Chi-town

And I've heard no word about Anna getting anything from the Embassy yet... At least there is some hope if you two got them.

The embassy received our docs from the NVC at the beginning of Feb. The letter my fiancee received was postmarked March 4, and she didn't receive it in Chelyabinsk until a week and a half ago - of course the original interview date was today. That's an april fools joke on us. We rescheduled the interview to May 11. I hope you don't get your envelope with the interview date is already passed. the good thing is the embassy is helpful in changing dates (at $12/minute they should be) and they didn't seemed surprised that we received the packet so close to the interview date. Good Luck.

When did the interview date appear on the embassy website? Seems like it should have showed up quite a while ago. Best bet would be to postpone the interview date. Not a problem and others here have done it.

I think that the packet was delayed either at the embassy or by dhl, who can tell. The letter in the packet indicates that they received the documents from NVC the first week in February, unfortunately it was delayed for whatever reason, by whomever, until a few days ago. The rule is if you've lived in any place more than 6 months after you've attained 16 years of age. When the USSR broke up many ethnic Russians returned to Russia - but record keeping in these former republics was quite bad. I'm almost of the opinion to tell her to ignore Tadjikistan and just use the police certificate from the Oblast where she lives that shows her registering during her 16th year.

The best situation is to move the date, of course. I am waiting to hear about the results of her call to the embassy - but I will also take your advice and have her send an e-mail. The only problem there is that if it takes a week for them to respond, and the answer is no, then the prices for plane tickets will go up exponentially.

Squeeze me some more)))

she got one packet which listed the documents she needed and stated the interview date - two weeks away. She is going to call the embassy tomorrow and explain the situation to them and ask that they move the interview date out a few weeks. Her son needs to finish the school year anyway so it's not as if she'll be coming to me immediately after getting the visa. The plan is actually for her to come to me after spending a few weeks in June visiting with her parents in Tambov. So.... I just want this to be as low of a stressful event as possible and that's not how it's starting out.

I guess worst case is they have the interview, and she doesn't have the tajik portion of the police report and then sends it into the embassy later.

What's rediculous is that she moved from Tajikistan with her parents during her 16th year, so it really would only cover 9 month period when she was 16 and living in Tajikistan. It was over 20 years ago for chissake. Anyway, rules be rules....

On the second thought, what difference it makes? She would have to come and stay few days anyway for medical and the interview?

Do you know what day the NVC sent your documents to the embassy?

Well the reason she'd go back the second time is that the embassy said not to worry if all the documents are not there (she's waiting for one from Tajikistan where she lived in the good ol USSR days) she can come in again to present them at a later date. The NVC sent the documents to moscow back at the end of January. We received notification from the embassy with the interview date yesterday.

Well this is just plain nutty. My fiancee received the packet from the moscow embassy yesterday stating that the interview is scheduled for April 1 - all of two weeks away. They say that if you do not have all the forms together you can schedule a second interview, but..... my fiancee lives 800 miles from Moscow and for her and her son to make the trip 2x because they did not give enough time between the packet and the interview is crazy. This was exactly what I was afraid of when I didn't hear from the embassy for so long.

Can she call to change the date by a couple of weeks? I would like to be in Moscow at the same time, but I also can't afford the less than two week airfare costs (I'm saving for a wedding you know).

Also, does anyone know of a reasonably good hotel near the embassy where I can book her and her son to stay?

Finally, With the medical exam, should that be scheduled the day before or two days before - I've read both, but this is the forum with the best answers.

If you cannot tell, I've just entered scramble mode

Pretty simple, really, just follow the guides section and stop listening to those in K-1 forum because from this point on, you're Moscow specific.

Best advice I've heard so far.

Chi like Slim says you dont have to wait for them to send anything to start working on what you need they send a a form with a link which lands you the moscow embassy website fiance visa (http://moscow.usembassy.gov/fiancee.html like us you probably have been to this page about 1 million times already) that lists the requirements for the interview along with the links to documents.

One thing that we did was that once we had the date on when the packet was sent from the NVC to the embassy we waited ten days and then we sent a email to the embassy (consulMo@state.gov) from her email address. We had a reply in 3 days that contained the interview date but that probably also depends on the work load of packets coming into the embassy.

Here is the contents of the email we sent.

SUBJECT: K-1 Package

Dear Embassy Official,

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I have a inquiry

concerning the status of my K-1 visa case. I would like to verify that

the embassy has received the packet and what steps should be taken at

this time. According to the National Visa Center the package was shipped

on 1/21/2010.

Here is our USCIS receipt number and our case number:

Receipt Number: xxxxxxxxxxxxx

Case Number: xxxxxxxxxxxx

Petitioner: xxxxxxxxxxx

Beneficiary: xxxxxxxxxxx

Thank you for you time.

Thanks for the advice - I was just worried that we wouldn't get a date set until we sent in documents. My fiancee still has not received her letter from the embassy, but that hasn't stopped us from getting all the documents together. We should be ready with lots of time to spare. I just want to know.

My girl is also from Chelyabinsk although her family lives near Tambov. I'll go to get her there and fly back out of Moscow when the time finally arrives.

I feel your anxiety - being a typical caveman, my home decorating scheme works for a guy who's been single for quite a while. When I ask questions about what color Svetla would like the bedroom to be so I can get the painting done, she insists that I not do anything until she arrives. The same thing goes for curtains, carpets and the garden - what a woman! In the interest of full disclosure I also informed here that the place had not been updated in some 15 years so there is a lot to keep her busy, if she wants.

Meanwhile, I'm waiting for the embassy in Moscow to acknowledge receipt of the documents from the NVC. Stupid question to follow, so appologies in advance....

Do we wait for the embassy to contact us before we complete the visa application, or.... Do we complete the visa application and send it to the embassy first.....

Of course the interview scheduling site at the embassy is down for repair....

Any help would be appreciated.

Hoooooorrrrraaaaaayyyyy!

I'm fired up - It took them only 1 day to approve after sending additional documents. Now I can rest for a few weeks until the interview!!!!

I am just curious about this, how much time can you take between receiving the P3 and returning it to the embassy before it becomes an issue? We may need an extra month or two before we interview for personal reasons. Our petition has arrived at Guangzhou and we may be in for a wait before receiving P3 already, however many timelines suggest that they are recently moving faster. That is the problem, we based our plans on older timeline data and not the more recent experiences. I would prefer to delay the P3 and not request a delay of interview. Thoughts?

I have somewhat the same question as my fiancee has a child in school and we both prefer for him to finish his school year before they come to me. Any information would be appreciated. I guess after the interview and the visa is issued it can be used for up to 6 months before it expires - so perhaps that is the answer - just wait))))

Congrats to everyone who's received their NOA2 over the last week, the amount of approvals is fantastic. I hope everyone gets approved before the great year end slow down. Happy Holidays to all.

Here in the MidWest, the Seedless Watermelons are the sweetest around. Yes spitting the seeds is an art but how do they make Seedless Watermelons? How do they grow them if there are no seeds? Truly a great invention.

And another truly wonderful American Invention, I can't wait to take her to:

Drive Thru Liquor Stores

Slim has it great living in Ohio!

There is very little drive thru anything in Vermont. Alla prefers to park somewhere and walk. She thinks drive thrus are what make people "fat and lazy"

Alla is right

That's awesome news! I hope to be mimicking your adventures in a couple days. I just hope it's not numb-#### cold when she arrives. It's -11 and I have spent the past year and a half proclaiming how much nicer a Denver winter was going to be when compared to Vladivostok. C'mon sunshine!

I lived in Denver for 20 years and have been to Vladivostok - no comparison, she will feel the sun's warmth very soon.

well I hate to see anyone having problems but it does make me feel better that we are not the only ones. I hope it all works out for all of us only time will tell. all of the stress of this visa stuff and wedding planning then you throw in LDR and differents in cultures and wow its a lot good luck to me and everyone else!! No lets get some good news next week come on CSC!!!

To everyone, this is a difficult process. First of all, the reason we are in this situation is that the person we love is not next door. Secondly, we are trying to keep relationship momentum going when there is so much distance, time, and understanding between us and the ones we love, thirdly, we fight this battle alone. Our friends and family support us, of course, but still the questions come, why not...., this whole process sucks because the government arbitrates who we love and how we can be with the ones we love.

If there is not a problem being faced by people seperated by the processing centers and distance then I suggest that there is not enough honesty in the relationship. This is hard. No question. And that is why this site is so valuable. We are not alone. I do think that if we make it through this process, think of how much stonger we will be together. God Bless all of you.

my wife is at the embassy in manila now for her interview. we hope to have approval within a few hours!

so are you just trying to slap us all in the face here right now??????

Drama, drama, drama. Just think a year ago you would've been waiting 160 days instead of 90. Slap yourself in the face and wake up. Some guy makes a mistake and people jump all over him because they're frustrated? If you're this frustrated after 90 days there might be other issues.... Don't call the bad karma gods down on the rest of us.

Check http://www.excess-baggage.com/

Thanks - this looks interesting.

Congrats! You'll get used to the ring....eventually

Meese is reasonable if you are not in a hurry!

I didn't know Meese operated in Russia, that is good to know. I'm not talking about shipping clothes and ####### like that, but some antique furniture that is especially dear to Svetla. I don't care how long it takes to get here just as long as I can do it. She was also wondering if she can bring her car over.... I don't even want to address that one yet.

Thanks

Looking forward to the move date - assuming all else goes well - does anyone have experience with companies that will "bulk" ship items to the US? Something by sea instead of air. I'm just doing some research here. I know most will say "don't ship anything because it can all be purchased here", but that is not the question. All help or advice is appreciated.

Here are my choices on my way home:

6:40 a.m. flight to DME, allowing 6 hours before my flight leaves from SVO.

Or

8:00 flight to Vnukovo, allowing just under 5 hours until my SVO flight.

The travel agent insists I should play it safe and take the earlier flight. However, playing it safe means getting up that much earlier and being that much more beat when I get home and go to work the next day (saving those precious days off!). Also, Vnukovo is a little closer than DME as I see it, and I don't remember it taking more than 1.5 hours -- 2 at most, last time I made the transfer at that time of day. But I don't remember for sure. I don't know if I can locate the ticket info to see how much time I allowed.

Usually in the states I will lie and give a flight time 40 minutes earlier if I call for a shuttle to the airport, since I have found them to be so over-conservative.

Which flight would you take to Moscow?

Definitely take the later flight - you have plenty of time to make it to SVO. When you calculate the transfer fees and other costs associated with hanging around an airport all day (bar tab) might it be cheaper to find a flight into SVO instead?

Delta through Paris seems to have a lot of bad luck with luggage. I've had luggage misrouted there, and several business associates had the same thing happen. One had her luggage lost on the way to Prague with a CDG layover, and then the same thing happened to her on the way back to the US. I try to avoid this place if possible.

Congrats and thanks for all the great information

Here's some of the one's I've run into:

1. Whistling in the house - I can see the babushka's huddling together to come up with that one. Whistling husbands are definitely irritating, in or out of doors - so says my mom (from England)

2. When a fork or knife is dropped on the floor you can't just pick it up, you first have to put your foot on it, then pick it up. This can pose problems if it's a knife on the floor (we're not allowed to wear shoes in the home, remember!)

3. Don't give a watch as a present

4. Black cats are bad luck, unless she is moving into a new apartment, at which point, black cats are supposed to be the first into the new apartment to chase away evil spirits - go figure

5. Rocks - to those who have their FSU brides in the US, look around the house for strategically placed rocks.

6. Empty bottles on the floor - this way you are not reminded how much home vodka you've imbibed, good rule.

7. Never wish someone a happy birthday unless you know for a fact it is thier birthday - otherwise the result is DEATH

8. Ladders and mirrors have the same misfortunes associated with them as they do in the US.

9. Do not reach through a doorway, car window, or any threshold to hand something to her - she won't like it, even if it's a bunch of flowers (odd number of course).

10.Give up the idea of carrying your new bride over the threshold, it's not going to happen.

11.If you're in a new home, the first thing you do (after placing a rock at one of the outside corners) is break a plate or bowl, put the pieces in a plastic bad and hide under the sink - go figure.

12.I've heard of the money in the wallet requirement, I think that's just a universal means of prying more cash out of the hubby.

13.Definitely sit quietly holding hands for a few minutes before going on any trip - it insures a safe return.

14.On New Years eve, hold a dollar up to the moon at midnight, then save the dollar in a special place, it helps create riches for the upcoming year (you'll have one dollar at least)

15.At New Years, write your wishes on a small piece of paper, then light the paper at midnight (make sure you're not lighting the dollar you just held up to the moon) letting the ashes drop into your glass of champagne - then drink it all down. Tastes like #######, so just make it a bubbly shooter and pour a quick refill.

16. I just thought the future MIL was spitting at me because she didn't like me I have to remember to stand over her other shoulder.

These are just a few of what I've run into. I know there are more to come......

I've never flown through SVO, only DME - and there it is a breeze, everything is also posted in english, no baggage searches or checks and the train into Moscow proper is right there when you pass through border control. Connections for flights to other Russian cities are pretty easy also. I have flown in from Chicago where American had a direct ORD to DME flight every day - which made planning a trip a piece of cake.

Making my fourth trip this year in January - this time I have to negotiate a train trip to a village near Tambov to spend the time with Svetla and her parents - it's an overnight trip so my limited Russian will be put to the test, hopefully I will not wind up in Astrakhan by mistake.

Cheap is good, but free is better -

Svetlana and I chat every morning and night on Skype - the video calls are fantastic. Since Svetla's work provides her with internet access at her home in Chelyabinsk, we've been able to see and talk to each other for free during this entire process. I can also call her cell and send sms messages to her cell for only 7 cents a minute. I like free, and this way of communication is the only way to go. Being able to see my girl twice a day, even when we are in opposite sides of the world, means everything.

Oh yes, Rob - good luck to you and your fiancee!