K-1 / K-3 visa Almaty Embassy Interview

Upon receipt of an approved petition, the Consular section of the U.S. Embassy in Almaty will notify the beneficiary by mail and send him or her the necessary forms and instructions to apply for a "K" visa. Since a fiancee visa applicant is an intending immigrant, he or she must meet most of the same documentary requirements of an immigrant visa applicant. Once the approved petition for a fiancee is received by the U.S. Embassy in Almaty, an appointment can be made there for his or her Medical Exam and Visa Interview. Prior to the Almaty interview, the future couple should gather the following documents: Completed DS-156 Visa Application Form and Supplemental DS-156K Form (filled out in Russian). The supplemental form should not be signed. If the applicant’s child is immigrating with him/her, DS-156 must be filled out for the child too. The child does not need the supplemental form;  Passports for all persons applying for U.S. visa (or on the same passport). Original and copy of the photo page. (Note: An international passport can be obtained by a Tajik citizen at OVIR or the Consular department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Children under 16 are usually included in the parent’s passport;  Original birth certificates of all applicants;  Prior marriage certificate(s) and divorce certificate(s) or death certificate(s) of spouse(s) (if applicable, it is required to present documents to prove the dissolution of any prior marriage(s));  Police certificates or a statement from the police that one is not available, if applicable. Police Certificates are required from every visa applicant aged 16 or over for each locality of the country of nationality or current residence where applicant has resided at least 6 months since attaining the age of 16. They are also required from all other countries where the applicant has resided for at least one year. Also, a police certificate must be obtained from the police authorities of any place where the applicant has been arrested for any reason, regardless of the duration of residence. Please note that police certificates for Tajikistan are considered to be unavailable; you do not have to attempt to obtain police certificates covering residence in Tajikistan. Court and prison records (if applicable). Persons convicted of a crime must obtain a certified copy of each record and any prison record, regardless whether they may have benefited from an amnesty or pardon;  Military records (if applicable). A certified copy of any military record is required, if applicable;  Four photos full face passport size (in addition to the two provided earlier) for each applicant (50x50 mm with white background; please see the explanation below). Two of these 4 photos will be required for the medical exam;  Financial documents from the U.S. citizen fiance to show that the applicant will not be a public charge in the U.S. Such documents may include, but are not limited to:  I-134 Affidavit of Support signed in front of a Notary Public or Consular Officer;  Tax Returns (IRS 1040 Forms) or tax transcripts for the previous three tax years;  Copy of a bank account. Evidence of financial assets and liabilities;  Earnings and Leave Statement;  Copies of W-2’s for the previous three tax years;  Letter of employment with salary information;  Evidence of financial assets and liabilities;  Translation of all documents into English (translations must be notarized only when the original is in a language other than Russian);  Evidence of relationship. The applicant will be asked to submit proof of his/her relationship with the petitioner. Therefore, it is useful to bring letters, e-mails, photos of you and your fiancй(e) together, telephone bills or other evidence of their relationship to the interview;  Application fee - $100 per each applicant payable at the U.S. Embassy on the day of the interview. An accompanying child requires a valid international passport (or may be included in the parent’s passport), a birth certificate and a medical examination. If a child is 16 years of age or over, police certificates are required. Only one additional copy of each document plus the original is required; however, it is prudent to have two copies of all documents. Please note that any accompanying children also need passports (or should be included in the parent’s passport) and medical examinations. Certified translations can be prepared by "Intourist" or "Business Center" companies at "Tajikistan" hotel, 22 Shotemur St., Dushanbe, tel. 992-37-221-62-62 or 992-37-221-82-28. The visa applicant must also go for a medical exam at an Embassy approved clinic prior to the visa interview. At the moment, the only clinic approved is SOS Clinic. The applicant should bring his/her immunization records to the panel physician. For more information regarding the exam and costs, please contact the clinic directly. Allow two working days for results. Once the medical exam results are ready (they will be provided in a sealed envelope) and all the above documents are together, the applicant may go to the Embassy for an interview. The American citizen does not need to accompany the applicant to the visa interview. PHOTOGRAPH REQUIREMENTS FOR VISAS The photograph of each visa applicant must be an unmounted full-face photo, taken within the past six months. A "full-face" photo is one in which the applicant is facing the camera directly. The applicant should not be looking down or to either side, and the face should cover about 50 percent of the area of the photo. Although variations in hair styles and in head coverings make it difficult to rigorously define the term "face", in general, the head of the applicant, including both face and hair, should be shown from crown of the head to tip of chin on top and bottom and from hair line side-to-side. It is preferable that ears be exposed. The key requirement is that the photographs clearly identify the applicant. The photograph should measure from 2 inches (roughly 5mm square) with the head centered in the frame. The head (measured from the top of the hair to the bottom of the chin) should measure between 1 inch to 1 3/8 inches (25 mm to 35 mm) with the eye level between 1 1/8 inch to 1 3/8/ inches (28mm and 35 mm) from the bottom of the photo. Photos must be taken against a white or off-white background. Photos should be printed without borders. Photo should be stapled to Form DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application). The staples should be placed as far away as possible from the applicant’s face. Photos taken in front of busy patterned, or dark backgrounds will not be accepted. Head coverings and hats are only acceptable due to religious beliefs, and even then, may not obscure any portion of the face of the applicant. Sunglasses or other paraphernalia, which detracts from the face, as defined above are not acceptable unless required for medical reasons (an eye patch, for example). A photograph depicting a person wearing a traditional facemask or veil that does not permit adequate identification is not acceptable. Photos of military, airline or other personnel wearing hats are not acceptable. Photographs of applicants wearing tribal, national costumes or other headgear not specifically religious in nature are not acceptable. Since a separate visa is issued to each qualified applicant, an individual photo is required in all cases. Group photos are not acceptable. VISA INELIGIBILITIES As soon as the processing of a case is completed and applicant has all necessary documents, a consular officer will interview the fiancй(e) to determine eligibility for a K visa. Applicants who have a communicable disease, or have a dangerous physical or mental disorder; are drug addicts; have committed serious criminal acts, including crimes involving moral turpitude, drug trafficking, and prostitution; are likely to become a public charge; have used fraud or other illegal means to enter the U.S.; or are ineligible for citizenship, must be refused a visa. The two-year foreign residence requirement for former exchange visitors is also applicable. VISA ISSUANCE If everything is in order, usually the visa is issued the same day. The applicant will receive a nonimmigrant visa in his/her passport, valid for one entry into the U.S. within the next 6 months. He/she will also receive a separate immigrant visa packet to present to the immigration officials at the U.S. border. After entry to the U.S., he/she has 90 days to either marry the petitioner or return to his/her country. Following the marriage, the alien spouse must apply to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) to establish a record for conditional permanent resident status. After two years, the alien spouse may apply to BCIS for removal of the conditional status. IMPORTANT NOTICE TO IMMIGRANT VISA APPLICANTS CONCERNING VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS Recent changes to United States immigration law now require immigrant visa applicants to obtain certain vaccinations (listed below) prior to the issuance of an immigrant visa. Panel physicians who conduct medical examinations of immigrant visa applicants are now required to verify that immigrant visa applicants have met the new vaccination requirement, or that it is medically inappropriate for the visa applicant to receive one or more of the listed vaccinations: -- mumps -- measles -- rubella -- polio -- tetanus and diphtheria toxoids -- pertussis -- influenzae type b (Hib) -- hepatitis B -- varicella -- pneumococcal -- influenza. In order to assist the panel physican, and to avoid delays in the processing of an immigrant visa, all immigrant visa applicants should have their vaccination records available for the panel physician''s review at the time of the immigrant medical examination. Visa applicants should consult with their regular health care provider to obtain a copy of their immunization record, if one is available. If you do not have a vaccination record, the panel physician will work with you to determine which vaccinations you may need to meet the requirement. Certain waivers of the vaccination requirement are available upon the recommendation of the panel physican. Only a physician can determine which of the listed vaccinations are medically appropriate for you, given your age, medical history and current medical condition. U.S. Embassy Almaty - Consular Section 97 Zholdasbekova St., Samal-2 Tel.: (1073272) 50-49-00 Fax: (1073272) 50-48-84 E-mail: ConsularAlmaty@state.gov Website: http://www.usembassy.kz Open for Immigrant Visa Information Monday - Friday (2-5 p.m.), Tuesday and Thursday (9 a.m.-12 p.m.)