ah-no

Well, in the case of Georgia, she works in the country and is a tax resident there, so I'm concerned about that one, even though she's doing it visa-free. (Georgia allows people to work and come visa-free for a year)

I believe they've really clamped down on handing our residencies to Russians in Turkey, you'd have to check. But, even if you go that route, I've heard the US embassy there is very, very slow.

Her address was listed as in Russia and we grabbed a police certificate, and we'll see if we need another one or not. It's possible. My question is about the 6th month rule... we've been in Georgia AND Turkey off and on over 3 years using visa-free rules probably exceeding 6th months total, but never consecutively, and never as official "residents". I was never able to get an answer on that one.

It's not odd. A lot of people are in the same boat as me, and this number has changed for a lot of people. So, basically, this depends on your processing center, I'm at Potomac. When I started it was like, 12 months, it ticked down to around 7 or something, then jumped back up to 10 (in fact, a lot of people jumped back up at this time), then a few months later, it went down to like 1 month. When the 1 month ran out, it automatically ticked over to taking longer than expected. But, if you check visa journey estimates, folks at YSC (Potomac) with a date of roughly the end of august are being processed. I'm in Oct. So I expect around 2 months for NOA1. The situation can change between now and then, but it pays to be ready. I actually think it can be accepted early and assigned to Tbilisi. Sounds crazy, but we were married there, and not the first time it's happened, another person had the same. It's something to think about, how to balance it.

1. This was never the case, that's why this forum exists, if this were just a month, there would be no "journey". That's just amazing that you think that, and honestly, that's what most people think. Many people in my family are AMAZED at the wait time, and strangers are, too. Welcome! You're probably looking at 12-18 months if you start today. The asylum thing people are talking about is a moon shot and if it fails you set yourself back immensely. Huge risk. Hope I don't come off as rude, but I don't want to give you any false impressions so that you understand the reality -- there is no "fast track", period. (Maybe if you were famous or extremely wealthy there could be some shortcuts, but if that were the case, I don't know why you'd be here...) 2. Pretty much, yes. Not 100% out, and always worth a shot, but be prepared to wait and spend a lot of money and to have her turned away at the border.

Well, that would be two trips back to Russia. So, 6 weeks isn't enough time to get a 2 week greek visa?

@BenNomad This is absolutely a great tactic, and one I think would be good to do closer to the interview time. Can you share any about your mythology? I can read and speak Russian but don't feel like digging through that huge forum for the goods. Now, I personally think that a 2 week visa would be enough, but my wife says asking for more than 2 weeks lends itself to a higher rejection. 2 weeks is optimal for that. If the spouse can do the medical interview in Moscow (which seems totally possible), that would mean just the need to travel and wait for the visa. 2 weeks is probably doable if the interview is held within the first 3 days of that period. But, of course, more time is better. The Italy numbers are promising. This absolutely depends on how fast the turnaround for the medical results is.

We'll have to see about the residence thing, maybe we'll explore it at the same time we're doing the Poland plan as a backup option. Right now my plan is this: Wait for invitation letter (these seem to be about a month out) --> 1. She goes within 2-3 days to Moscow and tries to take the medical exam, (not sure how long it takes to book a place or get the results, if it's possible to do this way in advance, we could start sooner, after DQ, for example) 2. then, as soon as she doesn't need her passport for med exam, she starts the procedure for a 2-week Schengen trip ASAP, with the 3rd day of the 2-week period being the interview. 3. We'll enter EU from whatever country was quickest to get the visa, 4. transfer to Berlin the same day, 5.and take a car to Warsaw. 6. We'll do the interview and have around 10 days left to get the passport back. Any holes with this plan that are glaringly obvious?

Estimated wait time is "taking longer than expected", but judging by other estimates, I think around 2-3 more months until approval. It's been around 10 months since we started. I'll have to check out the Warsaw thread but my main concerns were when to return to Russia to schedule the Schengen process... I thought this has to be scheduled like a month or two out because of how tough it was to get slots now. Then, also, the medical exam can be done in Moscow, but how long in advance can it be done? This would give a lot more flexibility. But.... a new question coms up.. does doing this exam in Moscow exempt folks from needing COVID vaccine? otherwise it's useless. it seems "maybe" based on what I read

Hey - I've been trying to establish an answer to this question but the information seems to be quickly outdated or spread across different threads. In my current understand, the only way for a Russian citizen to get the IR1/CR1 visa is via the Warsaw or Jerusalem embassy via a transfer, right? If so, I don't really understand how to manage the Warsaw one at all. If you do this, how do you schedule the Schengen visa in Russia compared to scheduling the interviews? If they're giving visas just for the length of the trip and they issue a 2 week visa to, for example, Italy - what is the plan of action? Is this even enough time to do everything that needs to be done? Get from your entry country to Warsaw -> Medical exam -> interview -> passport return (all assuming no problems with Poland's issues with Russians) If you transfer to Jerusalem, I've heard about Russians being turned away from the border, or, the embassy there keeps the passport for 1+ month even after approval. Besides the expenses of living there, this region also seems to be under some government instability at the moment, if you go by the news. Further, I've read this embassy asks for CVs and essays written in university? (This was K1 case, admittedly.) Does anyone have answers on the logistics of doing this? If we were to get a residency in a country like Georgia, Greece, or Montenegro for the purposes of just conducting the interview (we'd live there too, but only for a few months, our time should be approaching this year or early next year), but still, wouldn't that be a little suspicious for the officer doing the interview? This was madness before! Now, it is absolute madness! Prior, Serbia or Kazaksthan seemed the obvious choice...

Hello, I'm filing married -- separate. With the Federal returns, no big deal, I wrote "NRA" under her SSN, printed off the returns and mailed them with a cashier's check. But here in the great state of Kentucky, they have a space for the SSN ....and the spouse's signature.. and the spouse's state ID/Driver's license. Where do I even turn for guidance on this issue without paying an arm and a leg? Should I just write NRA again and N/A + N/A for the others? The KY department of revenue website offers no guidance on this issue. P.S. Even to file an extension I need to write her SSN, but I'll just do that, send my check, and write NRA, and give the reason as the spouse's status, I guess, to have more time. I don't want her to get ITIN if possible. If anyone can help, much appreciated.

Hello — I’ve heard conflicting reports of the following issue: When filing the i-130 online, the language is different compared to the instructions of the paper version. Paper version asks for two 2x2 photos of spouse, digital asks for one. Paper version says it’s not required if spouse is in USA, digital version is quiet on this. Here’s my real question: since we’re just scanning and uploading them, will it HURT us if we just go ahead and add the 2x2 photos for my spouse. i have the exact same question about the I-130A — would signing and dating it HURT us? Perhaps by indicating she’s in the USA somehow? (This one is more literal about the requirement, but nonetheless, it’s not particular difficult to get the signature and would be somewhat reassuring. The thing is, I had to print the doc off and write on it for some fields anyway, so it just looks like she could’ve done that and forgot to sign, imo.) it’s not particularly a big deal for us to do this, and I guess RFE would be rare on the second point. But I’m wondering. thanks everyone.

Thanks for the response. i… did go through that process. I got the redress number. I used it on my last flight and that’s when I was flagged at customs.

So, 3 flights beginning of this last year I got SSSS on my tickets and had to undergo time-consuming full search. Then, silence. This most recent time, I was pulled aside upon arrival by customs and they searched everything and grilled me. It took like 1.5 hours extra. I am wondering.... if I am on some kind of list, could this interfere with my wife's CR1? I didn't do anything, but could still be a reality that i'm flagged for something. Could this something be an immigration issue? I'm not sure what it means. Just an anxious ball