Moscow Timeline!

[Watcher]

I checked the INS website and it said that the K1 application as approved and cabled/faxed to Moscow Embassy today. What is the usual time frame for the notification of the interview date and the sending of information packet to the RW.

Thanks

[oldbutspry]

... in response to Moscow Timeline!, posted by Watcher on Dec 5, 2002

The INS received my submission on Aug 2nd, it was approved on Aug 21st and I have an interview scheduled for Dec 19th.  Don't know if that is typical but that's my timeline.

John

[Vox]

... in response to Re: Moscow Timeline!, posted by oldbutspry on Dec 5, 2002

Congratulations for getting the interview date!
Do they tell you anything about when she will get the visa--same day or later?
Do you know anything about that?
Also does she live far from Moscow? Is it Russia or oe of the republics?

[oldbutspry]

... in response to What about the date of the visa?, posted by Vox on Dec 5, 2002

Well, I know she won't get it the same day.  They have you purchase a prepaid DHL envelope and take it with you to the interview.  Then they mail you the visa (you have no choice about this).  I would hope they mail out the visa in a day or two but I don't think there are any sort of guarantees.

I'm in kind of a predicament.  I would really, really like it if she is here for Christmas.  But will she really be able to get the visa, fly here and get rested enough to meet the relatives on Christmas Eve night?  I'm planning to hold off on buying the plane tickets until I see on the DHL website that the visa has been mailed.  Then I will buy the tickets for two days later (meaning she would get the visa the next day and fly out on the following day).

Anybody have any idea how difficult or costly it would be to get plane tickets 2 or 3 days before Christmas with only a couple days notice?  Is it going to be possible?

John

[Alfred]

... in response to Re: What about the date of the visa?, posted by oldbutspry on Dec 6, 2002

I know you want her with you for Christmas eve, but you may get a good bargain flying on Christmas day.  I have often gotten excellent prices on short notice to fly on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

[SteveM]

... in response to Re: Moscow Timeline!, posted by oldbutspry on Dec 5, 2002

My experience is getting to be too far in the past to be useful but...

In the long-gone days of two years ago, we were approved late July and had the interview six weeks later.  One factor that is still relevant is the service center that you were approved at.  Vermont used to (and I think still does) cable approvals, so the name check gets started faster.  With some of the others, it takes a few weeks for the petition to get to the Embassy, which may be part of the reason for the four month lag.

Good luck,

Steve M.

[oldbutspry]

... in response to My Sympathies...and a Question, posted by SteveM on Dec 5, 2002

I went through the Texas service center.  And I didn't have them open a "provisional file".  Their website said they would no longer do this.

[SteveM]

... in response to Re: My Sympathies...and a Question, posted by oldbutspry on Dec 6, 2002

I remember some other people last year having complaints about how slow Texas was about getting the files to the Embassy.  Hang in there...