Just want to do a little rejoicing that my husband received his Immigrant Visa today only after interviewing 3 days ago. The whole process took us a little over a month going through the Kyiv Embassy.
(My husband is Russian, but lives in Ukraine with me so we filed according to residency).
The whole process cost us around $800 and there is no need to do AOS. He is considered a PR when he crosses the border and the stamp in his passport is the same as a greencard which he should receive in the mail within 3 weeks. No waiting months to adjust and not be able to work, etc.
My recommendation for anyone who can swing it would be to move to your SO's country for 6 months and then get married and file the I-130 at the local embassy. That would be faster than going through the Service Centers in America and prepare you much more for understanding your spouse in the future! But I do realize that not everyone can pick up and move for 6 months!
Yeah! Hard part is over, right?
Full Version: Visa Arrived Today!!!
Wow, I'd love to live with my girl for 6 months in Russia. Wish that was something I could swing, congratulations to you for being able to pull it off, and also for the new visa!! Woot!
QUOTE(Kharkov_Natalie @ Feb 25 2008, 05:28 PM) 
Just want to do a little rejoicing that my husband received his Immigrant Visa today only after interviewing 3 days ago. The whole process took us a little over a month going through the Kyiv Embassy.
(My husband is Russian, but lives in Ukraine with me so we filed according to residency).
The whole process cost us around $800 and there is no need to do AOS. He is considered a PR when he crosses the border and the stamp in his passport is the same as a greencard which he should receive in the mail within 3 weeks. No waiting months to adjust and not be able to work, etc.
My recommendation for anyone who can swing it would be to move to your SO's country for 6 months and then get married and file the I-130 at the local embassy. That would be faster than going through the Service Centers in America and prepare you much more for understanding your spouse in the future! But I do realize that not everyone can pick up and move for 6 months!
Yeah! Hard part is over, right?
(My husband is Russian, but lives in Ukraine with me so we filed according to residency).
The whole process cost us around $800 and there is no need to do AOS. He is considered a PR when he crosses the border and the stamp in his passport is the same as a greencard which he should receive in the mail within 3 weeks. No waiting months to adjust and not be able to work, etc.
My recommendation for anyone who can swing it would be to move to your SO's country for 6 months and then get married and file the I-130 at the local embassy. That would be faster than going through the Service Centers in America and prepare you much more for understanding your spouse in the future! But I do realize that not everyone can pick up and move for 6 months!
Yeah! Hard part is over, right?
Wow! This is what we are planning to do, so I am glad to find out it is so much easier. How long did you need to wait to file the petition after getting married?
Congratulations!
Congratulations!!
Congrats! 
QUOTE(eekee @ Feb 26 2008, 12:56 AM)
Wow! This is what we are planning to do, so I am glad to find out it is so much easier. How long did you need to wait to file the petition after getting married?
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
I don't think you have to wait at all. Before they changed the requirements for DCF to 6 months residency, people were flying over, getting married and filing all in the same trip. I remember one guy stayed in Ukraine for 1 month and got everything done and flew home with his bride. So, I think you can file right away after you are married (as long as you have lived in the country at least 6 months already).
And the process to get married here is easy and pretty fast. I was told that ZAGS (wedding registation place) had a 3 month wait, but we were able to register and pick out the next available date which was 2 weeks later. So, if you come, you may just want to check that out and you can apply at ZAGS earlier to make sure you don't have to wait on that.
If your fiancee is in Russia, you may have a harder time doing this... I know that they have changed some of the visa laws where you can only be in the country 3 months and then you have to leave for 3 months. But I am not sure if that is for all types of visas or just tourist visas.
Something that you may want to consider is living in Ukraine and having your fiancee come live in Ukraine with you. She will file according to where she is living and Ukraine may be much easier for you to get longer term visas, etc. From what I have read, the Kyiv Embassy seems much easier to go through as well.
Anyway, good luck to you!
Congratulations Natalie on your husband getting his visa!!! 
Are you planning on coming to America soon? Let us know if you stop by Houston I am sure my husband would love meeting you both but especially your husband 
It is hard to find a russian male to speak russian with here!!
Are you planning on coming to America soon? Let us know if you stop by Houston I am sure my husband would love meeting you both but especially your husband It is hard to find a russian male to speak russian with here!!
Congratulations!!! Now comes the fun part. (Of course, you guys have been living the fun part all along!)
Good luck on your new Visa Journey!
Congratulations!!! Now comes the fun part. (Of course, you guys have been living the fun part all along!)
Good luck on your new Visa Journey!
Good luck on your new Visa Journey!
Congratulations!!! Now comes the fun part. (Of course, you guys have been living the fun part all along!)
Good luck on your new Visa Journey!
Congratulations!
QUOTE(Kharkov_Natalie @ Feb 26 2008, 03:23 AM)
QUOTE(eekee @ Feb 26 2008, 12:56 AM)
Wow! This is what we are planning to do, so I am glad to find out it is so much easier. How long did you need to wait to file the petition after getting married?
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
I don't think you have to wait at all. Before they changed the requirements for DCF to 6 months residency, people were flying over, getting married and filing all in the same trip. I remember one guy stayed in Ukraine for 1 month and got everything done and flew home with his bride. So, I think you can file right away after you are married (as long as you have lived in the country at least 6 months already).
And the process to get married here is easy and pretty fast. I was told that ZAGS (wedding registation place) had a 3 month wait, but we were able to register and pick out the next available date which was 2 weeks later. So, if you come, you may just want to check that out and you can apply at ZAGS earlier to make sure you don't have to wait on that.
If your fiancee is in Russia, you may have a harder time doing this... I know that they have changed some of the visa laws where you can only be in the country 3 months and then you have to leave for 3 months. But I am not sure if that is for all types of visas or just tourist visas.
Something that you may want to consider is living in Ukraine and having your fiancee come live in Ukraine with you. She will file according to where she is living and Ukraine may be much easier for you to get longer term visas, etc. From what I have read, the Kyiv Embassy seems much easier to go through as well.
Anyway, good luck to you!
I'm job-hunting in Russia right now for work that would give me real 1-year working visas, so it wouldn't be a problem for me to come to my guy in Russia and stay there for longer than six months.
This is a "lo-fi" version of our main content. To view the full version with more information, formatting and images, please click here.