I want to understand how interviews are currently conducted in a third country for O-1 or EB-1 if you live in Russia. Is Warsaw the standard option for these visas, or are there other consulates that process them? Is everything handled remotely, or do you have to travel in person for the interview? And is an attorney required for this process?
For EB-1 there’s a tie to Warsaw — that’s exactly because everything in Russia got shut down, so Russian citizens are being sent there. The situation is different for O-1: there isn’t a requirement to use a specific consulate, so people choose consulates with better approval statistics. And if the first interview goes badly, you can try at a different consulate — O-1 allows that.
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You can reschedule the interview to a U.S. consulate in another country, for example Kazakhstan. However, for such a transfer you usually need to provide justification for why you cannot attend the interview in Warsaw.
One possible reason could be a Schengen visa refusal. In that case, the applicant can demonstrate that they are unable to enter the country where the interview is scheduled.
A transfer is also possible if you are already legally present in another country. For example, if you have a residence permit, a work visa, a student visa, or another document confirming your legal stay in that country. In that case you can request to transfer the case to the U.S. consulate at your actual location.
It is important to note that the consular interview is always conducted in person. Remote interviews are not held.
A lawyer cannot be present with you at the consular interview. If necessary, you may bring an interpreter; this is usually permitted by the rules of the specific consulate.
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yes, Warsaw for EB-1 is the only option for citizens of the Russian Federation — I went through it there myself a year and a half ago, nothing to worry about. For O-1 it’s more flexible: you can choose the consulate and transfer if you have a residence permit or other grounds. They don’t do it remotely, only in person. A lawyer isn’t required, many people do it themselves — the main thing is to prepare the documents properly.
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I honestly didn’t expect, when I went to that interview, that the consul would be behind bulletproof glass and talking through a microphone, and that we’d both be standing. I thought we’d sit down at a table somewhere and have a chat ))
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hey, interviews in Warsaw are going really calmly right now. a friend recently had an EB-1A interview; they only asked general questions: where you’re going, what you’ll be doing, and whether you’re subject to military service or not. you can do it in Russian - they’ll ask which language is more convenient)
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A lawyer at the consulate is unnecessary — you just speak to the officer yourself through the glass for five minutes.
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Usually the conversation goes as if you’re buying a ticket at some train station, the consul behind the window))
A more detailed interview is possible if you’re called in separately for a follow-up. In such cases the conversation can be more personal — one-on-one, at a table or in a separate room. I know of a few such cases.)
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