer. We met on a dating web site as most of us have. Our lawyer marked "BROKER" but no fees. This sent up large red flags and the man doing the interview spent at least 20 minutes asking in different ways about the broker and his name, company what fees were paid and how many men from what countries had she had contact with. He was very over bearing and wanted to hear that she had paid for the service.Even though she kept telling him she did not use a broker and she nor I paid any fees. He then would ask another question and come back to the broker question. He really wanted to catch her in a lie. He asked a few questions about my job and told her to have a seat. I was asked to leave the room at the beginning of the interview I thought this strange because what I had read both people were together during the interview. He did not ask for any paper work or to look at any tax info or pictures nothing just wanted to know about the broker.We had a basket full of Skype,pictures,emails,sms,and phone calls, all our trips together and he did not want to see any of it even thou she tried to show him. But alas she was approved and we pick up the visa today after 1330.

The hard part was paying for the visa at the bank as not all of the prescribed banks will except payment. And when you pay you must have the printed receipt with the passport # and issue, expire dates. Then find a internet cafe where you can print out the receipt with the bar code. First two time we printed it the bar code would not print out third time was a charm.

We arrived at the Embassy at 0750 and were let in then stood in line inside for a few minutes until we entered the main part of the building. There we presented our payment receipt with passport it was scanned and we were directed to window 8 were we gave all forms took fingerprints and redirected to sit down. There was one other lady there for a K1 Visa and I don't believe she was approved? The man kept asking her a new question and have her sit back down and back and forth 5-6 time and we left and she was still there. I hope she got approved as she seemed to be a very nice lady and had know her American man for quite a few years.

All in all we are glad that part is finished and she will come to the states end of this month.

I hope this helps other couples to not have to go thru the problems we had. We must say that all people in the Embassy were very nice and wanted to help us as much as possible, everything was well organized and they would speak in Russian or English as you wished. Just check your paper work for areas that might raise a red flag as ours did and correct it.

Good luck to all.

Ron&Tanya

Greetings. My name is Erik. First post and of course... panicked.

I do not know how much back story you need; so I am front loading it.

My fiancée is in Belarus. She has two minor children, age 15, age 2. We applied for the I-129F; rcvd approval; submitted the paperwork to the embassy; rcvd letter from Embassy for the medical exams, etc. They finished their medicals and have the results. All documents gathered and ready.

We cannot use the US Embassy in Belarus; we were assigned to the US Embassy in Warsaw, Poland.

She is going to Warsaw, Poland on Monday to pay the fees, schedule appointment, and interview. The 15 year old will go for the interview also. In the letter from the Embassy, it states that children under 14 years do not need to be present at the scheduled interview. So we planned for the 2 year old to stay with grandma.

Today: I called the US Embassy in Warsaw. I was trying to get the actual address of the bank to pay the fees and to ask what I thought was a simpler question. I asked:

After we pay the three visa fees; do we file the DS-154 once for my fiancée and the two children? Or, do we file the DS-154 once for each of them (three total DS-154)? Also, after we file the form(s); do we schedule one appointment for fiancée and 15 year old; or is it two separate interviews?

The answer was: All three need to schedule an appointment and be interviewed. That the 2 year old needed to be present and schedule an appointment for an interview. Then she added; that I need to be there also. I have not read anything that stated I was required to be there. I would like to be there; but a little cost prohibitive.

I read the letter to her stating under 14 years old are exempt; she stated she did not know what I was reading.

Also, I wanted to confirm the visa, when approved, would be issued same-day or next-day. She stated that after approval in the interview "it will take 10 to 20 business days for the visa to be issued." She told me that any further questions; I should refer US TravelDocs online.

Now I'm confused, frustrated, and really panicking. I called back to talked with someone else and was disconnected several times. I have not had good luck contacting a person. Finally got through and was only referred back to US TravelDocs website. He would not answer any more questions as because of the time difference; it was the end of the business day.

Now she is leaving for Poland in 36 hours and we are worried. I assume that was really bad information I received; but I am not sure what to do.

Questions:

1) Does anyone know if the 2 year needs to be present?

From everything I read in the information from the US Embassy; everything stated No. Having to cancel this trip and start planning over... It took a month to get my fiancée and the 15 year old a visa to travel from Belarus to Poland. Travel and hotel are non-refundable.

Assuming that the 2 year old does not need to be present:

2) After we pay the three visa fees; we file the DS-156 online. Do we file one DS-156 for all three; or do we file a DS-156 three times?

3) After filing the DS-156 or the multiple DS-156; do I schedule one interview for fiancée and 15 year old? Or do we schedule two separate interviews?

4) And... does any know the address for: Bank Pocztowy Branches (Placowka Banku Pocztowego)? I found an address of a branch I think is near the US Embassy; but I don't know if this is right. Polna 11, Swietokrzyska 31/33.

I appreciate any and all help. I did try to find these answers on the forums. If this has already been answered; directions to the proper forum page would be great! I did find some great threads while searching. That would of helped me avoid a RFE. If only I had found this site before today...

Thank you. God Bless.

Live in Colorado. Heart is in Belarus.

Erik..

Answer to question #4 YES!!!! that is the correct address. Read my post from above. It seems it is the ONLY place to pay this in Warsaw. Ron

Sorry to hear about all the troubles/frustration you are having. It was so much easier when you could just get the appointment, pay at the embassy, and pick up the passport the next day at the embassy. I wish you the best of luck.

Thanks for the support, in a way this is much faster. If the Embassy would just tell you exactly where to go. If anyone from Belarus needs the exact address just ask and I'll send it. So the bank opens at 0900 and I have a Taxi waiting at 0900 to take me there and tomorrow after 1200 will make the interview appointment for Monday and pick up the approved Visa on Tuesday. I understand the pick up point is across town in a different district and I should take a taxi there and have him wait because of lack of taxi's in that part of town. Wish us well and a speedy approval. Ron

Arrived Warsaw Poland today, with high hopes of paying my Visa Fee and tomorrow making and interview appointment. WRONG!!!!!

I exchanged money and went to the First Bank Pocztouy, they no longer do that there. They sent me to a second Bank same story and well as the third one. But at the third bank I was given the correct bank which is located in the main Post Office of Warsaw. The post office is opened 24/7 but the little Bank closes at 1700 hrs 5pm and I arrived there at 1707 hrs.The gentleman there did let me come in and would except the paper work, but I did not have my fiancee's Passport number. So I have to return tomorrow with that info and let the man in the bank fill out the form in his computer and go next door to the Post Office and pay the fee and return with the receipt when paid to the little man in the bank, who then gives me the receipt with the proper numbers I will need the next day after 1200 (noon) to call in and make an interview for the next business day. I don't think it has to be so complicated? It does not give you an address of a bank on the Embassy web site just the banks web site which is in Polish. Why can't the Embassy give the address everyone goes to Warsaw from Belarus and this bank/post office is just down the street from the embassy. I'll be glad when this is over)) But believe me she is worth it;-))

On the letter from the Embassy; it states "All members of your family immigrating with you, except children under 14, must appear with you on the scheduled appointment date."

We had some questions and contacted the Embassy. One of the questions was confirming that children under 14 didn't have to be there.

This news is a complete surprise. I am just in shock. When the person at them Embassy today told me that...

Now I have to break the news to my fiancee.

Thank you for the response. At least I know what needs to be done. Really wish I had found this site earlier.

Take care.

Please contact me by email as I think what you have is all wrong. Ron

Dang it looks like maple syrup is the way to go for sure. Does anyone know if it's possible to take maple syrup on a carry on bag? I won't be taking a checked back since I'll just be there a few days.

No you will not be able to carry any liquid in your carry on. Check a small bag with gifts it will be worth the wait. Also they do sell real small bottles of maple syrup in plastic bottles about 3 ounces each and they are handy as gifts. I bought my small bottles at Target. Good luck

Is it hard to get a Polish Visa for a my wife to go to the interview

Tanya just checked into getting the Schengen. All she does is go to her local travel agency and apply for a tourist visa Schengen. They told her it will take about 2 weeks to receive. You may wait and use the interview invite but Tanya says it is easier to get the tourist visa. First Schengen is only good for 10 days max. Plus we plan on going to Warsaw and paying her US Visa fees and having her interview 2 days later. Ron

Could you please post the link

Look under Discussion US Embassy and consular, when you get to that go down to MARVINH and he posted it. Just make a copy of her passport ID page and you have that and the bar code receipt from the Embassy should be enough. Let us know.

ROn

I don't know if I should ask here or the CR-1 Forum, under the interview rules for Poland

It says they will give my wife her visa at the TNT express place, She has to show Photo ID, But her passport is her Photo ID, does anyone know of another Belarus government ID she can Get

I found the link (embassy consulate) Marvin says a photo copy of the picture page of the passport is requested (which he didn't have) they used drivers license and the bar coded receipt from the embassy and got their passport and package. Again let us know how it works. Ron

I don't know if I should ask here or the CR-1 Forum, under the interview rules for Poland

It says they will give my wife her visa at the TNT express place, She has to show Photo ID, But her passport is her Photo ID, does anyone know of another Belarus government ID she can Get

There was a post a couple of days ago from someone who just went thru this. I believe they used a drivers license and a in country ID card. But check the posts I looked but no longer can find it. They were from Belarus and talked about the distance from the embassy to the TNT office 13 kms and over the river. Let us know how it works as I will be going next month with Tanya to her interview. Ron

She will need an airport-transit visa [A] or short-stay visa [C].

And she will have to apply for it in the embassy of the country she plans to go through, I guess.

If someone from Belarus has a K1 US visa in the passport they will not need a Schengen to transit most international airports. They have a few things they must do, be booked straight thru be in airport no more than 12 hours only one stop in the Schengen Zone. But no they will not need a Schengen Visa.

I am SO pleased to hear you've been approved! I can't believe the bureaucracy in paying in Poland though, wow! What an awful hassle!!

Thank you very much. We got some clarification on the visa fee. It seems we will only have to go one time to Poland but have to stay 4 days and will have her visa. Keep your fingers crossed pls.

Ron

Bank Pocztowy is a bank inside a post office.

It should be in every post office, but I'm not sure if it really is in every single one.

There's no way to transfer money from abroad, I'm afraid. You have to pay in only in Bank Pocztowy, which sucks for people living outside Poland, I'm sure. Dunno why the embassy changed the rules this year. Foreigners are really aggrieved now.

You have to print the right document (bankowy dowod wplaty - this one applies to you: http://www.ustraveldocs.com/pl_pl/Fee240.pdf) and take it with you to the bank, to pay for a visa.

Thank you for the info, would you please fill in you time line. It will help others

Ron

Hi VJ'ers from Poland, my fiancee is from Belarus and we must pay our visa fee in Poland before we can get a interview date. The fee must be paid at a Bank Pocztowy Placowki and the receipt number used when calling the Embassy in Warsaw to get an interview date. Is this bank located in every town or is it a bank inside of a post office?

Does anyone know of a service that I could send the money to that will make this payment for us and Fed-Ex the original receipt to me in the US?

I thank you for any info. Ron

Ron, I am so happy for you and Tanya. Just remember and tell her often, the hardest part is now behind you both.........Gary

Gary thank you from the bottom of my heart. Yours will be here quicker than you think. Ron

Well fellow Feb filers finally after 7 months one day we got approved. Its hard to believe its here. Thanks to all who pulled for us. Now the next hurdle, Warsaw Embassy changed the rules and someone must go to Poland and pay in cash at a Polish bank the visa fee to get a interview date. Tanya is trying to find someone who goes Belarus-Poland often that will help with this. If not she has to get a visa to enter Poland which takes about 3 weeks then a 12 hour train ride over night and 12 hours back. Then a new visa to reenter Poland for the interview. Its a lot of expense for something other counties can pay online.Our American Government at its best

7 Months one day, and we finally got approval.

I want to thank everyone who said a prayer for us and those that didn't thank you also.It has been a long hard haul but its here and worth it. Now we have to fight the new rules in the Warsaw Embassy. But we'll get er done

I'm sure you will hear something soon. I was just about at 7 months when I got my RFE, though hopefully you won't get one. I don't understand why some cases take so much longer than other or get put on the back burner. There's no method to VSC madness. As far as the rest goes... can you not mail a check or money order? That sounds crazy. I wonder if my fiance will have to travel to London to pay his... Does everyone have to go pay it in person?

Thanks for the input and rooten for us. I spent hours this morning with the Warsaw embassy and the State Department. And there is no way around paying in cash in a bank in Poland, no credit card or checks. We are trying to find out if there is some kind of service in Poland that will pay this for us. This was just started in August this year and is stupid beyond belief. The lady in the State Department almost called me a liar until she read the Embassy web site and then made the comment "this can't be true" Well it seems to be and I hope someone out there will have a solution for this, we have waited long enough. But if all else fails I'll fly to Poland a pay it myself. Ron

In 3 days it will be a month since they received my RFE and I STILL haven't heard anything. They sure are taking their time. You should come to the March Filers thread if you haven't already. I just started posting in there last night. It's nice to have people to talk to that are where you are at. Sadly, I don't feel like I have much in common with most of this thread anymore... While I'm happy for everyone it's hard not to feel even more depressed listening to everyone talk about their interview dates and packets and such. I feel a lot better since talking to folks in the other thread though; as they say, misery loves company! Just a thought.

Hey your not alone, tomorrow will be 7 months and nothing!!!Not even a RFE!!! Then I found out last night that the embassy has changed the rules. My fiancee is from Belarus and must use the Warsaw Poland Embassy. She lives about 400 miles from the Polish/Belarus border. Now she must go to Poland and pay the Visa fee in cash at a Polish Bank and then we can get a interview date. She must get a visa to go to Poland and then return home and get a second visa to go back to the interview. Our US Government has really screwed up my love life. I have an appointment in the morning with my congressman, but have been told there is nothing he can do about the embassy. Anyone have any ideas how to pay this without me flying to Poland??

I guess we will have to just keep plugging along and hope we don't get an RFE((((

I contacted the US Embassy this morning and basically got the run around. Someone must pay the fee in a Polish bank. No wire transfers ect. I also called The State Dept and they could not believe me until they read the new rules on the embassy web site. They told me to call the chief of consulate in Poland which I tried only got people who could care less and was directed to write an email and maybe someone would get back to me??? So I wrote an email and when I get an answer I'll post it.

PUBLICWRW@state.gov If anyone else want to write there is the address,

Ron

Hi, I have been calling the last 4 weeks and finally they let me file a service request last Tuesday. Thursday (27) will be 7 months since our NOA1 was received and no word yet no RFE's nothing. You can start calling but I would give much hope as they post they are working on 27 Feb now. Good luck.

Hi all, I am a little worried here:( Thursday will be 7 months and NO word on our NOA2. Then yesterday I was contacted by someone who was approved in August (also from Belarus) they showed me a copy of the letter from NVC that directs not to pay the Visa fee here in the US but must copy the form on the bottom of the letter and take it to any Polish Bank and pay it there. Then the next day you can schedule an interview appointment.

This makes no sense, I am in the US and Tanya is in Belarus just how should she or I go to Poland and pay this fee? It takes at least two weeks to get a Schengen and I can't see me flying there to pay it. Is it possible that NVC sent that letter to someone from Belarus by mistake, that it was meant only for people in Poland??

Would someone who has processed thru Warsaw recently that is from Belarus tell me if this is how its done or is this a mistake?

Thanks for any help, Ron