rikko

Email the embassy with a request and reasoning for why you should get the request. It may be quicker to interview in Poland as it is a big embassy with the capacity to process many applicants. I am not sure how big the Turkish and Kazakh embassies are. However, if you are at high risk of a 221g/administrative processing, it will not matter where in the world you are interviewed, you will be subject to a lengthy and likely 10-16 month long AP, according to forum vinskogo. I still personally found it convenient to interview elsewhere. I did not like the Schengen visa song and dance. We chose Jerusalem, Israel (or rather, they chose to accept us. I'm glad they did.)

email other embassies, make a case for yourself asking "can i get a transfer" is usually a no asking "can i get a transfer, my fiancee is russian and our assigned embassy is warsaw, which is in a country they cannot legally enter as their schengen has been denied. can you accept our case?" is more likely to get a yes countries that have high rates of russian speakers or already process other russian cases are more likely to accept transfers, some people are able to get kazakh or uzbek transfers, most people are able to get jerusalem transfers if your fiancee has residency elsewhere you can try that, but my fiance has armenian residency and they denied our transfer. some russians in serbia were able to get transfers, though. the embassy that accepts your case transfer will request your files from warsaw. there is nothing to do on your end regarding that. warsaw will not send it anywhere if you ask, only if another embassy does.

You really have to sell that you have to transfer. If you just ask it's almost guaranteed they will say no. Jerusalem did not accept my case transfer until our situation became kind of dire and on the 3rd attempt to transfer. Provide a short statement about the impossibility of getting to Warsaw legally for you, or without committing fraud. Provide proof you need the transfer.

Israel accepts Russian cases regularly, and are back to normal processing as of January 2024. Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan sometimes accepts transfers, but they are less likely to. Serbia/Armenia not very likely iirc

Another thing I wish I knew is to bring research, work, and educational materials if you are at risk of 221g. The US Embassy in Jerusalem suggests this (Israelis, despite being an ally of the US, are also subject to extra 221g review. https://il.usembassy.gov/visas/administrative-processing/ I also wish I was alerted to the fact that Russians are subject to extra 221g: https://pennstatelaw.psu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/pdfs/Immigrants/Administrative-Processing-FAQ.pdf

Hello, we were also asked for our passports and put into AP but it's been 8 months. While others here say it's a good sign they ask for your passports after the interview, it didn't seem to be the case in our situation.

I don't think there's a functioning embassy/consulate in Russia right now, most cases are assigned to Warsaw and a few family visas to Kazakhstan. I think contacting Kazakhstan/Uzbekistan/your country of choice can't hurt, but there is no guarantee they will accept your case. Good luck!

Hi, I wanted to start a thread where people can share things they wish they knew about 221g. Some things I've heard/learned: 1. Writ of Mandamus is no longer advised as of now, because the judge is throwing out cases, even in cases of 16 months of 221g. 2. If I had known my case would be at risk of a 8+ month 221g, I would've done CR-1 so I could legally be married to my spouse, and his company/work could also get me a way to stay with him legally. K-1 was not the right choice for me. I don't even think it is faster than CR-1 anymore. I believe CR-1 cases are also more likely to be accepted for transfers, which are in high demand for Russians. (It's hard for them to get to Warsaw, their default embassy). Some things I would like to know: 1. Is the Ombudsman an entity that I could contact regarding 221g? I haven't seen anything about it so far. 2. There was a thread here saying their 221g case expired. Should I be proactively emailing the embassy to prevent expiration? Is it possible my case just expires anyways? 3. Does the visa, when approved, need to be picked up in person, or can I mail it? 4. When the visa is approved, can I have it sent to another embassy to be picked up?

Our case is in Jerusalem, we are in Armenia now. I heard if they didn't ask for your passports it's likely your AP may take awhile. Once AP is done, I believe you go back to the embassy to pick them up. If you intend to stay in Israel, it will be cheaper if you stay in East Jerusalem or Bethlehem. Both are West Bank, but it'll be $40/night instead of like $200/night in Israel.

i wish they'd just hire more people or relocate existing workers from other departments. 256 days and counting just for the last CEAC update... our lives have been so disrupted by this process...

Hi, wishing you the best, I'm also in AP, been in AP for 8 months with a Russian fiancé. You aren't alone! Check out the regional forums for MENA if you haven't.