Hi everyone,
I know this is not going to be easy for someone in Russia to get a B2 Visitor visa under the current circumstances, but I also believe the path may not be completely blocked.
So I am hoping that people here have some experience, information, or guidance on this.
My wife was thankfully able to immigrate on a CR-1 in November last year. Now we would like her mother to come and visit from Russia, just for a month or two.
I know my mother in law (MIL) needs to apply on her own merits and we can't petition/sponsor/invite her, but I am trying to help her figure out how to do the application under the current difficult circumstances.
From what I gathered the first step in the process is:
> submit a DS-160 application form online (with all necessary supporting documents including a photo)
Q1: the DS-160 application can be submitted online here https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/ but it requires to enter where you want to submit. For my MIL should that initially still be Moscow, even though we know Moscow is not actually processing visa's at the moment?
Q2: Is there any point even to submit an application for a B2 to Moscow, is it just going to sit in an inbox? Has anybody seen a DS-160 submitted to Moscow being processed/approved lately?
Q3: Is it an option to submit the DS-160 application to another location right away (e.g. Kazakhstan, Poland, other)?
Q4: Does anyone have any advice or experience on how to initiate a B2 application from Russia at the moment (March/April 2022)?
I know it is complicated and uncertain and will probably take a long time to get it, but I also believe that it's worth trying because if you don't submit your application you know 100% sure that you won't get a visa.
I also know that even with an approved DS-160 the next challenge is to get an interview which can't be done at a US consulate in Russia for sure. But that is a next step that we will have to deal with when we get to it (who knows what the world will look like by that time).
Thanks,
Wouter