Russia K1 Fiancee Visa Processing Times

Embassy of the United States in Moscow, Russia

The processing time, from the day our law office files your I-129F Petition with the USCIS, to the day the K1 Visa is issued by the US Embassy in Moscow, Russia is approximately:

5-9 Months

All Russian Nationals residing in Russia must have their K1 Visa applications processed at the US Embassy located in Moscow, Russia. The application can only be adjudicated after the approved I-129F Petition is forwarded to the post by the National Visa Center in the United States.

If you are a Russian National residing in a country other than Russia, you may be eligible to process your k1 visa application in that foreign country. Contact our law firm today to find out if you or your fiancee meet the eligibility requirements.

Your team really helped us through the process and gave us peace of mind…every question we had was answered quickly and accurately…please thank Erika and Jamal for their help too…thanks… Matt, Black River Falls, Wisconsin
Oleana, Omnsk, Russia

About Matt, Black River Falls, Wisconsin
Oleana, Omnsk, Russia

American Embassy Moscow
Consular Section
21 Novinskiy Bulvar
123242 Moscow
Russia

Time it takes for an interview appointment after petition is received by embassy:

0-1 Months

Time for issuance of k1 visa after the interview

1-2 weeks

Our Russia Overseas Support Staff Speak Fluent English and
Chinese and have been through the k1 visa process too!

Below, please find more useful information about some of the required documents the K1 Visa Applicant will need prior to going for the interview. Please note that this list is not comprehensive and there are many other items and evidence that must be brought to the interview. Prior to interview, our office and/or your Overseas Support Staff will instruct you on all items and give you a mock interview for preparation.

Birth, Divorce and Death Certificates

Certified copies of birth, divorce, and death certificates can be obtained by applying to the Bureau of Acts of Civil Status (ZAGS) of the locality having jurisdiction of the records.

Police and Prison Records

Russian law insists that the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) provide police certificates both to Russian citizens and to foreigners who have lived in or are currently 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 and non-citizens–can either give another person 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.

More serious and federal criminal records in Russia are kept at the Main Information Center (MIC), while convictions relating to minor crimes and offenses (interpreted as when the punishment was to to 3 years of imprisonment) are stored in the local police archives. Court records are generally available upon a request from the person. Prison records, however, are generally not available.

Military Records

Persons who served in the military are issued a military service document (voyenniy bilet) which has information about the length of service and circumstances of the discharge. Those who have served in the military can also have such information reflected in their Russian internal passports.

Internal Residence Documents

There are 4 types of documents which a person may reside in the Russian Federation:

Internal passport;

Temporary certification in lieu of an internal passport;

Foreigner’s residence permit; and

Residence permit for stateless persons.

The internal passport is issued to every citizen that is over the age of sixteen by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Internal passport contains information on the person’s civil status, lists any children, and contains a residence registration stamp (propiska). There are currently two versions of the passport in circulation–an older “CCCP” model, and the new, purple Russian Federation document. These documents are issued by the person’s local militia precinct.

Russian Travel Documents

The Russian Federation, and other former Soviet Union republics, continue to issue foreign travel passports which are virtually indistinguishable in design from the old-style Soviet passports. These ‘regular’ passports will be valid until the stated expiration date, or some future announcement of a complete changeover.

The Russian Federation began issuing “Russian Federation” official and diplomatic passports on September 16, 1996. The old-style Soviet official and diplomatic passports are no longer valid.

With implementation of the new exit/entry law in 1993, citizens are no longer required to obtain exit permission from the Office of Visas and Registration (OVIR) before traveling abroad. Citizens who are emigrating permanently must obtain a passport endorsed for permanent emigration from OVIR.

Under the present regulations, OVIR has the sole authority to issue regular foreign travel passports, although the Foreign Ministry has been authorized to continue issuance of such passports on an interim basis. Passports are not routinely issued to children under the age of sixteen. They are usually included in the passport of a parent or other adult with whom they are traveling. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sole authority to issue diplomatic and official passports.

K1 Fiancee Visa processing times for Russia’s bordering countries:
China K1 Fiancee Visa Processing Times
Belarus K1 Fiancee Visa Processing Times
Kazakhstan K1 Fiancee Visa Processing Times