Alfia & John

Answer received, just received NOA1 from USCIS

We have not received our NOA1 yet but the electronic check was presented to my account this morning. Will the NOA1 be dated the same day as check cashing. I would like to add the NOA1 to my timeline so it shows the approx. date of processing.

Thanks Phil

Good morning all;

Can someone give me a bit more information about the I-130, Petition for Alien Relative? I have read some conflicting information; some information seems to indicate that this is a faster way to bring you spouse to USA (Russian citizen is beneficiary, USA citizen is petitionier). Another site seemed to indicate there was sort of a lottery involved, one must wait for an available visa number before being able to bring the spouse on I-130. Irina mentioned she had read something about an immediate marriage visa that was enacted June 2013 for humanitarian reasons (getting families together faster, not because of any emergency). Had anyone heard of this?

Is there currently a faster method than the K-3/CR-1 visa. According to the timelines, the K-3 seems to be running at about 7 months. This is a real improvement from a couple years ago but still a long time to be separated.

Thanks for all assistance.

but it's sooo cold over there!

Cold is only a temperature, love is all the warmth one needs.

no matter, when i'm in Russia...i'm just thinking about how soon i can return to the U.S.

And when I am in America, I am thinking how soon I can return to Russia

I can not speak for Ukraine but in Moscow, I have been through green line pushing one card full of baggage and pulling another. Well over $40K in camera gear and tons of personal stuff (knives, bear spray, clothes, tons of books, etc); never a problem.

Russia seems to use both Russian and European plugs and sockets. They sort of fit into each other most of the time. As far as adapters vs. transformers, most devices that use a power supply (cell phones, laptops, etc.) are tolerant of 100-240VAC and thus only need an adapter. Other things such as kitchen and bathroom appliances and power tools often require the correct voltage. Also, some AC to USB adapters are not designed to work on a wide input voltage range.

If you go to the country, villages or Far East, the european plugs will not work, at least in the places I was located. Need the thin sockets

Alla has no use for anything between my eyes.

I agree. But meeting Alla was like WHAM!!!!!! Like a hit with a 2x4 between the eyes!

Better analogy, 2X4 to the crotch; been hit both places, the crotch is more eye opening

Yes the guides are extremely helpful!

Wow a wealth of information this site has. It is just a little bulky to navigate being a Newbie.

Thanks again guys!! you are indeed helpful

In direct response to your question, I would submit the I-129F application (after carefully reviewing the guides, instructions, etc). You will receive an RFE (request for evidence) and you can send the photos of the two of you together at that time. At least that would get you started on this long wait. Make sure you provide sufficient proof that the two of you have met (except the photos you do not have)

Help again!

Photos?

When submitting the forms are photos to be attached or us together at this stage?

Or are we to submit individual photos?

Keeping the photos of us together as a couple for the alien fiance's interview to assist in proving substantial relationship.

Clarity please

Two types of photos are required. One is passport photo of you and passport photo of other, alone in picture.

Second type of photos is to prove you have met, must be photo with you both in picture, best to have a number of them, maybe 4-6.

I have been self-employed in USA for over 30 years, started a few different businesses, it will be no problem. I have tried to open a business in Russia and that is a major hassle. I assume Bulgaria has similar hassles as Russia, you will not have those problems in USA. There are other problems (taxes, workers comp, etc) but getting started is a piece of cake

I am going to take the opposite track to the others. I agree she will be denied but I also feel it is worth the investment. The journey is difficult, we all suffer with the separation and sometimes, hope is all we have to tied us over till the next day. Yes, for those that are together now, it is much easier to have hindsight and say-use the money to make life better for her when she arrives. For those of us currently waiting, the pain of separation can cause us to look for shortcuts. Provided the shortcuts are legal, I believe it is worth the effort to try.

I wish you the best of luck in your decision and her possible acceptance of visitor visa. Whatever the decision, during the wait there will be a glimmer of hope, even with a denial, you will still have the K1 in the works so the disappointment will not be tramatic.

Which city is she in? If that's Moscow i can give you some up-to-date advice, i've just been through the whole marrying thing here this fall. And no, you don't need an interpreter in ZAGS (as long as it's the Moscow one, at least), she just needs to make some sort of signal to you when it's time to say 'Da'.

She is in Kirov but we have decided to pursue the K1 visa route because of the speed of the K1 and also the ease of marriage in America. We will do a celebration with family and friends (celebration, not marriage ceremony) in Russia and the formal marriage in America. I would also like to return to Russia for a formal re-statement of vows after the K1 is complete and she is again allowed to travel.

Good luck, this is the day you have waited for, all will be good

The fact that you "maybe just want to be able to throw it in his face if you have to walk away" says to me you think you will be walking away. You don't need a reason any more valid than it just isn't working for you. Why do you need for him to be cheating on you for you to end a relationship that isn't working? Why would you throw your money away searching for validation of that fact?

I agree with this, there is no need to throw it in his face. I have been completely open with my girl, gave her my passwords and all the sites I visit. I doubt she has checked them but maybe she monitors them everyday. I do not really care because I have nothing to hide. Either you trust them and you proceed or you don't trust them and you break it off. I would not need proof, without trust I can not love someone. If you are not the most important person in his life (other than immediate family), then you should not proceed. He needs to keep his commitments unless there is good reason otherwise.

If I tell someone I will do something at a certain time, I move heaven and earth to keep my word. Imagine how much more I care for those that I love.

It is always a good idea to attend the interview unless it will be so stressful that you look terrible as a couple together. Keep in mind, when you are together, it is important how you interact together. Do you work together, do you support (emotionally) each other, do you appear to be in a good relationship, etc. I do not see language as that important, she can learn English but if you can not communicate emotionally (eye contact, touch, etc), that that will be seen by others and IMHO, it could cause problems.

Depends on the stage where you are denied, there are different reasons for denial at USCIS and at consulate.

Yes, I would report it.

Yes, I would report it. But I would be damn sure of my facts prior to reporting.

Best to read the guides. In addition to what others stated, you will need any divorce cert. (if that applies), passport photo for you and also passport photo of her

Thanks, just ordered the certified translation.

I received the divorce certificate from Olga today for our I-129F package. Of course, it is in Russian. Do I need to get this translated prior to submission with the packet. I read the K1 guides but that was not specified.

Elena's Models is exactly the same as AnastasiaDate. If they are complying with the IMBRA I think that would qualify them as being an IMB. If not, why comply?

MIke, the info on Elena's Models is only in the section of the site about tours. I believe, in relation to tours, they are acting as a marriage broker. I believe as a dating site, they are not marriage brokers

Mike, I just got my lady here in Nov and we had a heck of a time at the Embassy in Warsaw. The consular kept asking over and over which broker we met thru. It was so bad that I was asked or rather told to leave and go into another room. He kept Tanya there for at least 20 min asking in different ways the same question over and over. Which broker and how many men she had met thru the broker. Well to make this shorter we did use a visa firm out of Ca to do our I-129 and they had marked that we used a broker. Which was an incorrect answer. We used russian bride.ru which is a FREE DATING SITE, not a broker.

We did get the visa and was told that marking yes to that question was wrong on our part in not knowing the difference between a broker and a dating site. So if you didn't pay anyone for a marriage only to read or answer letters you used a dating site. CLEAR I hope?

Thanks Ron, very helpful.

Warsaw/Belarus is not Kiev/Ukraine, nor is it Moscow/Russia, it is not even the same for Warsaw/Poland. All consulates are different and consulates that handle multiple countries have different standards for different countries. Warsaw handled Ukrainian visas until 2005 and the procedure and degree of difficulty is much less in Kiev than it was in Warsaw.

The OP should read the consulate reviews for the Kiev, Ukraine consulate for K-1 visas. As you know, the large majority of American men marrying FSU women have met through a "marriage agency" as they are often called (FSU folks being much more direct than Americans, what do you expect?) It is as common as white on rice, yet shows up almost never as a topic in an interview in Kiev.

So Gary, what is your take, mark yes and explain name of agency or mark no.