Immigration Law
Short Answer: Russian citizens applying for a K-1 fiancé(e) visa are generally interviewed at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland, because the U.S. Embassy in Moscow does not process immigrant or fiancé(e) visas. A Russian fiancé(e) can interview at a U.S. embassy in another country only if they can prove they legally reside there. Under the Department of State's 2025 residence-based interview policies, traveling to a third country and requesting a transfer is no longer a workable strategy. Exceptions are limited to rare humanitarian, medical, or foreign-policy cases.
For Russian–American couples, the hardest part of the K-1 process is rarely the petition. It is getting the fiancé(e) in front of a U.S. consular officer who will actually conduct the interview.
The rules on where that interview can happen tightened in 2025. Earlier versions of this guide described third-country options that, as of the date of this article, are no longer realistic for most Russian applicants.
Russian K-1 fiancé(e) visa applicants are interviewed at the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw by default. U.S. Embassy Warsaw explains that it is the processing post for Russian immigrant visa applications. Embassy Moscow stopped offering immigrant visa services after the Russian government's April 23, 2021 notification barring the embassy from employing foreign nationals (Embassy Warsaw).
Warsaw handles K-1 cases because the K-1, although a nonimmigrant visa, is processed at immigrant visa posts. The Foreign Affairs Manual requires K-1 and K-2 visas to be processed and issued only at posts that issue immigrant visas (9 FAM 502.7-3(C)(1)).
The Department of State's list of designated immigrant visa posts routes Russian applicants to Warsaw. It also names Almaty and Tashkent, but only for IR-5 cases (parents of U.S. citizens), not for K-1 fiancé(e)s (DOS list of immigrant visa posts).
You may also see Astana, Kazakhstan, mentioned for Russians. The U.S. Mission in Russia tells Russian nationals to apply for nonimmigrant visas in Astana or Warsaw. That applies to categories like tourist visas; K-1 cases follow the immigrant visa post system.
The Department of State adopted two residence-based interview policies in 2025, and the K-1 visa sits between them. The K-1 is classified as a nonimmigrant visa, but it is processed like an immigrant visa. Both policies point in the same direction.
The nonimmigrant visa policy (September 2025). DOS's nonimmigrant visa policy (last updated July 15, 2026) contains four points (DOS NIV notice):
The immigrant visa policy (effective November 1, 2025). Under this policy, the National Visa Center (NVC) schedules applicants in their country of residence, or in their country of nationality if requested (DOS IV notice):
I explain this policy in detail in Immigrant Visa Applicants Must Interview in Their Country of Residence or Nationality.
What DOS has not said about K-1 cases. Neither announcement mentions K visas by name. As of the date of this article, DOS has not published K-specific guidance on how the residence rule applies to fiancé(e) cases.
The Foreign Affairs Manual still contains an older K-visa provision. It gives jurisdiction to the post where the applicant lives, last lived, or holds citizenship, and it lets a receiving post accept an out-of-district K case at its discretion (9 FAM 502.7-3(C)(1)).
What we see in practice. Since November 2025, we have seen Russian clients' K-1 cases move to a third country only where the client had relocated there to live.
Earlier guidance, including a prior version of this article, suggested that an embassy had to accept any immigrant visa applicant who was lawfully present in its district. That overstated the rule even before 2025.
The regulation, 22 CFR 42.61(a), is an immigrant visa provision. It lets a person who is physically present in a district without living there apply at that post if they can stay long enough for processing. That permission applies only unless the Department directs otherwise, and DOS has now directed residence-based scheduling.
A short trip to Georgia, Armenia, or Kazakhstan is therefore not a basis for moving a K-1 interview there.
A Russian K-1 fiancé(e) who legally lives in another country can generally interview at the U.S. post serving that country. In my experience, posts have accepted these cases when the client could show proof of legally residing there.
Proof of legal residence is the deciding factor. The key document is usually the one that grants the legal right to live in that country, such as a residence permit. Tourist entries, visa-free stays, and short-term visits do not establish residence.
Before November 2025, we saw Russian clients complete K-1 interviews in Tbilisi, Baku, Almaty, Tashkent, and Montevideo when Warsaw was not an option. Those interviews were possible under the earlier, more flexible practice. We have not seen a comparable non-resident transfer since the policy changed.
Residence must be genuine. Relocating is a serious life decision, and any statement about where your fiancé(e) lives must be accurate. Overstating residence to reach a preferred embassy can create misrepresentation problems that are far harder to fix than a delay.
For many Russian K-1 applicants, the biggest practical obstacle is getting into Poland. Poland is in the Schengen Area, so a Russian citizen generally needs a Schengen visa to attend the Warsaw interview.
Whether a Russian fiancé(e) can get a Schengen visa depends heavily on individual circumstances. Applicants who have held a Schengen visa before are generally in a better position to obtain another. Schengen visa appointment wait times also change, and they can run longer during the busy travel season, so build that into your timeline.
We generally refer clients to separate counsel who can assist with the Schengen visa application itself. Our role is the U.S. side of the case: the petition, the NVC stage, and preparation for the Warsaw interview.
Exceptions to the residence rule exist but are narrow. DOS describes them as rare and limited to humanitarian emergencies, medical emergencies, or foreign-policy reasons. Difficulty getting a Schengen visa, on its own, is not something you should expect to qualify.
The Department of State's January 2026 immigrant visa pause included Russia, but it is no longer in effect. DOS paused immigrant visa issuance to nationals of 75 countries, including Russia, starting January 21, 2026. The pause ended on August 21, 2026, under a court order in CLINIC et al. v. Rubio (DOS notice).
DOS framed the pause as applying to immigrant visas and did not address K-1 fiancé(e) visas specifically. In our practice, U.S. posts issued K-1 visas to Russian clients while the pause was in effect, and not only in Warsaw.
As of the date of this article, the pause is lifted, but the underlying litigation may continue. Check for later developments before relying on this status.
The USCIS stage of a K-1 case is taking longer in 2026 than it did in 2025.
The interview location question is now one of the first things to settle in a Russian K-1 case, not the last. If your fiancé(e) lives in Russia, plan around Warsaw and the Schengen visa. If they genuinely live elsewhere, gather proof of legal residence early.
If you are bringing a Russian fiancé(e) to the United States and want to understand your options, contact me to discuss your circumstances. Our Russian-speaking immigration team handles K-1 fiancé(e) visa cases from petition through interview, and consultations are available in English, Russian, and Romanian.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws and policies are subject to change, and individual circumstances vary. For advice specific to your situation, please consult with a qualified immigration attorney.
Oleg Gherasimov, Esq.
Stay informed with our latest articles and resources.
