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Igor&Elina

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Posts posted by Igor&Elina

    August/September 2007 K-1 Filers

    in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America

    Posted

    Hmmmm...sooo...any August/September filers out there who have actually received visas and together with their SO's here in the US? :D

    Well, I've been absent for a few days, and missed the beginning of a new forum. Dang!

    Okay, so, I'm one of those August filers. As most of you probably already know, we've received our visa and arrived back to US on March 5th. We were married on March 13th and are now getting the next set of docs together for the AOS.

    We are now also getting ready for the birth of our baby, due in just over a month. It's been a lot of work and also a lot of fun getting everything arranged, getting my wife on my insurance plan, with the doctors, getting everyting set up at home, etc...

    Waiting for a NOA2 from CSC for your I-129F?

    in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    Thanks to BlakeandOlha for staying on top of the CSC approvals, and most definitely CONGRATULATIONS to all the new approvals!!! To those still waiting, hang in there. Your day really is going to come.

    The real thanks goes to Igor and his list :thumbs: - and general under-employment, which gives me the opportunity to stay on top of the list. :whistle:

    You are all welcome! :)

    I hope to have a little bit of extra time soon to spend on some long overdue improvements to the list. Stay tuned...

    Cheers!

    Tourist Visa

    in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

    Posted

    Elina,

    We are still not sure what the reason for the denial four years ago was. I suspect that one of the reasons was that the invitation came from my then-boss, who was not married at the time (and she was a widow). I know we have to demonstrate the "change in the circumstances," and that is hard to do. I can think of (1) greater income she now has; (2) significant other she now has; (3) she is now the only caretaker for her 85-year-old mother (which was not the case before); and (4) she now has the second apartment. I am also getting the letter from the Senator in MI to hopefully persuade the officer. The big problem is that she is a widow, and that she has this denial to overcome.

    If anybody has any other advice, it would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to see if there are other avenues I can pursue--some letters, some evidences, some "ties" I could draw officer's attention to.

    Also, has anybody purchased airline tickets in advance? Does it help? And can you get a refund if the visa flunks?

    Thanks so much!

    Actually it's Igor here. (Elina was reading over my shoulder though.)

    Sounds like there are quite a few positive changes to improve the circumstances. If I was a betting man I'd say that she's got a good chance of getting a visa now. You understand though that it's just me betting though, your mileage may vary.

    As far as I know invitation letters are not required and usually not even looked at. I would skip one altogether. Instead get her something official looking about your graduation. Letters from senators or anything like that probably would not help either, they cannot convince an officer that there are enough ties to go back after the trip. I think that the most effective play would be for your mother to simply say that she is going for a short trip to attend your graduation, have that evidenced in some way, and have all the evidence about her ties. BTW, her being the only caretaker of an 85-year mother is really good, there's nothing better as "ties" then leaving a dependant behind, get some good evidence of that.

    Getting tickets in advance does not usually help. Refunding them might not work, it depends on tickets, some are refundable, some only partially, some are not.

    --Igor

    Tourist Visa

    in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

    Posted

    I am a permanent resident here (have been here for 6 years); I am graduating from law school next month. My mom is in Russia; she is 58, a widow, but gainfully employed, has two apartments, good income, and my brother with his family. She has already been denied a visa once (4 years ago). What are her chances of getting a visa to come to my graduation, and what can I do to help the process?

    I would really appreciate your advice!

    What was the reason for denial 4 years ago? Has anything changed in her situation to make that reason go away?

    It seems from your information that she should have enough ties back to home to ensure her return, but for that denial.

    Another Question

    in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

    Posted · Edited by Igor&Elina

    I believe you have to work with the local DHL office in Moscow and have them hold it for you there. This is what Kevin (KGSodie) did. You can't pick it up straight from the embassy.

    There are two DHL offices in Moscow that you can get your packet from:

    "Tverskoe"

    125047, 1st Tverskaya-Yamskaya str., 11

    Telephone: 7-(495) 956-10-00/ 961-10-00

    Mon-Fri: 08.00-24.00

    Sat-Sun: 10.00-16.00

    "Moskovskoe"

    127083, 8 Marta str., 14, bld.,1

    Telephone: 7-(495) 956-10-00/ 961-10-00

    Mon-Fri: 08.00-21.00

    Sat-Sun: 10.00-16.00

    To get it from "Tverskoe" office you will need to address your airbill to them and then go and pick it up from there about 3 work days after the interview. You will be able to track online when they get it.

    To get it from "Moskovskoe" office if a bit more tricky. This is the "intercept" version. "Moskovskoe" is their central distribution office in Moscow that all the packets get routed through. So, you address your airbill to any address you want, like your home, then you track it very often. Usually it will be picked up from the embassy on the second work day after the interview. That same evening it will arrive to the "Moskovskoe" office and if you time it right you can get there before they close and pick it up. If you miss it, it'll get sent to the address on the airbill that same night.

    Yes, it is possible to pick it up from the embassy (Elina did it), but it can only be done in special circumstance and, again, only on the second work day after the interview. Elina had the interview expedited and under the same circumstance they've allowed her to pick it up directly from the embassy. We were on pins and needles though, cuz we weren't sure it would work.

    Good luck!

    Waiting for a NOA2 from CSC for your I-129F?

    in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    Hello everyone!

    I'm happy to report that we've arrived home last night. :dance: The POE at SFO was a breeze. Sure helps going through together; we went through the USC line this way and the officer didn't even ask any questions. Just took the packet, opened it, took a brief look through the contents, informed us about the 90 day limit, had Elina do the biometrics, and that was it. :thumbs:

    So happy to be home together again! :)

    Waiting for a NOA2 from CSC for your I-129F?

    in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    YAY!! Gratzies!!!

    Now for admin - you flying into LAX or somewhere else? I'll fill in your info on the spreadsheet :D

    Hrmm... I can't find you - AHHH!! I thought you were July!! OMG - this is making me feel "old" :lol:

    Thanks Aly!

    :lol: Nope, I'm an August filer. We've been around here for so long though, it's not hard to get confused. After a while things start to blur. :D

    We'll be flying into SFO.

    Waiting for a NOA2 from CSC for your I-129F?

    in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    GAH! For some reason I didn't think this was til next week.

    Best of luck to you both, and PLEASE keep us informed!!! What a great time this has been for our little Russian community, keep up the momentum! :)

    Yeah, until a couple of days ago, I didn't know it was going to be next week either. Then 2 days ago the embassy finally gave us an expedite and here we are, interview next week. Aaahh!!! I'm just so glad we've been extremely proactive in getting everything ready for the interview ahead of time. :thumbs:

    August and September Filers - NOA2 to NVC

    in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    Has anyone else heard about requesting a provisional file to be opened at the consulate once you receive the NOA2? I've read elsewhere that the petitioner can fax a copy of the NOA2 along with a letter to request a "provisional file" and, depending on the country, the consulate will then send packet 3 to the fiance before the approved I-129F actually gets there. Sounds like a great way to speed things up a few weeks, but wondering if anyone has had any success with it... Thanks

    Any more info on this?

    I want to try it out.

    I believe I remember pushbrk answering that provisional files are a thing of the past. They will not do it. You might want to do a search on it, I think it was about 3 weeks ago or so.

    Yeah, that's correct. I was in on that thread too. I've tried it with the Moscow Embassy and they replied that it's not something they do. It may be different for your consulate, but chances are that it really is a thing of the past. On the other hand it doesn't hurt to try.

    August and September Filers - NOA2 to NVC

    in K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress Reports

    Posted

    I was sitting at home thinking about the way the CSC person talked to me and something bothered me about it. My BS detector was up. I just called NVC for the hell of it and they received today.

    MNL # 2008552XXX

    Congrats!

    Oh, and Pvt 1st Class Mox, checking in *officially* now. :)

    Welcome to the club Mox! Good of you to check in here officially :D

    Your membership here will be short lived ;)

    Ummm... come to think of if my membership is long over. :lol:

    I129F, PETITION FOR FIANCE APPROVED!!

    in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

    Posted

    Hey folks..

    Just got the good news email 30 minutes ago. I am so stoked, I am not even worried about my root canal tomorrow :thumbs:

    2 months, 2 weeks and 3 days wait time. I know that I lucked out getting it this fast but it seemed like forever, as I'm sure you all know.

    All of your kindness, humor, and most of all patience, on this board helps keep this waiting time bearable for all of us.

    There still is much to do and to wait for, but the uncertainty has lessened. I would cringe every time I read the super long wait times and the horror stories that some unfortunate folks have gone through. I truly believe that by using all of the tips and information on this board (including double-hole punching the top and separator tabs at the bottom :) has helped. One of my friends saw my package before I sent it and wondered why so much effort.

    Well.. my reasoning was that if I was a government worker and they unloaded a pile of files on my desk, I would shuffle through looking for the neatest and most well organized applications.. you know.. the easiest ones!

    Thanks again all for this great board that you have made!

    Поздравляю!!! Congratulations!!! :dance:

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