Simplytex

Probably CDEK, but they give mixed messages on if services from some chat groups I've seen. Best to contact them directly.

It's true though. Studies have shown that time of day can even affect people's mood. https://www.wired.com/2011/04/judges-mental-fatigue/

I'm not sure if my transfer to KZ was approved because I'm doing a spousal visa, or if I just caught a clerk when they were feeling happy on a Monday morning, or if their policy changes weekly, but I did include in our email request the following (along with other context): "given the current situation and legal challenges for Russians to enter Poland, I would like to ask if it is at all possible to transfer her interview from Warsaw embassy to the Almaty Consulate General."

As far as I've read, the level 4 advisory is basically the same as it's been for almost a year (hard to believe this fiasco had been going on that long...) But, the only additional part was them saying again that they can't help people who have dual Russian/US citizenship if they get mobilized as part of the second 'partial' mobilization that has semi-officially been announced. And I say again, because they said this back in Sept or whenever for the first go around...

Not quite right. There are two different times this is checked: at the medical, and when boarding the plane. Currently, if you do medical in Russia or Kazakhstan (I only have confirmed those two) then a Russian doesn't need to have an approved (or any, for that matter) COVID vaccination. This is by exception, because people from other countries are required to have it, and potentially Russians if they do the medical in other countries. For the second check though you are right, travelers to the United States are checked for COVID vaccinations, unless they are US citizens, permanent residents, or have the CR/IR category visas (fiances are required to have this proof of vaccination, though, even if they had done medical in Russia or KZ....)

Based on this news, I think you may need to reconsider your options, and look at transferring the interview to a different location. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/poland-close-belarus-border-crossing-until-further-notice-says-minister-2023-02-09/ Edit: my bad, I misread the title before finishing the article. They are only closing a border crossing location, rather than all crossings. It will will be harder to go by land, though.

It should be at NVC, so yes, wait until then. Also, the situation is fluid so what was true 6 mo ago isn't anymore. No, but it may help in some cases I just transferred spousal visa from Poland to KZ, it took 1 day. It can range though, from less than a week, to maybe 2-3 weeks. No once can tell you exactly. I would plan to arrive 2-3 days ahead of medical, give the medical 3-5 business days between it and the interview, then another 2 weeks on the back end to receive the passport. Right now, Israel and KZ seem to be the hotspots, but again, this changes. Who knows, Dept of State may even reassign away from Poland to KZ officially, or some other post.

Messaging @Peter1025 or @To_the_moon, I think they transferred to Jerusalem.

We recently transferred to Kazakhstan pretty quickly, I think it's the best option out there and they seemed responsive. Good luck!

MoscowMojo and I have, can pm me

That roughly lines up with what I saw a while back when looking at visas issues specifically to Russians in this post

Interesting - and had you already been DQ at the time? When did you receive that email (how long after transfer?)

Too late to edit my old post, sorry for the additional one. I just went searching on KZ embassy site (I know, definite risk of outdated/incorrect info, but at least one 'official line') https://kz.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/family-based-immigration/the-interview/ "Once your case becomes qualified for an interview, NVC will work with the U.S. Consulate in Almaty to schedule an interview appointment for you."

Btw, they also fly out of Nizhy Novgorod and Kazan (possibly other routes) to Almaty but that was just what I had looked up. Not sure what's closer, so take a look/play with the options.

Interesting. @Moscowmojo had their case transferred (prior to DQ) and his wife's interview was automatically scheduled. If I may be nosey, what was the specific wording in the emails/instructions to schedule your interview? I know that folks do have to register at US travel docs once interview is scheuled (and prior to attending) so that the embassy knows how to send you back the passport, but its interesting that they would schedule his, but not yours.

@stacys and @Runner19, just to clarify, are you talking about fiance, spousal, or parent visas? Correct me if I'm wrong, I thought only K visa's are self-scheduled, IR/CR (spouse/child/parent) visas would be scheduled by NVC/embassy and you get notified.

Best of luck, and please do keep us updated! I'm still planning to try to go the Poland route (instead of transferring) because my personal experience in EU has been that I've never had my passport checked on an internal Schengen border... I just need that to hold true one more time...

Yes, good point! I was thinking about it in my case, before my coffee kicked in - I filed I130 online, so basically immediately I had a PDF receipt available to print out (they later mailed an official form, but I had already filed K3 at that point.)

Yes, the I129F is the correct form. You will see one of the first questions on it asks who you are filling it for - wife or fiance - that's how USCIS knows if they should process it as k1 or k3. There is no filing fee for the I129F if you have already paid for the I130, you just have to provide the first notification USCIS gives you for the I130. You will send the I129F form to the address listed in the instructions. Both the form and instructions are available here, I recommend that you read through both because I think all the questions you ask are covered there 😉 https://www.uscis.gov/i-129f

This is roughly what I've seen reported, and you could arguably claim that they are there under point 13 (the first one, not the fisherman one) on a humanitarian purpose... But I understand that probably they mean that the Russian trying to enter needs to find in in a humanitarian visa, not a tourist Schegen visa... It is alarming though that they specifically say that they don't give a fudge about providing any exemption for those people who need to attend the US embassy, I feel like the US dept of state could have done a better job helping to "convince" our Polish friends that this would be something desired... Do you have a Schegen visa already? When you plan to try to make the trip (I see per the timeline you are interviewing on March 2, right?)

Looks like Red Wings is the airline serving that route Yekaterinburg to Almaty https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koltsovo_International_Airport if you go down to airlines section you can see all the routes

If it's a spouse/family member (IR/CR visa) then no COVID proof or tests required. K visas have to show vaccination records, no tests.

Sure thing. No idea how often ILs are sent out, I'm guessing maybe 2x per month. I'm thinking we'll hear back sometime in the next 3 weeks, which isn't actually all that long but it's harder to wait knowing the finish line is just ahead...

Sure thing. No idea how often ILs are sent out, I'm guessing maybe 2x per month. I'm thinking we'll hear back sometime in the next 3 weeks, which isn't actually all that long but it's harder to wait knowing the finish line is just ahead...

Thanks, I was researching some more last night and I think that roughly lines up with what I found: spousal benefit is only available if MFJ, so that seems to be a non-starter for me.