biggish data

Strange situation. Paying someone's fee?

I was contacted by one of the members here to help them pay their K-1 visa fee. The beneficiary is Belarusian and their interviews are in Warsaw.. and they can only pay this fee in Poland. (I checked and it's true). (it also would require the Belarusian to apply for a Schengen visa just to come to Poland to pay the fee.)

Now, would it in any way affect me, if they let's say encounter any problems along the way?

Maybe I'm over-thinking it... and not trying to insult anyone, but you never know and better to be safe than sorry...

Please advise..

What they are asking you to do is something that me and my wife considered. Instead of having to go to Warsaw for 4 days to complete the interview process she was going to have a family friend pay the fee while in Warsaw for a few days a month before we were going for the interview. All anyone would need is to download a ustravel document visa fee form and have the embassy case number. Once the fee is paid, in Warsaw, they would simply give the reciept number to the visa seeker then they could call the next day and schedule the interview for whenever they wanted. This would save them spending 2 days in Warsaw if they had limited funds but they would really have to trust the person that they were sending $240 to and trust that they could handle the task. In the end we decided to do it ourself and spend 4 days in Warsaw. To answer your quest, there is nothing illegal about you or anybody else paying the fee.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-08-20 09:57:00

A girl named Nut

It's confused. ????? is russian for nut, female screw, internal screw, screw-nut

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-08-13 13:42:00

Didn't you just say that yesterday you received an email from the embassy saying it was approved and would be sent in a few days? These automated responses that have you worried are usually wrong or behind the times.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-08-22 07:30:00

Exactly what they said, domestic abuse information in the Russian language.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-08-20 07:16:00

lol dial 011 7 (495) 728-5000 speak with a Russian accent, it will help them understand you.....

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-08-19 17:26:00

Ok so it hasn't been quite a week yet but I would still call the embassy. http://moscow.usemba...v/about-us.html

Tel: +7 (495) 728-5000 first thing tomorrow morning. Hopefully she will have her passport and visa in a couple days and before Sept. 1st.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-08-19 17:11:00

Were you at the interview? Did they explain why your case was sent for AP? When you call, do you speak to a Russian employee of the embassy or ask to speak to an American consulate officer? I really don't know much about AP or the US Embasssy in Moscow but I damm sure would not stop calling until I spoke with someone that explained things to me.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-08-19 16:28:00

approved!

Congratulations, now the fun begins

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-08-22 08:23:00

A little easier to travel to Belarus?

I never understood why getting a visa to Belarus was considered difficult. There is no need to use a travel agency and it takes only a few days of regular mail service. Yes, the cost of a visa to Belarus is a bit higher than most places but all of my trips have been hassle free. However, I WOULD NOT plan a trip to Belarus without having a visa first unless you want to lose some serious cash and time sitting around an airport or train station for a very long time.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-09-03 09:03:00

and onto the next chapter!

Congrats

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-09-05 20:32:00

Interview finished, some more questions and story inside

I actually had the same basic question, so thanks for asking it, and thank you to everyone who answered.

It wasn't until after I met my fiance the first time, and were planning to meet in the Caribbean for our second meeting, that I realized how difficult traveling can be for Ukrainian's (as an American who travels extensively, I know I take the ease of traveling for granted). So this made me worry about transiting through another country/city (i.e. Paris, Frankfurt, Amsterdam) on the way to Atlanta. I live in Birmingham, so it's an easy drive over.

Thanks again,

Lee

Be careful, each European country can have different transit rules for foreigner from different countries. Make sure she doesn't need one even if she never leaves the international zone.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-09-04 14:46:00

Interview finished, some more questions and story inside

Don't be surprised if she doesn't clear immigration before 6-7pm. I was with my wife in Miami and we were in the immigration room for about 4 hours. I was ready to leave her at the airport by herself and she was ready to go home (Belarus) before we cleared the airport Fun times lol

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-08-26 19:33:00

Interview finished, some more questions and story inside

As long as she is only intending to transit through Frankfurt she will not need a visa, since she will not be going through immigration control.

I agree. As long as she has her US visa in her passport Frankfurt will not be a problem to transit thru.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-08-26 09:59:00

MIL got a tourist visa

To my amazement my wifes mom was approved for a tourist visa this morning in Minsk. The reason I am surpized is that she has virtually no home ties to her country. My wife is a lonely child without a father and no other relatives in Belarus. Her mom is 75 years old,retired but does own her apartment. Other than her home she really has no ties to the community. She has no plans of legally or illegally migrating to the US but if I was a consulate officer I would ask "why wouldn't she?"

I have tried to keep my wifes expectations low about her moms chances because everything I have read on this site says they will deny unless one can prove strong ties. My MIL says that actually asker her is she wanted a multi entry visa. I guess my point of this post is to let others know that even if things seem agaist the odds it never hurts to try and hope for the best.

BTW...I did write an invitation letter and had it notorized which they say is not necessary. She also got her church to write a letter stating she was a member there.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-09-19 14:21:00

Where is everyone from in the states?

Southeast Florida

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-07-23 20:25:00

Aeroflot uses Terminal 1 at JFK. It's usually pretty quick there (the shortest time for me was 25 minutes and I'm out for everything, passport control, luggage, and customs; the longest there was about 1 hour, but then again, I'm a citizen, and the visitor line takes a bit longer). It's terminal 4 that is the nightmare one as that one is where most international flights are.

Also JFK has a fast lane for short connections where they can let you go through without waiting in line for immigration if you show them your boarding pass for next flight that's leaving soon. In any case, you would also need to get your luggage in JFK, go through customs, and then go to check in to the next flight. It's totally possible to do in 2 hours, but if you're unlucky or if your first flight is late, you might miss it.

Thanks for the info. I think we're just going to bite the bullet and get the direct flight to ~~Cuba~~ Miami

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-10-03 17:34:00

Thanks guys. 2 hours is not enough time to take a chance.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-10-03 14:29:00

Nevermind, found the answer.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-10-03 14:25:00

I am looking at flights for my MIL to visit us here. The easiest route for her is from Moskow to Miami using Aeroflot but the dates I am looking for are too expensive. I found a flight that stops at JFK for 2 hours then to Orlando for much cheaper. My question is would she go thru immigration at JFK or Orlando? Both routes are with Aeroflot so I see no reason to leave the internation terminal but if she has to clear immigration first then I don't want to take a chance with the limited time. Any thoughts?

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-10-03 14:13:00

Minimum notice of cancellation - Moscow consulate

I would not cancel the interview. I would send scanned copies by e-mail and bring those to the interview. They might or might not accept them but she will not be denied. They will probably not make a final decision until your fiancee produces the originals.

edited to add NEVER use USPS for any documents that are needed in a short time. They only give a time estimate to Russia. After they make it that far it is in the hands of the Russian post, and no one knows how long it could take after that.

Good luck.

I agree with neon. Don't cancel the interview. Just scan them and send to her to print. More than likely they won't even ask for the supporting documents. They didn't in my wifes case and I have read the same from others. Go ahead and mail them after scanning just in case though.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-10-18 17:06:00

My sweetheart is finally in the US

Congrats!!

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-10-21 18:35:00

My 76 y/o MIL was just issued a visa. No ties whatsoever to her country. No family, no job and only an apartment. They approved her in about 5 minutes without wanting to see any evidence or invitation letter. So not every case is cut and dry and most desisions don't make sense. BTW, she will return to her country prior to her visa expiration date because it is the law and she has no desires to live here.

To the OP..sorry for hijacking your thread, I am done here.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-10-27 12:01:00

You honestly think a CO expects a 76 y/o retired woman to pay her own way and survive in the US for 3-6 months without financial help from her family there? It would be dishonest to pretend that she was capable of this and I really don't think a CO cares who buys her airline ticket and where she stays as long as they believe she won't overstay. How they determine that is anyones guess.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-10-27 11:00:00

I kind of agree with what you are saying but I think it depends on the situation, country embassy and the facts. If a retired 76 year old woman is barely able to survive day to day in her own country how is she expected to pay for a trip and survive in the US without financial support for up to 3-6 months? Wheather the CO reads an invitation letter or believes it is their own choice. I just think it's a good idea to give them a choice. If the applicant is denied because of whatever reason at least you know that they (CO) had as much info has you could give them. Under no circumstance can I see this action hurting the applicant in THIS case.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-10-27 10:46:00

They tell us that we should send them an invitation letter. As I understand it, such a letter has next to no utility but we'll write one if it will help them feel more confident. Both the step son and his ex-wife, both of whom we would be please to have visit us have traveled abroad in recent years. But one of the current (brand new) passports has no foreign travel stamps. The young grandchild has traveled abroad (Bulgaria, Turkey, that sort of thing) with parents and Russian grandparents on vacations.

I agree, letters are not really needed but if a loved one feels more confident then why wouldn't a USC take 5 minutes to write one?

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-10-27 10:20:00

I recently wrote 2. One for my MIL and one for my wifes friends. Just keep it basic and state who you are and a law abbiding citizen. State they will be staying with you and all expensives will be paid and provided by you. Also state that you will promise that all visitors will return to their country prior to visa expiration dates. I had them notoarized but it's not needed.

In both cases the consular officers did not even want them or look at them but both were approved.

As for your second question. Many citizens from the RUB countries are denied every day. Some for valid reasons and some unknown reasons. Good luck.

Edited by southernman, 27 October 2013 - 09:38 AM.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-10-27 09:36:00

Some people say being the operative phrase.

So please explain the decision making process to all of us who don't understand. Again, my MIL had no ties and no other family members in Belarus. No job, no passport stamps, NO REASON TO RETURN TO BELARUS but yet she was given a tourist visa without the officer asking for an invitation letter that I had written. Didn't ask for her home deed papers or anything. Interview lasted 2 minutes. Yes I was suprized but very grateful but I have read and talked to many that had lots of ties and proof yet were denied for no apparent reason or explanation. So please help me and others understand this process and the reasons why some are granted and others are denied.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-10-26 20:21:00

As has been mentioned many many times it is not luck, there might be a few cases that could go either way but most are pretty obvious.

Please explain? I agree some could go either way but if MIL A has lots of home country ties and other reasons to return and MIL B has no ties and no reason to return but both have a 50/50 chance at getting a visa, how is it not luck?

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-10-25 21:30:00

did you send a letter to her, or to the embassy in support of her Visa.? Would that help or hurt.?

I did for my MIL. They never looked at it and she didn't have stamps in the passport because she hadn't traveled in many years. Not really sure why they approve or deny but my guess is it depends on what side of the bed they wake up on lol.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-10-25 17:35:00

Boo, my future MIL had her visa to come to our wedding denied due to "not having sufficient ties to Ukraine". She has a full-time job (though not really highly paid job as it's Ukraine) and owns an apartment in Dnipropetrovsk. She has no other kids to leave in Ukraine as hostages to ensure coming back. I hate this process sometimes...

Sorry to hear about the denial. This process really makes no sense at times. Last month my MIL was approved when she had no ties and no reason to return. I guess it just really depends on the mood of the officer or maybe there's a quota that has to be met at each embassy. Who knows? Have her try again next year.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-10-24 10:12:00

Hit a bump and need some advice on flying with the wife.

You should have no problems as long as she has her passport with visa and your marriage certificate.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-12-27 17:17:00

Affidavit support documents question?

You should be fine with that just make sure you bring the most current pay check stubs that you can bring.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-12-27 11:48:00

Affidavit support documents question?

You should be fine with what you have. Just make sure you have an employment statement and recent pay stubs.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-12-20 15:02:00

Affidavit support documents question?

2-3 of the latest pay stubs,3 irs transcripts for the last 3 years http://www.irs.gov/I...er-a-Transcript (it's free and takes about 5 minutes to order and 1 week to be delievered) and a current employment statement.

No need for bank statements. Try to get the pay stubs from as close to the interview date as you can but don't worry if they are a few weeks old.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-12-20 14:13:00

Wish I could help but I really don't know how much of the procedure has changed in the past 12 months. If I were you I would check out the Belarus portal and find someone that has gone thru in the past month or so. http://www.visajourn...ndex.php?auto=1 Send them a pm and see if they can share some knowledge.

As for your fiancee, she should have no problem with communication in Warsaw. Most hotels,cabs and cafes have employees that speak english and or russian.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2014-01-23 08:37:00

Gary, thank you sooo much for these insightful information. Good luck to you to everyone here since no offense but U.S citizens are a little not welcome in Belarus. Each time I go in & out, I spend way too much time waiting & thinking that ok this time they're not gonna let me in.. I just wish that my wife's entrance to U.S would be an easy one.

FYI, if your fiancee/wife has to travel to Poland for the visa interview it does not have to be paid for in Warsaw as mentioned up thread. A member that just recently went thru the process had someone pay the fee for them at a location near the Belarus/Poland border. I don't have the specifics but have asked him to address this issue here at some point.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-09-18 13:29:00

Here's the address for the post office in Warsaw................. Swietokrzyska 31/33

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-08-10 17:32:00

Thanks gain Gary for all this valuable info,

I won't be able to go with her to the interview, she will be traveling to Poland by train it is about $175.00 for a for a ticket for a 8 hour trip. The train station is ~ 10 blocks from the consulate, that is what I can figure from using Google earth. I have booked her into the MDM hotel mid way point between consulate and train station. I have point pointed these location on GE and sent to her with directions as well.

Was wondering if anyone has the address for the post office, on the ultra docs it says any bank but have been reading there is one specific place she must go?

Also the address for visa pick up. So I can send her the directions from both, not that I am to lazy to look for this information, just rather get it from some some that has gone through the process already

She is going to arrive in Poland sept 9 as there are no holidays that week. Looking forward to finish this and have my lady with me. I see other folks have gone through much faster then us, oct 5 will be one year from the day they received my I129F .

Chuck I can't find the main post office address but it's only a few minutes taxi from the Embassy. Most taxi drivers will know where to take her. Here is the address for the visa pickup location.TNT Express Warsaw
Ul. Annopol 19, 03 - 236 Warszawa
Same-day pickup hours from 1:30pm - 5:00pm

As a Belarus citizen she will be required to pick it up the day after the interview at this location. Make sure the embassy is going to send it there. In our case it wasn't there and we had to return to the embassy where they then printed the visa and returned the passport because I told them we were to leave the following day. It may not have been that easy if I an American citizen wasn't there but she probably won't have the problem we had.

Also, the TNT location is a long way from the embassy area. Make sure she has the taxi wait for her while she goes in to get it or she may be there a while waiting for another.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-08-10 16:55:00

Hello guys! Thank you for you help a lot! Today i sent my packet 3 to Embassy at Warsaw vis email. So, I am a little bit confuse about next step. As you said: "Make sure she has her embassy case number and a pre-printed receipt from US Travel docs". so, how should we do it? My feance went to the US travel site and did not get how this receipt looks like.

Go to this site http://www.ustraveld...paymentinfo.asp about 3/4 way down click on the $240 MRV fee. Once the document opens in the upper right corner click on options and "allow this once". It will be converted into a reciept with a date on it. All she has to do is print one of these just prior to her trip to Warsaw. She does not need to fill it out. She will take to the main postal office in Warsaw. They will know what to do and give her another receipt once it has been paid. This second receipt is needed for making an interview the following day.

southernman

Male

Belarus

2013-08-10 16:37:00