Tourist Visa from Russia to US

[mjoy61 0]

Is there anyone on this forum with positive first hand experience at obtaining a tourist visa to USA for a Russian citizen? 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 have been communicating with Masha for several months and we would like to make arrangements for her to visit me in USA.

[russ 1]

Is there anyone on this forum with positive first hand experience at obtaining a tourist visa to USA for a Russian citizen? 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 think we covered this pretty well in the other thread, but here we go again.

Every Russian I know that was issued a US Tourist visa had:

1) Over USD 2,000 in monthly income

2) Was married

3) Had already been outside of Russia on many occasions

4) Was over 30 years old.

Satisfy these conditions and you will probably be okay. Otherwise, meeting in Jamaica, Egypt, or possibly Greece (this is an EU visa that is not impossible to get - also allows for travel in the rest of Westen Europe).

There are no concrete numbers, it is up to the judgement of the CO at the embassy. By law, he must assume the applicant has immigrant intent until they (alone) can prove otherwise to his satisfaction. If you don't believe me, here it is from the horse's mouth: http://moscow.usembassy.gov/consular/consu...ecord_id=nivfaq

It is in English and Russian.

[Satellite 1]

See the answer to your question here:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=95043

[russ 1]

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?

Anyone assisting you with a US tourist visa from Russia is ripping you off, by definition. It is one of the easier visa types to apply for, fill out application, pay $100 at the embassy. Reputable Russian travel agents can help with Russian buerocracy, not the other way around. The vast majority of young, single women from Russia end up overstaying visas in the US, which is why they are almost never approved.

As I mentioned before, I would be happy to arrange for a former Moscow CO to speak with you about why this is not possible. Russians who have been married and living with Americans for YEARS in Moscow routinely can not get tourist visas.

[russ 1]

One more point - how many people have you ever corresponded with on the Internet that would travel internationally to your home? Does that strike anyone else as strange?

How did you meet "Masha?" Where does she live? What does she do? Do you speak on the phone?

I've spoken with lots of Russians on the phone that I've met online, Russian practice in exchange for English practice. Not once have I ever been asked about visas or travel to the US. That information is readily available in Russia, on the internet, in Russian.

[russ 1]

Also, I've left a couple of widows of deposed Nigerian Finance Ministers with absolutely no way to reclaim their $10 million in personal assets that she was going to give me a $2 million cut of, and all I had to do was give her a couple grand in "processing fees." I really am a heartless #######.

I bet your ####### is smaller than it should be and you could have more hair too I hate spam.

[Jason-Sasha 1]

I've spoken with lots of Russians on the phone that I've met online, Russian practice in exchange for English practice. Not once have I ever been asked about visas or travel to the US. That information is readily available in Russia, on the internet, in Russian.

Oh I've been asked about Visas. Usually it works like "I know this guy who can get me a Visa to visit you, I just need you to send me $500 to cover it." That will be followed closely by "I got the Visa, just need you to send $1,500 for the plane ticket. They have to be purchased here because the airline has to personally view my Visa." It's usually the same girl whose mother will die unless she receives $200 for an operation, and oh, she just lost her job at the factory and will lose her apartment and be kicked out on the street unless I send her $200. I think I've killed about 5 mothers and gotten 7 different girls kicked out of their apartment over the last couple of years. Also, I've left a couple of widows of deposed Nigerian Finance Ministers with absolutely no way to reclaim their $10 million in personal assets that she was going to give me a $2 million cut of, and all I had to do was give her a couple grand in "processing fees." I really am a heartless #######.

Hahahahaha!!! Pretty funny. Though, it does sound like you might have been shopping for Russian love for a long time.

Edited November 12, 2007 by Jason-Sasha

[mjoy61 0]

Are you the only two jack offs on this site? All you did was debate each other and feed me the most negative counter productive ####### I could have imagined. Step aside and make room for someone who may actually be able to help me.

I sent the link to this page to Masha and she was offended. Do not respond to anymore of my posts. I have heard your opinions already. I do not need top hear them again.

[russ 1]

I sent the link to this page to Masha and she was offended. Do not respond to anymore of my posts. I have heard your opinions already. I do not need top hear them again.

The information provided here has been complete and factually accurate. Getting a US Tourist visa involves:

Filling out this form online https://evisaforms.state.gov/ds156.asp

Going to an interview 14-21 days later.

Paying $100.

Answering a handfull of questions.

That is it. If the visa isn't approved, you can:

Apply again.

Apply for another visa type (F-1, J-1, L-1 are all very good candidates)

If you just want to meet, go someplace else (Several countries have been pointed out.)

[slim 1,533]

You could try to PM BluesFairy who was once upon a time issued a tourist visa or Kazan' Tiger who has a little inside information about "visa service companies" inside Russia. The two of them have first-hand knowledge.

The rest of us simply have thousands and thousands of man-hours wrapped up in research, applications, completing paperwork, posting our lives away on VJ, and one last thing.... oh what was it..... it's on the tip of my tongue.... shoot.

Oh, COMPLETING THE VJ PROCESS AND ACTUALLY GETTING OUR LOVED ONES HERE!!!!!

If that's not first-hand enough for you I don't know where you're going to find anything more reliable. Please share when you do because even though we all love VJ and love wasting our time here posting "first-hand knowledge" to help others through the process as well, I'm sure the VJ Russia forum would shut down if we could simply pay $250 and get our current e-mail interest over here. After all, I didn't do much research when it came to paying my $250 to get my Russian visa. There was no forum for that one. Just a quick Google search and voila! I was on my way.

Once again, I'll say it. I sincerely hope you've found a good girl and are involved in a legitimate relationship. If you are, that's awesome and we'd all love to help. But, there's only one person on your threads being counterproductive........

[russ 1]

You could try to PM BluesFairy who was once upon a time issued a tourist visa or Kazan' Tiger who has a little inside information about "visa service companies" inside Russia. The two of them have first-hand knowledge.

I believe BluesFairy's advice was the same, have ownership of something in Russia (new car in her case), letter from your employer showing income of 50,000+ rubles a month, a healthy bank statement, and talk a lot about your job. Otherwise, she paid the $100 and did exactly what was described above. No agency involved.

[Neonred 3,950]

I have first hand experience with obtaining visitors visa and J-1 visas from Russia, but unfortunately it is NOT positive experience. Everything you have read here so far is correct.

The visitors visa disaster ended a relationship I had with a Russian woman I had visited once. Looking back it was not really a bad thing, but...... When she was denied the visa and the denial stamp placed in her passport she was...very unhappy with the US government, and everything related to the US including me. Oh well. No loss there. (Of note here, this woman had 2 jobs and was making decent money, had her own apartment and a 15 year old son that she would return to)

Now that I am married, I had my step daughter come over with her mother on the K-2 visa. She stayed a few months but returned to Russia to attend the university. This summer she wanted to come over to visit and work and we thought the J-1 student work and travel visa would be perfect. We even used a company in Moscow that specialized in setting these up for students including air transportation and a health insurance package for the duration of the stay. They thought the fact she had been here before and returned to Russia would work in her favor, but they were wrong. She was denied the visa because she could not show close enough ties to Russia, mostly I think because her mother was now here and married to me. I had several conversations with the embassy and they assured me she could apply again (for $100), but no guarantees.

Of course it is not impossible, but unless she can show exceptional reasons for returning to Russia I would not expect to get the visa.

[russ 1]

I had several conversations with the embassy and they assured me she could apply again (for $100), but no guarantees.

This is purely anecdotal, but I have heard it from somewhat reliable sources. Apply several times often works out, on the 3rd or 4th time they sometimes realize that you are serious and not lying to them. It is worth trying at least a few times ( $100 is a bar tab or dinner here, not much lost).

Worst thing they can say is no, nothing else happens.

[Satellite 1]

It is worth trying at least a few times ( $100 is a bar tab or dinner here, not much lost).

It's a good plan only if you live relatively close to one of the four consulates in Russia. Russia is huge, right, spanning something like 11 timezones. Having to make a 3+ day trip by train, plus food, plus accommodations per interview, can be a much more costly endeavor then a $100 bar tab. Plus they have to go through Pony Express the courier that delivers the documents and those prices can reach $50+ depending on where you are sending from.

http://moscow.usembassy.gov/consular/consu..._id=nivapplying

[mjoy61 0]

Still too many words from the same people and nothing pertaining to the information I am seeking. Unless you have a referral to an agency in Russia that can help then do not post to this thread. All I get are warnings and preachings from the 3 so called experts that have filled up 2 of my posts with useless information.

As I have already said once. Leave room for someone who may actually have relevant and useful information. I don't really care if you are offended. You took the thread that I posted and used for your own rantings.

Slim, Moxcamel and russ, I have already seen your opinions on the matter. I have asked for a simple referral. None of you have been able to supply that. I am not interested in hearing anything else so from now on please do not reply to my posts on this site.