Hi,

I was wondering if someone can tell me what Natalia can expect at the airport when she arrives. I know she will have a sealed packet to give to the customs officer. I wanted to prepare her as much as possible. Her POE will be Atlanta.

Thanks, Warren

Thank you Wildcat! Yes , me and Janna were together 10th of february. she is great person, you are lucky man Roger. Congrats on your Visa!!!! We are so happy too, tomorrow i'm going to buy a fly ticket to Texas. Can't wait to see love of my life!
Good luck to everybody!
Nadia

Thanks for the compliment, Nadia. So when are you going to Texas? I lived in San Antonio for 4 years, it's a nice state to live in. But, it might get a little warm for you during the summer.

Good Luck to you too.

hello Roger. I'm planing to go on 6th of march.Me and my fiance Kevin going to live in Abilene for next few years. I know it's hot in Texas , but as you know, love is cruel lol, in the summer i would have to buy lots of ice...just kidding.
Some people from U.K asked me "Is is true that in Russia so cold that Russians are drinks vodka to keep themself warm?" . I answered: " Yup! very cold and polar bears walking around!"
Take care!
Nadia

congrats to all that have been successful in their interviews !! i also have been MIA since my wife has arrived 3 months ago....life has been great for our family since their arrival, and their adjustment has been easier than i expected.....again, good luck to all.....Larry

Hello,

I just received phone call from Natalia, she was successful at her interview!!!!!!!!

She called me at 2:30 a.m. (10:30 a.m. Moscow time) and I could tell by her voice she was very happy.

She said she was first in line this morning. When they let her in the embassy she went through security similar to an airport process but they kept some of her items especially cell phone until her departure.

Then she took a number (number 1) and waited. When she was called she went to a window and gave a man documents (her DS-156, medical etc, my I-134 with 2004 taxes and 3 previous W-2's, bank and work statements, and he asked for only one photo of us together). Then she sat again.

She was called again and begain her interview, she said she had a nice younger woman that was very pleasant. Natalia said she had the interview primarily in English but sometimes in Russian when the ConOff needed to explain something precisely. She was asked:

Are you married?
Do you have children?
Tell me about your fiance' (Natalia said this led to a few other general questions as if two qirlfriends were talking together so I suppose as Natalia explained our past, present and future she answered the standard questions about how we met and trips together and our future, but it was not so formal and ridgid.
She said they also discussed my divorce, my child, my job, when she plans to travel to America and when and where we plan to marry. She said they never asked for phone records, ticket stubs, more photos, or anything out of the ordinary.

Natalia said it was very easy and she felt at ease after if began. She said the ConOff told her she would have the Visa by February 22 and DHL Moscow. She said the woman was very, very nice. She asked me if American people were always this friendly and helpful, I smiled and said no unfortunately not always.

She also said she did not notice if any other women were successful or not since she was first. But when she was finished and walked back to the waiting area she said the other women were very interested in her experience with the ConOff.

In all I think she was in the embassy about 2 hours. She said now she needs to sit and relax over a coffee.

Looking back this seems very easy and anti-climatic but I know it is because of this website and all of you helping each of us with your experiences. I doubt I could have done this as quickly or error free. I think if I had to just read the directions on the USCIS forms we would have made some mistakes and forgot something. And as we begin the next phase of the paperwork I will continue to read the forum postings.

I smile now because I remember when I started this process I would be in the K-1 forum every few hours to analyze other's timelines (from CA Service Center via TSC) to try and predict when I would receive the NOA2. And I am sure if I returned I would see the typical e-mails of people complaining about the slow processing time of CSC. It was only a few months ago but seems like forever.

Thanks to all of you for your help,
Warren and Natalia

Great news!!!!

And the ball keeps rolling...

Congratulations!!!

Congrats !

Congrats!

Congrats to both of you.... and thanks for sharing the questions and the process.

This is just getting better and better. (And closer and closer!)

Hello everyone,

Just an update to pass on good news,

Natalia is in Moscow today and has received her K-1 Visa at DHL. It was delivered from the Embassy on Tuesday and we had arranged for DHL to hold it until she travelled back through Moscow, we didn't want to take a chance it would be lost in route to her city.

She will fly tomorrow to Atlanta. The most difficult part of this journey is almost over. Now the AOS journey begins but at least she will be here.

It seems all are having success as well and I am sure it is because of the experiences and advice posted. Can you imagine doing this without an Internet. (I suppose it is because of Al Gore )

Good luck to all,
Warren

Golfnut

After she arrives please let us know how it went entering through Atlanta. We will be returning through Atlanta next month and I'm curious about what to expect.

My Irina will also be coming in through Atlanta in June so I am very interested in the process there at this POE. Also, I will be meeting her at this airport and would like to know where I need to be to meet her as soon as she comes out. Where will this be? Is it clearly marked on where I need to go? etc.

Thanks,

Godspeed Warren.

And a big to Al Gore for creating the internet.

Atlanta may be the POE for us too, so we'll be waiting on the info. GOOD LUCK TO BOTH OF YOU!!!!

Yes, I will post an e-mail of how the POE process went for both of us. The Atlanta Hartsfield Airport has a great web-site with information (video and maps) for international arrivals:

http://www.atlanta-airport.com/Default.asp...vice/cspage.htm

This site should get you close but it is in the Customer Service area and then click International Passengers. Chose your language (Russian is not a choice yet) and you can watch a Flash video. It does help a little.

But the main point is she will receive her luggage at the immigration point and then re-check it and it will be sent through the airport to the normal baggage claim for all flights. So, worst case if you know her Flight number you can be at baggage claim waiting for her. I plan to intercept her before that point if possible.

I also e-mailed her an AT&T pre-paid phone card codes so she can go to any pay phone and dial the numbers and my cell phone so first I will know she is in the airport and if necessary. I explained in detail how to use it. This should help too.

I smiled when she said "I had no problem finding you at SVO II airport in Moscow and it was very large, we will find each other at Atlanta" I told her wait until you see Atlanta's airport and you must walk a mile or take a 5 minute underground train to baggage claim from Concourse E. Plus there are 10 times the amount of people. And I am sure I stuck out like every other American at SVO II (also at St. Petersburg's airport) so I was easy to find. Somehow they know I was American even when I try not to look American. Natalia said I smiled too much!

I also remember at SVO II she went to the cafe and ordered 2 coffees and we somehow paid $14.00 for 2 very small cups of coffee (there was no menu or prices listed anywhere) I thought Starbucks was high. I will never complain about a 3 dollar cup (large) of coffee again at the airport.

Until next time, Warren

Sounds like a good plan Warren. Keep us posted!

(I wonder though.... could you look "Russian" at the Atlanta airport? Maybe a big red CCCP T-shirt like the tourists in Moscow wear with a furry hat? Somehow, I still don't think that would help! Good luck though!)

Hello,

Natalia is here!!!!!, I will give details of Atlanta experience tomorrow. But her customs took 2 hours 30 minutes from the time she landed. But what is a few hours whe when have waited so long already.

Warren

Congratulations! ! ! ! I am sure it feels very good to have her here safe and sound! ! ! !

I look forward to you description of how everything went! ! !

Dev

Awesome news Warren and Natalia!!! Great to hear that you're finally together.

Have fun, don't worry about getting the info on here until you guys are fully "reacquainted."

Slim,

What happened to this site, it is so boring now. All of the regulars are gone, no one gets offended about my ideas on prenuptial agreements. I miss the old days when they were handing out suspensions. .

This is what happens when you are too busy with your new bride to be posting on Internet forums. I know that I only post when I am at "work" these days becuse my home life is so busy.

Yep, I hope to have that "problem" soon too.

Don't worry figsy, we'll get our chance. Till then, I'll be on here.

Good luck goldtop (Natalia & Bill)

Good luck goldtop!

Let us know how it goes and what the current questions are.

Good luck! I don't see many new names on the interview list....