Hi!
I'm new here!
Just introducing myself, I'm Galina I'm married to Russ, you probably know him. If you have any questions about Russian TV or Russian food you're more than welcome to ask me.
If anybody speaks Russian here I will be happy to chat with you!
Say hi to me!

Привет!
Если вы говорите по-русски, я с удовольствием с вами пообщаюсь! Если соскучились по русской еде, русской музыке или фильмам, помогу найти и то, и другое и третье!
Галина

Galina thinks I spend too much time here, so she is now keeping an eye on things... Anyway, welcome here Галюшка!

Russian looks so cool

Well, that's how my language looks: русский крутой язык! Do you like it?

Welcome to VJ Galina

Hello Galina! I wish my wife could join in on the discussions within this forum, as you have. Maybe one day she will be able to.

Galina, welcome. It's always nice to have a Russian woman's POV on here. Especially one who has been through the VJ process.

Icey and everyone else not regulars on the Russia forum... the Russian (Cyrillic) alphabet is actually very easy to learn. There are several characters that are the same as in English. Once you learn the new ones, you're all set!

Thank you for hearty welcome!
Actually Russian is not that easy! It's a pretty tricky language - genders, cases and stuff... You may ask Russ's opinion - he has been trying to learn it for quite a while!

Thank you, people for hearty welcome!

The alphabet is not hard. Knowing the letters does little to help with pronounciation or spelling rules, and declensions.

The alphabet is easy.... as for the language.....

Welcome Galina! ! ! ! Soon (June 20) my Irisha will be here in America. We have known each other for two years. Speak or understand any English when we met. I had a very simple ability to speak Russian. But it was good enough for us to get along very well, with a dictionary close by. I had been working on learning Russian for several years. Now my Russian is much better. We have no real problem communciating. Irisha has only started to seriously learn English in February. Any suggestions for her on how to learn quickly? She very much wants to work here and speaking english well is the major factor in getting what she wants. She knows that I can receive Russian TV channels on satellite and wants me to get them, but i am a little be fearful that this will slow her learning of English. I have talked to several Russain speakers here and they tell me that this would interfere with her learning English as it is very difficult for them not to watch these channels almost all the time. If you have any thoughts, I would be interested.

Welcome again! Devereux

Hi, Galina! You are very welcome!

It’s so nice to see more Russian girls here!

Hi, Devereux

I’m not Galina, but I can try to share with you my experience if you don’t mind. I’m learning English right now. Myself.

I am using CDs for learning English. Works quite well for me and seems to be more interesting and easier than to use books. My CDs have lots of options - vocabulary with pictures, dialogs, exercises, and even animated mouth to show me how to put tongue inside of the mouth when I say words. Funny I like that I can hear words and then say them myself to a microphone and diagram shows me how I’m close to original. The program checks me how good I write words, how good I understand dialogs, etc. And there are some simple games too. I like CDs because it’s not boring :-) Learning is like a game. There are different levels too - beginner, intermediate, advanced. I got one CD for just $7 (in Russia) and another one I got recently for about $8. How good it helps you can see - I am learning English only from CDs. No teachers. No classes. Just computer, microphone and dinamics. So if you are interested you can ask your fiancee to get some good CDs for learning English while she's in Russia and to bring them with her to the US. So even when she sits at home alone and you are at work, she can have lessons when she's comfortable. And learn, and learn, and learn.

There are also CDs for learning business English too. I'm thinking about getting one for myself.

The only thing I have difficulties with is English grammar. For this I think I need some lessons with a teacher who can explain me things. Even CDs have all explanation about grammar rules, it is still difficult for me.

After your fiancee arrives in US she can go to an English class for foreigners. You can check with community colleges and other places. Such classes can be for very little money. Or if you can spend more money on that there are more expensive classes too. Girls say they are pretty good. Going to class your fiancee can also make some friends there and it would help her a lot too. The more she talks to people – the better.




You are right about it. The more she's into watching Russian TV there, the slower would be her learning English.

Sorry if my English is not soo good. I'm all arounf myself-english-learner.

Hi Oregonfiancee'! ! !

Thanks so much for your information about how you are learning English. I would say that you are learning very well! ! I learned most of my Russian from audio CDs. Very good for learning to speak and understand, but for written Russian and understanding grammar it is almost nothing. Could you tell me the name of the CDs that you have purchased in Russia? I will tell Irisha to get them. This will be very good for her to do, as you said, when I am at work and she is at home.

Thank you!

Devereux

Devereux

I saw CDs which my American fiance uses for learning Russian and I can say that it cannot be compared with CDs we have here for learning English. American CDs seem to be really only audio CD. I tryed to find for my fiance something close to what I have, but I did not find any good in US. Maybe it's because Russian language is not so popular there, or learning languages is not so popular. But here English is very popular and so we have really good CD and DVD programs to learn it. And they are better and better with every year. It is not only for learning how to say words but it is complete studying like with teacher - how to read, how to write, how to understand talking of native speakers, for learning grammar, etc. Grammar exercises are very good at CD, it's maybe just my problem. Maybe I'm not capable with grammar :-)

One CD which I use calls "English Platinum 2000". Several girls which I know use it too. It's a very popular CD. It has so lots of lessons, that you will be busy for the next 1.5 year :-) (better is to study everyday or at leat often enough). There are 4 parts there - dictionary, dialogs, grammar exercises and movie. If your fiancee is not that good with English yet, dialogs can be a bit difficult for her to understand first. But dictionary would be just great. Each lesson has about 20 words to learn, each word has a picture (easier to learn words with pictures, like for children). You listen words first, then after you think you remember, the program will begin to say words them and you need to find which word was sayed. Then you need to write (to type) words correct, the program will not allow you to go further until you write all words correct. Then you need to say words using microphone. That's long to explain, but easy and funny to learn. Funny that program says you if you are a good pupil or not If you do correct it says "or great!", "exellent!", something like this. But if you do not correct... Also she can read grammar rules there and to do exercises. Dialogs she can listen slow or fast. There are also some exercises with dialogs.

Another CD I'm using is from a big English course called "Tell me more". It's also very good. They have now new brand. Each level has 6 CD (2 CD in one packet). I use now intermediate, CD #1. A little easy for me, but good to make my knowledge better. There are LOTS of interesting exercises there and also some games with words. You learn language like you are playing.

Both of my CDs are for learning exactly american english.

There are lots of other CD which your fiancee can choose, we have lots in Russia. And for kids too. Just those which I mentioned are really good. She can also get business English CD for future.

All CDs have options to program them, so you creat your own individual program for learning. There are special settings where you can make your learning more comfortable.

Hope it helps somehow

Hello, Devereux!
This is Galina.
Funny thing - I got my degree in Russia in teaching English, it looks like you're going to get a professional opinion here. So that's what I think about learning languages:
- first and foremost - motivation! Motivation! Motivation! It's the most important thing here. If you fiancee is (and I'm sure she is!) willing to, looking forward to, interested in speaking the same language with you, live here, get a job, she will do her utmost to learn. Nothing will stop her - bad programmes, wrong CDs, nothing.!

- about methods: I'm kind of traditional here. I'm convinced nothing can teach a language better than a teacher. Even the best programme can't track all your mistakes, can't find the words to explain to you, a unique you, not just "a user", grammar rules, syntax, phonetics.

- about CDs: there are just too many of them (I mean all those computerised methods and programmes) available, and you never know which one is good which one is not. Besides, people are different, for some it's easier to memorise something listening to it, for some - watching it (ask Irisha, what's preferable for her - since she has started in February, she must know by now) that can help in chosing the method or programme. Not all of them are a sheer waste of time and money so probably she'll find something good. All in all, I would rely on respectable creators and publishers like Oxford or Webster. That will never spoil the deal.

- about TV: you're absolutely right considering her watching Russian TV a disturbance to her learning English. This is also a method and it's called "to be always surrounded by linguistic atmosphere" - only English everywhere - on TV, in the supermarket, in the street, in the restaurant - literally everywhere! That will help a lot in learning and espesially understanding the language.
If you have any other questions feel free to ask!
Galina
Good luck to you and Irishka!!!

Welcome

It's great to have more Russian Women on here!

Privet Galechka:)

Vot vam i russkii, tol'ko u menya na rabote russkii ne instolirovan - i nezya - pridetsia tebe ieroglifi chitat':)
Welsome:)
Natalia




I am hoping to be on taht list some day.....heh...

Russ and Galina,
We're going to be in Tampa next weekend.

Are you folks anywhere in the Tampa bay area? Lemme know via pm or email.

Thanks!

Russ and Galina,

This is quite interesting!

I'm in Tampa and we're waiting for an assigned date for Maria's interview in Moscow.

Also, my second language fluency is in German having studied in grad school for two years at German Unis plus worked over there for six more years.
One of my interests is languages and literature -- actually you have to REALLY be motivated to go through the pain of a PhD program!

I wonder if ya'll go to the Florida Orchestra here or saw the Moscow ballet here last winter?

And welcome to the Forum, Galina!

Larry

PS We'll have to see if we can get Maria on here from Siberia. I think she's finally thawing out!

We are in Tampa, though I'm working in Houston at the moment.




We missed the Moscow Ballet/Nutcracker by about a week, ended up seeing the Orlando ballet, it was horrible.

Russ,

Help me here. You're saying your AOS is being processing in Tampa and it takes 500 days, over 1-1/2 years to process for the green card?

Is there any alternative?

How does that work with all the timelines?
Do you get automatic extension?

In theory you can pack up and move. File an AR-11 change of address and hopefully your case will be transferred to another service center. For example we went through Fresno California which gave us an interview in under 5 months.
But this is not practical advice so all you can do is wait.

I don't know exactly how long it will be, but that is about right. Last time I looked (last month), Tampa was processing green card applications from December 2004. We need to wait until they get to March 2006. (15 months + however long processing, interview, mailing takes).

This depends on the local office, since they schedule the interview. And it isn't 1 1/2 years to process, it is 1 1/2 years before they BEGIN to process it here.

Of course, the medical will be out of date by then, so there might be an RFE for that.

The good part of this long wait, it will likely be 2 years after our wedding when the interview happens. This would mean (potentially) no 2 year green card.

California is quite a bit faster. (In many cases they don't do interviews though). A friend in San Diego from Russia got hers in about 4 months.

This isn't the end of the world. With an EAD, AP, SSN and driver's license, there isn't much else you need. The only real problem with the delay is that you can not file for citizenship until 3 years after the green card is approved.

And the EAD, AP and driver's license need to be renewed every year, ~ $500.

Does driver's license need to be renewed? Mine expires in 5 years, even though I received it not having a SSN...

Russ,

Did you contact your Representative and two Senators?

That's an insane time.

Do you have to renew EAD, AP, etc?

You have to apply to life conditions from the green card.

How do you keep out of getting deportation started because of the USCIS delay??

Contacting them can only help if you are past the processing date.



I know people who have waited 10 years.


EAD can be renewed. You need to apply for a new AP. We will need to do this in about 8 months.
You can only apply 90 days before it expires, but the renewal can be done online I believe. Renewals should be faster.


Only if you have been married less than 2 years. If the green card is approved after 2 years of marriage, it will be for 10 years. (In the past, they were good for life)



I-797 for AOS counts as being in the US legally. I-797 for lifting conditions counts as a GC for up to a year. Carry it with you (and EAD) and you are okay. Legally, you are supposed to carry your passport and visa with you at all times, and GC once you have it. If INS stops you, they probably won't let you go home to show them your GC or passport.

As for being deported, don't hang out by the Mexican border. I was just reading in the Wall Street Journal that current US policy allows for deportations without hearings or lawyers, even for US Citizens!!! (Apparently, Habeus Corpus doesn't exist anymore. I always thought you had a right to be brought before a judge within 72 hours). In practice, this only happens to US born Citizens who speak Spanish.

Basically, if you can't prove you are here legally (carrying your passport or GC) and the Border Patrol stops you, they can put you in INS detention and deport you to Mexico (or wherever will take you). You would then need to go to the US Consulate and get a replacement passport to be re-admitted to the US (advice from WSJ article, 12th of May).

Russ,

Thanks for the info.

I fat fingered one sentence: You have to lift conditions from the first green card.

That means going through Tampa can take 10 years? Then citizenship would take 15 years.

What's the problem with Tampa?

Can't you transfer somewhere else and still live in Tampa?

[quote name='Larry and Maria' date='May 23 2006, 09:53 PM' post='212955'] Russ,

Thanks for the info.

I fat fingered one sentence: You have to lift conditions from the first green card. [/quote]

This is only is true if the first green card is issued before your second anniversary. If it is one day after, it is good for 10 years. One day before, it is good for 2 years.

[quote]
That means going through Tampa can take 10 years? Then citizenship would take 15 years.[/quote]

Not quite that bad. Based on your timeline, if you marry in November this year, file AOS in December 06, expect the Conditional Green Card in July 2008 or so.

Apply to lit conditions around March 2010.
You can file for citizenship around August 2011.
You might get citizenship around August 2012.

So, 10 year GC about 4 years, citizenship about 6 years. (That is based on current processing times, which will certainly change.) This is much faster than with other types of visas.

[quote]
What's the problem with Tampa?[\quote]
There isn't a problem, they just have a backlog. The US Govt is not known for ruthless efficiency.

[quote]
Can't you transfer somewhere else and still live in Tampa? [/quote]
No. Even if you move, your case might not. What will you say about that if they ask you at the interview? Like I said above, the only real problem is the delay in getting a passport, and needing to renew papers every year.

Since Sept 11th, driver's licenses are only supposed to be good as long as the immigration documentation used to apply for it (in theory). 1 yr EAD=1yr license, 2 yr GC=2yr license, etc...

Privet Galechka:)

Vot vam i russkii, tol'ko u menya na rabote russkii ne instolirovan - i nezya - pridetsia tebe ieroglifi chitat':)
Welsome:)
Natalia

[quote name='dmhweb' post='191702' date='May 12 2006, 11:26 AM']
[quote name='Galina' post='186348' date='May 9 2006, 11:57 PM']
Hi!
I'm new here!...
[/quote]

Welcome

It's great to have more Russian Women on here!
[/quote]


I am hoping to be on taht list some day.....heh...
[/quote]
Привет, Наташа!
Приятно видеть русскую речь хоть и в "иероглифах". И я с удовольствием буду их читать! Ты уже прошла через все адские круги натурализации или еще в процессе? Техас намного проще и быстрее, чем Флорида, так что тебе, считай, повезло. Как жизнь?
Пиши, будем общаться!
Галина

I wonder if the border patrol often mistakes beautiful Russian women for Mexican citizens?

Well, in theory, everyone should get the same treatment from border partrol while inside the US, right? Equal protection clause and all of that?

The police in the town I grew up in had a habit of arresting people for being black. About once a year, they would arrest a minister or lawyer or doctor. Suspected of breaking into own house, typically. Then, a big lawsuit.

My wife was stopped near Canada, I guess she looked Canadian

Hello Everybody!
Newbie here-stumbled on this forum today-wish I had known about it 2 years ago!
Looking forward to reading and writing more later!
Nick.

Hi!
No, I've never heard of anything like this! I have a lot of acquaintances, my former fellow students, who either used to spend a lot of time in the states, or live here now and they have never even been stopped to be checked by IRS to say nothing of being mistaken for Mexican citizens! So this is one of the few priorities of being a Russian here!


Hi, Nick!
I'm a newbie too - join the club!

Welcome to VJ, Nick and Galina!

Welcome !!!

Nick the Newbie....

There's already a guy on here (or at least there used to be... his girl arrived about two months ago and they have been *cough* too busy to post) named Nick, who has a fiancee (now wife!) named Natasha! So... you're going to have to distinguish yourself just a bit. The Boston office and Newbie tag are good, but I'm going to be picturing the old Nick every time you post something. (My fault, not yours!) So I guess what I'm trying to say is.... Don't worry about it! I'll get used to you in a bit. Keep on postin, and good luck on your VisaJourney!