Delta7

Valid points, I appreciate the feedback. Yeah, I've been reading a few today, and our first initial reaction this morning when we found out was shock and thought that it was a mistake or her parents did something wrong. I didn't know tourist visas refusal rates were as high as they are. 

That's really the only thing we can think of. To be completely honest, we wanted to do the K1 Visa application that summer (2017) but literally as we were filing out papers and doing research, Trump and Putin began their peeing contest closing each others consulates. So we didn't want to risk a scenario where it took > 3 years for a process that was under 1 before. 

A lot of Russians have been going to Georgia since the US and Russia have closed each others consulates in their respective countries. My wife knows people who filed in Russia who's application has expired due to the fact it's only good for a year, and their interview was after the year threshold, making them go through the entire process again. It's not cutting corners, it's just more efficient. But I do understand where you're coming from. My wife didn't "use" her J1 to stay permanently. She, like many others around the country, met someone while on a visa and fell in love. 

Yes, it was previously posted that REFUSAL rates were 62%, but not OVERSTAY rates.

I didn't know that Georgia was among the highest overstay rates. I think I'm going to encourage my in-laws to wait it out via Moscow for their next attempt. Thanks so much!

If I'm not mistaken, Georgia was among the government's latest list of high overstay rates... the one they'd like to hone in on detailed screening for B1/B2 visas to "curve" the overstay trend. Even though no law has been passed yet from what I've seen, I'm sure these embassies are aware their respective country made the list and they have probably started implementing stricter observations when approving visas. So going to Georgia to interview might have actually been the bullet that hit your foot.

A lot of Russians have been going to Georgia since the US and Russia have closed each others consulates in their respective countries. My wife knows people who filed in Russia who's application has expired due to the fact it's only good for a year, and their interview was after the year threshold, making them go through the entire process again. It's not cutting corners, it's just more efficient. But I do understand where you're coming from. My wife didn't "use" her J1 to stay permanently. She, like many others around the country, met someone while on a visa and fell in love. 

In the past 5 to 10 years, they have each traveled to a total of 5 countries in Europe and Africa (Egypt). They didn't overstay a single time. I totally get the fact that it might seem suspicious to bypass their home country's consulate, but it's a move simply because the wait times in Georgia are 10x less. My wife and I talked last night and I think they're going to file in Moscow and just wait it out and pray. 

You are not going to get very meaningful answers from here (or anywhere for that matter) on B visas refusals, just a bunch of conjectures which will do nothing for you. For immigrant visas, you would get great answers here, many times even better than what an immigration attorney would tell you. B visas are among the most frustrating to figure out when denied, the latitude consular officers have to deny is virtually total. That said, the adjusted refusal rate for Russians is about 15% so it does appear your in laws were not fortunate.
 
https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/RefusalRates/FY18.pdf
 
I adjusted status here after coming as a student as did many many people. It has not affected any of my family's ability to obtain visas to visit. My stepmother, brother, sister, nephew, uncle and aunt have all visited me in the USA [including some like my aunt who had very poor finances back home] despite not having visited any other western developed country. Ignore such explanations, it's meaningless.
 
There is no harm applying again, all they lose is $160 each and there are scores of people who applied for a B visa and were refused who reapplied almost immediately afterward and got approved. There is a good degree of randomness in B visa approvals.

A lot of Russians have been going to Georgia since the US and Russia have closed each others consulates in their respective countries. My wife knows people who filed in Russia who's application has expired due to the fact it's only good for a year, and their interview was after the year threshold, making them go through the entire process again. It's not cutting corners, it's just more efficient. But I do understand where you're coming from. My wife didn't "use" her J1 to stay permanently. She, like many others around the country, met someone while on a visa and fell in love. 

You shouldn't have a problem getting on a plane domestically with just her Passport, but carry all your documentation to be on the safe side.

Hello, 
 
My (now) fiancé came here in Mid May on a J1 work/travel visa which expires on September 15th. We were originally planning on going the K1 route, however she lives in Russia and given the current state of political affairs between the US and Russia, we're strongly considering getting a civil court marriage and filing the AOS before her visa expires. She has met my family and extended family, and we have pictures of us from two trips to Boston, as well as a trip we took together at Niagra Falls. Additionally, we have text messages from when we first met in early June of us telling each other we were not looking for anything serious since we both knew she had to go back to Russia. Lastly, she booked her return flight home to Russia in April when she booked the original flight to the US. 
 
My question, is this enough evidence to prove to USCIS that our relationship is genuine? 
 

Good morning, 
 
My girlfriend and I are planning on filing a petition for the K1 Visa within the upcoming month, however with all of the turmoil between the US and Russia (US Sanctions, and Putin recently ordering 755 American consuls to be deported by 9/1/17), we are really worrying that the processing times will spike dramatically. What is the time frame you think we should expect if we file in early/mid September? 
 
Has anyone gone through this process with Russia and had trouble?
 
Thank you so much