Totino

9 minutes ago, smoothoperaytor said:

I may be in a similar situation soon. I'm from the US and my fiance is Russian. I believe Poland is closed for the US because of covid, but it sounds like it's open for Russians? Does this mean your fiance had to travel alone?

Yes, travelled alone, booked the apartment , made all tests and fixed an appointment with the doctor,  going to gym there, feels at ease… Initially, took the plane to Athens to leave Russia as this was the only open direction from Russia at that moment and then took another flight to Poland . Poland is closed for Russians but you can enter it from another Shenghen country.

A little update. The fiancé  got a schengen visa to Greece , flew to Athens , slept there in a beautiful place, next day took a plane to Warsaw , rented apartment for 1 month in Warsaw . Then planned appointment with a doctor, did all tests and now waiting for the interview date. It was very simple and adventurous , but costly. Visa to Greece - 200$, Ticket to Athens - 500$, ticket to warsaw - 100$, airbnb in warsaw - 500$, medical exam and vaccinations -  about 240 $, eating and transport in warsaw - about 700$ + (still there)…. 
Now we should think of air tickets to the States. Initially we thought of business class , but with all that spending maybe it will be economy 😄

3 minutes ago, millefleur said:

Well, being on a backlog where you at least know someone will eventually get it to it is much better than just being in eternal limbo like in Moscow. So, still good news! I hope the wait won't be too long. Does your fiancée have a Schengen visa? Was that a requirement for the transfer?

Exactly ! The most important thing is to know there is a way to transfer it. Schengen visa is easy to get. Many European countries are opening now. Greece , Italy , Cyprus . We can wait another year - no problem 🤣🤣🤣but we need to know there is something to wait for! 

3 minutes ago, millefleur said:

That's great news!!! What visa is it, spousal, fiancee or parent visa?

Fiancée ! But they said they are dealing with the backlog and need some waiting , but they said they accept the case transfer from Moscow to Warsaw ♥️

They agreed to take our case in Poland ! No need for any lawyer babes ! ♥️♥️♥️

2 minutes ago, Varyag said:

It is a little more complicated. All these actions started at the end of 2016 due to alleged "Russian interference" in the election after Trump won and the subsequent expulsion of Russian diplomats, closing Russian government owned compounds, and closings of the San Fran consulate. I can't remember the play by play, but it was a back and forth escalation. In the last few weeks the US State Department decided to only allow Russian diplomats to stay in the US as long as US diplomats are usually stationed in other countries at 3 years. (So Russia would have to follow US policy on diplomat deployment in foreign countries.) Russia answered back that since the Foreign Ministry doesn't employ locals in their embassies, the US can't employ locals in the diplomatic posts in Russia. (So the US would have to follow Russian policy on local hiring for embassy support staff.) Classic #######-for-tat leaving normal folks in the lurch.

 

Btw. the US diplomatic staff quota in Russia currently stands at 455, but there are only 280 accredited employees, so there is room to replace the departing Russian national local staff to get the ball rolling again on various mission objectives like immigrant/non-immigrant visas.

 

It doesn’t matter how it started , because it all comes from the evil nature of the Russian regime anyway. And though we have difficulties in meeting our fiancees , I still support all sanctions against Russian government and even more - I push for more sanctions. We will find a way to meet our loved ones in ANY case. 

1 hour ago, Strawberrymermaid said:

Just heartbreaking. If you do decide to get married in Mexico, I can offer some advice. We just did that in February and was pretty easy. Hardest thing now will be finding a flight there since flights through Istanbul are so limited 

Could you please offer some advice as to how to get marry in Mexico ? We are an American national and a Russian national. We would really appreciate to know your experience

2 hours ago, Corp668 said:

I am in a similar situation as you.  This whole thing is untenable... I have a child with my fiancee and I haven't seen them in almost a year and a half.  My daughter is growing up and I am missing it... first it was COVID, now the deterioration of US-Russia relations.

 

I don't know how long this situation will last and I don't even know what options I have.  What are you thinking in terms of options?  My partner is open to moving to another country but I don't know where Russians can move to and quickly/immediately be citizens.

What we are thinking to do now is to ask several embassies outside of Russia to let our K visa interview happen on their territory, since the situation in Moscow is extraordinary. If all of them refuse, there will be one way : get married in Mexico and start the process again but with a spouse visa, which again will require a year. 

7 minutes ago, Chauncey said:

It's the american side that decided to halt visa services

Sorry but it is NOT so. It is the Russian government that asked the ambassador Sallivan to leave, and forbid the USA embassy in Moscow to hire Russian people. Which simply led to shortage of staff for interviews. There are 200 people left at the embassy instead of 1200 in 2015. It is not the American government that doesn’t want to issue immigrant visas, it is Russian government that expelled 75% of American diplomats from Moscow . 
https://www.google.ru/amp/s/amp.dw.com/en/us-embassy-in-moscow-cuts-staff-and-visa-services/a-57385581

so the lawsuit is simply a waste of money... USA is not responsible for unfriendly actions of third countries ...

41 minutes ago, Strawberrymermaid said:

You could join a mass lawsuit, file one of your own, or cancel that petition, getting married and file I-130 for CR1 since Poland is taking those transfers (but you are still on your own to get a Schengen visa). None are great options but at least its something  

I’m sorry to put put my word in, but you have no chance in mass lawsuit against who? It’s not the problem of American embassy , it is Russian government that expelled American ambassador and cut 75% of American embasssy staff. Who are you goi g to sue ? For what ? What is the requirement to the embassy you want to pose?  It is not that American embassy doesn’t want to interview , it is that Russian government expelled diplomats from Russia and there are simply 200 people at the embassy left. 

I’m waiting to talk to my fiancé later today after that news and I don’t know what to do next .. I mean, there is no chance that political situation will change in Russia for at least 5-10 years, maybe longer. What we are going to do? K1 visas are not transferred to other countries . So we have no chance ?  Can you wait 10 years ?? 

Just now, Chauncey said:

Can I see proof?

https://ru.usembassy.gov/message-to-u-s-citizens-u-s-mission-russia-reduction-of-consular-services/

Just now, Chauncey said:

Where did you hear this?

In the official Russian news and also on the website of the embassy . And it says that they stop it for an indefinite time! Also they will proceed only small portion of immigrant visas only expedite cases . I’m devastated...

Hello guys, today we have some very sad news: US embassy in Moscow announced that it will stop issuing all visas except for diplomatic ones. Any ideas what we can do? I’m very frustrated

little update: they stop issuing all non-immigrant visas, but will continue to process some very limited number of immigrant visas.