- 1). Obtain a valid Russian national passport and two additional 2x2 color passport photos. Your spouse will have to submit their Russian passport and the additional passport photos to the United States embassy / consulate with the additional documentation and the application. The K-3 visa application is intended for non-national spouses of American citizens to come to the United States.
If you meet a Russian national in the United States and marry him while he is in the United States you will have to file the K-3 visa application in the United States with the U.S. Department of State. You must file for the K-3 visa in the country where the marriage took place. - 2). Receive a copy of your spouse's police record from the Russian police. A copy of this record must be submitted with the K-3 visa application. If your spouse has lived in other countries since the age of 16 they will also have to obtain police records from those countries as well.
- 3). Your spouse must complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form. This visa application form is also known as the DS- 160. This is an electronic application so the entire application can be completed on the United States Embassy in Moscow website (see Resources). Once you complete the application make sure to print out the confirmation page as you will have to submit this page to the United States immigration during your interview appointment.
- 4). Provide the appropriate documentation of your legal marriage.This can be shown by providing your marriage certificate and any death certificates or divorce papers of your previous spouse if you were married before. The sponsor will have to show that she is willing to financially support her spouse to come to the United States. Verify this with a work contract stating salary and/or bank statements showing your financial situation. The sponsor also must sign an affidavit stating they are aware and will follow through with their responsibilities of financial support.
If requested by United States Department of States you will have to show that you have known your spouse for a significant amount of time before your marriage. A short courtship is a valid reason for denial of the visa. If the United States Department of State requires information that verifies the length of time that you have known each other then when they request this information they will notify you on what additional documentation you will need to provide to them. This documentation may vary from couple to couple. - 5). Your spouse must pay the K-3 visa application fees and attend a required interview. As of June 2010, the visa application fees for a K-3 visa were $350. The fee can be paid through the Russian Pony Express to the United States Embassy in Moscow. Your spouse will have to show proof of payment and bring your entire application conformation page as well as all additional documentation to the interview. At the interview they will do all the final paperwork for your visa. The interview will be conduced at the United States embassy / consulate closest to your spouse's residence in Russia.
- 6). Complete the I-130 application form. This form is the Petition for an Alien Relative to come to the United States. This is your petition that you must complete in order for your spouse to become a permanent resident. The filing fee for this form is $355 as of June 2010. You must submit this application form to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).
- 7). Submit a change of status application. Once your spouse comes to the United States and you have filed the I-130 application form, your spouse will be eligible to apply to be a permanent resident. Once the USCIS receives the I-130 visa application, your spouse should receive a Form I-797. The USCIS recommends not filing the change of status until your spouse receives this letter. After they receive this letter, they will have to complete the I-145 Application to Register Permanent Status or Adjust Status. The fee to file this application is $1,010 as of June 2010. Once this is filed and after the I-130 has been accepted, it will take around six months to receive permanent resident status (individual case times may vary).
- 1). Familiarize yourself with the Russian Federation visa procedure. The Russian Federation generally requires that all visa applicants complete a visa application and submit it to the Russian embassy/ consulate with the appropriate documentation. This documentation includes passport photos, passport, medical records, police records, and an itinerary. Generally any visa that is longer than three days will also require a sponsor. Your sponsor in this case would be your spouse.
- 2). Contact the Russian Federation Embassy in the United States. They will be able to help you with the most accurate information on how to apply for a residency permit in for Russia. Laws for Russian visas are constantly changing so for the most accurate information contact either the Russian Embassy or the Federal Migration Service, Russia.
Russian Federation Embassy
2650 Wisconsin Ave
Washington, D.C., 20007
202-298-5700 - 3). Complete the visa application process recommended to you. Make sure to do this in full. Instructions that are not complete may result in a denial of the visa.
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