StevenInAtlanta

@Simplytex The current delay is caused by a flood of recent applications, literally thousands or tens of thousands of people fleeing Ukraine, Russia and from other areas. Before February 24, the normal non-expedited wait was maybe 2 weeks. Other countries are available however rules vary from country to country so do your research of course. The Italian route was popular because of the cost, the short/efficient processing time and the high rate of approval. Other countries will often have a lower rate of approval or take longer.

@miller_Kay 1 year visa was granted. The Italian embassy is swamped so we used a service and paid an additional fee to have it expedited. The expedite fee was close to $500 and it took less than 10 days to get the visa. Otherwise it was going to take 6-10 weeks.

Has anyone recently been through Warsaw for their interview? I have been advised that an "Apostille" might be required for the Russian documents to English translations...in addition to the translator providing a written statement that the translation is accurate and complete and that he/she is fluent in the English language. I actually read the Federal code and there isnt even a requirement for the translation to be notarized...but it couldn't hurt I guess. The actual Federal document requirements are detailed here in this Cornell law school link: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/8/103.2 And here is a sample statement that a translator can use to certify the translation is complete and accurate and that he/she is fluent in English.

Thanks @TBoneTX, that is pretty much what I told my wife..."it says all" so lets assume they mean all. I also emailed the Polish US embassy last night and got a reply this morning indicating they had opened an inquiry to our question and would respond in 1-2 days. That sounds very promissing considering how many years this process has taken!

Final prep for the interview August 30th 2022. Can someone tell me if under the documentation requirements if we need to produce the birth certificate for her adult son that is not immigrating? See below item in red. My wife has a 30 year old son that is not part of our petition and is not currently trying to immigrate....but the requirements simply says "birth certificates for all children of the principal applicant" Please collect the following items to bring to your appointment at the U.S. Embassy. For more detailed information, please see our online instructions here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Supplements/Supplements_by_Post/WRW-Warsaw.html A copy of your NVC interview letter (does not apply to Diversity Visa, fiancé(e), adoptive, or asylee/refugee applicants). This registration confirmation showing you selected an address for visa delivery through our online customer center. Unexpired passport valid for six months beyond your intended date of entry to the United States and a photocopy of the biographic page (where your name and photo are located). Two (2) color photographs of each person applying for a visa (5 cm x 5 cm, or 2 inch x 2 inch). Confirmation page from the Form DS-260 Application for an Immigrant Visa you submitted online at ceac.state.gov/iv. Your original birth certificate, English translation, and a photocopy. Medical examination results in a sealed envelope (if the physician gives you these results). Original or certified copies of birth certificates for all children of the principal applicant (even if he or she is not accompanying).

Final prep for interview in Warsaw Poland. Tickets, hotel, cash reserves all set. Review of needed documentation for my wife includes: “original or certified copies of birth certificates of all children of the principal applicant whether they are accompanied by applicant or not” My wife has 1 adult son, he is 30, and not currently immigrating. Does this apply to an adult child not immigrating or does it include all children period?

@Kmomo "NVC updated automatically since your case was at Moscow" Yes, it was automatically moved from Moscow to Warsaw, after waiting a year at the Moscow consulate/embassy. The NVC held it a year before Warsaw was able and willing to take in more IR1 applications. Once it was received by Warsaw, it took about 3 months before we got our interview date and when we did, it was 29 days from the date of the email confirmation...and just a few days after the war in Ukraine began.

SENDING $$ TO RUSSIA UPDATE 6/2/2022 Well the @PayLah! app idea from within Telegram app on your smartphone seems to be a total bust/won't work if you are not a citizen of Singapore. I spent over an hour just trying to get setup and registered and at every turn I was met with requirements that I could not meet. I don't think this PayLah! bot was meant to be used by non-Singaporian's. Has anyone else tried the @PayLah! app bot and had success....I've been in IT for 40 years and was totally unable to even get registered. Has anyone confirmed or know of a way to get $$ to loved ones in Moscow? My wife is clearly going to run out of money before her interview in August and before I can meet her for the interview in Europe.

We are IR1, Warsaw got our documents about 3 months before we received the email for the interview in Warsaw. So they got the docs in January, our interview was April 12. We had 29 days to prepare total and it was just about a week after the war started, all our plans were blown at that point, everything changed, compound that with COVID and that a Russian citizen can not fly directly to Poland (before or during this 'special military action') and we had to reschedule, online, process was easy and we got a confirmation of the August reschedule about 3-4 weeks later. Our priority date was from June of 2019!

@pavelp "It looks like Russia -> Turkey -> Poland is a valid option now?" We will have to look into this.... With the rules and requirements changing almost weekly, I am cautious to make travel plans and buy tickets more than maybe 31 days in advance. I guess at some point you just have to put your stake in the ground, pull the trigger and just cross your fingers. It's like playing Russian roulette with a tar baby....you don't really know if you can let go the baby, if it's going to stick to you or if you ever had the tar baby at all! I think the reason that we are talking about flying through other countries is because of Schengen visa requirements and that Russian citizens can't fly directly to Poland. If it's NOW possible for a Russian citizen to fly to Turkey then into Poland, that would save me (us all) a small fortune of extended travel plans over multiple countries....however, I believe that in my case, my wife will still need a Schengen visa to enter Poland. And that requirement is what I think is forcing us to get a Schengen visa to fly to some other EU country first then into Poland because currently Poland will not issue a tourist visa to a Russian citizen.

I am asking if anyone here in the VJ forum is Russian and has recently been interviewed/processed through the Warsaw Poland embassy/consulate. Of specific interest are IR1 immigration visa applications. My wife's interview is scheduled for Tuesday August 30 @ 8:00am. I chose Tuesday and an early time with hopes that after the "10 minute" interview there will still be enough time in the day to pass the petition/application to the next step and enough days left in the week to still receive the new visa at the MailBox Express location...which seems to be the current process. If you recently went through Warsaw Poland interview will you share with the forum your experience please? Did you encounter any civil problems at all just because you were Russian traveling through Poland? How long was your interview? What questions were you asked? If approved, how long did actually getting your visa take? If approved, where did you pick up your visa? What country did you travel through to get to Warsaw? For your Schengen visa, were you required to stay in the interim country a few days to 'vacation' or were you able to simply plane hop and pass through on the next flight in your travel? Thanks to all in advance that can share their experience. #PrayForPeace StevenInAtlanta