A Moscow Visa interview.

[JusticePvP]

Hey guy,
My fiancee just wrote to me this morning about her visa interview in Moscow, and I found it very interesting and entertaining; so I thought I'd share.

Here is my full report about visiting US Embassy today:

I woke up today early, and had about 50 minutes to get myself ready, and then I leaved for the Embassy.
It was very early morning, so no any bad traffic and I was near the Embassy building in about 7:20.

There was a line from may be 4-5 persons, and 10 minutes after I came the line was about 30 persons. The only one problem was there isn’t summer outside now, and everybody were very-very cold. There where two girls with their American fiancés, and I felt sad for their fiancés for they are not allowed inside the Embassy, so they were really very-very-very cold while waiting outside for hours Some children where there too.

So, they started to let people inside in about 8:15 when everybody was like an small pieces of ice I had to give my passport and the invitation; they sew if I have bomb with me or not, and let me inside of Embassy. Here inside also was machines that sew bags and dresses – like in the airport, and I also had to leave them my mobile phone.

Then I had a coupon with my line number and were sitting and waiting for they will invite me. They were invited me two times – first time to give all my documents (there where a Russian man, he said your tax documents are very fresh and didn’t’ even took your tax document for 2004 year. Then I were wait for about half an hour . There is a hall where people are sitting, and three small windows – I had to come to the one of the windows to talk or to give documents. There where some girls - fiancées – they where scared a lot (in compare with them I wasn’t scare a lot : ), I was just shake at first very much – but this was because I was very cold (it even took some minutes for me to unbutton my coat when they asked – Brrrr! : )

So, girls there where sitting , laughing and scaring each other : )

The interview was leading by two girls in different windows - one Russian (she was smiling very much), and one American (she was very angry – this was strange – it is usually things upside down – Americans are smiling, and Russian more strict ). Anyway. The angry girl invited me Before me she send away a Russian man who spoke an excellent English and had wife in America. I came to her, and she asked me am I speak English, and when I said ‘yes” – she never speak Russian to me again!! :hairraising:
I smiled her very much, and she started to smile me back, she asked how we met, when you wrote me for the first time, when we met; what is your work title, where you live, when we are planning to have our wedding, what is our plans for future life, what your quality I like the best (try to guess what I said! . She asked to show her our letter, and I showed her photos, cards and letters, and she didn’t look a lot, she just looked for a while and smiled.

She also asked where I learned English, and I said at school and from my American friends from Church. She said I have excellent English . But I am not delusion very much with such kind of complements, because I head a lot about Americans have tend to smile and give complements and may discharge you or not sign what you want, or things like this. What do you think about that?

Then she said “good buy” for me. I asked when I should wait my passport and she said it will send me in 2 weeks.

Then I went out and all the girls attacked me asked about the process of the interview

[I/O]

Nice read...!!!  She'll probably kill you when she finds it posted on here. It never ceases to amaze me how these (I can't use the appropriate adjective here) embassy's will refuse entry to their own citizens.  Who are these people being paid by? Who are they supposed to be representing?  It beggers belief.

I/O

[JusticePvP]

Hey I/O, I asked her if she would mind me posting her letter before I posted it.

I did edit out a few personal things.

[catzenmouse]

Thanks for sharing that. It was very similar to Elena's interview. Good luck with your future together! I hope you'll post a bit from time to time about how things are going.

Ken

[Turboguy]

That was very interesting.  I really enjoyed how she worded things.  I am sure those who are soon to have their woman go to an interview for the first time will really enjoy the glimpse of the thing most fret about for ages.

[groovlstk]

Funny, my fiancee had her interview at the Moscow embassy in December. She told me the person behind the glass who questioned her was an American woman (likely the very same woman JvP's girl had) who was so kind and cheery that she knew she'd love America if everyone was like her.

[William3rd]

Hasnt changed a bit in 10 years- except for the fiance exclusion implemented after one of the guys got too excited over his gf denial/RFE a few years back.

[Daveman]

Great post Justice, as well as a very fun and entertaining read.  Best Wishes!!

Okay, here's a dumb question from someone who hasn't petitioned yet, but, is the procedure for each country different?  Why the two week waiting period to receive her Visa?

I've read that in Kiev, the lady will be given her visa right there same day as her interview. She'll leave the embassy with Visa in hand.  Is this an international urban legend?  or is the procedure different for Moscow?

[aikorob]

Sorry Daveman,
Unless they have changed in the past week or so, Kiev requires you to pay FedEx to deliver her passport back to her. The embassy says 2 day service anywhere in Ukraine.


P.S.-I'll let you know exactly how long it takes after Mar 20

[vwrw]

 I know some women who also had their interviews at the Moscow embassy a little longer than one and a half year ago. They were told their visas are approved at the end of the interviews and they will receive their passports back during 2 weeks. Despite on they lived in Siberia each of them got her passport in 3 -4 days.
One of the women was especially lucky she was asked only one question – do you love him?
Other one was interviewed into Russian. She was asked why she does not marry in Russia. She understood he meant why she does not marry a RM.  But she answered – Ed and I were thinking to get married in Russia. But Ed has such a dream about his wedding… I want his dream to come true. That is why we decided to marry in America. She said - judging by interviewing man’s face he was not glad she did not understood his question’s sense but he approved her visa.   
Also I heard in agency they advise AM do not go with their fiancées to embassy so as they will be not allowed to the part of embassy where interview goes without invitation. 

[Captmonk1]

JusticePvP,

Great letter and congrats.  Going beyond the interview, I think your fiancee has a great grasp on the english language because is she is joking in english she is going great. She also seems to have a good sense of humor which I think is needed to get thru this whole process. I think you have most likely done well!! 

Brad

[JusticePvP]

She received her visa today.