I have been chatting with Masha for many weeks and we both would like her to visit me in the US. She has found the one and only agency in her town and asked for info and pricing on getting a tourist visa. They gave her a quote for helping her with the US Embassy in Moscow and getting plane tickets. It seemed quite expensive. She does not own property or a business that would give her a reason to return to Russia. She does not have children or dependents. Not much to reassure the embassy that she would return to Russia.

Can anyone recommend an agency that has reasonable fees and a good success rate in these situations?

Chance of success almost zero. Plan on meeting in another country - cheapest and easiest way to go. Jamiaca is a good choice. So is Egypt.

In January, a round trip from Moscow to London (BMI - $390), then London to Montego Bay (Virgin - $900) will set you back about $1300 all together, no visas involved. This is pretty reasonable. I found that in 2 minutes, you can probably do cheaper than that. Jamaica is much nicer than Russia in the winter.

You say that chances are almost 0. What do you base that on? Do you have experience in these matters?

Anecdotal evidence from others who have tried would indicate a slight margin of success.

First off, welcome to the VJ Russia Forum.

Second of all..... DO NOT SEND HER ANY MONEY!!!

I may be jumping the gun here, but this is the first post from you that I've seen relating to visas and Russian travel and what you're describing is a classic example of the scams run by these girls. (Not accusing, just pre-warning) Before you do anything at all, read up on this whole process and do a little more research and fact-checking.

Now, if I'm way off base here and you've already known your girl for quite a while and you're finally now getting around to the "meeting" stage, then what's most likely going to happen is as Russ said above, you'll need to meet in a third country or you'll have to fly there to see her. Either way you're going to be spending over $1,000 and if you're covering her portion as well it's going to be $1,000+ more.

For her to hire an agency in her city to make a U.S. visa application is unnecessary. You can find the info necessary here on VJ and walk her through it... FOR FREE!!! If you are going to go to Russia, using one of the readily available (Google) Russian Visa services is probably the easiest way to go.

Tell us a little more about your situation and what you're looking to do and we'll be able to better help you out.
- How long have you two known each other and how did you meet? (Have you met in person before?)
- Are you familiar with the K-1 process and it's requirements?
- Have you been to Russia, familiar with Russian people/customs, speak/read any Russian language?
- Just a general "where you're at" in the VJ process would really help us out.

If you don't want to post anything, I'm not trying to pry. Just trying to get a little more accurate picture of where you are and what you'll need to do in the VJ process. Once again, if I'm off-base, apologies, but if what I'm typing sounds a little too familiar..... come back for more help!

I would second this. Any Russian that can afford to be chatting on the internet can afford the $100 embassy fee and travel to Moscow. From most of central russia, a bus ticket to Moscow costs almost nothing.

Agreed that chances are almost zero that she can visit here.

If this is your first meeting I would strongly recommend meeting her in her home town, even if it's the dead of winter. You want to meet her family and friends because if things work out for the both of you, those people are all going to be a big part of your life. You are going to want to see where and how she lives, and you're going to want to give her the opportunity to play hostess to you. These are all really important, especially to her. It shows that you care about more than just her. She's going to want to have the chance to show you off to her friends and family and get their blessing.

Also, Russia is a fantastic trip. You'll be glad you went.

Learn how to speak Russian first. The trip is far more fun if you can talk to people.

The trip to Russia is a fantastic trip however, I must disagree with the above post on grounds that it's not meeting her friends and family because it's going to be an important part of your future (in truth, you may never see these people again) but because it proves that she's willing to introduce you to her friends and family and actually accept you into her life.

It's very easy for any girl to take an all-expenses-paid trip to a beach resort somewhere to meet with some rich guy for a week or two. It's significantly more difficult for her to accept you into her everyday life and have you become a part of her family and to get the approval of everyone she knows and loves.

Offer to go there. See what she says.

A lot of people on here disagree with my "proof" theory that she must prove to you that she's willing to do her part but I'm a whole-hearted believer in her putting forth just as much effort and willingness as you. The trip to Russia is what proves it.

I had about a 5 word Russian vocabulary when I put feet down in Moscow. I had a hard time sometimes, but it was a trip I will remember with fondness all my life, and not just because I met my SO. Knowing the language would be advantageous, but I never found the language barrier to be too high.


Agree with everything you said slim, but it doesn't matter that you won't ever meet these people again. She'll be talking to them on the phone or emailing/IM'ing them when she's living with you. She will keep in contact with all her best friends, and of course her family. They will have an impact on your life even if you don't immediately know it. If you don't like her friends, or (especially) if they don't like you, you're going to have some challenges.

My trip was Spring Break, 2006...I was taking Russian 101 so I had a limited knowledge of Russian, still do but every now and then I pick up a book and try...speaking of which, I may do that tonight! =)

Since I do not know your situation, I can only share my experience...

Do NOT send any money first! Plan a trip to visit her in her town, even in winter!

As I said my trip was spring break...a.k.a. March! melting snow everywhere, it was fun...though cold, coming from the desert!

It was really nice to see her town, her family...not so much how she lived since she took leave during my trip! I've said it before and I'll say it again, IF I could have moved there I would have, in a second! I loved the trip though I am certain the company I kept had alot to do with that


We are looking to buy a house this year and a trip back in 2009!

I agree with you there too, but the reasoning behind taking the trip to see her in her own environment as opposed to meeting in a third country (especially for those who have never met their S/O) should have more to do with her proving she's accepting you into her life than you making it a point to meet all her cousins and grandparents and the extended family you're never going to see again.

The friends/family do play a part down the road, as you mentioned, but they are an initial sign of her willingness to accept you into her friends/family as opposed to a sign of her willingness to accept your money into her friends/family.

Speaking for myself, I do plan on seeing these people again. I'm sure we'll be making trips back to Russia at least every couple years, possibly more frequently. I never saw the trip as proof of her acceptance, although I certainly would have been worried if she refused to meet in her home city. But by then we'd been talking and emailing for so long that it would have also been a big surprise since she always spoke of the people she wanted me to meet and the places she wanted to show me.

Not much positive information regarding agencies. There must be some reputable travel agencies in Russia that can give sound advice to Russians wishing to obtain a tourist visa to USA. I didn't see anyone so far identifying yourselves as Russian travel agents or consular officials. Debating each other about a trip to Russia that I am not planning on taking is not helping me much.

Is there anyone on this forum with positive first hand experience at obtaining a tourist visa to USA? Is there anyone who can give me concrete information on the income, property holding and familial obligation minimums required for getting a visa? Can anyone refer me to a reputable travel agency in Russia that can assist in obtaining a visa without ripping off me or anyone else involved?

I'll add my agreement to Slim and the others that meeting her in her natural habitat is a very good thing. Not only does it help to prove her honest intentions, but meeting a foreign guy can be a scary thing for her too, and being surrounded by her family and friends in her native country can help make it a pleasant experience for you both. My fiancee lives with her parents, so I got to spend a lot of time with them and with her sister (who lives in town) and it was wonderful. An added bonus was getting to have the 'talk' with her father!

I think you have come to the wrong place. Most us here have had very negative experiences in getting what you want. My wife was denied for example. Reputable business in a Russian context is an oxymoron. See Slim's thread on the topic.
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=93028
It was closed for TOS violations. Unfortunately the administrators here try to limit practical solutions in country specific forums.
The only people who can provide you this information is the Russian Embassy itself / visa division. But they won't give you this information unless you have personal connections on the inside.
The agencies can't do anything except make fraudulent documents or just tell what everyone else has told you: You need lots of expensive property, a high earning job, lots of close family and friends (husband and kids) in Russia, health insurance, car, very high salary ($2.5 - 5k) a month. And documents for all of this.

Nobody identified themselves as Russian travel agents or consular officials because that's not who you're going to find here. But you will find a lot of people who have a lot of experience in dealing with the immigration system.

We've already said that her chances on visiting the US are negligible, and why. I'm sorry this isn't the answer you wanted to hear, but it's based on a *ton* of incidental evidence. Just do a search on the VJ forums. We've also given you alternatives, and reasons for those alternatives. This advice is given freely. If you need more professional advice you should probably talk to a travel agent or a consular.

When you are done with your research, please let us know how it turns out. I can already tell you that, based on the information you've given, if you want her to come to the US then you are going to have to do some traveling first. Best of luck to you.

Corrected to US Embassy!

Welcome to VJ!

I'm sure no one here wants to rain on your parade but what you are suggesting is just not possible for the majority of Russians, let alone an unattached Russian woman. No offense but the first thought I had after reading your post was "scam". It seems you have the impression that a travel agency could help obtain a tourist visa to enter the USA? This I'm afraid is not possible.

There is no simple formula for obtaining a tourist visa from the US Embassy. If the CO (Consular Officer) feels that the applicant has significant ties to Russia then they may grant you such a visa. Sorry, but from what you have described, she doesn't stand a chance (with or without you paying some agency).

If it makes you feel good, then by all means send her money but don't think that it would help her obtain a tourist visa.

Good luck!

I have used travel agencies in Russia (reputable ones). They are expensive for what they do, which is primarily created false documents with their own stamps on them. They also expedite Russian paperwork for an outrageous markup - for instance, getting a Russian International Passport. Most charge around $400, something most Russians can do themselves for less than $100.

There are no concrete rules about what you need, though tourist agencies in Russia are happy to take your money and make something up. As a general rule, if you are making less than 2,000 USD per month in Russia, you will have great difficulty obtaining any tourist visa in the West (not just the US).

There is almost nothing a travel agent in Russia can do that you can't on your own (other than fraud).

My wife did obtain tourist visas, and a J-1 visa in Russia, though she did not need to pay anyone. Her employer sponsored the J-1. She applied for the tourist visas - some approved, some not. The answer for the "not approved" ones was - "we do not give visas to young, unmarried women."

No, there aren't. Other than fraud, there is nothing a travel agent can do in Russia - sorry. Meeting in Jamaica will be the easiest thing for you to do if you don't want to fly to Russia.

The only opinion that matters is the CO doing the interview at the embassy. Their assumption is that all young women are planning to marry an American as soon as they arrive in the US. They were very clear with my wife that she SHOULD NOT get married (she had a student visa). They see fake documents from tourist companies every day. If you would like, I can arrange for a former Moscow CO to give you a call.

Approved tourst/business visas I know of have been granted to: Business men earning over USD 2000 a month, female holders of existing US visas that have not been overstayed, and retired Russian diplomats. I'm only speaking about people I know personally. I don't know any young single women who have gotten what you want, but believe what you want.

The individual must get the tourist visa herself. The only assistance that a travel agency can offer is helping her fill out the application and informing her of what documents to submit. There are a couple outfits in Moscow that help with visa preparation. They will give the applicant a checklist of what documents to bring to them. They will review and organize the documentation so that the applicant is best prepared. The one that I know of will not accept a customer if they believe that he or she is not eligible for a visa.


This reeks of a "Fat Yuri" scam going on. To the original poster: Please google "ticket and visa scam."

My wife has used a Russian Tourist agency for travel.

They will help alot with documents/talking to the right people/greasing a few palms if you want to get into another country.

Exceptions are the U.S., Canada, Britan and Austrailia. So you are S.O.L.

If I'm completely off base here I offer my apologies in advance, but it seems to me you've never met this woman in person yet expect her to travel 5000 miles to meet you, a stranger, on your own turf?

Any self-respecting woman would insist that, at the very least, you meet in neutral territory for the initial meeting; most, if sincere, would insist you travel to her home city.

Complain all you want that I didn't address your initial question, but I've seen enough naive Western men groomed as mules for RW to recommend caution in situations like this.

Is that TOS violations referring to "Terms of Service" as in "what you can and can't talk about on VJ?" and was there something we clicked on when we made our profiles here that said something to the effect of "we won't help anyone commit visa fraud" or suggest anything "not clearly legal"?

Because obviously whomever wrote the TOS has never dealt with Russian-U.S. relations. They have their own "terms of service" and almost all of them don't seem to be "clearly legal".

As Satellite pointed out, practical solutions to real-world problems, even in attempts to find a legal way, are being closed now.

Where is our OP? I sure hope he finds that agency. We'll never have a TOS violation closed topic again!

As I understand it, TOS violations apply to the US immigration service. So while I think it's fine to say "go see Yuri if you want your internal Russian passport stamped with Moscow residency," it's against the TOS to say "go see Yuri if you want a forged visitors Visa to the US." I could be wrong.

I don't know if you're wrong or not, but I do know Yuri. Nice guy. Gets a lot of stuff done over there. Maybe we should suggest him to the OP?

Like employment letters. I worked for one of these agencies for a couple of months.