bobb

Thanks Slim!

As always very good advice.

The two links provided earlier for finding out date of interview from the USEM do not work.

Here is what I just found when at the USEM website: http://moscow.usembassy.gov/ivinterv.html

On-Line Appointment Information

The Consular Section is pleased to announce the availability of online information regarding scheduled immigrant visa appointments.

Please note that in order to use this system, you must know the case number of your immigrant visa application. This number was provided to you when your petition was approved (i.e, MOS2002123456, SRC-12-345-67890). You can not use this system if your petition has not yet been approved. Please note that it takes USCIS and the National Visa Center several weeks to formally notify the Consular Section that a petition has been approved.

Appointment schedules are updated weekly at 8:00 a.m. Monday, Moscow time.

All immigrant visa appointments begin at 8:00 a.m. Applicants should arrive at the Embassy's Novinskiy Bulvar gate at 7:40 a.m. (You must already know your case number)

Click here for visas CR1/2, IR1/2/5, E1/2/3/4, F, K1/2/3/4 and V1/2/3

Important: Use your browser's search function to find your case number.

OK,

In a couple of weeks I expect to know my SO's interview date in Moscow. Should be late June. At the moment, I'm planning on going back in mid-August to bring her back here. We will marry, probably, on 9/01 in a civil ceremony. She would like her cousin to come to our wedding and/or our wedding celebration party which will be 9/19. I have read in another post that tourist visa's are processed very quickly.

Looking on the USEM website non-immigrant (B2) visa application pages puts several questions in my mind.

1. When should we have him apply for the tourist visa? After she has her visa in hand? Before?
2. What would you suggest I can do other than send him an email or letter asking him to attend our wedding celebration? He would add this as part of his documentation, to go with the customary: job, own property, married, children, etc.
3. How long should this take, if Question 2 is in order with his documents he needs to provide, for him to receive his Visa once he has applied?

I know there could be other issues, but for this discussion let's assume he has no problem obtaining the Visa.

He'll have to fill out a DS-156 online and a DS-157 if he is between 16-45. I don't know yet but I am assuming he is over 45 and most likely in his 50's, like Luba. Luba has made a request - In her words:

Still I wanted to ask you... If certainly it is possible. It would be desirable for me very much, that the cousin has arrived on our wedding. If it is possible, as we can invite him? He can pay for road and to live in hotel. He lives in Czechia, but very much often here (her home city). He can be the translator because he knows English language well.

I have to ask her if she wants him here for our wedding or just wedding celebration. But, that is only a small matter. I already responded he would stay with us and I would help with travel costs.

I would like to respond to her after I have received some input here. At the moment I will point him to the website page at the USEM for non-immigrant visa's and let him work his way forward from there. Each page can be show in Russian, which makes it very convenient for a Russian.

It's interesting to see certain traits are worldwide.

On the site I mention earlier, in lesson 6 personal pronoun I, they show you how to say I'm ready (to go out) for both a male and female. Yet, they only show how to say I'm almost ready for a female!

I have read elsewhere that if any corrections or changes need to be made after the I-129F application, after it has arrived at the US Embassy, the best way is to call or email to the Embassy. I did have a question on one specific item on the DS-156 which I sent an email to the Embassy and they answered me.

In Russia they recently changed the way "ю" is translated. When we filed the I-129F her translated divorce showed 'Ljubov' for the English translation. On the I-129F Application and her G-325a her name was translated as Ljubov. In late November she renewed her International Passport and it is now Liubov.

Should I email the Embassy after it has arrived to explain this to them? I'm thinking her name will go on the list for the interview and if they see Ljubov instead of Liubov they would not let her in. I'm just curious on some thoughts from others before I email the Embassy soon. From what I've read I think they go by the info on the DS-156 for the information for her K-1 Visa and it would not matter.

I'm not sure how CSC missed the following and did not ask me for an RFE. On her G-325a we had her marriage date as the date of my marriage. It showed her marriage date as being 20+ years later than when she was divorced.

Should we alert this error to the U.S. Embassy, or will they not even pay attention to the date on the G-325a and just go by her divorce documents she will give them.

Thanks

In addition, they stamped the exit stamp on my Russian Visa both times. Won't they be looking for a Russian Visa in a U.S. passport?

OK, take a deep breath.

They don't care about how she got into Russia; she's past customs and is leaving. It's all legal; they don't want to waste time with pestering questions like US Customs people.

First, I am not any kind of knowledgeable person for this question. I do have a question for the above post. When you leave Russia with a U.S. passport you don't have to show them you were registered? I honestly can't remember from my two trips.

I have read here and on another forum that buying the tickets in your married name and carrying a copy of your marriage certificate is a very common method.

Until the current year only 67% of my wages came from salary. The rest came in a June and December bonus. In addition my base salary has been reduced twice (no further reductions will happen), but still above poverty line. There will be no bonus this year. When they see my 2008 income tax return showing wages of about 240% of my current annualized salary will this raise any questions in their minds?

I've always seen mentioned here as long as you are above poverty levels you only need to state your income on the I-134, provide the letter from your employer, and a copy of most recent tax return. I would rather add extra information than have them question my income. Maybe it would only take additional information from my boss in his letter stating the above.

I have thought of including the information I owe nothing on my home, but then I would have to put a value on it and I've read I would need an appraisal. Even if I low-balled it. It's a big hassle to get letters with my various online savings accounts, etc. I have no problems with financial issues, but why go to a lot of extra work if it's not necessary.

Maybe I'm just being overly cautious.

Thanks for any constructive suggestions.

I started learning beginning between 2004 and 2005. Dropped out of pursuing meeting a FSU woman and last fall begin studying from several sources again.

At a different forum I came across the following website:

Click here!

I have found this an excellent site to visit as I progress. I feel one of the good features is combination of seeing written russian, transliteration, and audio. It is geared for beginners as it mentions on this link. My only complaint is for their sound of Й. Instead of the actual sound the audio is: ee krAtkayeh.

I would make one suggestion if you do visit this site and wish to explore. Especially if you have any basic understanding. At the bottom of the home page there is a button - Let's Begin. This will take you to the Lesson Menu Page. If you just stay with the available options from the Table of Contents you will be missing out on some other valuable options. From this page click on the Site Map button, below TOC, and bookmark This page! Or you may have trouble remembering how to return there.

If you scroll down you can have the next best thing to a live tutor: Huliganov

An example:

The next installment of Viktor Huliganov's acclaimed Russian alphabet course. After this lesson your knowledge of Russian letters increases from 17 of the 33 to 22 of them. With these it is now possible to write and read just about every other word in Cyrillic.

As ever, there is a joke and a song after the lesson. You don't get that at University.

All lessons are from 10 to 20 minutes long.

I discovered Huliganov Here!. This is an excellent 'beginning' Russian topic at this forum.

Congrats! Feels good, huh!!!!

Yes, it feels wonderful.

To finally have the knowledge we will have a 'date' for her interview soon makes a BIG difference in this process.

Right now it's running about 11 weeks from NOA2 to interview. Last week in June sounds about right. Mark it on your calendar...in pencil.

We'll make our final decision after she receives her interview date. I mentioned to her I thought it might be a good idea for me to come in the middle of August since her birthday is on the 15th and her son's is on the 21st.

I know the value of writing things in pencil as my profession only uses ink for signing things!

...And bobb...how did she take the news? Hope you turned the mic down low.

She was extremely happy. And as she said in an email after we spoke on Skype,

I am glad to see such good news. So it is wonderful to know, that already soon we shall together. When you know real date... Then always it is easier to wait.

At the moment the real date is based only on average processing times from now to interview. As soon as I find out her interview date then we will know the 'real' date. But why quibble. Back when I first sent my application the average processing times from NOA1 to NOA2 was right around where my actual occurred - 135 days.

So after I finish sending everything off to her in early May I will then direct my attention to what will be necessary for AOS, EAD, AP, and the I-864. Briefly looking at the forms last night there is nothing that seems to present any problem there. I'm sure I'll have a few questions.

... I moved on to greater requests, such as James Bond...

Ahh...'From Russia With Love' my first James Bond movie at the tender age of 15 back in 1963. Daniela Bianchi (as Tatiana Romanova). Maybe this Western propaganda film planted into my subconscious the desire to meet a Russian woman and only activated a few years ago.

I'm sure glad I did not know until today, although if I had really thought about it her stage name was a giveaway, the following:

Miss Rome of 1960 and runner-up to Miss World 1960

Her voice was dubbed in From Russia with Love (1963); she spoke almost no English and spoke her lines phonetically. Her heavy Italian accent made much of her dialogue difficult to understand, so an English-speaking Italian actress whose accent wasn't so pronounced was hired to re-record her lines. (From IMDB)

WOOT!! Congratulations!!! You've got to be through the roof over that! I'm just so happy I could make that happen for you.

I have been wondering how I will fall asleep tonight.

In about 10 minutes I will see and talk with Luba with Skype. I can't wait to see her reaction.

It sure has been frustrating to see all these applications from after us being approved lately. I was very pleasantly surprised tonight when I arrived home from work and an email was waiting for me with word our Application was approved. Wow!

I was really surprised not to receive an RFE. It doesn't matter how much you look at the application before you send it in. I reviewed it three times and still had two minor mistakes on her G325a.

Her middle name is Viktorovna which I spelled Viktrovna.

I had inserted the date of my previous marriage for her date of previous marriage. This is the item I really thought I would receive an RFE about, as this date was well past her date of divorce. It would have been simple to respond to and I figure would have delayed it about 5 days or less.

Bobb, you should be seeing your NOA2 *ANY* time now.

So mox, are you prescient?

I arrived home from work moments ago and here is what was in an email:

Application Type: I129F , PETITION FOR FIANCE(E)

Current Status: Approval notice sent.

On April 3, 2009, we mailed you a notice that we have approved this I129F PETITION FOR FIANCE(E). Please follow any instructions on the notice. If you move before you receive the notice, call customer service.

Yahoo!!! So, if everything follows what seems to be the length of time from this point onward I am guessing her interview will be in Moscow in mid June and I will go get her in mid July. As soon as I find out the interview date for sure I will then make my airline reservations.

...tell us where you are in the process, and make with the yakkity-yak!!

Waiting for NOA2 patiently, and more recently sometimes a little perturbed to see more people receiving NOA2 that received their NOA1 1-3 months after I received my NOA1. When looking on Igor's list it seems 17 out of 20 show in Dec 08 - Feb 08 being approved. This has consistently been the case for the past several weeks. It doesn't seem normal, but I can't really say as I wasn't tracking the list regularly in the past.

Nothing can be done about it so I must just remain patient and treat it like a headache - when it is no longer there I can't remember what it felt like.

At least we use Skype on weekends so I get to 'see' her. Her English is constantly improving and my Russian is improving.

What I am saying is Visa needs to show the same name as what is printed in the passport.

I posed the following question in the Russia forum:

My fiance received her new international passport in Nov 2008. It shows her Russian first and middle names in Russian on one line and directly below this it only shows her first name in English. The middle name is not shown in English.

Now I know she wants and expects to have a middle name when she comes here. Should her middle name in English be shown on the DS-156, even with it not shown in English in her passport, or should this information be pointed out at the time of interview.

I was given a recommendation to complete the DS-156 with her middle name in English as this form must be filled out in English, even though her passport does not have her middle name in English.

The key point is she has a middle name, she will want to continue to use a middle name. Her Russian middle name is not on the passport in English.

So, let's assume the recommendation was correct and her Visa shows her middle name. Now put the two together. My original question about future problems/hassles because her middle name is not shown in English on her passport but is shown on the Visa and the part of my original post here asking if this should be attempted to be changed before her interview?

Not an issue as long as Visa is issued using same name as on the passport.

After arrival you marry, and can use married name on AOS, AP, EAD, SSN etc..

So, you are saying if the Visa shows her middle name in English there will be no future problems/hassles because her passport does not show her middle name in English?

My fiance was issued her Russian International passport in November 2008. It shows, in Russian, her first and middle name on one line. Directly below this it only shows her first name in English.

Does this have the potential to create multiple hassles/problems in the future with future processing after she arrives?

Such as:

AOS

Advanced parole

Social Security #

Travel

etc.

Has anyone else been in this position?

I am trying now to see if this is a 'normal' situation or should I try to have her correct her passport. I don't expect her K-1 interview before the middle of summer so there would be time to have this corrected, if necessary. Heck, maybe it couldn't be corrected. I just don't know. I thought I would ask here first before asking her about having it corrected.

I would really appreciate factual answers based on specific personal examples, or other relevant comments that are non-speculative.

You need to put her middle name on the DS-156k. She will have her birth certificate there to show that she does have a middle name.

I will assume you meant to say DS-156 - yes?

My fiance received her new international passport in Nov 2008. It shows her Russian first and middle names in Russian on one line and directly below this it only shows her first name in English. The middle name is not shown in English.

Now I know she wants and expects to have a middle name when she comes here. Should her middle name in English be shown on the DS-156, even with it not shown in English in her passport, or should this information be pointed out at the time of interview.

your interview is tomorrow, but you don't have the forms filled out? you should probably go to the embassy website to download the forms.. also did your fiance(e) send you anything to bring to the interview?

The person who asked the original question has been directed in what to do. The above answer is a common answer I see here by a person who has the best of intentions, but without full knowledge of the individual requirements for a specific country. In this case the requirement to provide a prepaid DHL airbill for the visa to be sent to the beneficiary. There was no mention of missing forms, or lack of documents sent by the fiance.

Unfortunately this well intentioned response could have been avoided if the original question had been posted in the this forum:

Click Here! (Russia Regional)

In addition if the topic starter had bothered to do any simple search, such as DHL, they would have been rewarded with many topics that have already discussed this issue.

I would strongly suggest people first look in their regional discussion area and 9 out of 10 times they will find out what they are looking for faster. In this particular case the first item after a search of DHL is the pinned topic: Russia Specific FAQ. This topic provides a wealth of information for someone who lives in RUSSIA.

I don't want to say people should not ask questions. But, questions can be more efficient and replies more accurate if people spend a few moments searching first instead of just asking first. In the long run I feel this approach is also quicker for the person with the questions to find the answers.

They're not likely to do anything for him as the 'magic number' is 6 months.. anything faster than 6 months is within the timelimit to them so they only bother to call the USCIS (and the USCIS doesn't even bother then sometimes, look at Estadia for example, she is waiting for more than a year already) after the file date of the application is longer than 6 months ago.

I am well aware of that. I have never in my previous 60 years on this planet ever written a representative in government. But, this time I decided I would:

March 25, 2009

The Honorable nnnn

242 Cannon House Office Building

United States House of Representatives

Washington D.C. 20515

Dear Congressman nnn:

I am writing to question my perceived lack of fairness with the processing of I-129F K-1 Fiancé(e) Visa applications at the California Service Center (CSC).

It has always been my understanding applications are supposed to be processed in the order in which they are received. In the past couple of months this does not appear to be the case, at least at the California Service Center. Over the past two months it appears the majority of application approvals have been for couples who have waited a shorter period than many others.

The best way for me to show my point is to review the attached pages. All statistics are gathered from a very popular website, although not official, I feel is very indicative of what is happening with all applications. (I cite my sources as links to Igor’s list and another link from above.)

The table on page one shows the last 20 I-129F application approvals from CSC. As you can see only one person on this list received their NOA1 before December 2008. The remaining 19 are from December 2008 to February 2009.

The second table shows people awaiting approvals with earlier NOA1 dates than many that have been approved. This shows the 38 applicants from Sep 08 - Nov 08 awaiting action on their application. All still within the suggested processing time from the CSC site:

https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/jsps/Processtim...eviceCenter=CSC

The third page shows a graph which leads to my point about lack of fairness. After an application is received I have been lead to believe it is recorded as received and a NOA1 is sent to the applicant. The file is then put in storage until applications received prior have begun initial processing. I do not think it ‘fair’ that many applicants have received their NOA2 or initial processing for Dec 2008 – Feb 2009 while there are still 38 still on the list from Sep 08 – Nov 08 with no initial action at all on their applications.

I am not asking you to specifically ask about my petition. According to the guidelines it is still too early for that specific request. There are still many ahead of me on the table on page 2 which should be considered ahead of me. I would like to find out why there is an apparent lack of fairness in this process.

Sincerely,

Name

Address

City, State, Zip

H -phone

W-phone

This is really all I can do at the moment and go back to just being patient.

For those who are just guessing about how applications are processed I suggest you go HERE! to review A Question and Answer Session with a former USCIS Adjudicator between VisaJourney members. Maybe I should amend that to 'how' they were processed.

Again, I wish to congratulate everyone who has received an NOA2 with very short waiting times. When I began this process of waiting I set my mind to believe it would be between 4-6 months until NOA2.