Auris

Any suggestions from you?

Sorry to hear your heartbreaking story, Vadim. From all I read, there can be at least 3 things to keep attention.

1 is about her many trips to different countries, so may be they simple check out all about it.

2 is what she said in her Visa applications and at the time of interviews about you when she applied for tourist visas,

they are "sensitive" to wrong information in past, and possible even they are respectful to your case they still need

"allowance" from top level if there was something wrong said or written before.

3 it's may be something about baby born and need to put together all paperwork for.

Please, try to keep your wife as calm as possible, your daughter's life depends on her first of all, she must be strong for her!

And my advice to hire attorney who has office in Russia, so can be in close connection with embassy in Moscow and with your wife

to get better understanding about the whole story.

I know it's more easy to say than to do, but be strong, bad things are not forever, our case was solved, it took months, but solved.

Visa approved!

Congratulations and best wishes for future life together!

And to answer your suspicions about my being a CO, I hope to work in something related to immigration, so I've been educating myself about this process as much as possible :-)

No, better don't go to work in embassy, not good for karma. And if you study cases for AP,

read here also: http://web.archive.org/web/20080528210300/http://www.wolfsdorf.com/articles/CLASS%20TIPOFF%20Final%20Article.pdf

People who are put in AP for a long time usually have much worse red flags.

Amy, how you know about AP? You pretty much looking like CO, surfing here with a very strange own story about DCF.

To ma9j4, don't have concerns before all, when will get case will think about it. And don't be so open on public places as Internet is, there is always the question who will read this.

Amy, I wish you good luck! And hope for best.

If you're able to provide details of what happened to you/your family member, it'd be helpful. You can't hate this consulate without reason.

Second interview and second AP without papers asked and without any update again. No crimes from both sides, no marriages, no overstay visa's. Looking for spies, I guess.:-)

Amy, I'm sorry that you got your a very bad experience in Moscow embassy, this is your topic, right?

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/366047-horrible-interview-how-to-fix-it/page__p__5349586#entry5349586

Your words "Horrible interview"?

And you still keep pleasant memories after you were grilled there? That was easiest DCF process, by the way. And your man was not alone there, with you. You cann't imagine how they talk without US citizen in same case.

Your posts here are opposite your own experience, something is wrong.

Tell us why you seem to have such a huge problem with the Moscow embassy? You list your country as Romania, so, since you want to convince us it's a horrible embassy, share with us why. Because that post is for tourists visas. I'd like to see stories about immigrant visas.

Also, I've NEVER heard of anyone saying that Moscow is easy for tourist visas. It's always been easy for K1's and immigrant visas, according to folks.

Trust me, I have right to use this flag as Russian too. As trust me I had to deal with Moscow embassy for family visa. How you got decision about easy embassy with few folks on RUB forum who actually have women from Belarus or Ukraine?

That attorney's company is holding different cases.

Watch http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=16767

There was petition-based case. Not one interview, not once medical exam again, not once to pay fees again. 4 years totally on-hold, just to keep people's lives in limbo land.

1.They handle many cases when you have only your own.

2.Read all posts, they have numbers/statistics too.

3.District Court of California decided that consular officers at the Embassy breached their duty, and ordered the officers

to make decisions. Besides acknowledging the rights of foreign visa applicants to bring a lawsuit

in a U.S. court, the court recognized the rights of American companies petitioning for employees

to bring such actions as well. The case represents the first time that Russian visa applicants

have successfully sued the Embassy in Moscow. White & Associates served as counsel for plaintiffs in this lawsuit.

A District Court in California grants mandamus against the U.S. Embassy in Moscow in an immigrant visa case,

finding that 4 years is an unreasonable time for an application to be pending and that a U.S. petitioner

has standing to bring a mandamus action against an overseas consulate in a visa application case. Courtesy of Kenneth White.

http://www.aila.org/content/default.aspx?docid=16767

4.Create a topic of fans if you wish, this place is for people who suffer from problems.

Good luck and best wishes in bringing your husband to USA.

Very fresh post from famous attorney's company here

http://blog.visarefusal.com/

"US Embassy in Moscow “Resets” Visa Policy to 1990s"... Posted on May 9, 2012.

This is to answer people who said it was "easy" embassy.

You know, my fiancee has been really good at keeping up on things at the embassy site. She mentioned something about this to me, and I told her...no, I am not authorized to attend the interview. But you make sure the CO knows I am outside waiting in case he/she wants to address any concerns. I made that very clear.

Well, now I see that it is okay for the petitioner to attend, even encouraged! So, why was no effort made to come out and get me?????

My two cents, strange they were calling your woman to "transfer" something to you. Who can prove this when they had your phone number, they had your e-mail and address? Sure they will not refuse this fact? So, write e-mail to them, possible send to all known embassy emails, yes, make it formal, all information about petition, case, you, your woman on top. Say you were outside of embassy at the time of interview and Mr.CO was informed about it but didn't let you go in. And also say that you know that your woman got that call asking you to come to embassy, say you have no choice for now and invite them to discuss everything via phone, give again your phone number(keep it available day and night cause of time difference). They will not contact via emails(cause it's material proof), but will call you back.

Yeah, I've always received a response from them in about 2-3 days (just like it says).....

Try to get response if they will put your case under AP.

How do you know that? Did they publish new rules anywhere?

I don't see any changes on the Moscow's Embassy site. It still says:

Please Note: The American Citizen petitioner may not attend the interview with his or her fiancé(e).

Watch http://moscow.usembassy.gov/iv-faq.html

13. Can my fiancé(e)/spouse/relative petitioner come with me to the interview?

Yes. We especially encourage petitioners who have filed for spouses or fiancé(e)s to appear at the interview. Aside from petitioners, however, no one may accompany adult applicants into the Embassy's visa waiting room.

You say this based on what experience?

Yes, own experience, even own experiencES.

I would agree with most that the Moscow embassy is usually easy for K-1. First thing I would do is e-mail them and ask for some clarification and more details. I believe calling is just going to be a waste of the money you will be charged for the phone call.

Moscow was never easy embassy, if you never had to deal with except for your own easy case, stay away from this sentence. They never had any information about administrative processing on the site. Few days ago they changed rules and instead of not giving permit for someone to visit interview together now asking to better get petitioners for interview. They almost never answer emails. Administrative processing is a very common thing in Moscow embassy.

I don't know about the Moscow consulate, but the reasons I've bolded are not generally reasons a person ends up in AP.

To the OP: The fact that they kept her passport is always a good thing.

To understand this you must know Russia, first of all all men there since 18y.o. MUST go to army for one year, so they are military age and before 21 which is good still to immigrate under K2 with mother, they could be in military service already. In many countries of the world people don't know what is that AP at all. In Russia it's well-known for any kinds of Visa applicants. And statistics says about AP usually given after some amount of visas before. The rest is simply, as more places you visited, more people you know, more questions about you, but yes, may be in connection with your business or education.

By the way.....we are STRESSING!

Sorry to hear, but they use this at times and will never say why they watch all closely or what they are looking for. You ever heard someone said that his case will need security checks or advisory opinion? They will never say openly. They force you think about any mistakes of yours, any little episodes from your case when actually they are checking something else, so don't stress, this will spoil health, better be positive, all will be fine, there are always ways to escape from any situations except for loosing health! Care of yourself and be patient, may be will be quick delay only.

Fiancee had K-1 interview recently, and everything went okay and looked good according to the Consular Officer. He gave her a 221g requesting more photos of me with her family.

We gave them at least 2 dozen photos in the petition and with her visa application packet. Apparently not good enough. The next day we dropped as many additional photos we could find with the embassy, as per instructions. (If they want pics of me throwing snowballs at her sister, and indian wrestling with her brother-in law, they got'em!) They had her sign everything and kept her passport, told her they would contact her.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...

Nothing to worry about, by asking extra photos, emails, etc. they simple cover just one fact of sending you to Administrative Processing or Administrative Review. If your woman had something from the list like:

1.Was born in Russia.

2.Has some "special" sort of education.

3.Has(had) some "special" type of work.

4.Traveled (or was living) to Middle East, Asia.

5.Traveled to USA not once.

6.This is her 4-th or 5-th Visa to USA.

7.She knows many people in USA and visited different places.

8.She has name hits with same name persons.

9.She has the son who is over 18y.o.

...and likely other reasons too.

So that AP is what you can expect. Asking for something extra is often only cover for this, especially in case where were given photos already.

And as more facts from list above are true for your woman as more time will last that AP. Pray for the short one and don't stress. Good luck!

I would like to know, is it a good idea to submit more evidence while the case still under AP? The reason the case under AP, due to the consulate had suspicious for something. By submitting more evidence, would it hurt, delay or help the case? Any takes on this subject and thanks.

How it was the first time when they sent case back? There was 221G slip given and it was what they call AP before they made that time decision? Actually if someone had any type of AP before will have it again when going to get visa to them next time...even if both sides are perfect and everything fine. Even for tourist/business visa same, who once had any check, will get it again each time, kind of "black label" given.

Hello all, I'm new here to V.J. Doing the Interview we was told that our case would be going for "Administrative Review".. We had everything that was needed, but the man that did the Interview said that Adam passport looked FAKE!!! The passport is not a fake someone else that worked in the office told him it wasn't a fake.. The Interview was on June 11th. We are being told that It takes time. Now that it has been three months we are getting married a week from today.. Are we doing the right thing or should we just wait? I know that we will have to refile, but we just don't know what to do.. PLEASE HELP!!!!!

Sorry to hear this, dear friends, if they didn't ask something during this AP, can be a "timeline" soon, if they got some doubts they started to check all case more closely, possible some background checks, will be decision soon. From my view on different cases they make all checks maximum in 3-4 months if you are not from a list of specific countries where longer, after this time it's only time for decision, ask them if something needed to complete AP.

Not to nit-pick, but don't you have to have seen each other in the last two years to apply for a K-1? Or how did that work out?

I wish you good luck, but here can be one difficult moment in your story. She applied for other type of visa not far ago and what she had to write in her forms for this, no fiance? Here can be some question. It's already known here one case when a woman applied for tourist visa not far before filing petition fro K1 from her man and guess what was there? She met same CO at the time of interview and he was just perfect to remember her, now all hopes about a better escape. Be positive only be ready for some questions. Good luck!

Congratulations!!! Dear, I wish you all the best! I think you deserve a medal, I hope this long and stressful journey made you and your husband strong as never before!...and possible some hope for all us, waiting with patience.

Hi Awiz,

She might have a Drivers License, I don't know. We both agree that there really isn't much need for a car in the city though. The bus or Gazelle (I forget the proper name for them) is convenient and cheap. My plan is to move there so I'm sure there's a car in the future so we can tour Crimea (from Simferopol) easier.

Well, in 2 days 10.5 hours I should be wheels up and about 20 hours later its huggie, kissie time.

Be aware of police there and be aware that some driving rules are different, nothing is written on signs, always picture-type, no special rules for school buses, you can by-pass them when they stop(just be careful watching), no any possibility to turn right on red light, which is allowed in many places in your country, etc. And no nice services for renting cars there as no good places for repair, if for the short time may be better to use a train to that place if any...or just walk around! High tourist season is almost over already, so may be your lady can deal with local taxi driver to assist your trip, level of salaries there is very low for many people, so both sides can be happy, one to get extra money, another one to get relaxing trip for not big price.

Huh! Strange. Mila says "the bus is for poor people," but she uses the Gazelles (martusha?) to go to work.

I agree though. The bus IS cheaper and in the Summer WAY more comfortable than those 13 seat saunas they call a minivan taxi. One little 6" window in it and the first woman that gets in closes it so her hair doesn't get blown away. As if that little whisper of air could actually move all that hairspray. Humph. Give me the trolleybus and an open window I can stand near anytime.

It's easy to start driving school, let she will try. Half women have driving license now, it's from statistics, may be different in Ukraine. Gazelles how you call them, are very dangerous, in big Russian cities you can use big and enough comfortable buses, though again I visited Ukraine long time ago, but everything changing. Really better to start driving in her home place. With my many years of experience of driving in big city in Russia driving in USA was very much easy!!! Everything written, everything marked, most drivers are careful enough, good roads...by the way, I'm a woman too.:-)

Nothing wrong with venting we all have our days. i feel your pain especially that NOA2 pain...my only advice is take it one dat at a time...do something around the house I would paint I now have so many new walls in my house I would think about the wedding and put together a plan I even went wedding dress shopping. I prayed a lot as well....I too feel that the system is so unfair but your time will come my dear and once that NOA2 comes your days will go by faster and since you in the UK you should get an interview date sooner than later unlike Nigeria where I was approved in June but no interview until November which I think is insane...but I digress... well I hope your days get better...good luck the rest of the way oh PS stop checking the USCIS website because sometimes that thing never change you will just get NOA2 in the mail without any notice.....it has happened before....

Interesting, I just wonder why they created the date of interview after 4 months for you, is it normal practice? NOA-2 is valid for 4 months only. it's written in that document. I know that CO can add another 4 months, but they never give this written in any paper, just say THEY CAN DO THIS, but I guess nobody had notification about it as a hard copy when in many cases it's a reason to "kill" petition because it's "expired".