FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS – RUSSIAN IMMIGRANT VISAS
Immigrant visas for Russians, including K fiancé visas and Diversity Visas, will be
processed at U.S. Embassy Warsaw.
Why was Warsaw chosen for immigrant visas?
In determining an alternate location to process Russian immigrant visa cases, we
weighed a variety of factors, including proximity to Russia, space to accommodate
additional applicants and personnel, cost and convenience to applicants, the
prevalence of Russian speakers among the personnel, and sufficient staffing
to adjudicate cases.
What if my case takes a long time to process? Will I need to stay in Poland the
entire time?
Visa processing is often completed and the visa ready for pick up within two to three
days of the visa interview, but sometimes the process can take longer. If additional
administrative processing is required, applicants may return to Russia while their
case is pending. Please note an individual’s immigration status in Poland is
ultimately up to the Government of Poland. Applicants will receive from
consular staff additional instructions about the processing of their case and may
address case-specific questions during their interview at U.S. Embassy Warsaw. In
all cases, applicants should not make travel plans until they have a scheduled
immigrant visa interview appointment.
What if I would prefer to process my immigrant visa case at another U.S.
embassy or consulate? Am I required to process my case in Warsaw?
While NVC will automatically schedule immigrant visa applications designated for
processing in Moscow at U.S. Embassy Warsaw, immigrant visa applicants may
request that NVC schedule their application at another immigrant visa
processing U.S. embassy or consulate by contacting the Ask NVC online contact
form. If the U.S. embassy or consulate agrees to accept the case, and the case is
qualified for scheduling, NVC will transfer the case to the requested U.S. embassy
or consulate. If the case file has already been transferred
to U.S. Embassy Warsaw, applicants may submit a transfer request directly to the
Immigrant Visa Unit at the chosen alternate U.S. embassy or consulate. That
embassy or consulate will confirm availability of appointments and will advise on the
steps necessary to begin the case transfer.
What are the requirements for Russian nationals to enter Poland?
Russian nationals traveling to Poland for an immigrant visa appointment at U.S.
Embassy Warsaw will need a Schengen visa. The Government of Poland makes
determinations regarding the entry of foreign nationals into that country. We refer
you to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the nearest Polish embassy or
consulate with specific questions.
How much time will I have between receiving notification of my immigrant visa
interview and my appointment date at U.S. Embassy Warsaw?
You will usually receive notice of your interview one or two months prior to the
appointment.
What if some of my documents are no longer valid by the time my visa
interview is scheduled?
You should make every effort to ensure all of your documents are valid when you
travel to Warsaw for your immigrant visa interview, as certain expired documents will
delay the processing and approval of your visa application. Please
follow closely the detailed instructions on your appointment letter. For more
information on what documents are required, please visit
https://pl.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/.
Where will medical exams be conducted?
Russian applicants will have the option of conducting their medical exams in Warsaw,
Minsk, or Moscow.
Can I travel straight from Poland to the United States, or do I need to return
to Russia and travel to the United States from there?
With an approved visa and all the other necessary documentation including a valid
passport, you may travel directly to the United States from Poland.
Given that Poland is a Polish-speaking country, how will U.S. Embassy Warsaw
handle immigrant visa cases for Russian-speaking applicants?
Embassy Warsaw has Russian-speaking staff.
Why are you no longer issuing visas in Moscow?
The Russian government’s decision to prohibit the United States from retaining,
hiring, or contracting Russian or third-country staff severely impacts our ability to
provide consular services. The extremely limited number of consular staff in Russia
does not allow us to provide routine visa or U.S. citizen services.
How are you communicating with applicants?
We will continue to provide updates on the U.S. Embassy Moscow and U.S.
Embassy Warsaw websites. Unless informed otherwise, applicants who had
previously scheduled immigrant visa appointments should attend those appointments
as scheduled. Those who have not yet had an immigrant visa interview appointment
scheduled may contact the National Visa Center for a status update on their case.
Please send just one inquiry and be patient. NVC will respond as quickly as
possible.
Who do I contact if I have questions about my case?
Please contact Embassy Warsaw ([email protected]) with any
questions you have about how Russians can apply for immigrant visas to the United
States.
