I'll ask again...

[DR]

Any of you out there have any personal experience with the US Embassy in Kyiv?  My wife and I are about to have our K-3 interview there and I'm hoping to get the low-down.  Thanks so much!

Cheers...
DR

[BubbaGump]

... in response to I'll ask again..., posted by DR on Feb 27, 2002

After you're done we would like to know how long the whole process took.  I have read the K-3 takes longer but it doesn't sound like it takes much longer.

[DR]

... in response to Of interest to us..., posted by BubbaGump on Feb 27, 2002

Well, I submitted everything in the middle of December.  My wife's interview will be the beginning of March.  By the numbers, that's 2.5 months.  Our successful K-1 petition took ~6 months from beginning to end.  We are under the jurisdiction of TSC.

Cheers...
DR

[Quasimoto]

... in response to Re: Of interest to us..., posted by DR on Feb 27, 2002

I am thinking of doing the same thing DR. I appologize for have to ask, but what does the acronym TSC mean?

[BubbaGump]

... in response to Re: Re: Of interest to us..., posted by Quasimoto on Feb 28, 2002

TSC = Texas Service Center (for the INS)
I know there are service centers in California and Vermont but I don't know where the others are.

[Quasimoto]

... in response to What is TSC?, posted by BubbaGump on Mar 1, 2002

Ah! Got it, and thanks. Our's is in Nebraska - the worst from what I hear.

[Dan]

... in response to I'll ask again..., posted by DR on Feb 27, 2002

I *do* have experience with communicating with the Consular section of the US Embassy in Kyiv - though it was NOT a K-3 interview. In general terms, I found them friendly and helpful. The few people I met seemed to be very open and supportive.

If you want to communicate with someone that has a great deal of experience working with them in Kyiv - drop a note to Dmitri Pugach at dpugach@nospam.com. Dima has been closely interfacing with the staff in connection with adoptions.

Sorry I cannot be more helpful, but as you know, the K-3 process is REALLY new and you will be one of the first to experience it - so please keep us posted as to how things go for you.

Good Luck!

- Dan

[DR]

... in response to David . . ., posted by Dan on Feb 27, 2002

It's good to hear.  I've heard statements to the contrary from a number of Ukrainians who applied for non-Immigrant (visitor) visas through the Kyiv Embassy; their statements all suggest that Ukrainians are treated a bit poorly by the staff during the interviews.  Only 1 of the Ukrainians with whom I've spoken has ever received a visitor visa.

Hopefully, because this is the K-3 visa, my wife will be treated more respectfully.  Although I'm heading over for the interview, I know that I will be barred from attending the interview, much less entering the Embassy.  The interview is scheduled for 1:30 and, if my information is correct, Americans are not allowed into the Embassy until after 2pm.

Yes, I do believe my wife and I will be one of the first to go through Kyiv for the K-3.  I know of only 1 other couple who've gone before us; they were successful.  

I'll send Dima an email right away.  Thanks for the tip!

Cheers...
DR

[Quasimoto]

... in response to Thanks Dan!, posted by DR on Feb 27, 2002

Just a side note, a college student (that is right - really young guy! met a Russian gal over the net, and went over and married her. He lives here in Logan. He said his wife got her interview in Moscow in 1 month! They have been married 3 years now. They were both Mormon.

Steve

[Dan]

... in response to Thanks Dan!, posted by DR on Feb 27, 2002

Did you already take the plunge???

Do you have confirmation that the spouse is barred from the interview?? That surprises me a little, and I would hazard a guess that it is a response to the 11Sep events. Even so - if you are there, I would suggest you press the issue just a bit. When I visited with the staff there, it was no problem at all for both Olya and I to enter - albeit prior to 11 Sep.

Also, it sounds like you processed BOTH a K-1 and a K-3 (presumably for the same girl --smile--). If so, you are definitely the ONLY one I know to have done that!! How did that go? Any insights/information on pros/cons/learnings from having worked through both processes? Didn't one path interfere with the other? How did timing enter into your decision process (i.e - were you into the the K-1 and then decided to pursue the K-3 - or what?)

Jeez David - you have been busy --smile--.

BTW - Christopher is still only 10 y.o., but holds a national ranking in the 12's. I think his official rank is in the top 500 (barely), but he has recently been beating kids at the top 100 level. By the time he is 12, he should be at the very top of the field - if not sooner. Found a great coach in San Diego and the challenge now is to find ways for them to get together more often. It's been fun.

Cheers,

- Dan

[DR]

... in response to David - Do I Understand Correctly?!? . ...., posted by Dan on Feb 27, 2002

Yes, you do understand correctly.    Here's the deal:

My fiancee entered the states back in July on a K-1 Visa.  We married prior to her 90th day in the States, as per K-1 Visa regulations.  After our honeymoon, which was a long one, we began paperwork for the AOS immediately.  Of course, I was dragging my feet a little because I was tired of those dang forms and fees and I wanted to ensure I understood the process completely.  

On or about the 110th day in the States, my mother-in-law suddenly became bedridden, couldn't speak, and could not move her limbs on one of her sides.  The physician feared she had suffered a stroke!  I called the INS immediately and was informed:

1) we could file for AOS/advance parole and wait 3-6 months before my wife could leave the states.

--or--

2) my wife could leave prior to AOS, abandoning the K-1 process, and we could file for the IR1/K-3.

Time appeared critical so there really was only one option, abandon the K-1 process.  

Of course, you probably know that the information I received from the Immigration Official, albeit correct, was not the entire story.  We could have driven 300 miles to our 'local' INS field office and applied for AOS and advance parole.  If we had known of this option, my wife would have recieved advance parole within a few days of filing and we would not be in this predicament.

I digress, my mother-in-law's health has improved slowly but steadily, thank God.  She didn't suffer a stroke rather, she had a severe bout of kidney dysfunction.  She's almost recovered fully but it seems she'll require weekly injections of some medication for her kidneys for the rest of her life.

Now then, after 2-3 months of kicking myself squarely in the ass, I finally sent off the paperwork for the IR1 (I-130 Petition for Alien Relative) and K-3 Visas.  2.5 months later, bringing us to this very moment in time, my wife is on the verge of having her K-3 Visa interview.  And that, my friend, is the rest of the story.  Good daiyee!  

BTW, glad to hear about your boy!  Keep encouraging him!    Just remember my words, at the first sign of any repetitive stress injury, have him take a break and examined by a professional.  I hate it when young kids, who love tennis as much as I me, have their 'careers' ended the way mine did simply because they didn't know they were practicing too much.

As always, cheers...
DR

[Dan]

... in response to Re: David - Do I Understand Correctly?!?..., posted by DR on Feb 27, 2002

Congratulations on your marriage! That is wonderful news. I gather you two have been separated for a while, so I suspect you are anxious to see one another soon.

Good Luck with the interview - though I doubt you will need any "luck" - just be sure to cross the t's and dot the i's and I am sure you'll be fine.

Best of luck with your mother-in-law's recovery too. That sounds a bit scary.

What a story! Most would consider the processing of a K-1 harrowing enough. You have a story that is unparalleled.

Thanks for the reminder about stress injuries. I'll keep a close eye on it.

It's GREAT to hear from you. With all you've been through - your *deserve* to be a part of that silly interview in Kyiv. I hope the Embassy staff agrees with me --smile--.

Take care,

- Dan