Lowens8

Bringing a spouse to the USA from another country, is an activity for grown-ups. What you can do "more" is get a job.

By DOS for the CO's notes and also for USCIS once they have the case file back.
You both need to sign a privacy release, not just you or else they won't release his info.
Sometimes they are still vague and won't release all information.

Yeah I was thinking of that too. I'm going to have to see how long of a leave I can take from my job or if they have some type of sabbatical kind of thing (I was going to start a new career path once he approved anyways so I'm not too attached to my current job but the benefits are really good). Worst case scenario, I can have my parents sponsor us when we return.
I was reading about the Zags thing too. I'll definitely need to do more research because it said something like it has to be done in his hometown but we would be living in St P which is quite a ways from Astrakhan.
If I sold my house I wouldn't need to work while living there but at the same time I'd love to teach English (working on my TEFL certificate now). A company I usually have exchange students through in the summer has an office there so I'm hoping if I teach with them I could transfer back to the US with a job so I wouldn't need a co-sponsor.

Thank you everyone for your help! Since it looks like the K1 is a no-go I guess I'll be moving to Russia for awhile. (Now I have to figure out what kind of Russian visa I need)

I would be very surprised if you would get a reason from anyone.
The CO should have issued a 221g letter with the reason clearly stated but since they have discretionary powers to do what they want to
he did not receive that. I hope the senator can get another appointment to at least pick it up.
You can
1. File a FOIA to find out the reason,which takes a long time.
2. Marry, file a CR1, wait for RFE or NOID/NOIR and respond with rebuttal.
3. Hire a lawyer which will be wasted money and still may not get you an answer.
My option would be 1. and 2. both at the same time and see if the FOIA or NOID/NOIR (if any) will come first.

Have the senator's aid request the diplomatic pouch number it was returned with.
Sometimes they just say it has been returned and it is still sitting at the embassy so if they can not give you a pouch
number then it likely has not left the embassy yet.
You need a more assertive senator's aid.
Returned cases can fall into the big black hole for many months with nobody claiming they have the case.
A pouch number will at least confirm that it was returned.
You just have to file again.

I hope this helps you. This information is correct, and has been repeated many times on travel sites, and I think I read it somewhere on the governments sites as well.
You can get a tourist or a private stay visa, which both will let you in for 6 months or so. If you plan on being a temp resident (No longer needing a Russian visa to visit). You need to past the Language, History and Culture, and they are done in Russian. ( I have a link to a demo test if you want it)
Btw this the company that issues Russian Visa's to the United States.
Tourist
http://www.ils-usa.com/main.php?id=travel〈=en
Private Stay
http://www.ils-usa.com/main.php?id=private〈=en
Tourist:
Tourist Visa Tourist visas are issued to US citizens, foreign nationals, and stateless persons whose purpose of travel involves cultural events, excursions, sightseeing, and/or general tourism.
It is issued on the basis of a confirmation that the foreign tourist is going to be hosted by a Russian travel agency.
A tourist visa may also be issued for conducting short-term business exchange, participating in exhibitions, auctions, and also in the case of medical consultation or examination. In this case, the Confirmation of hosting a foreign tourist should indicate the purpose of travel as “Aim Tourism” in the necessary field, and the visa is issued for the time period that corresponds with the Confirmation (no more than 30 days).
Regular tourist visas are either Single or Double entry, for a period of no more than 30 days. But in accordance with the simplified visa formalities agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States, US citizens are now able to obtain either a 3-year Multi-Entry Tourist visa upon request which exceed the 30 day stay limit.
It is recommended that US citizens apply for a 3-year, multiple-entry Tourist visa regardless of the dates of entry and exit, number of entries or period of stay indicated in the Confirmation of Hosting a Foreign Tourist issued by a hotel or tourist operator registered with the Federal Agency for Tourism of the Russian Ministry of Culture.
In order to apply for a 3-year multiple-entry Tourist visa, please indicate the full three year period as the length of stay in the Russian Federation when filling out the visa application. (ex. Date of Entry 25/10/2016 until Date of Departure 24/10/2019-minus one day )
Double-entry tourist visas are only issued when the second country is of the 'near-abroad' (CIS states, Baltics) or those that require return transit through Russian territory, such as China and Mongolia, etc.
In order to obtain a double-entry visa, the arrival city to be visited in the second country must be written in the travel itinerary and in the confirmation issued by the tour operator.
The maximum length of stay while traveling on a Single or Double-entry tourist visa is 30 days.

http://www.ils-usa.com/main.php?id=visa-info〈=en
Visa Durations
Single-Entry allows the foreign national a one-time entry into the borders of the Russian Federation.
Double-Entry allows the foreign national to enter and exit the Russian border of no more than two times.
Multi-Entry allows for unlimited entry into the Russian Federation within the visa period.
Do Note! In accordance with the Agreement between the Russian Federation and the United States of America on the simplification of visa formalities for nationals of the Russian Federation and nationals of the United States of America effective September 9, 2012. US citizens are able to obtain multiple-entry business, private, humanitarian and tourist visas for a stay of no more than 6 months starting from the date of each entry that are valid for three years (36 months) from the date of issue of the visa.


Also Citizens of Russia can get a B1/2 visa that is under the same guidelines but lasts 3 years till expires, max stay per time is 180 days. (They need to show strong ties to Russia thought, and chances he might get denied a B1/2 visa since he has show immigration tent. )

As I remember, tourist visa to Russia only allows you a 30 day visit and up to 6 months on a business visa (biz visa was expensive to get).
But it's been a while since I last visited.

Even though the 221g says that it will be returned "for review" it will not be reviewed, no matter what the reason.
K1's used to be reviewed many years ago but are no longer, consulates still give out letters talking about "review "which
is utterly ridiculous.
I would contact another lawyer who understands there will be no review and focus on getting the reason of what
exactly is considered to be wrong with the form or documentation. You and your fiance can give the lawyer privacy releases
to try to get more info or file a FOIA which takes a long time.
In this case it would be better to marry and file a CR1 because if the same thing happens again and the CR1 gets returned
then it will be reviewed and you will get a letter from USCIS with the exact issue and will have 30 days to respond with a rebuttal.
Unfortunately this won't happen with a K1.

Tell your lawyer that K1's are not reviewed when returned. Only CR/IR's will get reviewed.
A returned K1 will be purposely expired by USCIS. Your case was returned to USCIS and all returned K1's go through
and via NVC before being received by USCIS.
Your only option is the senator requesting another interview and knowing and correcting the reason for visa refusal.
If this does not happen a.s.a.p then it will be too late and you have to start over.

Thank you! I'm hoping he gets approved with the condition of sending in the document once received.

Got our case number! Woohoo! I hope there's a flood of NOA2s tonight for everyone still waiting! I've noticed the February filers forum hasn't had many this week it seems ?

You do come off as aggressive and sometimes rude. You don't know everything and you don't knew what people have done in their research so don't act like you know it all and belittle the rest of us. We're all here to help each other not stress each other out more.

Where would it show as touched?

From what I read, Moscow is pretty easy for K1 and the petitioner is not required at all. If you have good relationship evidence, then it's fine.

When my wife interviewed for hr fiancé visa, I decided to meet her mostly because I wanted to see her in person again, but also to be there for her during that phase in our life. At the time there were five other women interviewing for K1s and I was the only USC that was there. Everyone was approved, so I don't think it makes a big difference. If you can swing it, I would go, but I don't think it is necessary.
Good Luck!

I just want to express my condolence to all in Brussels who are a part of visajourney.com. I've been praying for you all since I heard about this cowardly act.I pray this act of fear won't stop you from doing what you have to do..love and lots of it from me

If you guys are interested this is how my notes are looking now concerning the pending NOA2's on this website:
Date VJ December January February March
1-Mar 13-Jan 67 164 166 x
8-Mar 18-Jan 60 137 195 31
15-Mar 25-Jan 52 128 218 66

The estimation for this week was that the NOA1's with the date 23. Jan should be in processing BUT the date that VJ shows is 25. Jan so there is some nice progress.

So as you can see we seem to be moving a bit faster but the February number has gone up rather than down. I think in the next two weeks the February number will go down.

So according to my oh so scientific estimations next week (22. March) the NOA1 with the date of 1st of February should be processed.

And now I should go back to studying!

The January Filers forum and then if you search in the app you can see other case numbers that get RFEs as well.
I've also noticed that the people waiting longer (past the estimated time) are the ones getting the RFEs...anyone else notice this or am I just reading into it too much? Lol

I completely agree! I like to check daily as well but I don't get upset if nothing has changed.

I completely agree! I like to check daily as well but I don't get upset if nothing has changed.

Ours was delivered the 8th and check cashed the 11th.

I sent to Dallas (for some reason it doesn't give me the option to pick Dallas) and I got my NOA1 the same day the check cashed...I sent it USPS certified.