ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusVisitor's visa while K1 pending
You are talking about a B-2 visa, which is variously referred to as "tourist" or "visitor".

Off the government web sites:

"Applicants for visitor visas must show that they qualify under the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The presumption under law is that every visitor visa applicant is an intending immigrant."

The Immigration and Nationality Act does not address K-1 pending visits. What the above quote says is that you have to prove you don't plan to stay if you want a B-2. It is harder to convince the consulate that you don't plan to stay if you have a K-1 pending. But if you can, you should get a B-2 visa. Note that (also off embassy web sites) you can be turned back at POE even if you have a valid visa. Again assumption of guilt and the required proof of innocence.

Edited by gearheadgeek, 19 March 2007 - 03:49 PM.

gearheadgeekMale02007-03-19 15:48:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionUkraine Kiev embassy K1 members

2) Anyone had experience with exactly what Kiev embassy requires from fiance for beneficiary's interview?
a) reason I ask is I have read Kiev embassy website several times and their packet information, thus as usual with these federal govt entities, the right hand does not know what they left hand is doing, I see conflicting statements as to what they require or expect or need from Petitioner.

3) [i]Anyone had experience with I134 form and other documents or supporting information, AND in what format or just exactly how or what is the Kiev embassy looking for or expecting, I am learning this all changes from one service center or from one government office to another as I go along this long lonely highway for a K1! From what I can tell each step of this process has new little twists and every office has it's own way of doing things as do the embassies from what I


I noticed the contradictions also. I emailed them and asked what was correct, pointing out the contradictions. I got a reply that said what to send, so I did, and they accepted it. Sorry, but I don't remember the details - it was several months ago.

Edited by gearheadgeek, 16 January 2007 - 10:29 PM.

gearheadgeekMale02007-01-16 22:27:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresvisit and k1?
Thank you all for your help.
gearheadgeekMale02006-07-13 22:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresvisit and k1?
Assuming for the moment that a person could qualify for a visitor's visa, does the start of the K-1 process disqualify them from getting a visitor's visa?
gearheadgeekMale02006-07-11 11:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWHIRLWIND APPROVALS
I'm not defending the jerk here, but having been to the Ukraine twice, all the cries of "I'm not rich" are specious. We Americans have a totally different definition of 'rich' than the rest (or most of the rest) of the world. I don't care how much you make, you look pretty rich to my girl, who makes $100 per month. Think about it.
gearheadgeekMale02006-08-03 13:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat???


You too, with any luck they should have received them back by August 28, and approved by August 31st...at least that's what the 2nd RFE patterns seems to be lately... :thumbs:


Good call. I sent the RFE on the 21st and got a touch and an acknowledgement yesterday, the 29th. Now I watch for the approval :) :)


And today I have APPROVAL!!!!!!
gearheadgeekMale02006-08-31 11:50:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat???

You too, with any luck they should have received them back by August 28, and approved by August 31st...at least that's what the 2nd RFE patterns seems to be lately... :thumbs:


Good call. I sent the RFE on the 21st and got a touch and an acknowledgement yesterday, the 29th. Now I watch for the approval :) :)
gearheadgeekMale02006-08-30 12:34:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat???

I finally received my 2nd RFE today as well. They claimed it was sent on August 12th, but I knew that couldn't be true..in fact it was just sent on August 16th. At any rate the good news is it's an easy RFE to respond to...just need to supply them with photocopies of my passport so they can look at my entry stamps...should have sent that to them in the first place...oh well, I'm glad it was something specific... :bonk:


Same thing. They claimed August 12, but the postmark was the 16th. Glad you hear yours will not be a problem either. Good luck :)
gearheadgeekMale02006-08-19 17:35:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat???

I have a second RFE on the way as well...they "claimed" that they mailed it on August 12th. Typically you have to wait a minimum of 7 days...I would not expect anything to show up until at least Saturday. They dont actually mail when they say they do...the mail can be sent anywhere from 2 - 25 days after they update their website. My mailbox has become my new entertainment center... :pop:


Bingo! Mine came today. My mailbox is my new entertainment center too ... great line!

For all:

They want a copy of my divorce decree from my prior wife. Not the one that left me last August, which they of course have since I sent it with the I-129F. No, they want the one from the wife that left me 17 years ago ...

Although it is not required as far as I can tell, it might be prudent to send both decrees with the petition if you have had more than one wife/husband.

Thanks for the great site and support.
gearheadgeekMale02006-08-19 11:52:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat???
So the web site says they mailed the RFE on Aug 12, which was Saturday. This is Thursday and it has not arrived yet. They must have sent it Pony Express .... How long do I wait before I start yelling?
gearheadgeekMale02006-08-17 17:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat???
Still nothing in the mail, still in the dark ....
gearheadgeekMale02006-08-15 20:09:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat???


I guess this means they were looking at my I-129F, and now I go back to the end of the line :angry:

Yes chances are they are looking at your file :thumbs: and this is a positive thing, even though you may not necessarily see that because of this whole IMBRA debarcle. If they are looking for something other then it being one of those 2nd IMBRA RFE's issued erroneously, then, generally once you return such, an approval is not far off. You do not go back to the end of the line.


Thanks very much. I appreciate the support java script:emoticon(':yes:',%20'smid_26')

I love the name (or rather 'handle') and the avatar!

You are often the voice of reason, are always supportive, and dispense good advice. Very much appreciated even if never verbalized.

I saw a case that the person sent IMBRA RFE and got another RFE asking for a copy of the alien fiancee's divorce decree. They sent the second RFE and were approved a few days later. :)


Thanks for the support. (also billsgirl)

Nothing in the mail today so I am still in the dark about what they think they need.
gearheadgeekMale02006-08-14 19:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat???



Yeah we got a second RFE and they are asking about the proof of meeting. so yeah just send them what they need and you'll be good


Geez ... I sent a half dozen photos, including one of us in front of the Odessa airport with the sign visible in the photo!! Oh well....

Thanks very much!



What other evidence of meeting within 2 years did you submit? Photos are secondary evidence.


Plane tickets, hotel receipt, train tickets, even theater tickets. All the things the VJ guide said to provide.
gearheadgeekMale02006-08-14 10:45:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat???

I'm assuming your first RFE was for the IMBRA information.

Your second RFE could be for many reasons. We got one because we sent photocopies of the G-325A, instead of the originals. We had to resend the originals, and we got approved shortly afterwards.

You could have simply forgot to sign something, or neglected to attach a required document.

Good luck for a speedy approval after you submit the required information.


Thanks! I tried very hard to make sure all the i's were dotted and the t's all crossed, and made sure I followed the guidelines here to the letter. Sigh. I will find out when I it arrives in the mail.

LOL!!! I wanted to use a lawyer to avoid this, but she asked that I spend that money on visits and we would do it all ourselves .....

Edit: Duh .. yes, the first was IMBRA

I got a 2nd RFE requesting photocopies of my entire passport.

Some other folks have received 2 IMBRA RFE's.

Whatever it is, just turn it around as fast as you can.


Thanks. Yep, I will turn it around as fast as I can. I guess this means they were looking at my I-129F, and now I go back to the end of the line :angry:

Edited by gearheadgeek, 14 August 2006 - 10:41 AM.

gearheadgeekMale02006-08-14 10:44:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat???

Yeah we got a second RFE and they are asking about the proof of meeting. so yeah just send them what they need and you'll be good


Geez ... I sent a half dozen photos, including one of us in front of the Odessa airport with the sign visible in the photo!! Oh well....

Thanks very much!
gearheadgeekMale02006-08-14 10:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWhat???
I got all excited when I just found an email from USCIS, but it is only informing me that they sent another RFE on Aug 12. I have no idea what is up with this. Has anyone else gotten a second RFE?
gearheadgeekMale02006-08-14 10:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDanger Will Robinson!

Wow. I can't imagine having such trepidation about my fiance's arrival. If I had that much doubt, I sure as hell would not have put myself through this process.

Good luck.


Thanks. It isn't the fiance's arrival that causes trepidation ... it is getting married again ... I love the state of marriage, but it has not been particularly good to me.
gearheadgeekMale02007-02-26 20:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDanger Will Robinson!
I fly to Odessa tomorrow to gather up Nadya an bring her to America. It is beginning to look like this might really happen!

I am excited and terrified at the same time. Since I have not made good choices in the past, I have to wonder if I have finally gotten it right, or if I am just doing a dumb thing again. The safe course is to remain single and die alone, but somehow that is not terribly appealing. I guess time will tell ....
gearheadgeekMale02007-02-26 15:07:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDanger Will Robinson!

HEY that sucks and is horrible experience, you are not whining. But it sounds so familiar, with any governement entity in Ukraine, either you bribe em or pay em off or you know someone that can call in favor for you like her son in law. Did you ever get approved or get to interview?

Nadya had an interview the 1st of December. She passed everything except her one police report did not. All she had to do was to deliver an acceptable police report.

The good news is that the firm in Moscow came through. Six weeks late, but they did come through. I had to extend my I-129F but the embassy was good about it. Nadya dropped the papers off the 5th. I emailed the embassy on the 8th for status, and they graciously replied! She was issued a visa on the 7th! FedEx hasn't arrived with it yet, but it should be in transit.

The next step is to buy tickets and bring her here. I decided to buy 2 round trip tickets because it wasn't much more than 1 round trip and 1 one way, and this we we can sit together on the plane.
gearheadgeekMale02007-02-09 19:24:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDanger Will Robinson!

Obviously asking the Nikolaev police authority to get a Russian PC adds an uncontrollable to the loop. The Nikolaev police are not governed by Russian law therefore sitting on the request was just that.

Apparently the Nikolaev police offered. In exchange for some money, of course. Nadya didn't know, having never done this before ....

I do have a question about the firm in Moscow. To they just facilitate Russian Federation PC's or do they get involved with PC's from other FSU states?

I didn't get a definitive answer, but whatever they did was acceptable to the embassy in Kiev and covered the other places she had lived.
gearheadgeekMale02007-02-09 19:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDanger Will Robinson!

I do have a question about the firm in Moscow. To they just facilitate Russian Federation PC's or do they get involved with PC's from other FSU states?


I have not gotten involved in the machinery at that end. I will ask Nadya and report back.
gearheadgeekMale02007-01-16 22:39:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDanger Will Robinson!

Russian law (MVD Order no. 965, dated November 1, 2001) mandates that the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) provide police certificates both to Russian citizens and to foreigners who have lived or are living in Russia. The law states that in Russia, MVD offices must provide the certificate within 30 days. Those residing outside of Russia, both Russian citizens and non-citizens, may either delegate a Power-of-Attorney to apply for the certificate on their behalf in Russia, or apply directly to the Russian Consulate. Police certificates should note all names that the person has used in Russia, and should note the MVD branches in all locations that were queried.

Perhaps Russia is better than the Ukraine about this? It did not seem to bother the Ukraine police to sit on the report for a month. If the police don't follow the law, who do you report them to?

The real problem is that she needs reports from several places, not just Russia. The firm in Moscow was to deal with that.

To extend petition:

http://www.visajourn...p;page=examples

Look for - Request to Extend Approval of I-129F

Aha! Thank you very much!
gearheadgeekMale02007-01-16 07:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDanger Will Robinson!
Thank you all for your moral support. I am not ready to give up yet, but it does get discouraging at times. Especially things like the Nilolaev police sitting on their report for a month, telling Nadya it wasn't done.
gearheadgeekMale02007-01-16 07:33:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDanger Will Robinson!
Well, maybe more frustration than danger.

My petition was approved 30 Aug 2006 but didn't get to Kiev (or rather, was not acknowledged by Kiev) until 18 Oct 2006. Nadya had gotten busy on her details, but still almost missed the 1 Dec 2006 interview, going to the police in Nikolaev to get her criminal report. She has a bit of a problem since she was married to a career military man and thus lived several different places in the FSU. However, there is no SU now, only seperate counries. The Ukrainian police said they could handle this, so she paid the fee early in October and waited a couple weeks. The reports were not ready yet, so she kept checking every other day or so. As the end of November approached and her interview date loomed, she asked her son-in-law, who is a businessman in Nikolaev and thus has some connections, to look into it. Her reports showed up the next day. With a date of 27 Oct 2006!!! They had been sitting on them for a month! So she went to the interview. The Russian police report, gathered for her by the Nikolaev police (and, BTW, paid for by Nadya), did not pass muster. So she went to the Russian embassy in Keiv. They said they could get a report in 6 months, or she could go to a firm in Moscow to get the report. It would be free if you didn't mind waiting, oh maybe 3 months. Or if you were in a hurry, $100 would get in in a week. Or if you were really in a hurry, $200 would get it in 2 days. Sooooo, she boarded a train for Moscow. It seems the firm wanted $400, and it would take 2 weeks. I said we had no choice, so she paid and hopped back on the train. The trip was 60 hour, 4 of which were in Moscow, and 56 on the train. When she went back in to weeks, she was told it was not ready. That was three weeks ago. The report is still not ready - 2 weeks has turned into 5. Meanwhile, I read today that "your fiancee has 4 months from the time your petition is approved to get her visa". I read that on this site, but naturally can't find it now. If you will recall, my petition was approved on 30 Aug 2006, or 4 months and 2 weeks ago .... Nadya is going absolutely crazy over this. We foolishly thought we would spend Christmas together. Then we thought maybe New Years. Then mayb the Orthodox Christmas. Maybe Easter???

So remind me, why am I doing this??? It sure seemed like a good idea at the time ....

I'm just whining. I know others here have had more grief than Nadya and I.
gearheadgeekMale02007-01-15 21:05:00