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Immigration
Advance Parole
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Traveling with Russian Passport
Hey guys, I am new here, but I've been reading your experiences for a long time now.
Let me share mine.
So first of all, I am slightly freaking out about the fact that I applied for a green card in June 2017 and still haven't had the interview scheduled. Atlanta processing times now increased to 11 and 23 months! I have a slight suspicion that my process has to do with my Nationality.
But the point of the story is that me and my husband planned a trip to Mexico for our honeymoon next month and I am freaking out about using my AP for the first time. I've been strongly advised by my fellow Russian Immigrants not to go to Russia with it (I haven't been home for 2 years now). I've seen all of your stories and as far as i understand it is pretty safe to travel with AP if all your other documentation is okay and you don't have a criminal background. I'm just worried that my nationality might be a problem. Has anyone traveled outside the US with a Russian passport?
Also I want to share my experience with all the Russians who want to go to Mexico for vacation while AOS is pending.
My husband and I were trying to look for places that don’t require a visa. So I searched the Internet and found out that Russians do not need to obtain a visa prior to coming, however, they need to get an E-visa, which is an electronic equivalent that you just fill out online. I’ve been researching for hours and couldn’t find the website where you fill that one out. I’ve searched in both English and Russian languages, went to the Consulate page which is completely in Spanish and doesn’t even offer an option of English language. All I could find there is that if you do not hold a valid visa (mine expired after I graduated 2 years ago) Advance Parole is not enough. That’s when I realized that there is something wrong with this. So I emailed the Consulate and they replied really quick with an answer that Russians who are traveling from Russia can get an E-visa, however, since I live and work in the US, I need to obtain an actual visa through the Consulate. There is only 3 weeks before the trip left. And knowing how all other visas are obtained in Russia, American F1 takes up to 3 months, Schengen about 2 weeks and so on. Plus trying to make an appointment. I started freaking out and looked for the answers online. Again. I could not find any related information on how long it takes to obtain the visa. So I emailed the consul again and got the answer: if approved, it takes about 2 hours to issue it. What a relief.
So if you travel to Mexico by air from the US with your Russian passport, make sure you get a visa at the nearest Consulate prior to your trip!
I hope that will help someone cuz I literally went through hell.
Let me share mine.
So first of all, I am slightly freaking out about the fact that I applied for a green card in June 2017 and still haven't had the interview scheduled. Atlanta processing times now increased to 11 and 23 months! I have a slight suspicion that my process has to do with my Nationality.
But the point of the story is that me and my husband planned a trip to Mexico for our honeymoon next month and I am freaking out about using my AP for the first time. I've been strongly advised by my fellow Russian Immigrants not to go to Russia with it (I haven't been home for 2 years now). I've seen all of your stories and as far as i understand it is pretty safe to travel with AP if all your other documentation is okay and you don't have a criminal background. I'm just worried that my nationality might be a problem. Has anyone traveled outside the US with a Russian passport?
Also I want to share my experience with all the Russians who want to go to Mexico for vacation while AOS is pending.
My husband and I were trying to look for places that don’t require a visa. So I searched the Internet and found out that Russians do not need to obtain a visa prior to coming, however, they need to get an E-visa, which is an electronic equivalent that you just fill out online. I’ve been researching for hours and couldn’t find the website where you fill that one out. I’ve searched in both English and Russian languages, went to the Consulate page which is completely in Spanish and doesn’t even offer an option of English language. All I could find there is that if you do not hold a valid visa (mine expired after I graduated 2 years ago) Advance Parole is not enough. That’s when I realized that there is something wrong with this. So I emailed the Consulate and they replied really quick with an answer that Russians who are traveling from Russia can get an E-visa, however, since I live and work in the US, I need to obtain an actual visa through the Consulate. There is only 3 weeks before the trip left. And knowing how all other visas are obtained in Russia, American F1 takes up to 3 months, Schengen about 2 weeks and so on. Plus trying to make an appointment. I started freaking out and looked for the answers online. Again. I could not find any related information on how long it takes to obtain the visa. So I emailed the consul again and got the answer: if approved, it takes about 2 hours to issue it. What a relief.
So if you travel to Mexico by air from the US with your Russian passport, make sure you get a visa at the nearest Consulate prior to your trip!
I hope that will help someone cuz I literally went through hell.
All Replies (7)
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