Hmmmm...is there no provision for the spouse of a Russian citizen, like K-3 or CR-1 here?

Nope, although I have heard rumors of this kind of visa being created. There are only business, tourist, work, and student visas. I believe being a spouse of a Russian citizen makes the path to becoming a Russian LPR or citizen easier.


I doubt this kind of visa will be created though, because generally when a Russian marries a Western European or a USC they leave. And Russians don't want no more Central Asians etc. marrying Russian citizens for the equivalent of a green card.

Alla & I had a meeting with the Director of ОВИР in Kazan'. Mind you, this was before the new laws. We asked what it would take if I wanted to stay. He got out his big book on Tatarstan law (They don't follow Russian law per se due to some gray area of being a dependent yet independent Republic.) He said, I could stay for always if: A. I married Alla and B. I bought a place to live free from mortgage (even if only the minimum meters in someone else's flat) in which I could set up my living registration. It seemed fairly simple. He stressed the most important element was owning a living space free from any loan over the marriage. I would first be issued a temporary residency and then I could be expedited to Russian citizenship in three years. He also reminded us that this was the law today, tomorrow... Who knows!

ugh I wish we could edit longer... what I should have said is that the process of obtaining a temporary or permanent residency visa doesn't really seem to be expedited if you're married to a Russian, BUT you are no longer subject to the residency quotas for foreigners. In Petersburg, for instance, there's only 1,000 such permits allowed, so it's a big advantage in that regard.

Oh, and if you're a temporary resident you can't just leave whenever you want... you need to get a special entry/exit thing when you do.

My two kopeks…

First, I’m not going to quote anyone here. (Although I'm tempted to (you know who I'm talking to!)) I will attempt to simply reply to the OP’s subject, “Russian Girls Are Amazing!” and relay my own observations from my experiences regarding the other issues discussed on this thread. Take it how ye may!

To the statement, “Russian Girls Are Amazing!” Yes, they are and no they aren’t. It really depends on how you wish to describe amazement. Yes, overall, my Alla completely amazes me. Life with her is filled with more surprises and wondrous events than I have ever felt before her in a past relationship with any local girl. These traits that make her this way could be found in a woman from another country, besides Russia, I’m sure. It just happens to be Alla is from Russia.

Neither of us set out to find an international person to marry following our past marriages. To be honest, I thought the idea was insane at first and so did Alla. I’m not old (well a little maybe) , fat, nor bald! I wasn’t seeking a trophy wife and Alla wasn’t seeking a sugar daddy. We were two people from far away places seeking love. We just ended up on the same internet track waiting for our trains to collide head on!

A little of how we got to those tracks...

After Alla was ready to look again, she tried, naturally, in Kazan’. What she found were men that fit in these three categories:

• Sexual relations only (Already had a wife and looking for a mistress.)
• Unwilling to be a father (Willing to be a husband only if the kids stay at grandma’s. If she wants to see her children she can go visit them when he is at work. IOW, he really only wants her to be in his bed every night.)
• Willing to be a husband and father but unable to earn an income to support the family.

After several years of living manless and feeling older, she decided to try an ad on the internet. She considered getting older would only make it even harder to find a nice man. She placed an ad with the hopes of finding a man from Germany. (This was because she had college and theatre friends that had emigrated to Germany and were very happily married to Germans.)

I, on the other hand, was in America, dating my 20th or so “cookie cutter” divorced woman that only wanted to tell me about her horrible, worthless, past husband and how many pills she takes to keep her stable albeit emotionless in everyday life. None had sparked anything in me other than my desire to run out the café as quickly as possible. I had found these ladies on the internet via Match, Yahoo, Cupid, what have you. I didn’t know any single women and had no network of friends that could assist me. The internet seemed my only valid option.

One day, I received a letter from a girl in Russia. It was an obvious scam letter but it made me curious to international dating. I sent a few form letters and photos to international dating sites to see what might happen. Within a few weeks I had many e-mails, but they didn’t seem sincere. They appeared staged and I suspected it was the people working at the service answering me. I set up a few e-mail accounts and made a few phony characters up. Sure enough, I received similar letters with only the names changed. I also found it curious if I said I was a physician, the girl was far more inquisitive than if my occupation was a retail store employee. I had feared this idea was not going to be very viable!

After a few more months, I received a letter from a lady in Kazan’. She told me she was an English teacher and a former manager of a dating service. Her name was “Ol’ga” (she is no longer living in Kazan’ and I do not know if she minds her name mentioned). She said that she had saw one of my ads and decided to write to offer some advice and assistance. I asked her what she felt she could do for me. She said she had a few ladies that were acquaintances of hers and were seeking husband’s abroad. She asked if I minded her showed my photo and profile to them. I said, sure. Also, “Ol’ga” sent me some photos and profiles. It was here, I saw Alla’s photo and profile for the first time. I inquired about her. At the same time, Alla happened to be visiting “Ol’ga”. She saw my photo on “Ol’ga's" computer. “Ol’ga” was responded to my e-mail to say Alla was not interested in an American. Alla asked, “Who is this man?” “Ol’ga” said, “Oh, he wanted to know about you, but I am telling him you are not interested. You want a German man.” Alla said, “I know what I said, but this man has kind eyes, ask him to write me to my e-mail. I like him!”

Well, Alla and I began corresponding and calling each other. After a few months of becoming growingly amazed with her, I tested her by saying I was quite poor and afraid she might need to work very hard if we were to create a family. Alla’s response was, “Would you do all that you could for me? Would we live in a flat and not on street? Would you love me as you're only wife and my children as their father?” When I said, yes to all, she responded that money was never her need. All she needed was comfortable shelter, a feeling of security, and love for her and her children. “If I must work to help provide these things it is okay!” Well, that made me even more amazed. She was loving me for me. It was obvious this girl was no gold digging green card seeker. It was with this that I decided to step it up and meet her for real.

Without going on and on, for the next four years of our personal history, I can say that, for us, we earned each others 100% trust after my final visit that lasted one year. It took living as a real family, under Russian conditions, to feel our love grow to a complete mutual understanding and solid faith. Visiting like a tourist the first two times were, truly, useless for us. I’m not saying it can’t be done. (Not everyone can walk away from work, family, etc. for a year.) But for us, we needed the true practice, this test, to be certain creating a family with each other was truly what we wanted. It solidified our bond to each other and our families. I have no doubt or mistrust. If either of us did, we would stay single!

Thanks for sharing about your personal journey. Very interesting.

Obviously you both took a long time to know each other and no one can say you guys jumped into the an engagement. Four years is a long time, especially when it's a long distance, multi-country romance. That's a long time even if were talking about dating someone from your own town.

And you living with her for one year is very unique...and I wonder why so long but that's really your business. Clearly very few of us can or would want to spend a year in an environment that does not resemble the ultimate world we must share with our wives down the road. And if you fail, you've given up one year and all the associated sacrifices you made. That's a lot of risk to accept, in my eyes...but then, you're a younger man so maybe you see it differently.

Anyway, I can see that you have looked fully at half the puzzle by being with Alla and observing her in her home environment...but I don't know that you're ultimate success is assured until you both address the other half of the puzzle...marriage and life in the USA. That's the tough half...so even with that long year together, coming to America is radically different, so all bets are off. Yes?

Great story DJeffree. I wonder how hard work visas are to come by these days? Seems like they'd be easier than western Europe. Once my kids are grown and able to support themselves I wouldn't mind spending some time in the old country, if I could find a decent job as a systems engineer.

If you cannot get a work visa there is always a homestay visa

How long can you get one for? I don't know anyone who has ever gotten one, so I don't really know the limitations but I also believe you can't work on a private visa. We're not talking about visiting Russia here, but actually living there in a real way.

I am not sure about the work part I don't have to work when I am over here

And you living with her for one year is very unique...and I wonder why so long but that's really your business. Clearly very few of us can or would want to spend a year in an environment that does not resemble the ultimate world we must share with our wives down the road. And if you fail, you've given up one year and all the associated sacrifices you made. That's a lot of risk to accept, in my eyes...but then, you're a younger man so maybe you see it differently.

Anyway, I can see that you have looked fully at half the puzzle by being with Alla and observing her in her home environment...but I don't know that you're ultimate success is assured until you both address the other half of the puzzle...marriage and life in the USA. That's the tough half...so even with that long year together, coming to America is radically different, so all bets are off. Yes?

And for everyone else... what are we arguing about now?

I, on the other hand, was in America, dating my 20th or so “cookie cutter” divorced woman that only wanted to tell me about her horrible, worthless, past husband and how many pills she takes to keep her stable albeit emotionless in everyday life. None had sparked anything in me other than my desire to run out the café as quickly as possible. I had found these ladies on the internet via Match, Yahoo, Cupid, what have you. I didn’t know any single women and had no network of friends that could assist me. The internet seemed my only valid option.

Thanks for sharing your two kopeks, Mr. "kind eyes"..... It's not often we get an in-depth look into the personal details of romantic relations between two people, how it started, how it developed, and their hopes and aspirations for the future. A very good read!


And for everyone else... what are we arguing about now? The best visa? My vote is for no visas at all. Move out of the U.S., out of Russia, and go somewhere neat and exciting like the Caribbean. Sell hats and T-shirts to tourists and eat what you can catch. Drink rum and smile. Ah, the good life! So how do I get a visa there???

I'll bring it back on topic.

Well this only helps support my argument that those women with the qualities of your Alla who are living right here in the US, whether they be American or Russian, simply aren't "interested" in you and thus unavailable to you for whatever reason that may be, I predict it has something to do with the "lowering standards" concept. So you and many others went looking to Russia. No shame in that. Just admit it.

Or you can look at the argument another way. There may not be any women in Kazans area that have his Alla's qualities. Or the subset of population that did have her qualities were already involved with someone.

Why does it always have to be so negative with you?

You made my next point for me.

Exactly! I knew two very sweet ladies right here in my home town when I began to circulate again. Both had qualities that I found extremely attractive. I called one up and she admitted a mutual attraction, but guess what... She was engaged now. The other lady I knew was getting to a serious stage in a new relationship as well. My well had dried up quickly. I'm sorry but hanging out at bars and approaching random women in grocery stores ain't for me. I did not want to settle on my minimal expectations and I was willing to open my mind to other avenues including the internet. It just so happened this is where I found Alla. I never stopped looking locally until after I met Alla in person. So, it could have happened I found someone just around the block. It never happened and, still, I have yet to hear of any local lady free to date that would interest me.

No no no no no. This is just crazy talk. It completely flies in the face of Satellite's prediction. There's only one way you would have looked for a Russian woman, and this is not it. Try again please.

Currently my fiancee and I are experiencing difficulties in communications. Only time will tell if we are able to overcome this obstacle and work together again towards one common goal... Her getting a visa!

Okay, I read the whole thing and I have a little info to share. I am not fat, bald, old, or rich. On my very first trip to Russia I found:
1. The girl that I visited was very, very different from any American girl that I had dated.
2. She had little material possessions (but the few things she owns are very nice and expensive).
3. That she is suspicious of me and other Russian women.
I went to visit her out of curiousity and I found love. She was good to me on my first visit to her. I was immediatley fascinated by her willingness for affection. I can not explain how she feels about me or if she is only doing this visa thing just to get to America. I can only trust my feelings and how I feel when I am with her (yeah, go ahead I know that you are thinking, that I am a hopeless romantic). It is true maybe I'm a bit old-fashioned. But I have been this way all my life and I'm sure not going to change now, ha ha:)
Currently my fiancee and I are experiencing difficulties in communications. Only time will tell if we are able to overcome this obstacle and work together again towards one common goal... Her getting a visa!

This VJ community is fantastic and has often taken my mind off watching the clock . And to respond to the topic of this thread "Yes, Russian girls are truely amazing!!!

She was good to me on my first visit to her. I was immediatley fascinated by her willingness for affection. ............. how I feel when I am with her (yeah, go ahead I know that you are thinking, that I am a hopeless romantic).

But this is about you and I recommend a translated phone call(s). It could work wonders in clearing things up. I know it saved our relationship more than once.

Hello Mox, Irish44, Slim, and everyone!

I can speak some Russian and Elvira speaks about 12 words in English. I sent her an English learning language program many months ago (she seems to be in no hurry to learn my language). On all 3 of my visits to her we communicated with an electronic translator. However, by my third visit to Russia I did not need to use it very much. I used an interpreter in the early stages of our relationship. Now I speak to her directly by phone and of course, many emails. I believe the current problem that may or may not end our relationship is the fact that she is being to stubburn to get help from others who have more knowledge.
Elvira(my fiancee) sent me an email with an itemized listing of expenses that I must pay for in order for her to get everything required for her visa. The list is as follows:

$450 for translation and apistle and stamp for all of her documents.
$900 for 2 round-trip train tickets from Ufa to Moscow and back(she and her son must both go to Moscow)
$150 a night for 7 night stay in Moscow for her and her son.

That is over $2000. I have read here that translation, train tickets, and hotels can be found for less money. $2000 may or may not seem like alot of money to you but to me it is incredible! I will add that I send her money every month for food and apartment ($600 per month). I have been doing this for a year. I have set aside money for her and her son's plane ticket to America (courtesy of income tax refund). I already know that I will spend $262($131 x 2) on interview fees, $200 on medical exams($100 x 2), and another $100 for food for her trip to Moscow(I have no problem with this).

A very kind member of this community has offered to speak by email with my fiance to help her find better ways to do things (ie save a little money). My fiance refuses to speak with her and has insulted her (my fiance does not even know this person). She accused me of wanting to be with the person who only wants to help her(yes, she is suspicious of Russian women). I can't figure out why she is being so bull-headed. I do not want to think that she is asking for an inflated amount of money for a shopping excursion but it has crossed my mind. Obviously, I have come to the conclusion that my fiancee is not going to listen to any of my suggestions. On one of my trips to Ufa, her and I rode the train from Ufa to Moscow. The cost was $71 each and we were in a cabin all by ourselves( a premium accommodiation if you will, ha ha!). I will entertain all offers of advice and especially suggestions of how to get my fiance to communicate with someone other than me about this visa process...

P.S. is she my fiance or fiancee? Which is the proper one to use?

Hello Mox, Irish44, Slim, and everyone!

I can speak some Russian and Elvira speaks about 12 words in English. I sent her an English learning language program many months ago (she seems to be in no hurry to learn my language). On all 3 of my visits to her we communicated with an electronic translator. However, by my third visit to Russia I did not need to use it very much. I used an interpreter in the early stages of our relationship. Now I speak to her directly by phone and of course, many emails. I believe the current problem that may or may not end our relationship is the fact that she is being to stubburn to get help from others who have more knowledge.
Elvira(my fiancee) sent me an email with an itemized listing of expenses that I must pay for in order for her to get everything required for her visa. The list is as follows:

$450 for translation and apistle and stamp for all of her documents.
$900 for 2 round-trip train tickets from Ufa to Moscow and back(she and her son must both go to Moscow)
$150 a night for 7 night stay in Moscow for her and her son.

That is over $2000. I have read here that translation, train tickets, and hotels can be found for less money. $2000 may or may not seem like alot of money to you but to me it is incredible! I will add that I send her money every month for food and apartment ($600 per month). I have been doing this for a year. I have set aside money for her and her son's plane ticket to America (courtesy of income tax refund). I already know that I will spend $262($131 x 2) on interview fees, $200 on medical exams($100 x 2), and another $100 for food for her trip to Moscow(I have no problem with this).

A very kind member of this community has offered to speak by email with my fiance to help her find better ways to do things (ie save a little money). My fiance refuses to speak with her and has insulted her (my fiance does not even know this person). She accused me of wanting to be with the person who only wants to help her(yes, she is suspicious of Russian women). I can't figure out why she is being so bull-headed. I do not want to think that she is asking for an inflated amount of money for a shopping excursion but it has crossed my mind. Obviously, I have come to the conclusion that my fiancee is not going to listen to any of my suggestions. On one of my trips to Ufa, her and I rode the train from Ufa to Moscow. The cost was $71 each and we were in a cabin all by ourselves( a premium accommodiation if you will, ha ha!). I will entertain all offers of advice and especially suggestions of how to get my fiance to communicate with someone other than me about this visa process...

P.S. is she my fiance or fiancee? Which is the proper one to use?

You need to figure out if she is taking advantage of your good nature, or if someone is inflating the prices on her because they know you are an American.

For buying train tickets it wouldn't even come up. You just go up to the window and buy them. I have also never been charged more for speaking Russian with an American accent.

No, we are not using an agency. On all of my trips to Russia I went to the same city and visited the same girl. She is not willing to discuss the outrageous prices that she is proposing I must pay. The follow is an excerpt from a recent email that she sent me:

"You
can call to the railway station yourself , and they"ll explain you
that a ticket to Moscow costs $230, and the back one as much .So it
twice $230 for me and twice $230 for Andrei.And you can call to a
Moscow hotel and ask the cost of ne night stay . I can show you all
the
tickets and checks for travelling and hotel when I come to you .I
didn"t set these price myself , and I can"t walk to Moscow by feet . I

have no money for travelling ."

I really am at a loss for how to get through to her and make her understand...

No, we are not using an agency. On all of my trips to Russia I went to the same city and visited the same girl. She is not willing to discuss the outrageous prices that she is proposing I must pay. The follow is an excerpt from a recent email that she sent me:

"You
can call to the railway station yourself , and they"ll explain you
that a ticket to Moscow costs $230, and the back one as much .So it
twice $230 for me and twice $230 for Andrei.And you can call to a
Moscow hotel and ask the cost of ne night stay . I can show you all
the
tickets and checks for travelling and hotel when I come to you .I
didn"t set these price myself , and I can"t walk to Moscow by feet . I

have no money for travelling ."

I really am at a loss for how to get through to her and make her understand...

I really am at a loss for how to get through to her and make her understand...

This is a bit unique given you've met her 3 times...usually scam artists attempt to get money before an actual meeting. I would have thought with 3 meetings you'd have a pretty solid relationship.

I believe the reason for our difficulty certainly stems from the fact that she makes hasty decisions and always portrays a dire need for whatever seems urgent at the moment. The "Official state translation agency" has her convinced that she must translate all of her documents and they all need to be stamped, apistiled, certified, and clad in gold:) They have convinced her that she must have her documents done this way in order for her to receive her visa in Moscow. In other words "they see her coming" and stick her(I mean ME) with the maximum price available. She prefers to take their advice over mine because I am only an American man ( I can't possibly know anything about Russia).
After all this time I don't feel that she is a scammer. But, I do feel that she has been spoiled in her previous relationships. I get the feeling that she is unfamiliar with someone telling her to try to conserve money. I guess I should just give her whatever her little heart desires:wacko: (I am being sarcastic of course). I really appreciate all of the input from everyone regarding this matter. Thank you!

I believe the reason for our difficulty certainly stems from the fact that she makes hasty decisions and always portrays a dire need for whatever seems urgent at the moment. The "Official state translation agency" has her convinced that she must translate all of her documents and they all need to be stamped, apistiled, certified, and clad in gold:) They have convinced her that she must have her documents done this way in order for her to receive her visa in Moscow. In other words "they see her coming" and stick her(I mean ME) with the maximum price available. She prefers to take their advice over mine because I am only an American man ( I can't possibly know anything about Russia).
After all this time I don't feel that she is a scammer. But, I do feel that she has been spoiled in her previous relationships. I get the feeling that she is unfamiliar with someone telling her to try to conserve money. I guess I should just give her whatever her little heart desires:wacko: (I am being sarcastic of course). I really appreciate all of the input from everyone regarding this matter. Thank you!

From what you've shared, I have some thoughts that I'll share with you. Is your fiancee working? How was she getting by before you started sending her money? $600/month is alot for the "average" Russian, and she should be living quite well just on that in Ufa. Did she ask you for this money? If so, that was one big red flag right there. My fiancee has never asked for any money. (By the way, it was the same with my ex-wife (from Russia).) Even when I offered to pay for all of the expenses for our trip to first meet, she insisted on paying some. Other than that, when I've offered to help her out, she has told me that she would prefer I not send her any money. And she has been struggling lately to pay all of the expenses she's had recently. She has a great deal of pride, and she's very resourceful. This whole thing with your fiancee and money makes me feel very uneasy. As far as this "official state translation agency", I may be wrong, but I don't think there is such a thing. NONE of the documents need an apostille. If your fiance makes any effort at all, the total cost for all necessary translations and certifications should not even approach $100. She knows very well how much train tickets are, and it seems clear that she's not being truthful with you about that. You even wrote about how much you paid for the same trip. She doesn't think that you remember? There are so many red flags flying here, and I really think that you should try to take a step back and ask some hard questions of her and of yourself.

I may be entirely wrong, and I hope that I am. I only have a few snapshots of your relationship.....you have much more data to work with. But, it sure sounds like she's taking you for all she can get, and I would just urge you to be very careful and listen to your gut. If something doesn't feel right.....it probably isn't.

eekee, when you mentioned Russia not wanting to have any more 'Central Asians' coming in via marriage to Russian spouses, were you talking about the Russian population who after the breakup flocked back to 'Mother Russia' in fear of a loss of power/influence, etc. (many of whom were treated like outsiders and village idiots and some who returned to Central Asia, or are you talking about the actual Kazaks, Turkmen, etc.? I never met any ethnic Kazaks, etc. who had any desire to live in Russia in my two years there, but I did run across ethnic Russians who thought about it or had families in Novosibirsk, etc.

So let me get this straight.... it's actually the American guys with the higher standards?

I can't wait to talk this one over around the water cooler. "Mail-order my @$$, there were just no women here up to my high standards. I was forced to look abroad for a woman that would meet all of my expectations."