.... and i got this freaking visa. Man, I am just so relieved now. I don't know if i will be able to write everything in details. But i'll try. So, i can't say that it was easy. I had a pretty long talk with the officer . It was a very serious woman. But she wasn't rude or unpleasant. I had to tell her in details how Jason and I met. She asked me how and when and where i met Jason's family. How come i didn't meet his dad? I told her everything about our plans in the US? She was interested in where i was going to work in the us. I also told her everything about Jason's previous marriage. She asked about 8 questions about Jason's relationship with his ex. But I think she was satisfied with my answers. I knew it all. She even asked me if it would be interesting for me to live in a small town in the USA after living in Moscow. I said that we wouldn't live there all the time. Though I absolutely love Williamsburg and i wish we would live there for a longer time. Anyway, she asked a couple of not really smart questions (in my opinion) about my relationship with Jason and in 15-20 minutes i was done. She didn't look through my evidence though i had dozens of them but she looked through the photos that she already had in the initial petition. She asked a couple of questions about people who were n the photos and seemed to be satisfied. She was impressed that Jason came to visit me four times last year. I didn't feel any pressure from her. The interview was pretty smooth, just long. I was really nervous while i was waiting but i felt ok when i was interviewed.
The most important thing is just to have all the documents in order and to be honest and polite with a consul.
Woooo, it's such a relief. I think i haven't yet realized that we made it.
And I am very grateful to all members of VJ. All your advice was really helpful. Special thanks to the members of russian forum for support, for being always positive and for always improving our mood whenever we felt stressed. Thank you very much. ( Feel like i just got an Oscar).
mox and irish, congratulations with your approvals.
Good luck to everyone. And good night
Sasha

Very Very Good, baby!! I'm so proud of you!!!!!

Thank you, baby. I will soon come to you. Isn't it great?
Sasha

Yes, yes, yes!!!
Jason

CONGRATULATIONS AND A HAPPY MARRIAGE!

Thank you, mnieto. Good luck with your interview, too!!!!

congratulations

My Congrats to you both!!!
We ought to all get together somewhere in the future.. sure would be fun!!

Thank you, it feels great.



Yeah, it's true. I hope you will get your interview date soon and Irina will pass it without any problems.
Sasha

I have been waiting for this Jason

Congratulations!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Sasha, this is WONDERFUL news! Congratulations! None of us had any doubts at all that your interview would be successful, but now it's come true. I'm so happy for you both!

Have to say I'm surprised that it took so long and that she asked so many questions. This is the first I've heard of that. Usually the interview is about 3-4 questions long and it's over. You didn't wear your "Kiss Me, I'm a Green Card Scammer" shirt did you?

Congrats Sasha!! I am with Kirk, I have never heard of that long of an interview. I kinda figured that your interview would be short and sweet because you had been to the US before. But, I had no doubts that you would be successful!.

Kirk and Roger, thank you very much. I was surprised myself that it took so long. She was just asking and asking. She even asked about our age difference and if we are comfortable with, diferences in our education, etc. But she was respectful.
The interesting thing is that the night before the interview i read the interview experience of some Russian girl on a Russian web site and she said that they didn't give her visa at once because the consul didn't like the fact that they started dating when her american fiance was still married and that he didn't pay alimony to his child. So the girl was asked in a rude manner to bring the document from the court that this american fiance and his ex had an agreement about this alimony situation or smth. And this girl also described this lady-consular and it seemed that i was interviewed by the same woman. And Jason and I had the same situation, we started dating when he was still married but legally separated. I did tell her everything in detail about it and she was satisfied.
Thank God, it's all behind us.
Sasha

omg, it sounds like this woman is over-stepping her bounds. I wonder how she knew that the man wasn't paying alimony, since the divorce decree shouldn't have that kind of information. And I don't know why she would want the alimony document, since it has nothing to do with anything. Weird!! She sounds very judgemental, I'm glad she was at least respectful to you and that everything worked out well.

Congratulations to both of you. The long, frustrating wait is over. Time to say good bye to family and friends for now, Sasha. Jason, time to clean up the house. She'll be here soon.

I remember when my Lena arrived. We had such a wonderful time just being together. Now we are preparing to get her permanent green card. I can't believe it's already two years because it seems to have gone so quickly.

Jason, just a word of caution. Let Sasha adjust to the time zone changes. She'll need some sleep.

Congratulations again.

Oh, Robert I 'm sorry I called you Roger. My bad. Sorry. Forgive a stupid Russian.
Sasha

Wow! Great job! Congratulations Sasha!

Good report. All this talk about interviews makes me so anxious, with Elina's interview coming up in just 5 days.

Congrats Jason and Sasha...and happy reunion!

Saludos,
Caro

Super congrats you guys!!! Our interview is next on the list I think?!

First off, big CONGRATS!!! to both of you! Feels good to be "done" with this now, huh? Now the real Visa Journey begins. But, you guys have lived together in the past so you'll be fine. Glad to hear you're coasting along... and can't believe time is flying by. It's like people put their interview dates on here and they're six months out or something. Before you know it, those guys are giving advivce to the newbies because they're already done. The VJ cycle. It's like the circle of life.

OK. Now here's my theory on this woman interviewer who asked all these questions....

1.) She's a woman so naturally she's more nosy and wants to know all about everything and everyone.
2.) Sasha speaks pretty good English so it's a lot easier to have a 15 minute conversation about everything (it was in English, right?)
3.) The previous case with the divorce/alimony/no visa thing was probably denied on other grounds as well, unbeknownst to the girl that posted the story. Maybe she was actually going to get the visa but went into the interview nervous and unsure whereas Sasha was confident and appeared in charge of everything, including Jason's past... and future!
4.) Maybe the woman just got a good vibe from you. (Picky, emotional creatures. Who knows what they're going to do?)

Either way though... who cares? You got the visa, good for you! Now enjoy the rest of your lives together!

Thanks Zee!! We feel sooo much better now. We're walking on clouds. Nothing seems to matter today.

YEAH-!!! I've been waiting for this thread. Just finally found it! I'm very happy for you both!

Thanks Jeff!! You've been a real friend throughout this. We really appreciate your role in our journey, buddy. We'll be here supporting you as you get closer as well.

Guess I'll have to change our countdown banner, huh? Will do it later tonight after work.

Congrats Jason & Sasha! Now Sasha gets to return to beautiful Williamsburg.

(I'm so damn jealous! I love that place.)

Slim, you always have the right words for everything. You rock! we've really needed all your advice and encouragement and you've always been there. I think you hit the nail on the head with your observations on the interview. I'm so proud of Sasha. She did a great job. Time to celebrate now and finally clean this place up before her arrival. alright, who's drinkin?? I'm buying.

Yep! Make it a countdown to touchdown in the States! I can't get the smile off my face now. You are such a great couple. I am just so happy for you both!

We can't either!!

And thank you for your kind words. we feel so very fortunate. And we cant wait to congratulate you and Alla....

Ha ha ha I actually went and looked at other posts to see if you had made a mistake or if you were talking to me No problem Sasha! I will answer to most any name

CONGRATULATIONS Natalia and I wish you much success and happiness.

Interestingly, Natalia may have spoken to the same woman on the forum for Russian women. If it is the same woman, she did get her VISA about a week later but only after her fiancee provided proof of alimony payments. Apparently, the interviewer at the consulate was a little put off by the fact that they started dating long before the divorce - i.e. there was some suspicion of a home-wrecker situation.

White Zin here...um...I mean...scotch on the rocks!


Again, I'm perplexed. They're supposed to only ascertain that the relationship is real and that the beneficiary won't become a public charge. There should be no moral impositions made on the case at all. Crazy.

congrats Jason and Sasha!

Congratulations to both of you!!!!! I was also surprised at the "grilling" you got Sasha, but you obviously handled it very well!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Thanks Chad, Don, Len and Bren!! We're still floating....



I think its exactly the same woman. The bit about dating before the divorce was final definitely made me think it was the same woman. Anyway, Thanks alot for congratulating us. We'll be pulling for you too!

Kirk, you are more than welcome to drink your girlie white zin, but you have to do it straight from the box with a long tube. Like a wine-bong. scotch is better but I prefer American whiskey over Scotch whiskey. Scotch makes me forget where I live and how to use my face. Hahaha.

Well I have to confess that ever since I moved out to California almost 3 years ago I've developed a taste for red wine. I don't like Zin as it's too sweet, but I love a good Cab. But I will never, ever turn down a Guinness.

Funny...vodka is what makes me forget how to use my face. Or more precisely it makes me not understand why my face is pressed into the pavement when just a few moments ago I was sure that I was upright.

I think all of us here know that feeling all too well. I'm a huge wine fan (not be confused with wine snob), since i sell the stuff everyday. I can drink cabs and pinots all night because its just so good. But the one thing I hate is the headache the next day. Usually the headache begins even before going to bed. I can drink vodka and whiskey and feel pretty good even the next morning. But red wine.....forget it. You're lucky to live where you do for the varieties of great wine. We have the same selections from all over the world, but it costs more.

My soon to be father in law MAKES his own whiskey and wine, and normally I dont like either of them, but the stuff that he makes is sooooo good I actually have fun at the big family get togethers when the toasts start flying around! I told him on my last trip that once my Russian gets up to snuff, he is going to be teaching me some things!

One of my American friends who works in Russia (who doesn't drink himself, lost his spleen in a car accident), made his own vodka (camogon) because he said he wanted to have a party. It took him four months. I had some and the flavor was much better than any commercial vodka I've had, although it was 80 proof so it was also stronger than any commercial vodka i've had.

I don't drink red wine either... gives me a migraine. I stick to beer and vodka shots. Mixers and other alcohols are just asking for trouble.

and congratulations to jason and sasha! за свадьбу!

.......Still dancing and smiling.....

CONGRATS!!!

Congratulations Sasha!!!!!

Thanks again all.

Just to jump in....

I'm no wine drinker and the only thing I used to know about wine was that it came in a box or if you wanted to really impress her, you got the $10 bottle. But now that my wife is here and has been here for a while, I'm learning a little bit.

I'll never choose wine over beer or the other stuff, but now at least I know a little something about keeping her palate satisfied. (Waiting on the jokes.... but being serious.)

So, if you're not a "wine kind of guy" before your wife gets here, at least read up a little on it so when she says she wants something sweet but not too sweet, a little bitter, not too dark or flavorful, but not too light either, then you'll know which box to choose, the red or the white. (I usually just go with the cheapest and then tell her that's all they had.)

im a newbie here,but i wanted to wish everyone good luck,and congrats to jason and sasha!!! you are not alone.... when my girl and i met in moscow the first time, i was also legally seperated and in the process of divorce. i hope we dont get this woman, even though i PAY my child support:) even though i am not the one who cheated,im just the one who paid the bills and supplied the "boot" from my house. lol really thats great news and god bless you both.

Thank you, Native, for your congratulations. And don't worry, they can't deny your visa because you met when one of you was still in a marriage. Everything can be explained to the consul. In general, they are all nice people.
Welcome, to VJ. This website helped us a lot. We got the answers for all possible questions. Good luck to you!!!!
Sasha and Jason

Congratulations! It looks like I missed lots of people getting approved for visas, or other things, so let this serve as a congratulations to all of you!

I still can't believe we're approved!!! Its still sinking in so dont mind me if I'm still dancing.....



By the way, Sasha received her passport and super fresh visa yesterday morning via DHL. Yay!! Now, its officially real. She has the green light. Very exciting stuff. We're on the launchpad and awaiting your signal, Mission Control!!