mikeandjaney

Yahoo!!! Got approved!!! Just got the email last night!!!

Still no hard copy of NOA1... I got the text/email Dec. 4th that said they received it. In the email it had a receipt number and said that I should receive the hard copy within 7-10 days, but still haven't received it. I check the status on their site, and nothing has changed...

Getting a Russian visa is much easier than it used to be. In September 2012 (as I recall) Russia and the USA entered into a reciprocal tourist visa agreement. The terms are 3 years (36 months), unlimited entries, maximum of 6 months in a calendar year. This agreement makes it easier for citizens of both countries to obtain the visa. I got mine in November 2012, so next year I'll need to re-apply. Elena also has a tourist visa and has come here to visit me (in person) 3 times. Thus she's seen my life, my home, my everything. And that's a good thing IMHO.

So yeah, apply for the 3-year visa and you'll be set for quite a while. I forget the cost now, but plan on a couple hundred, roughly.

Thanks so much! It doesn't seem all that complicated, so after the holidays I will start the process of getting a tourist visa to Russia. She had asked about a visitors visa to come here, but they informed her that she wouldn't be able to cause we had started the K-1 visa process.

Yeah that was my thought. Sending a letter complaining about the discrepancy wouldn't do any harm, though I suspect not much will come of it. However it made me feel a little better at least! lol

Moscow too? Cool. I leave on Thursday to see Elena for a couple of weeks

Actually I have read a couple of stories where the petitioners wrote to their Congressmen and it did help, so it really can't hurt. Are you going to Moscow to meet her? If so, how difficult was it to get a visa to go there? Evgeniya and I are meeting in Spain in Feb. for 10 days, and then I plan to travel to Moscow when she has her interview. Be safe on your journey and Merry Christmas!

The entire process is very frustrating. And you're in the TSC so be prepared for about a 6 month wait for your NOA2. Monumentally frustrating. There is a rumor that TSC is supposed to pick up the pace beginning in January, but I'll believe it when I see it.

I've emailed and sent hard copy letters to all 3 of my federal representatives complaining about the discrepancy in processing times. Encouraging others to do the same.

Which town is your fiance from, btw? My Elena is from Moscow.

Anyway.

That would be nice if they would speed it up, but it is after all the government, and we are all aware of how they are, lol! Evgeniya is from Moscow as well!!!

I think I will send letters too, it cant hurt.

So I called USCIS today about the hard copy and according to the representative, if they do not issue a hard copy of the receipt number within the 10 days, there will be no hard copy (duplicate) because the receipt number is already given and no further information has to be given. Basically the representative stated that the particular location the application was sent to does not always send a hard copy of the receipt number if the receipt number was email and/or text to you already.

That is strange, cause they tell they suggest that you wait to get the hard copy to check the status, and that they mailed out the hard copy... I dunno, its still alittle frustrating..

Hmm...makes me wonder why I haven't received the NOA1 letter yet, especially when a couple of us received our notifications on December 4....

I am totally wondering the same thing... it is alittle frustrating....so many thoughts are racing through my head, as to why we haven't received it, I think it might be time for a Valium

I received the email on the same day, December 4th and got TSC and haven't gotten the letter yet. I think we are right in that 7-10 business days time frame though. I am not sure Saturday for U.S. mail counts as a business day. If it doesn't then 10 business days will be this coming Thursday. If it does count then it should have arrived yesterday or today. Which for me didn't happen.

I wish there was a way to find out how many applicants are in front of you

I will keep my fingers crossed! Let the race begin! Come Thursday, you will probably find me camped out by my mailbox! I could be wrong, but I think they only count Mon-Fri. as business days, so there is still hope for us yet!!!!

I sent out our I-129F packet on Dec. 1st. and got an email on Dec. 4th saying they received it and it was routed to the Texas Service center and gave us a receipt number and said we will receive form I-797... It is Dec.16th and still nothing...