Well...the time has come to stop talking and starting walking...

This Wednesday evening I fly out of the USA to my destiny that awaits me in Russia. I feel excitement and anxiety. The long trip...the airlines unpredictable service...the Russian and US Embassy bureaucrats. But at the end of all this struggle is the marriage I have sought for so long.

And there is my Nadia! My dream wife who awaits me and who has been so great since we started our relationship last year. Unlike other women I have known from the FSU. Nadia calls me frequently despite her poor English. She sends me cards in the mail. She has moxie and is giving all she can to marry me. She is confident but not aloof. She is, I think, the style of woman who personifies the true Russian bride in all the positive ways. Beautiful, sexy, hard working, family oriented, dependable and strong but feminine.

So...my upcoming ordeal to fly into Siberia is worth all the hardships I may face over the next few days and weeks. And, unfortunately, I just came down with a virus that's dragging me down jusIt when i need my full strength and endurance. I am being tested! But nothing will stop me!

I want say "thank you!" to all of you who have offered so much valuable comments, advice, information, support and kindness.

Good luck and congratulations! I wish you a great, hassle free trip and a flawless wedding

Mike.

Good Luck my friend

Have a wonderful wedding and great marriage:)

Good luck to you. I arrived here in Russia this past Saturday, a day late as I missed my connection in NY due to bad weatherThursday afternoon and spent a whole day waiting for the next flight to Moscow. Very disappointing when you are trying to get to your destination as quickly as possible. My wife flew over 3 weeks before me.

I was going to let you know about registering your visa, but mine was a little different as I am a registered part owner of an apartment now. I did travel on a tourist visa (really doesn't make any difference and you do not need to stay in a hotel) and got a special piece of paper at the office formerly known as OVIR. Not sure what the new name is now. I just need to keep that paper with my passport and migration slip and turn it in when I exit the country. No additional stamp and no unregistration.

Had a problem at ZAGS when my wife tried to change her family name in her local passport. They didn't like the (US) translation and Apostile of the marriage certificate. They wanted a Russian stamp and Apostile translation, and they were also unhappy that the marriage certificate did not clearly indicate her new married name...what?? Anyway we decided it was not worth the bother so we will keep the local passport the same. She does have the stamp on the international passport so that is fine.

More later.

I'm sorry you missed your flight. I can only hope all goes well with my flights today. I decided awhile back to avoid flying out of Kennedy because there's always long delays taking off due to the huge number of flights in the cue. I'm leaving from Dulles and have stops at Munich and Moscow.

I'm nervous about the Zags office but Nadja has shown them copies of all my papers and they said everything looks good. I also worry about name changes but I think Nadja has decided to get a new passport with her married name on it.

Thanks for the info on visa registration!

Congrats on the marriage Jeff, and I know all will go well! If you need anything don't forget that others are here to help as I too am currently in Russia with Elena. My wife changed her name and just got a new passport to reflect the change. We had a "little" help, but it went vary easy. Elena's advise is for her to change her name at the marriage (our marriage certificate reflects her new name) and then within the first week for her to go and get the new passports (you know they have 2 one for inside Russia only and another for foreign travel etc.). This way the office clearly sees a basis for her name change. She got her Russian passport (for inside Russia) within 3 days, but I think it took 3-4 months to get her new foreign passport. Good luck with all and don't hesitate to ask questions or for help.

Good luck to you. My wife is also from Siberia (Novosibirsk). I know that it is a very long trip to get there. I also fly there from Dulles.

Bob

Oh yeah...I fly from Dulles or BWI too. I'm from Annapolis, MD

Good luck, Siberian women rule!!!! My wife is from Irkutsk, we are still awaiting her new passport which needed to be updated.

I enjoy my trips to Siberia, Lake Baikal etc. Next year we will be taking our son Aleksandr to meet his grandparents. Imagine the same trip with a one year old, I have lots of fun to look forward too.

So do all the other passengers on your trans-atlantic flight.

I'll give them a but I'd get smacked if I didn't shout "Far East!, Far East!, Far East!"