Yerevan: the O-1 / EB-1 talent-visa interview
US mission, Yerevan
The US Embassy in Yerevan is a popular post for Russian-speaking talent-visa applicants as third-country nationals, convenient logistically and visa-free for many.
Yerevan: appointments and visas issued, State Department data
- Next appointment (table of Sep 17, 2026)
- O-1 and other petition-based visas (H, L, O, P, Q) - < 0.5 mo; B1/B2 - < 0.5 mo; students F, M, J - < 0.5 mo.
- Issued, Mar 2025 - Feb 2026
- O-1 - 39 (37); B1/B2 - 10,998 (21,373); EB-1 - 23 (93); EB-2 - 13 (60); all immigrant - 3,536 (4,742). In brackets: the 12 months before (Mar 2024 - Feb 2025).
- Immigrant visas (EB-1, EB-2, family)
- Processes them for residents of Armenia and Iran (Iran shared with Ankara).
The immigrant-visa interview in Yerevan: post rules
- Address
- 1 American Avenue, Yerevan 0082
- Medical exam
- In Armenia, with the embassy’s listed doctors; if the X-ray calls for extra TB tests, the interview is cancelled until the results.
- Interview language
- English; anyone who does not speak it brings one interpreter.
- Paying fees at the window
- Cash only, in one currency - US dollars or Armenian dram; no cards.
- Passport and rescheduling
- An account with the courier partner (ustraveldocs.com/am); the passport comes back by courier only; rescheduling needs the consulate’s pre-approval.
- Note
- Iranian applicants bring a CV covering all education and work; police certificates from Iran and the US are not required.
Sources, travel.state.gov: Global Visa Wait Times, nonimmigrant issuances, immigrant issuances by post (latest published month: Feb 2026), immigrant-visa posts, nonimmigrant-visa posts, post page of Mar 3, 2026. All read on Oct 11, 2026; month-by-month tables below.
Who uses this consulate
Prepare for the interviewHow the O-1 and EB-1 consular process works
What the community reports
Yerevan is often mentioned for relative travel ease; members describe slot availability and administrative-processing times as variable. Observations, not a guarantee.
This is community-chat experience, not official data. Verify booking availability and post status on travel.state.gov and ustraveldocs.com.
This embassy's official visas page: am.usembassy.gov/visas/ - interview booking follows your own post's instructions.
By member reports over 2023-2025: appointment wait 1-3 months, administrative processing after the interview from 1 week to 20 months. That is the spread of individual cases, not a standard - data for every post.
Procedures that are the same at every post (CEAC statuses, the passport during the check, officers’ manner): the consulates reference.
Official State Department numbers for this post
Next available interview appointment, by table update
| Table of | B1/B2 | F, M, J | H, L, O, P, Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 17, 2026 | < 0.5 mo | < 0.5 mo | < 0.5 mo |
| Jun 18, 2026* | 1 mo | 1.5 mo | < 0.5 mo |
| May 18, 2026* | 1 mo | 1.5 mo | < 0.5 mo |
| Apr 15, 2026* | 1 mo | 1.5 mo | < 0.5 mo |
| Mar 27, 2026* | 1 mo | 1.5 mo | < 0.5 mo |
| Jan 14, 2026* | NA | NA | NA |
| Dec 12, 2025* | 3 mo | 1 mo | 1 mo |
| Nov 20, 2025* | 5 mo | < 0.5 mo | 1 mo |
| Oct 22, 2025* | 2 mo | < 0.5 mo | 5 mo |
| Sep 17, 2025* | 2 mo | < 0.5 mo | 5 mo |
| Aug 18, 2025* | 1 mo | 1 mo | 2 mo |
| May 25, 2025* | 2 mo | 11 mo | 1 mo |
| Apr 25, 2025* | 2 mo | 0 mo | 0 mo |
Source: Global Visa Wait Times (travel.state.gov), "next available appointment" as printed at each monthly update; until mid-2025 the table gave calendar days, later months. * - read from a Wayback Machine (web.archive.org) copy of the same page. We re-read the table every month; next check about Oct 20, 2026.
Mar 2025 - Feb 2026: the post issued 12,734 nonimmigrant and 3,536 immigrant visas.
| Month | Total | B1/B2 | F-1 | J-1 | H-1B | L-1 | O-1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | 329 | 290 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Jan 2026 | 601 | 547 | 3 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| Dec 2025 | 604 | 533 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 1 |
| Nov 2025 | 781 | 754 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Oct 2025 | 790 | 728 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Sep 2025 | 867 | 713 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Aug 2025 | 1,012 | 859 | 25 | 16 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| Jul 2025 | 1,189 | 919 | 52 | 41 | 8 | 8 | 4 |
| Jun 2025 | 1,331 | 1,047 | 47 | 106 | 6 | 7 | 1 |
| May 2025 | 1,225 | 1,070 | 33 | 54 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Apr 2025 | 1,805 | 1,588 | 18 | 64 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Mar 2025 | 2,200 | 1,950 | 7 | 58 | 4 | 0 | 11 |
| Month | Total | Family | EB-1 | EB-2 | EB-3 | DV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan 2026 | 160 | 154 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Dec 2025 | 373 | 303 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 64 |
| Nov 2025 | 525 | 334 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 179 |
| Oct 2025 | 454 | 398 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 34 |
| Sep 2025 | 487 | 129 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 357 |
| Aug 2025 | 188 | 150 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 27 |
| Jul 2025 | 210 | 153 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 56 |
| Jun 2025 | 135 | 109 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 25 |
| May 2025 | 280 | 172 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 100 |
| Apr 2025 | 378 | 134 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 232 |
| Mar 2025 | 346 | 156 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 187 |
Columns: the main classes; "Total" includes all others (dependants, crew, diplomatic and other classes). Immigrant: Family = IR, CR and F categories, EB-1/2/3 = employment preferences (EB-3 incl. EW), DV = diversity lottery. Each month links to its State Department report (Excel). Sources: Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Issuance Statistics, Monthly Immigrant Visa Issuance Statistics (travel.state.gov).
From English-speaking community reports (Reddit), October 2025 - October 1, 2026, 10 posts
CR-1, IR-1 and other family visas - 7 posts, K-1 - 1, DV - 1, an Iranian immigrant visa - 1. Armenian citizens - 3, Iranian - 1, the rest do not state nationality.
- NVC speed for Armenian citizens (October 2025 - January 2026): DQ in 6-15 days, the interview letter 1-1.5 months after DQ, the interview 1.5-2 months after that (3 posts).
- CR-1 and IR-1 interviews from February - May 2026 ended with a 221(g) because of the pause; the questions were general, reports say. Applicants who had lived in another country for a long time (Russia, for example) were asked through the 221(g) for a police certificate from there. On Sep 25, 2026 the embassy sent a template reply: cases are reviewed in the order they were refused; the CEAC date changed after the applicant emailed.
- DV-2026: in September 2026 an applicant was emailed a public-charge questionnaire - on US employment, age and working years before retirement, savings and pensions, chronic conditions, and how treatment and insurance will be paid for.
- A 212(f) refusal: in May 2026 a case that had been in administrative processing for more than 3 years was refused under a presidential proclamation, with no national interest exception. Lawyers advised Iranian applicants to reschedule because of that risk; one family decided to go anyway.
A retelling of individual stories from public Reddit discussions (read Oct 2, 2026), without names or quotes. These are individual stories, not State Department statistics and not legal advice: official wait times and rules are on travel.state.gov and above on this page.
From Russian-language forum reports (forum.awd.ru), October 2025 - September 2026, 8 posts
6 stories: B1/B2 - 4, L-1 - 1, J-2 - 1. Russians - 2, an Armenian citizen - 1, the rest do not state nationality.
- Russians without Armenian residence: in October 2025 and February 2026 - a technical refusal at the interview with advice to apply in Astana or Warsaw (2 stories, both booked before the new rules). An eyewitness on Oct 24, 2025 says every Russian without residence was refused that way that day.
- Administrative processing: an L-1 family renewal took about 15 months and a J-2 about 7.5 months, both ending in visas (November 2025 and February 2026); an Armenian citizen's B1/B2 check ran more than 1.5 years and resumed after he sent his passport and CV. One applicant learned only in 2026, by asking, that his 2023 check had ended.
A retelling of individual stories from public threads of a Russian-language travel forum (read Oct 2, 2026), without usernames, names or quotes. These are individual stories, not State Department statistics and not legal advice: official wait times and rules are on travel.state.gov and above on this page.
Real interviews reported in Yerevan
2025-12 · EB-1 · special-education teacher, 25 years in the field
Only two questions touched the case itself - nearly the whole interview went to the medical exam and English.
2025-09 · O-1 · DevOps/software engineer with an AI profile
They asked about achievements and profession, left the passport in hand, and administrative processing only started after an email exchange.
FAQ
- How do I send a passport from Russia for visa printing in Yerevan?
- The working chain by member reports (2025): courier the passport to Yerevan, a local forwarding service hands the package to VFS Global and the consulate, and it returns the same way. Budget generous time.
- How long does administrative processing (221g) take in Yerevan?
- By member stories with research and AI profiles - from nine months to over a year, with rare responses from the post. People send status inquiries every 1.5-3 months or come in person. Community experience, not an official timeline.
- Does Yerevan accept a Moscow-done medical?
- By member reports - no: the exam is done locally in Yerevan. Confirm the current requirement in the post instructions before traveling.
- How long is the wait for a visa interview in Yerevan?
- By the State Department wait-times table of 2026-09-17: O-1 (H, L, O, P, Q) - < 0.5 mo, B1/B2 - < 0.5 mo, F, M, J - < 0.5 mo. In the 12 published months to Feb 2026 the post issued O-1 - 39, B1/B2 - 10,998. The table is an estimate; actual slots show only in the booking system.
- Can I have the EB-1 / EB-2 immigrant-visa interview in Yerevan?
- Yes: the post processes immigrant visas for residents of Armenia and Iran (Iran shared with Ankara). In the 12 published months to Feb 2026 it issued EB-1 - 23, EB-2 - 13, all immigrant visas - 3,536. The National Visa Center sets the post and the date; source: the State Department list of immigrant-visa posts, read 2026-10-11.
Interview experience in Yerevan
Anonymized reports by community members from public chats: month, visa, outcome, officer questions. Personal experience, not a rule and not legal advice.
Based on: 105 anonymised community interview reports · Jan 2023 - Aug 2026 · all consulates
- other visa221(g)
The applicant attended an interview for an L1B visa in Yerevan. The application was sent for administrative processing due to the absence of the wife's CV. The primary applicant was not asked about his activities.
- other visarefused
The applicant shared an experience of a group on J1 visas, where 6 people went into administrative processing. One of them received a refusal after a long wait due to immigrant intent. Passports were sent to a visa center, where it was lost for a week.
- O-1221(g)passport: 2 d
The applicant had an interview in Yerevan. He received a 221g but got a letter two days later about completion. He received his passport with visas 4 hours before his flight.
- EB-1approvedpassport: 21 d
The applicant had an interview in Yerevan for an EB-1 visa. The officer stated that the visa is approved, but the applicant needs to wait 2-3 weeks to receive the visa. A yellow slip was issued.
- O-1approved
The applicant attended an O-1 visa interview where they answered questions about their talent and petitioner. They received approval but faced difficulties retrieving their passport after a refusal in Yerevan.
- O-1221(g)
The applicant had an interview in Yerevan. The consul took the documents and mentioned the need to wait for the review. Passports were not collected, and a paper regarding administrative processing was issued.
- O-1221(g)
The applicant attended an O1A visa interview at the US embassy in Yerevan. The visa was approved, but due to an administrative check on B1/B2, they cannot stamp the visa. The completion of the check is awaited.
- O-3approved
The applicant and spouse had an interview in Yerevan. The spouse received an O-1 visa, and the applicant received an O-3 visa. The interview lasted 15 minutes, with questions about their professional activities and children.
- O-1approvedslot: 30 d · passport: 5 d
The applicant received an O-1 visa at the embassy in Yerevan. The interview was quick, lasting about 3 minutes. The visa was approved, and passports will be ready within 5 days.
- O-1221(g)
The applicant had an interview in Yerevan after changing status to O1 in the US. The officer issued a decision for administrative processing. The applicant and the lawyer were surprised that the questions were more about research and technologies than about work.
- O-1refused
The applicant attended an interview in Yerevan for an O-1 visa but was refused. The officer noted that having an approved petition does not guarantee success. The applicant believes that he would have had better chances in the past.
From community practice
An RFE is not a denial. Members note that a structured response with additional independent evidence often leads to approval.
A strong petition usually meets more than the required minimum of three criteria, with a margin on each - common advice in chats to reduce RFE risk.
What determines the strength of evidence is not the fact itself but its context: scale, selectivity and independent confirmation. This runs through almost every community case review.
Distilled from public community chats - observations, not legal advice.
From community discussions
«When you go to flip the O1 into a green card, they'll most likely ask you for W2/paystubs for 3 months. And this will be at the adjustment-of-status stage, already after the petition is approved. So you'll have to pay yourself a salary-salary and run it through payroll, not as a 1099 contractor. And this salary has to equal the one you stated in the O1 petition.»
community member · from public community chats
«If possible it's better to lowball the planned salary to the minimum level your lawyer is willing to accept, if you want to later convert from O1 to EB. Otherwise you'll get hit on taxes later.»
community member · from public community chats
«Always put document quality first: gather all your awards, publications, patents, media mentions and strong recommendation letters. Organize them clearly to show your contribution - well-prepared documents genuinely help.»
community member · from public community chats
Personal opinions of community members from public discussions, not legal advice.
Approval stories
Other interview posts
Reference information, not legal advice. Always verify post status, booking and requirements on travel.state.gov.