Rob_Lesya

I'm very your wife had to experience that.

So because your wife had an accent, they assumed she was a foreigner.

Didn't she have a US passport?

Yes, she had her US passport and reentry receipt in her hand the entire time and made a point of showing it to him when she was asking why she wasn't allowed to go through the Citizen's processing line.

I'm not sure if he originally sent her to the wrong line by mistake or did it intentionally, but it's clear that as soon as he was questioned he was determined to show her that HE was the one in charge.

btw, he was NOT a uniformed CBP officer, just one of the folks in the orange jackets who direct people to the various lines and AFAIK are simply JFK employees. Someone more knowledgeable might clarify that if I'm mistaken.

and also btw-- both the guy who sent her to the wrong line and the actual uniformed CBP officer who interviewed her had MUCH heavier accents than hers.

Not sure of the best place to post this, so if the mods think it belongs elsewhere, please move it. Just wanting to get people's thoughts and comments on our recent JFK POE experience.

My wife (now a US citizen) and I (also a citizen) recently traveled to Russia to visit our family. Upon entry at JFK, we went to the kiosk, processed our passports, received our receipts and proceeded to the lines. The guy directing people sent me to one line. I took a couple of steps and turned around to see that my wife had been directed to a different line. I said to my wife, "you're in the wrong line"... and she said "this is where he told me to go".... I thought, 'ok. this must be another line that leads to citizen processing" and proceeded on. There was no waiting at Citizen processing, so the guy stamped my receipt, handed me back my passport and I was through in a couple of seconds. I turn around to see that my wife is standing in the visitor line (which had quite a few people in it, btw). I indicate to her that she's in the wrong line, so she goes to the guy and says, "I'm a US Citizen, why am I in this line?" He replies "because you have an accent." WHAT????

The guy is now apparently ticked off that my wife questioned him, so he keeps sending people for processing ahead of her. This goes on for about 30 minutes before he finally allows her to go through processing. During this entire time there's absolutely no one in line for US citizen processing. She's very upset by this point, so when she gets to the CBP office, she basically throws her passport onto the counter --- which leads him to question why she has such an attitude. She explains that she's very upset.. that she's now a US citizen and doesn't understand why she's being treated like this. Why was she not allowed to go through processing as a US Citizen. The CBP officer tells her the reason was because the machine didn't properly read her passport --- which is BS because:

1) If the machine didn't properly read her passport, how was it able to print a receipt with her name on it? and

2) The guy directing people to the various lines would have had no way of knowing that the machine didn't properly read her passport. All he could see was a passport and a receipt.

After a couple minutes of continued argument/conversation, he finally stamps her receipt and lets her through.

Of course, the most important lesson learned here was -- if you're a family traveling together-- DO NOT let them separate you.

But just curious about anyone else's experiences, thoughts, comments. I know that JFK has a reputation as a pretty unfriendly POE, but do they really have the authority to put a US citizen through this type of hassle "because they have an accent?" Isn't one of the main reasons for obtaining citizenship to eliminate this type of hassle upon travel and re-entry?

FINALLY!!! --- Card production ordered on December 11th.

Of course it would finally happen after the wife has left the country --- she returned to Russia a few days ago to visit family. She has her expired card and the NOA letter so shouldn't have a problem returning, but maybe she should have traveled to Russia a few months earlier!

well I guess someone got tried of kicking the file around......got the e-mail today..

On October 22, 2013, we transferred this case CRI89 PETITION TO REMOVE CONDITIONS OF PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS RECEIVED to another office for processing and sent you a notice explaining this action...... guess add us on the transfer list....thanks!

Yep... someone must have cleaned out an old filebox..... We also got a transfer e-mail today.

Been watching everyone's progress daily for the past few months. Guess it's time to be added to the list.

We're one of the rare cases at VSC--- no decision OR transfer. ...... just waiting....

I-751 Date -- 05/13

NOA1 Date -- 05/16

Biometrics -- 06/24

Zhenya has a friend who just told her a story (another scary story from a friend) of a man who was not allowed to leave at the airport because of his credit card debt.

Z has about $3K of CC debt - I plan to finish paying that off after all of these expenses are behind us...

Should this be an issue at any point of her departure? It doesn't seem like it to me, but I told her I would ask here.

Thanks!

Having a credit card debt in and of itself is not a problem. If she is behind on paying this (or any other) debt and it has been turned over to the Federal Bailiffs Service then she has a problem.

It is easy enough to check if she is on the list---

http://www.en.fssprus.ru/iss/ip/

Search this site--- if she does not show up then she PROBABLY will not have any trouble leaving the country (at least as it relates to this issue). If her name IS on the list, then she's not going anywhere until the issue is resolved and/or the name is removed.

My friend just informed me that her mother who she lives with has not paid her rent on time in quite a while and owes much money to the bank. She is concerned that because of her mother's debt that she won't be able to leave the country. Has anyone else faced this situation before? Would a parent's debt be automatically passed on to an adult child? Obviously this is important to answer this question long before we buy airline tickets and such (our current plan is to meet in a third country before trying for a US visa). I suppose that we really need to ask the Russian Federal Bailiffs' Service for the answer as to whether she is on the blacklist but any advice in this area would me most appreciated, especially if the answer the FBS gives is ever different than what is decided at the airport passport control.

It shouldn't cause her any problems, but it's VERY easy to check. I don't have the URL with me here at work, but you can find the website of the Bailiff's Service and once on that site she (or you) can search to find out if the name is on the list or not.

When my wife came here a few years ago she was concerned that debts of her ex-husband might cause her problems, but it was easy enough to search the site and see that she wasn't listed. She still occasionally searches the site to make sure that her name hasn't popped up --- and it's also interesting what you can find out from there about some of your friends and relatives.

To answer your last point -- there might be an EXTREMELY remote chance that someone's name could pop up on the list between the time that they've searched and when they arrive at the airport, but passport control is using the same list that you're looking at on the site so if the name isn't on the list, you've got very little to worry about.

Is 20 picture's enough for interview

No one can really answer that for you except the Consular Officer who will be looking at them.

ONE photo of the two of you together can be enough --- if that photo, along with your other evidence, convinces the CO that you are worthy of approval.

On the other hand, if you have 10 photos of YOU standing outside the Kremlin, and 10 photos of HER standing outside the Kremlin and NO photos of the two of you together -- then the photos are absolutely worthless as evidence.

Don't focus on the number of photos--- but what do these photos say to someone looking at them.

A photo of you and her together(shows that you've met but doesn't prove much more)-- good

Photos of you and her together at different places(shows that you spent at least a little time together)-- better

Photos of you and her together at different places during different trips (indicating that you've met more than once)-- even better

get the idea....

Photos of you and her together with family are also very good -- gives at least some indication that you have a serious relationship.

Again, focus on what the photos say about your relationship to someone looking at them for the first time.

For both our K-1 and CR-1 interviews, my fiance (and then wife) took about 20 or so photos with her. In both cases, the CO only looked at 1 photo and then told her she was approved.

I don't know if you have your heart set on Amsterdam ... Singapore has nearly daily nonstop service between Moscow and Houston.

KLM is nice, but Singapore earns its reputation as the best airline in the world, based on my experience.

No visa issues for her with Moscow. Of course, you might need a visa. And there's a hotel conveniently located next to Domodedovo if you need it.

Just another option.

Shhhhhhhh novotul! -- Not so loud about Singapore Airlines! I kinda like having an empty seat next to me when I take that flight!

But seriously, Singapore Airlines' service is consistently rated among the best in the world for a reason. Their economy class puts any US based carrier's business class to shame.

Their IAH-DME fare is among the least expensive you can find for any route going to Russia from the southern US.

And one BIG advantage for a K-1 (or CR-1) traveling to the US -- it's one of the last airlines that STILL allows you to bring TWO bags for free.

If I read your post correctly, you've had no direct communication with the Consulate regarding wanting you to return -- only what your fiancee has relayed to you.

If that's the case, the FIRST thing you need to do (and should have done already) is contact the Consulate (call or email) and find out what THEY say regarding wanting you to come back.

Moscow is generally a fairly easy consulate and in almost a decade of following the activity of the Moscow consulate I've never heard of them requesting the US citizen to come in for an interview for a K-1.

OK, just being a little paranoid. I paid the $88 AOS fee and the $404 IV fee. Just want to check if there's any fees at the embassy before, during or after the interview? This is a I-130 immigration interview for my wife's son.

Please advise. Thanks.

No additional fees at the Embassy...... only the DHL fee and probably about $20 more than what's listed on the website for the medical exam to cover the additional forms required for those adjusting status.

I've paid the following fees to the NVC already for the I-130 process:

$88 AOS fee

$404 IV fee

So, we should not have more fees unless I've missed something. Please advise if there are more fees.

You're good to go.

Just be aware that the medical clinic will probably charge a CR1/IR1 applicant about $20 more than the fee listed on the website. That's for the medical exam form for those seeking adjustment of status (I forget the exact form number at the moment).

Does anyone know if you can reschedule booked flights with Aeroflot? I could call them but thought I'd go the lazy route first. I'm thinking that if we book a flight and if he is one of the unlucky few who end up waiting more than the 3-4 day period, we could reschedule his departure. There's probably a charge of $150-$200 but I can live with that.

Anyone know about this?

And thanks for all the replies about visa wait times.

This is the change policy for the cheapest fare class available----This assumes there is a seat available in the same fare class, otherwise you'll also be paying the difference in fare-----

Permitted for a fee of 50 EUR, except for traveling on the routes to America/Asia/Africa - a fee of 100 EUR will apply. In case of domestic journey a fee of 1000 RUB will apply in case of traveling within region A, 2000 RUB - between region A and region B, and within region B 3)

I think your estimate of 3-4 days would probably be OK for the vast majority of cases, but there will always be exceptions.

There was a recent example on the forum of a CR-1 who "forgot" their DHL slip and were simply told to come back to the Embassy the next day to pick up their visa.

In our particular case we didn't pick up the visa in Moscow, but my wife had her CR-1 interview on June 7th and her DHL package was delivered to her in Chelyabinsk on the morning of the 10th... so it obviously had been sent out the next day after the interview.

Assuming that you're using one of the "usual" carriers out of Moscow (Aeroflot, Delta)...if he can stay with the friend in Moscow, I would suggest booking the flight for maybe 5-7 days after the interview.

I called NVC and they stated that the case is completed, but they will hold on to it until they are able to schedule an interview, which will maybe happen second week of July.

I read from other posts here that cases are sent to US Embassy in Kyiv shortly after they are completed and then it is possible to call the Embassy directly regarding the interview scheduling even though they prefer a more relaxed pace.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

Thanks!

Keep in mind that the VAST majority of posts that you are reading on this particular forum are dealing with K-1 visas, which is a slightly different process than the CR-1 that your timeline indicates.

I've never figured out why the NVC always tells callers that they schedule interviews during the 2nd week of each month --- that is simply not true--- they schedule them at all times of the month.

If your case IS complete, keep calling the NVC each day and you should have an interview date fairly soon (no, I can't tell you the EXACT date that they'll schedule it! ).

Once the interview date has been set, then the case will be forwarded to the Embassy.

Am I just being impatient or has there been a drop off in the last week? May was just flying through. I saw a whole lot of NOA2 approvals in May, but for the last week, I've barely seen any. Thoughts?

Keep in mind that you're only looking at people who have singed up at VJ and who have also bothered to fill out their timeline -- overall, a VERY small percentage of the total number of cases that USCIS and NVC are dealing with. So a week to week comparison is pretty meaningless.

Also keep in mind that we had a holiday during the past week.. and people are now getting into "vacation mode" so those that ARE on VJ might not be as quick to update their timeline.

Again, add all of this together, and a week to week comparison just doesn't mean much.

Don't worry too much --- your time WILL come!

My case was NVC completed on April 27th, and I've been guessing (based on what I've heard from folks here) that my interview would be some time in June. Well, the NVC scheduling period for May is now over (first 2 weeks, right?), and I haven't heard anything. I'm just trying to see if anybody else with a similar timeline is also waiting... this is a torture

Have you called NVC to find out what's going on?

First of all, forget the stuff about the "scheduling period" --- they schedule interviews at any time during the month. Ours was scheduled on April 26.

Second, forget the "wait 8 weeks" stuff --- most people will have their interviews scheduled within a week to 10 days from the "case complete" --- call NVC on Monday and find out the status of your case. If an interview hasn't been scheduled yet find out why, and then call them back every day until you get an interview date.

Our case was "complete" on April 23. We received our interview date on April 26. The interview is scheduled for June 7. The interview in Moscow is usually scheduled for about 6-8 weeks out, so I think you're definitely loooking at July or beyond, if it hasn't been scheduled yet.

Police Certificate is valid for 6 months.

This is incorrect.

Regardless of the validity date listed on a particular police certificate, the U.S. Embassy considers the document valid for one year from the date of issuance.

Remember to also send a photocopy of each of the civil documents to NVC as well, along with the originals. After the visa interview, these photocopies will remain in the file and the original documents should be returned to the applicant.

OK...I have a friend who just brought his foreign wife over via the CR-1 route. He told me you don't have to get documents translated if they are in the language of the country from which the application is being made. In my case that would be Russia. We're applying to bring my wife's son to the USA.

I am looking for verification that this is true. So...do I have to get documents like birth certificates, etc. translated or not?

Thanks.

What you heard is correct. For a CR-1 visa, when you send the civil documents to NVC, if they are in the language of the country in which the application is being made (in your case Russia/Russian), a translation is not required.

For those who might have sent translations to the NVC in CR-1 cases, there is certainly no harm in sending them, but again, they're not required.

Are any original documents needed at interview? Im just concerned because we only have one original marriage certificate and I have to send this to NVC... will they just send this to the embassy or will my husband be required to bring an original document with him as well?

For CR-1 cases, the original you send to NVC will be forwarded to the Embassy. It is not required for you to bring another original to the interview.

When you send your original documents to NVC, be sure to also send an additional set of photocopies of these documents. Your original document will then be returned to you after the interview --- if they forget to offer you the document, simply remind them.

"no check cashed no notice in the mail" ? what do you mean? Did you send your AOS document along with check? I sent my AOS documents after my staus show paid for AOS fee. I think status has to be shown paid to send AOS documents.

No, Me and my wife --- completely different visa, completely different process. The OP is talking about an Adjustment of Status, not Affidavit of Support processing.

Kerry and Yulia, you don't mention how you sent it on 3/25 or when they actually received it.... but I wouldn't begin to worry yet. I know that you're anxious, but give it at least another week (assuming no government shutdown) before you begin to worry.

Well, I've looked at the processing times for the K1 and the CR-1, and the CSC says they are both about 5 months. I could start the K1 sooner, but then she'll have to have the baby out of wedlock and that's most likely a no-go for her. In the end, it's good that she can have the baby in Russia, so her mother can come and visit and help while she prepares the documents and interviews and stuff. I'm sure she will love to see her grandchild anyway.

Just one small note for your planning purposes -- It's true that the processing time at CSC is about the same for both a K-1 and a CR-1, the difference is at the NVC stage. For the K-1, the NVC is nothing more than a mail-stop. NVC receives the case from CSC and a few days later mails it on to the Embassy. For the CR-1, there is a lot more actual processing that takes place at the NVC stage, so instead of a few days you're usually looking at a couple of months. And for both visas there's generally 6-8 weeks between the time it leaves NVC and the time of the actual interview.

So, in general-- a K-1 usually takes about 6-7 months. CR-1 usually about 8-10 months. Of course, your experience may vary. Just wanted you to be aware so that there wouldn't be any suprises once you actually begin the process. But the nice thing about the CR-1 is that she arrives here not just as a fiancee, but as a wife who is already approved for her conditional residency. So in the long run, it actually saves you time and $$.

Also, as Neonred mentioned, the 32 day wait to get married in Russia isn't always necessary. If you've spent any significant time in Russia, you should understand what that means. There are alway$ way$ to get around the "official" rule$.

For Russian programs via the internet, I recommend WorldStreamTV:

http://www.worldstreamtv.com

A large number of Russian channels to choose from. You can watch them live, you can time-shift them to watch entire schedules on a delayed basis, you can record individual programs for playback at a later time. They automatically record and archive many popular programs and specials so that you don't have to. You also have a selection of hundreds of different movies to watch on demand, as well as access to a large number of streaming radio stations.

The quality is excellent (assuming you have adequate bandwidth) and the total package is $16 a month or $10 a month witout the the recorder package.

For Russian programs via the internet, I recommend WorldStreamTV:

http://www.worldstreamtv.com

A large number of Russian channels to choose from. You can watch them live, you can time-shift them to watch entire schedules on a delayed basis, you can record individual programs for playback at a later time. They automatically record and archive many popular programs and specials so that you don't have to. You also have a selection of hundreds of different Russian movies to watch on demand, as well as access to a large number of streaming radio stations.

The quality is excellent (assuming you have adequate bandwidth) and the total package is $16 a month or $10 a month without the recorder package.