Adjusting to Life in USA

[akdiver 3]

How does one get those transcripts from the Russian University? My Husband got his diploma form MGU back in 1975, the USSR days. He said there were never any transcripts or actual diplomas but a document that certified the graduate as a "specialist" in his field. His classes included Marxist economics and Lenin /Marx Theory, etc, which don't have any value or equivalent in the US.

Probably out of luck.

Also if we actually can get transcripts do they have to be in a sealed university envelope to be turned in to the American university? How about the translation?

Yes - see my post above.

[1HappyGuy 45]

You should contact a university close by, probably in San Diego. Most universities have a program or specialist who determines the transfer credits of classes from foreign educational systems. I have been told that the more recent the education the more it is accepted. My stepson has a degree in telecommunications but hasn't tried to get his classes transferred. He's having too much fun taking photography at the local community college.

My wife is concerned that much of her coursework will not be accepted because it is over 20 years old. We still have to find out what is acceptable. But, I do know that there is a system in place to evaluate foreign degrees and education.

[phewall 0]

Thank you All for your great posts and kind and positive comments. I really love my wife and I'm working incredibly hard to try and make her as comfortable and productive as possible. We began corresponding when I was in Iraq in 2005 and we have been through the death of both our Moms, the visa process, war and everything else to be together. I'm fighting as hard as I can to make our marriage a happy, success story.

Thanks again, and keep the ideas and positive ideas coming. I really appreciate it.

James

[Don E 0]

Also if we actually can get transcripts do they have to be in a sealed university envelope to be turned in to the American university? How about the translation?

Yes - see my post above.

When my ex had her transcripts and diplomas evaluated (by ECE), they were not in any "sealed" envelope(s), and we didn't have any problems with ECE or anywhere else down the road. In fact, we sent photocopies of the original and of the English translation. If you mean that the transcripts should have the university's seal (as in a stamped seal), then I would agree (I don't think you would have such a document without a seal). However, some American universities (or employers) may require the credentials evaluation be based on a review of the original documents. The best thing to do is to check with the credentials evaluation company that you will use and find out what their requirements are and also what the specific requirements would be for the university that she is considering attending. There isn't necessarily only one right answer here. BTW, here's a link for ECE - http://www.ece.org/

[payxibka 10,044]

Also if we actually can get transcripts do they have to be in a sealed university envelope to be turned in to the American university? How about the translation?

Yes - see my post above.

When my ex had her transcripts and diplomas evaluated (by ECE), they were not in any "sealed" envelope(s), and we didn't have any problems with ECE or anywhere else down the road. In fact, we sent photocopies of the original and of the English translation. If you mean that the transcripts should have the university's seal (as in a stamped seal), then I would agree (I don't think you would have such a document without a seal). However, some American universities (or employers) may require the credentials evaluation be based on a review of the original documents. The best thing to do is to check with the credentials evaluation company that you will use and find out what their requirements are and also what the specific requirements would be for the university that she is considering attending. There isn't necessarily only one right answer here. BTW, here's a link for ECE - http://www.ece.org/

Depends on the purpose.... My wife is a Pharmacist and ECE needs to evaluate transcripts from a University sealed envelope.... otherwise they will not be accepted for her purpose. It may be a medical or specialized degree nuance but it certainly exists....

[Kotenochek 0]

I guess its a typicsl story for russian ladies that come here..My case similar,I was a lawyer in Moscow had a great job,travelled half the world...and now here...

We did not know that you are suppose to apply for ssn before wedding so we screwed there and had to wait for my work permit forever...I could not apply for driving license because of same problem with social number..

Its very depressing and does not matter that we own a house in a wine countryCA,that my husband is the best in the world and does whatever he can..

It is just a very hard transition.

Mentality is a lot too...girls look weird at you because dahh you are way better looking than they are...Men winking right in front of my husband,which i hardly try to ignore,before my husband rams their faces...

I had to sit at home nearly a year and i am going nuts...Its just too much for an intelligent Russian woman to stay home without socializing and activities...

My advice is stop controling her and let her make her own choices,such as choosing driver instructor or making an appointment for dentist visit..by having such conversations on phone she will feel more secure...Plus socialize with other couples and people as much as you can...Only seeing other people she will appreciate husband more and remember why she came here...

Sign her up for gym-it will make her feel good about herself.give her bunch of compliments!-its not american culture but russian girls are used to get it from everyone in russia,including work...so now when she stays home full time she will feel insecure,even if she is a top model...

So i guess the only good thing about it is that you get to really test each others patience,and nothing will be able to break your relationship if you survuve this:)))

[mox 298]

His classes included Marxist economics and Lenin /Marx Theory, etc, which don't have any value or equivalent in the US.

Possible political science or even economics credit. Worst case, elective credit.

[akdiver 3]

Well, the key here is that if you have already earned a degree - you don't simply want to transfer credits. You want recognition of the degree, so that you can go on to graduate school, or some other higher purpose. If you already have earned an undergraduate degree (from Russia in this case), transferring credits and taking even more classes so you can earn another undergrad degree (esp. if it is the same as the one you already have) is not nearly as productive as going on and earning a graduate degree.

If at all possible, you want your foreign degree recognized, so that can move forward, not go through more of the same undergraduate BS.

[mox 298]

Well, the key here is that if you have already earned a degree - you don't simply want to transfer credits. You want recognition of the degree, so that you can go on to graduate school, or some other higher purpose. If you already have earned an undergraduate degree (from Russia in this case), transferring credits and taking even more classes so you can earn another undergrad degree (esp. if it is the same as the one you already have) is not nearly as productive as going on and earning a graduate degree.

If at all possible, you want your foreign degree recognized, so that can move forward, not go through more of the same undergraduate BS.

Many graduate programs, however, will still want to break your undergraduate degree down into its component parts. This is especially true if you are shifting disciplines. Often after evaluating your undergraduate course work they will require certain undergraduate classes in addition to your graduate course load, to make up for any perceived gaps in your basic course work. For example, a chemistry major working on a physics graduate degree might have to take some additional undergraduate maths. This holds true no matter where your degree is from. I don't know how common this is, but the graduate programs I've looked into have all done this. (CA and CO universities.)

[akdiver 3]

Many graduate programs, however, will still want to break your undergraduate degree down into its component parts. This is especially true if you are shifting disciplines. Often after evaluating your undergraduate course work they will require certain undergraduate classes in addition to your graduate course load, to make up for any perceived gaps in your basic course work. For example, a chemistry major working on a physics graduate degree might have to take some additional undergraduate maths. This holds true no matter where your degree is from. I don't know how common this is, but the graduate programs I've looked into have all done this. (CA and CO universities.)

Yes this is true. But from the tone of the discussion, it sounded like people were interested in transferring credits so they could earn another undergrad degree. I was trying to encourage anyone whom already has a degree to get the degree itself recognized, not JUST the credits transferred - and then get a graduate degree, not another undergrad one (;

[slim 1,514]

I guess its a typicsl story for russian ladies that come here..My case similar,I was a lawyer in Moscow had a great job,travelled half the world...and now here...

We did not know that you are suppose to apply for ssn before wedding so we screwed there and had to wait for my work permit forever...I could not apply for driving license because of same problem with social number..

Its very depressing and does not matter that we own a house in a wine countryCA,that my husband is the best in the world and does whatever he can..

It is just a very hard transition.

Mentality is a lot too...girls look weird at you because dahh you are way better looking than they are...Men winking right in front of my husband,which i hardly try to ignore,before my husband rams their faces...

I had to sit at home nearly a year and i am going nuts...Its just too much for an intelligent Russian woman to stay home without socializing and activities...

My advice is stop controling her and let her make her own choices,such as choosing driver instructor or making an appointment for dentist visit..by having such conversations on phone she will feel more secure...Plus socialize with other couples and people as much as you can...Only seeing other people she will appreciate husband more and remember why she came here...

Sign her up for gym-it will make her feel good about herself.give her bunch of compliments!-its not american culture but russian girls are used to get it from everyone in russia,including work...so now when she stays home full time she will feel insecure,even if she is a top model...

So i guess the only good thing about it is that you get to really test each others patience,and nothing will be able to break your relationship if you survuve this:)))

Good post... and that's what they say, if you make it through the first two years or so, the rest is all easier from there.

His classes included Marxist economics and Lenin /Marx Theory, etc, which don't have any value or equivalent in the US.

Possible political science or even economics credit. Worst case, elective credit.

I'm wondering if my M-60 Machine Gun credits are going to transfer over anywhere besides University of Phoenix. I'd love to be the first guy in the office with my B.A. in Basket Weaving sitting next to my M-60 Machine Gunnner certificate.

[Okiebollweevil 0]

Hello All,

We've completed the first part of the "Visa Journey" and my lovely Svetlana is here in the USA with me. Now it seems comes the hard part. She has been here since 1 July and we've gotten married, had a beautiful wedding in Lake Tahoe and are settling in together.

The hard part has come as my bride is feeling down about not having work and worried about her "level" going down as a result. She is 35 and worked very successfully in Moscow as a type of business consultant for taxes and labor laws etc. She has a very nice degree from Moscow University and now feel like it was "wasted" since it may not translate directly over here. Unfortunately as luck would have it, the first two ladies she has encountered (1 from Odessa and 1 from St Petersburg) have relayed mostly negative stories about how they were successful in Russia/Ukraine, but that now they are like "guest workers" in the USA with little prospects for success. Of course this has only brought Svetlana's mood down only more. (Needless to say these very nice ladies have other issues in their relationships which are the true source of their unhappiness).

I'm working now to get some of the basics taken care of like immigration paperwork for AOS, driving lessons, English courses, although she speaks pretty well, etc. I work as an officer in the USMC and we have plenty of money. We live in a nice apartment with palm trees and a swimming pool in Oceanside, CA yet she still feels like she's gone backwards in life because of this job issue.

So the bottom line is that I'm looking for anyone out there who has had POSITIVE experiences getting adjusted and beginning their careers in the USA after coming from Russia. I know that if she can see some positive examples of ladies who have transistioned successfully that will really help her outlook and hopefully she can get some constructive advice on what steps she can take to attain the success here in this country that she seeks.

Please feel free to email me at phewall@mac.com and let me hear from you. I can certainly give you more information than I can in this short space.

Thank you all and God Bless you!

James

Hello James, I think you are going through what a lot of us did when we brought our wives here who are not independently wealthy, we work during the day and try to take care of our wive's needs afterward. My wife experienced the same homesickness, wanted to contribute, (what a great attribute as opposed to what we have become accustomed to). She was a pediatric surgeon in Russia, and didn't want to do a residency here to achieve the same status. She switched to accounting. Took a two years associates degree at a local college, then applied to undergrad school, but the school on its own initiative suggested that with her medical degree she enroll in graduate school so she is now happily (I think) battling the masters in accountancy program. One of her acct. professors recommended her for a part time job and that also keeps her occupied. Where we live people have from our limited experience treated Russian women like peons. My wife dresses up every day to go to work even on casual fridays. Her supervisor reminded her that fridays are blue jeans day. My wife wouldn't be caught dead in a pair of blue jeans, so she agreed to a denim skirt which we are now shopping for. Americans just don't get how Russian women like to dress up when going out of the home and want everyone else to be slobbish like me. And I am Mr. Slob so I don't help much, but will put on something when we go out together that is appropriate. The first two years are tough but we got Russian TV by satellite, sponsor many calls and text messages to Russia and otherwise keep in touch back home. Best of luck!

[slim 1,514]

My wife wouldn't be caught dead in a pair of blue jeans, so she agreed to a denim skirt which we are now shopping for. Americans just don't get how Russian women like to dress up when going out of the home and want everyone else to be slobbish like me. And I am Mr. Slob so I don't help much, but will put on something when we go out together that is appropriate. The first two years are tough but we got Russian TV by satellite, sponsor many calls and text messages to Russia and otherwise keep in touch back home. Best of luck!

My wife has finally compromised and agrees to go out in her "sport costume" if we're just running errands or grocery shopping or something. You still won't catch her out in a baby T-shirt, pajama bottoms and Uggs (like most of the young women here) but at least now I'm not required to change out of my "sport costume" (which is a T-shirt, some pajama bottoms and some flip flops or something slobbish like that) just to go get some breakfast. Please believe it though if we "go out" we must "make looks nice like so wonderful couple" and that includes me wearing something that compliments her attire.

We've just now passed the two year mark of her being here (haven't been married quite two years yet) and I've gotta say, I seriously considered getting the Russian TV and paying for lots of phone calls, etc., but I discouraged it as much as possible because the way I look at it, she's here. If she wanted Russian TV she could've stayed there or she could work and pay for it herself. Funny how once she started working all the things she "had to have" she didn't really need anymore. Now I'm not saying I don't want my wife to be happy, I'm just saying that she made the choice to come here and live in America and with that decision comes the responsiblities to be an American wife - either you start spitting out babies or you take your butt to work. Sure, she's still Russian and I want her to keep in touch with friends and family, keep her culture, etc., but I also want her to get acclimated to life here and the quicker she can do that the better off we'll be. Not saying the Russian TV wouldn't make her feel better, just saying it would delay her acclimation to new life.

[Danno 1,228]

How does one get those transcripts from the Russian University? My Husband got his diploma form MGU back in 1975, the USSR days. He said there were never any transcripts or actual diplomas but a document that certified the graduate as a "specialist" in his field. His classes included Marxist economics and Lenin /Marx Theory, etc, which don't have any value or equivalent in the US. Also if we actually can get transcripts do they have to be in a sealed university envelope to be turned in to the American university? How about the translation?

On top of all the immigration paperwork this overwhelming to my brain!

Sounds to me like that back ground of his should put him in high demand ...after January ...

Would he mind relocating to D.C.?

[mox 298]

Sounds to me like that back ground of his should put him in high demand ...after January ...

Would he mind relocating to D.C.?

Actually I'd say it could come in handy right about...now. You know, with the current Republican administration being responsible for the socialization of our banking infrastructure and all. (I luvs me some pot-stirring...)