Is 4 days enough to wait for visa in Moscow?

[Gary&Natasha]

Hey everyone...

So, we finally have our interview date (December 6th).  Seems there is a 3 month wait right now. 

Anyway, I'm about to make reservations for the airline and hotel, and I am trying to figure out best guesses as to how long we should reserve the hotel and set the airline departure.

From what I can tell, most visas are in hand within 2-3 days.   I plan to give DHL our hotel address in Moscow, and give them "same day" rates (if possible).  Right now I'm thinking that 4 days after the interview should be enough, with a late evening departure on the last day.

Anyone think this is a bad idea?  If yes, please give me details!!!

Also, if you have some suggestions as to hotels, my ears are open.  I've stayed at the Sheraton (fairly nice), and the Le Meridian Country Club (avoid at all costs -  not the same as the Le Meridian Nationale downtown)...

Thanks!

Gary and Natasha

 

[Turboguy]

A lot of people have the visa held at the main DHL office in Moscow.   It keeps a few more hands away from the package.  (every time someone handles it you have a chance of something going wrong).

I can't help you much on hotels.   I mostly stay at dives.   I stayed at the Ukraina for our interview mostly because it was about the closest.   No A/C in August was about the only complaint.   The only other places I have stayed was at the Russiya and the Cosmos.   The Cosmos is my favorite.   Maybe just because I have stayed there so many times it feels like home.

I allowed about a week from the interview to the ticket but of course wasted 1200 bucks on the ticket that ended up in the garbage.

[Gary&Natasha]

Hey thanks!

Our interview ( ok, Natasha's interview - but it feels like mine too), is scheduled for Dec 5th.   So, I will be in Moscow on the 4th and I have set the departure for the morning of the 10th.   I'm hoping that this will give us enough time.

I read through the crap that they did to you... makes my blood boil.   Maybe you mentioned it, but I just missed it; however, if you could identify any single thing that you would do differently that you think may have contributed to the denial, please let me know...   This kind of stuff keeps me up at night.

I have every piece of documenation I can think of, a memory stick loaded with all of our photos and emails and everything else...  but it's always the damn things you forget... 

Also, I hired an Immigration Attorney (Maria Jones) since the beginning of this process.  I think she has saved me from a few stupid mistakes.  I just wonder if there is any unspoken advantage in the CO's notes that we have a lawyer standing in the wings?

I also read that I will not even be permitted in the building during the interview.  Is this correct, or will I at least be allowed to wait in a nearby room?


Thanks for the response,

Gary

 

 

 

 

[ConnerVT]

No, you will not be allowed into the embassy.  You are considered a security risk (and they don't wish to deal with an angry fiance).

Forget the memory stick.  Put it all on paper.  Which looks more convincing, a wheelbarrow overflowing with pictures and papers, or a piece of plastic the size of a stick of gum?

My wife, when she went to her K-1 interview, had all of her papers (letters, photographs, documents) all organized in an accordion file we bought in Russia.  The interviewer only asked for a few items, as he could see she was prepared with many more.

[Gary&Natasha]

 

That's the kind of advice I'm looking for. 

I'll keep the gumstick in my pocket...

Any idea if a wheelbarrow can be stored in an overhead compartment? (grin)

Thanks!

 

 

[Turboguy]

Gary,  You should do fine.   There is no waiting room but most of the fiancees wait out front.   Actully not too many even go.   I think I was the only one but there was one other guy who mighta been.    It will probably get a little cold in Moscow in Early December.   Actually I was there in Early December a few years ago and it got darn cold. 

What would I do different.   Most importantly make sure she knows everything about you.   One of the ones my gal missed was my mailing address including zip code.   There are lots of lists of questions visajourney is a good resource.   Go to the Russian section at the bottom of the forum lists. 

Make sure you have lots of records of communications.   Phone records seem to weigh heavily and printouts of instant messages and receipts for flowers seem to carry little weight, at least with the hispanic guy who can be pretty nasty.

 

[RacerX]

Gary,

I think I would forget everything I read on this board and go with my instincts.  Thousands (including me) have come before you and thousand will come after, and there will be no problems.  Many of the cases you may have read about had individual "problems"  - although in the end, ALL we given their K-1.

Oh, btw, I sent you a PM.

[Gary&Natasha]

Racer - Thanks for the calming logic.

Did not get any PM...

G

[Turboguy]

I did not mean my post to panic you or anything.   I just wanted you to be aware there is a risk to buying the ticket ahead.   I think the overwelming majority of properly documented applicaions are approved on the day of the interview.   I thought I had one of the best documented cases they could want but I did have to throw away a $ 1200 non refundable ticket.   I took my chances just as you are prepared to do.   For me it did not work out.   If you are properly prepared as you seem to be you have an 85% or better chance of having the visa approved at the interview.   If I had it all to do over I would still buy my ticket in advance.   I would have just done a better job of grilling my gal and maybe tried calling a bit more just to have phone records for them.

[RacerX]

Gary,

Whenever I try to send you a PM is says: "invalid user name."  My browser is showing your member name as: Gary [and amp;] Natasha.  If I write these in a single line, it posts as "Gary & Natasha" so there must be some weird script imbedded in your name - this is on a Mac running Mozilla.

[Admin]

Gary,

Whenever I try to send you a PM is says: "invalid user name."  My browser is showing your member name as: Gary [and amp;] Natasha.  If I write these in a single line, it posts as "Gary & Natasha" so there must be some weird script imbedded in your name - this is on a Mac running Mozilla.

Racer,

The board software has difficulty with the ampersand symbol. For a PM, you need to send it to: Gary&Natasha (all together).

The board developer has promised to resolve the ampersand issue in a near-term upcoming release.

- Dan

[RacerX]

Thanks Dan,

I finally figured this out and sent Gary&Natasha a PM. It's funny, when I sent the Gary(and amp; )Natasha as a normal post the board software automatically "translated" it as Gary&Natasha.