randye80

Her first US stop (JFK) would be her point of entry, and she would have to clear immigration there.

While anything is theoretically possible, I would not allow only two hours at *any* POE, much less JFK.

I'm definitely not, but I have noticed it, you're right.

You're not alone jclink, but nearly so it sometimes seems!

I tend to ignore the polictical digs, gun talk, and sexism simply because there is no better place to discuss and gain insight into these fascinating women and the places they came from.

I really look forward to Gary's posts for his stories and advice, and I particularly admire his focus on the big picture, family, and what's ultimately important in life. Not to mention he's pretty funny.

This comes up frequently in the RUB (Russia-Ukraine-Belarus) Forum, where you get useful advice.

As long as she has the proper tickets and visa for Mexico, she will be able to transit the EU no problem. However, she cannot leave the airport.

When my wife came to the US for the first time, a flight delay out of Moscow caused her to miss her connection in Frankfurt, and she had a 22 hour layover. The airline was prepared to offer a hotel voucher, before they realized that she couldn't exit the terminal. They did give her a couple of food court coupons.

That's nothing, just wait until she/they get here and start reading the 'unhappy RUBette Cinderellas in Amerika' forums!

The actual K-1 visa itself will have your financee's photo on it and the separate K-2 visa will have the child's photo. Both of these official US government documents are attached to the passport after the interview.

Such a relief to see Gary-Bone back in the RUBforum!

Si Man!

We live in California and traveled to Las Vegas to get married. Nevada makes it very easy to get a marriage license, no blood test, no residency requirements.

USCIS will accept your marriage certificate from Las Vegas, the same as any other place.

We only met once, and were also approved, no problem.

Turlock, California

I am not unsympathetic to your plight, really I'm not, but I do think some perspective is in order. This is just the very first small step in a lifetime together, and every step involves waiting for something that is completely outside of your control. The best you can do is make use of the time you have. Where is she going to work? how is she going to learn to drive? go to school, buy groceries, clothes? whatever. What have you prepared to make it a little easier when she's homesick and frustrated in a strange new land?

There are any number of ways you can keep busy by preparing for you fiancee's arrival and new life in America. Show her that you're a real man and not just some dude on a computer.

If Gary were around, he would post something like this -- it refers to making arrangements for a wife and child, but the point is still relevant.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/413946-yours-mine-and-ours/

Yes, agreed.

The key here is that the mother needs to believe you're making a decision/suggestion in the best interest of the child. When you have handled the immigration issue carefully and trouble free, when you have done your homework about their life here and the education for the child, when you have prepared everything for her and the child and done well at it...she will trust your other decisions, at least to try them.

This is why I get so crazy when people cannot seem to do anything but check a status report 5 times a day expecting something to change. I can only imagine what would have happened if our conversations during the process had consisted of

"No news again today Sweetheart, I checked 5 times, if I do not hear something soon I am going to start calling my Senator!"

Better to say "I met with the school counselor today and discussed Pasha's education. I am going to a school open house next week and will meet with the ESL teachers. I met with the grant board at St. Micheals College and gave them the info they needed for your grant" Who would you trust? Who is the DO-er? Who is just so much "blah, blah, blah"?

If you are one of those guys that posts "After 298 days... I-129f approved! What now?" She isn't going to trust your decision about her child.

USCIS does go through ebbs and flows though, and I'm sure it will pick up again eventually. I hope everything works out for you.

1) You must live every place you have lived while in the US, during the time that you were a Permanent Resident. You say you lived with a friend -- with or without your husband? This may undermine your claim to a bona fide marriage, so make sure you can explain everything.

2) You must list YOUR children, if you have any. Not your husband's.

3a) At the top of every VisaJourney page there is a tab called 'Guides'. Follow this to the Guide for Citizenship. Good information, checklists, step by step instructions. Specifically you must provide tax information for every year in which you were a resident. Copies are acceptable, but they must be IRS-certified copies, not just photocopies. Tax transcripts are easier to get.

3b) I do not believe it is mandatory for your husband to attend the interview, but search the forums for more information. If possible, get confirmation from his employer that his work schedule is set long in advance. You need to prove that you have a real marriage, but you have done this before when you adjusted status and when you removed conditions.

4) Both. You have to prove that you have a valid marriage, and you have to prove that you meet the criteria for citizenship. Again, review the Guides.

Every financial institution is different, but it is a good idea to notify your bank (card issuing company) in advance as to which countries you will be visiting and approximate timeframes. I would specifically ask them to notify their fraud prevention service too.

My wife just returned from a 2 month visit and she had no problem using her debit card in ATM's.

On her previous trip (2009) even though we had given the bank her itinerary, I received a call (in US) every time she used an ATM -- demanding to speak with her and threatening to cut off her card. I then had to text or email her so she could call (collect) to the fraud service and verify the transactions.

Your visa allow you to visit the US, but it doesn't allow you to stay indefinitely.

If you intend to live here, your US Citizen girlfriend can file for a finance visa on your behalf, or you can get married and she files for a spousal visa. Either way, you should plan on spending approximately a year at home in the UK.

Their visa applications will be judge separately on their own merits, i.e. strong ties to Russia. The Consulate looks for very good reasons why a young woman would not just stay in the US indefinitely -- things like husband, child, property ownership, great job, etc.

I don't think your plan would make any difference at all. No harm in trying though, good luck.

I second (and third) some of the recommendations here so far. It would be much better for her to break out of her comfort zone and try to fit in with other new immigrants that are also struggling with a new language and new circumstances. A part time job, volunteer gig, ESL classes, church group, anything like that.

In the early days my wife spent a lot of time on the russian women forums. She did find a few people to talk with, but overall the situation was more toxic than productive. In our experience, there were a lot of unhappy, bored Russian women in this country who only chat with their Russian-speaking friends and are all too willing to give horrid advice and try to start grief for no particular reason.

And from many of the things they are willing to share freely with their new friends, I am seriously sorry for some of their American husbands (open disdain for their husbands, boyfriends on the side, boyfriends back home, Day 731 Strategies, etc).

Your children automatically became US citizens when you did, so they are not eligible for any type of US visa.

See this link from the US State Department:

http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/minors/minors_834.html

Since the father is on the birth certicate, it looks like you have to present either a court order granting sole custody, or an adoption decree in favor of USC husband, or death certificate of biological father.

How tough was it to find something for ECE to evaluate?

In my wife's case, it was exactly like getting certified transcripts here in the US.

She had to get her university in Belarus to send the transcripts directly to ECE. They have translators on staff.

The Belarussian passport is fine for entry into Russia. Green card is to get on the plane bound for home.

If her surname is not the same on both documents, I would also carry a copy of your marriage document. And tickets should be booked according to name in passport.

Turns out I'm not much of a driving instructor either.

My wife had never driven before, so she was a bit tentative. She failed the driving portion of the test two times, then we found a driving school with an instructor that she got along well with. She took 4 or 5 lessons, until the instructor judged that she was likely to pass. In Califonia it is legal to take the exam in the driving school's vehicle. On the big day, the instructor picked her up and took her to the DMV. Passed this time.

A few years later she's hell on wheels.

Homeschooling is very popular where we live. My take, and it just may be my opinion only, it seems to be a great way for overprotective parents to ensure that their kids are even more socially and emotionally stunted than they would be normally. I agree with Gary that this is precisely what this girl does not need.

My Belerussian wife got her teaching credential in special education last year, and she has been working in a high school since September. School district finances notwithstanding, know that you just don't mess with special ed programs. They will cut adminstrators before they cut back these programs.

Become one of THOSE parents. Let them know that you are an advocate for your child, and you expect them to be too.

Your daughter will get specialized attention like you won't believe. Any accomodations that she needs. They will prepare a specific program for her sucess, and will try hard to show improvement along the way.

The kids who don't make are the ones that just don't give a #######, and their parents don't care either. If you and your wife are involved as parents, and your daughter is willing to get with the program and try, this will be like hitting the lottery for you.

And absolutely do not give up on college.

My wife is going to Belarus for a visit next month. She and her mom are planning to take an 8-day bus tour to Poland, Germany, France & Italy. Our hope is that obtaining a visa for Schengen Agreement countries (and returning after her trip) will be helpful in getting a future visitor visa for the US.

Interesting question about whether to include proof of termination of all earlier marriages, if filing based on 5-years. I will point out that neither Form N-400 nor the instructions for form N-400 mentions this, it is only the checklist.

To the original poster: your "proof of affair" carries no weight and is unnecessary, regardless. You are divorced and remarried, so noone else cares about the sordid details.