Called USCIS this afternoon to report a fake RFE. When she said there was no RFE I did the 'ol "well as long as I have you on the phone do you think you could tell me where my case is?" At first she stuck with the "they're still working on July 19th cases" party line, but I said that last time I called I was told it was with an adjudicator and asked if she could please tell me where in the process my file was. She put me on hold for almost 5 minutes, came back, and said we were approved.

I completely did not expect that answer. At the risk of damaging my oh-so-manly image on the Russian forum, I started to ask her if I heard her right, and then sorta choked on my words. She said "alright now, don't start that because I'm going to start crying too!" So I re-grouped, asked if I had heard her right, and she said "yes, you heard me right, congratulations!" Then *she* actually started getting choked up. I told her she had just made my week, and she could hardly answer me. It was surreal.

Anyway...damn it feels great to finally be on the other side of the fence. I know there are still other fences, but they don't look quite so high...

Great news, Kirk! And... cute story you fake RFE caller you!

Holy $hit Kirk!! Cool news. Congratulations, buddy. That's awesome. Things will move very quickly now. You'll be through NVC within a week or two. Time to celebrate. I'll meet you at the bar tomorrow!!

Congrats!!! Great News!!!!!

Big congratulations are in order here too!!!

Can I come too? Can I, can I, can I?

You betcha! Drinks are on me tonight boys!

Dangit, Nadya won't be up for another 7 hours so I can't share the good news with her yet. But hey, if I get lit over the next 4 hours, I should be able to sober up over the next 3, right? Right?!

Absolutely!

Hey MOX. Maybe we can find a bar between the two of us. let's see, how about Iowa?
Congratulations!!!!!!

Hehe! How 'bout I just fedex you a beer, and you do the same for me?

That was a magical phone call...not what one might expect from the USCIS, but it confirms we're all human.

Let me congratulate you and your fiancee on your K-1 approval!

Instead of going out to the bar to get a beer, why don't you stay at home and watch Lifetime you bumbling Mary. You could sit there in your housecoat and furry pink slippers, paint your nails and listen to some Sarah McLachlan while sipping on white zinfandel you Nancy boy.

Just kidding man. I know those tears and the getting choked up were all side effects of the stress relief of getting through the VJ process, not from being all "mushy and stuff" inside.

Congrats! Won't be too long now.... then you can cry about your interview date you sissy!

KIRK - CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND NADYA !!!!!!!!!!!! Time will start moving very fast now. Look out Monterey

Thanks man!!


omg, you had me laughing for several minutes over that post. Well done. What I had meant to say in my post was that I choked on the ribeye steak I was eating at the time. Yeah, just a little gristle caught in the 'ol wind pipe. I was eating it while riding my John Deere tractor. The one with the beer cooler and gun rack. It happens sometimes when I'm running over hippies. In my tractor.


Thanks Buck! I talked to Nadya this morning and she was really excited. She said "interview in April?" and I said "I think more like May." She said "I am think April." *sigh* I'm gonna laugh if she's right, but I'm definitely not holding my breath.

Congratulations. Another step closer

That's a great story, congratulations Mox!

I think we can all remember where we were the moment we got our NAO2s... anyone else? Sort of like when Kennedy was shot...

I remember coming back from a long hike on a beautiful Sept. day and finding the email from USCIS (on a Sunday, no less!) saying we'd been approved. I was so shocked that it happened so quickly I remember sitting at my computer and re-reading the email a dozen times before I allowed myself to accept it as fact.

Thank you. And watch that last step folks...it's a doozie! Glad to be past it.

Well........ our gals have amazing powers of positive thinking......... so April could be a possibility albeit a longshot. The biggest variable now is how long your petition sits in the CSC out-going mailroom which can be anywhere from 3 days to 3 weeks. It just depends...... no rhyme or reason ever given by them. I strongly doubt that you will get hung up at NVC like we did so the turn around there should just be 2 or 3 days.... then add about another 10 days or so for transmittal and receipt by Moscow. The embassy there usually schedules the interview date within a day or 2 of receipt although there is a lag of about a week before it shows up on the embassy webpage listing interview dates.

Still....... the bottom line is that you will be out of the clutches of CSC as soon as they mail your petition to NVC........ and time will move a lot faster now.

Yeah, it would have to start moving ASAP. Interviews are already being scheduled for April 3rd. Even if it went out within the week, spent a week at NVC, another 10 days in transit, that still puts it at the very end of April in the best case. Early to mid-May is more realistic, possibly even late May to early June.

What happens when the unstoppable force of reality collides with the immovable object that is Nadya's firmly made up mind? God only knows, but for once I'll be glad to be 6,000 miles from the epicenter.

Capitan,

Here is the way mine went: NOA2 Jan 9th, Arrived NVC Jan 11th, Left NVC Jan 16th, Arrived Moscow Embassy Jan 22nd, Date scheduled and Packet mailed Feb 1st. Date was scheduled for 61 days in the future. So, my guess is that your stuff should arrive there beginning of March and your date will be beginning of May, probaby 1st week. You could be at the end of April, but I think it is a long shot. But, we are only talking a difference of two weeks here, so we are not talking about a big difference in the scheme of things, and let me tell you, once you have your interview date set, the wait is MUCH easier because not only can you see light at the end of the tunnel, you can see outside the tunnel as well!.

Right, and that's why I put the "just kidding man" because as I was reading your request for shoulders to cry on and a big box of Kleenex, I could picture you sitting there with a grin on your face; the facetious little farce unfolding on the screen before you, keys being stroked by greasy paws covered with BBQ sauce and the lingering stink of a fine cigar in the air, all witnessed by the towering six-foot grizzly you bagged on your last trip to Russia now stuffed and standing guard in the corner. Poised, and ready for the next approval......... AAAAARGGH!!!!

Watch out hippies! This is a MANLY forum!!!




If your girl is anything like mine, she tends to be right about stuff like this. It defies all logic and reason and makes no sense, even to the point of frustration... but, as she already told you, she was right! Why you not listen to her? She is smart girl. She must be tell you everythink?

Yeah, the lady at customs wasn't going to let me bring a live bear on the plane (had him in a headlock, didn't want him dead until after I saw my personal taxidermist), but then I just flexed my pecs, causing my shirt to rip open, made love to her right there at her podium, and after she caught her breath she let me pass. The scrawny computer nerd in the seat next to me had no problem giving up his seat for my bear, and re-located to the lavatory.


lol. I know what's going to happen. She's going to get the very last interview of the day on the last day of April. And then I will never hear the end of it.

So you mean to tell me you pleasured a woman whilst holding that bear in a headlock? You sir, you really are the man!

However you may want to seek counseling because now you're technically qualified as beastiali........ wait, I mean an "inter-species eroticist."

NVC received my case today, so I am FREE AT LAST of the evil clutches of CSC! Got my NVC case number and everything.

вут!!!

So check this out. The lady was nice to me. She was courteous, helpful, and I swear to god I'm not making this up...she told me to have a nice evening.

Oh the way you put things, my friend... perfect deadpan humour!

Glad to hear you and Nadya are another step forward!

Hehe, thanks. USCIS have left me a quivering jelly of humanity. In all seriousness it was slightly jarring to get such a polite and helpful person on the phone. I think that's when it really sunk in that we're not in Kansas California anymore. I sorta feel like I'm at the top of the first hill on a roller-coaster now.

NVC sent my petition to Moscow today! вут!!!

(and holy crap, how come my petition weighs 17 lbs? )

Замечательно!

Спасибо. (Замечательно happens to be one of my vocabulary words this week--get out of my head!!!)

Oh, and does anyone know off-hand how often they update the interview schedule in Moscow?

Every monday I believe Mox. But it took 2 weeks for them to get to mine in the mailroom.

Thanks. Man oh man, spending less than 5 days at NVC has spoiled me because 2 weeks seems like an eternity! I'm calling my congressman!!

Its not bad, My petition arrived on the 22nd of Jan (or the 18th I am not completely sure) and they mailed the packet on Feb 1st, which is also when they updated the page. So, it was a week and a half to two weeks. Your timeline sounds like mine, I think I was at NVC 3 or 4 days.

MOX!!! congrats on ur approval!!!! still waitin on ours..i actually did that fake RFEs this afternoon..the lady said she will be sending an email to the officer who has my case...we'll c...good luck with your case!!!!! GOD BLESS

Thank you. It sounds like you're close, good luck!

Mox congratulations on your progress!

Lucky to be out of NVC in 5 days, ours was stuck there for 4 weeks!

Thanks! ...and Yikes! Why so long?

I know everyone is just dying to know this, so you can all rest easy now, knowing that my petition is sitting in a mailing room somewhere in the US Embassy in Moscow as of this morning. You can tell mine by the way it sits there with a disdainful and disinterested look and treats the female petitions like crap. I think it's drunk too.

вут!!!

I have been reading some of your replies, where in Oklahoma are you? Do you work for an oil company with offices in Moscow? I know Halliburton works in Russia. Are you going to go to Russia for your fiancee's interview? I did in 03' and they have a guard at the gatehouse that won't let you in to the interview, but does mark the check-in sheet that the USC came with the interviewee. That's been a few years ago don't know what they do now, but my wife came out of the interview with tears of joy and no feet on the ground. Best of luck! Also, there is a Russian Orthodox church here in OKC and a new Russian food store on NW Expressway in case your soon to arrive bride has a craving for Manka, Russian chocolate, Kvas and curds. They also have a Russian store in Tulsa in case you are in eastern Okla.

I am in OKC, and I work for an oilfield services company who has offices in Moscow. I am not going for the interview, mainly because I cant go inside. But I am going over to fly her back. She is a little afraid of flying. She is going to go with her sister and they are going to spend a few days in Moscow seeing the sites. Where is the Russian food store? She will be super happy with that, she has been asking where we can get Russian food for some time, and I tell her I dont know. I work on NW expressway, between May and the Hefner Parkway, but have never noticed it. I lived in Tulsa for a number of years, so I know that town pretty well too. Where is that food store at?

Nice to know I am not the only Oklahoman with a Russian bride!

Another OKCer I am not even going to ask how you voted on the arena! I would like to say there are a lot of Russian brides here, don't know em all, but am aware that there are quite a few, even some from my wife's hometown. One girl went to the same school! Folks I have talked to suggest ther are 1,500-2,000 in the greater OKC area, 10,000+ in and around Tulsa (mostly immigrants for religious reasons back in the 70s, 30-40,000 around DFW, 130,000+ in Houston)
St. Benedict's Orthodox church here is at approx. SE 59th and Sunnylane, my wife wanted to be married in the Russian church so guess where I got married?. It is a good place to fellowship with other USCs married to Russians and allows spouses to fellowship in their native language, and do some networking Russian style. Also, the publisher of the Russian-American paper worships there and they always have free papers for parishioners (all in Russian of course) One Russian bride married to a Halliburton employee, they met while he was working in Russia. The name of the Russian store is "Galina's Goodies", she also cooks and caters Russian meals. Don't want to be pushy, but when your fiancee flies in, perhaps a nice home catered Russian meal (Borscht or the like) would really let your future bride know that we aren't all as backwards as folks think, although we are by no means Brighton Beach in NYC. (I cooked for my wife and had the food in the car when she arrived at the airport, and got some great brownie points for it). The address for Galina's is 6444 NW Expressway just West of MacArthur and on the South side of NW Expressway (look for the light blue signs). My wife buys her curds and other necessities there. When your time gets closer, perhaps a drink or lunch and we can swap oilfield trash stories (I am 4th generation trash). Crude +$4.85 and natural gas up .38 today yeah! I can drive to the Russian store in Tulsa, I vaguely remember that it is South and East of I-44. I'll try to dig up a better address for it. And if you haven't been to a Valery Kuleshov concert here, you are missing out on a great musical treat. He was a silver medalist at the Van Cliburn Competition, and is a wonderful pianist. Plays about 3-4 times a year for various local organizations.

I will go and check out Galina's...WOW, I had no idea that there were that many Russians around! I have only seen 1 E. European lady here, she was from Lituania, and was easy to spot as she was the best dressed lady in the supermarket She is not overly religious, and nor am I, but going to the church a couple of sundays so she can meet some people and speak in her native language will probably be something we will do. I didnt know about that church, and it would be a great place for her to meet a lot of Russian speakers and make some friends pretty quickly. Thanks for that info, I am feeling much less nervous about her comming here now. I was a little worried because I know she will want to have some Russian friends if she can find some she likes, but, this being OK, I thought native Russians would be hard to find. And getting a newspaper in Russian will be a big treat.

By the way, I am always available for lunch or a beer....especially the beer part I sent you a PM with my personal details. Give me a call sometime.

Celebrating crude price jumps?

Shame on you!!! (Although I have to be the biggest hypocrite in the world right now because all that oil I fill my tank up with also makes the resin that I use to manufacture the plastic bags that keep me paying bills and pleasing the wife....)

Sorry Slim I have to use premium gas in my truck, and grimace everytime I fill up. Natural gas heat the house with and thats going up!

Why do you have to use premium?

You know that's a scam, right?

Damn I'm glad someone else said it.

I'm in the same boat. Begged my parents for a sports car in my senrior year of high school. It came with the "premium" only tag on the odometer and nice language such as "will void warranty" in the owner's manual. Certainly know all about the economics of premium v. regular. But what was I to do? Car is out of warranty now, too many years too many miles.
Still debating whether to switch to regular.

Unfortunately, I drive a pickup (Chevy SSR) with a special engine, some 400 hp alminum block special, I tried to rum regular in it and the *%#) service engine light came on. I have an older german car and my mechanic says to run straight regular in it, but the mechanic advised don't use Texaco gasoline!? So low gas mileage pickups with high performance engines need to gulp on premium fuel, you have to be affiliated with the oil business to afford one of the darn things. The good news is if I take the truck on long trips I can run 75 mph and get 20-21 mpg.

..... and you are affiliated with the oil industry!


I've read several times that the difference in octane rating in gas bought through commercial retailers is so minute that most cars can't tell a difference, even those touted as "premium only" vehicles, thus making the 20 or 30 cent price difference a waste of money.

However, if your vehicle can "sense" the difference, maybe that's what it needs then. And, maybe you're going to the right gas station and getting good gas.

As said before.... your mileage (and pocket book) may vary.

Yeah I agree. But when I ran premium in it ran fine, deciding to go it on the cheap I occasionally ran a tank of regular in, and the *&^%$ light came on. Ran a tank of premium through it, light went off. I work at a state agency that regulates gas quality and everything is based on octane and they occasionally catch someone running regular no lead for mid-grade and even premium, money to be made if you can get away with it. Right now the gasoline retailers are complaining about the use of credit cards and the amount credit card companies charge to put gas transactions on a credit card, I have heard numbers as high as 7 cents per gallon. . To date myself I was driving back during the oil embargo days and they switched to no lead from leaded gas. Drivers had a real problem with valves running regular no lead with older cars, had to use a fuel additive to keep their valves from rattling. Even some of the no lead cars had trouble with no lead. Go to a boosted octane and the valve noise went away. Where are you in the marrying a Russian process? I haven't read all the posts in this forum so I am a little behind. Right now my wife and I are waiting AOS, been waiting for 11 months 9 days. Hope you don't file through TSC they were slow on the fiancee visa and just transferred us and a big batch of others to VSC. My wife and I are debating when to file for naturalization for ease of travel, some countries are onerous to those travelling on a Russian passport, and it is much easier to enter those countries with a CVA passport. I commend you and any of the other folks that are learning Russian, I have been married nearly 4 years and am ashamed at my dearth of Russian. my wife tries, but my retention is terrible, start mixing spanish and german into the mix. It sounds pretty stupid. If you have any questions about being married to a Russian and making the transition easier, feel free to ask. From what I have seen of this forum it pretty well answers any questions posed. I wish this would have been available when I joined VJ 5 years ago, but I guess it took awhile before folks decided to share common problems with specific countries and the visa process.