Greetings All,

The other day, Ira and I arrived in the US, by way of JFK Airport. There seemed to be no issues whatsoever with her entering. She stood with me in the line for US Citizens and Residents. The only question asked was when we're planning to get married. We turned over the sealed embassy packet, got fingerprints taken, and then were shuffled to another room where we waited for 15 minutes before getting Ira's passport returned. A remarkably simple process.

Our two cats also had a relatively uneventful entry. Having gotten all the necessary health certificates in Russia, the Customs agents simply entered the info on the forms, and let us pass. Took about 10 minutes total.

From a technical perspective, the entire experience was a breeze.

Emotionally, the experience was a roller coaster. For all our zeal, and the culmination at completing a very long arduous process, the effects of our decision on others were felt most keenly... Playing darts with her brother, counting the minutes remaining... Watching from the taxi window as Ira's mom sobbed uncontrollably and silently blessed us with her hands while we drove away... The tightening of Ira's hand holding mine as the plane sped down the runway, and the awed look in her wet sad eyes as she looked down at Moscow for the first time... It's a day I'll never forget -- not only because of it's personal historical significance, but also because it's the day in which I learned that happy moments are sometimes awfully bitter.

So what did I miss around here?

Z

Well, you didn't miss too much around here. It's been quite quiet as almost all of our "big contributors" the last couple of months are all going through the interview process or just had their little sweeties arrive. Seems there's some "laundry" to do.

Hats off to them! Doing the "laundry" is always nice here. I just have more time for VJ than laundry... the "joy" of married life.

Congratulations, hope you guys will be real happy going forward

Don't forget the snow has finally melted! and weather is getting nice. Personally, I'll take outdoor activity over sitting inside on the computer any day! Just not a lot to talk about either.

Hey!
I have a question...so, the only papiers I need to show in the airport are embassy package and my passport?
thanx

Mariya is coming after you correct? If this is the case, she needs to have the Embassy package in her hands at the POE not you. All you need is your passport.

I (Mariya) sent that message! What does POE mean?
Ill travel to the USA by myself, Corey is waiting for me in Harrisburg

Point of entry... Yours is JFK.

OK! Cool!
Thank u

Avoid Atlanta!!!!!!!

One thing that you didn't mention regarding JFK and your experience arriving........did your fiance get her temporary work permit?

Thanks for sharing your experience. My fiance arrives in a week and I know he is really going through a lot right now. I agree that it is such a bittersweet experience. We have waited and worked so hard to get to this next phase of our realtionship and yet he has to say goodbye to all of his family and closest friends......I wish you the best of luck!

Oooh, okay! Yes, Mariya, hand them your Embassy packet and passport with visa at the POE (as Eekee said Point Of Entry)!

Cary, why avoiding Atlanta? Could you please explain???

You dont need to avoid Atlanta. My fiancee and I went thru there as our POE 2 weeks ago. It is painless, but it takes a long time because they are a little slow. What should have been about 20 minutes worth of work took them 1 hour 10 minutes, and we were lucky. We were third in line, and they had the other two before us cleaned out within 15 minutes. By the time we left, there were about 11 people waiting behind us. Just make sure you leave about 5 hours between your connecting flights

Nobody should be avoiding any POE. Just because someone had a less then friendly point of entry officer or experienced an unusual delay at any given POE, doesn't mean you should avoid it. Your odds of getting a repeat experience are slim considering that there so many different officers and different air traffic situations.

The only known difference in Point of Entries is JFK, you can get a TEMP EAD, everything else is the same about the rest.

Congrats! Now the fun begins. Good luck and happiness.

Good for you. My fiancee was held up for over 2 hours. There were others held up even longer. It was a cluster f--k beyond belief in that airport.

I have no doubt that the people behind us waited at least that long. I would have hated to be the 11 person in line!

When we came through Atlanta (wow...more than two years ago) they were VERY slow. Of course it was a busy time, but it took more than three hours. When my step daughter came through Atlanta it wasn't so bad, just a little over an hour. Just depends....

I'm by no means an expert at this stuff - although in Ira's specific case, all that was needed was her passport and the embassy package.



Yes, the work authorization is stamped on the stapled entry paper.

Sorry for the late reply... The weekend was a total wash with me sick with bronchitis, which really put screws to my online time - as well as to the laundry that Slim alluded to above.

Z