workin4somethin

I think it is fairly common, both, to kiss and to bow in Russia.

At least he did not rub the boy’s head.

Natalia,

I was touched too (both petitions), dated the 28th.

Maybe this means our petitions are actually advancing within the process.

Let’s hope!

And that is good news regarding K-3 processing at the embassy.

I'm new to this site and I'm looking for the answer to a difficult question. Which process would be best for my fiancee and I? We are leaning to K-1 right now. Here's my story...

There probably wouldn't be much difference to you regarding which way you go, except that marriage might be sort of tough while you're going through the process. Perhaps the K-1...

Best wishes!

Slim,

You may wish to try “airline consolidator.com” for others options. Also, most of the airlines that fly into the U.S. can be contacted via telephone.

As you are probably aware, it is going to be a lot cheaper flying out of Moscow, if it is possible.

Also, don’t allow her to have a very short stay any place, such as Paris, where she could actually miss her connecting flight simply because of their slow moving customs area.

By the way, congratulations!

"Moscow has eclipsed Tokyo as the world's most expensive city, a new survey says."

... Yet another reason why finding a bargain is hard in Moscow and limiting your stays makes a lot of sense.

I’m with you.

Prices over there keep increasing, especially real estate. Taxes are not an issue with me since I pay them here at home, like most foreigners in Moscow do. I found a piece of property (raw land) in a Moscow suburb selling for $14k in 2004, which sold again for nearly 200K earlier this year. It’s a little scary, as we don’t know whether the values will continue to rise.

My NOA1 is dated 30MARCH2006, since then no more touches.

Anybody else with same "age" or younger NOA1s untouched?

Waiting for RFE?

No touchy…

No feely…

I assume the delay is due to all the illegal immigrants that work at the California Service Center, who are upset about new legislation that may negatively affect them.

What goes up must come down!

I received an RFE today with questions pertaining to any history of sex with animals without consent.

Let me rephrase my query…

I’m bringing my spouse and my new (2) kids to the USA on, either, the K-3/K-4 or CR-1/CR-2. If any of you have gone through the process of bringing minor step-children into the USA under either of these programs, please share with me what items were required for them, specifically. Currently, we have completed passports and custodial information. I am especially interested in knowing whether medical exams, police reports or other (additional) items were required to be completed in your cases.

I’m bringing my spouse and my new (2) kids to the USA on, either, the K-3/K-4 or CR-1/CR-2. Is there a place where I can find all the requirements listed, which pertain to the kids (minor children)? I am especially interested in knowing whether medical exams and police reports must be completed for the kids. Any comments and additional information, regarding the kids, is appreciated.

What other POEs have fiance(e)s had good experiences with?

Let's see if there are VJers on the Russian Forum that can answer this from SVO to East Coast POEs.

There was a post started by "neonred" that has some good information regarding this topic. You can find it easily, as the latest post was the first week of April. Also, there are POE Reviews listed under Statistics in the Immigration Timelines Page.

By the way, I think Chicago appears to be the best central locatio, based on what I've read on VJ; although, it's not east coast. However, I am going to try to use Memphis when our time actually arrives.

Best of luck!

So it appears my K1 visa app is going to be delayed for whatever reason, who knows?

Wow! It must have been ESP or something like that, eh?!

Seriously, Chuckles:

I know it is “in” Russia; but, if you have not yet visited the “Golden Ring” of Russia, perhaps you will consider doing so.

In my opinion, St. Petersburg is nice and Moscow is even better. However, the cities in the Golden Ringcan make for perfect visiting, especially in the summer. And it is an area where you will not be hounded for your passport.

I like to visit Sergiev Posad the most, probably because I am an Orthodox Christian. My second favorite is Suzdal, where one can stand near walls from the 7th century. Many restaurants and places to stay are inexpensive. If you like history, the Golden Ring is the place to go.

Wherever you decide to vacation, please write and tell us about it.

I have a different twist to this question. My fiance want us to get married in Russia and then apply for a K3 visa. She is religious and want a wedding with all her relatives before she moves to the states.

I would rather she come on a K1 visa because I heard they are faster.

What if we marry in a church in Russia to satisfy her and apply for a K1 visa and marry in the US again.

Will that even work?

I don't think you should consider applying for a K-1 visa if you first marry in Russia. However, "some" church weddings in Russia are not considered as actual marriages by the Consulate because the Priest may not be licensed properly by the state. This, of course, does not apply to all Church weddings in Russia.

The consulate does accept civil weddings.

It seems to me that you could go ahead and start the K-1 process, to get the ball rolling, prior to your marriage in Russia. In this case, you would have to find out, for certain, whether the Consulate will accept your wedding as legal.

(OR) You could marry in the church and complete the proper paperwork in a civil ceremony too - I think this is done at a local ZAGS office in Russia.

If you start the K-1 process first, you can always stop it - and then start the K-3 process. If you want only to do one or the other (K-1 or K-3), perhaps you should get married in Russia (legally) and satisfy your fiance's request. Then file for the K-3. All that I have read says a K-3 is not much longer to process than a K-1 - perhaps a month or so on average - or perhaps not at all.

Good luck!

Chuckles,

I hope you don't mind me putting this here...

It seems that you and Olga have received the first NOA2 of anyone since May. That's great news. You were due.

No NOA2's have gone to K-3 petitioners in over a month. Hopefully, our time is coming soon.

Best wishes!

I was so excited, and then THE DATE DIDN'T CHANGE! OMG! I was deflated after that. Well.... here's to the next update or some individual good news.

Interview PASSED!!!!

Glad to hear it! Congratulations!

At least not everyone was negatively affected by recent legislative changes.

Is anybody else finding the bugs an absolute nightmare in the USA.

It is soooo much worse here than the UK for bugs.

Welcome to the jungle. Just wait until tornado season. There are reasons the Indians were relocated to Oklahoma. Although, perhaps you are more fortunate than you know. Here, in Arkansas, if the bugs and storms don’t get you, the poison ivy will (or, some inbred red-neck).

I am always glad to see people who are excited about saving money toward retirement, and I believe that a 401(k) plan is one of the best tools available for doing so.

I read that you will meet with an investment advisor from Nationwide. This must be done before you select your actual investments. The investment advisor can provide you with insight and basic tools you will need in order for you to decide on which mutual funds you will invest in. There really is nobody, short of an investment advisor, who should be giving you advice as to which investment funds to use. Perhaps your spouse and other family or close friends are an exception to this rule.

Nationwide has a tool on their website (nationwide.com) that you should use, and which I think you will find helpful if not interesting. To arrive there to their website; click on “investments and retirement” (near top/center of Page); Then click on “Tools” (in left column of Page); and, complete the data to see the results. It is possible that the investment advisor will lead you to this particular worksheet. And you can gain some knowledge, as well, by reading through the information found under the “Learn About” heading (left column of Page, near “Tools”).

Remember, time with a licensed investment advisor cannot be replaced by assumptions from people who use VisaJourney. Also, try to look at investment planning under the 401(k) plan as long-term, because it is. There are rules in place that severely limit or prohibit the use of 401(k) funds for things other than retirement.

This is all I will share for now. However, please do not hesitate to contact me at any time regarding your employer’s 401(k) plan. I realize they are complex. By the way, be sure to get a copy of the Summary Plan Description (the “SPD”) from your employer, and read through it. The SPD will not contain much if any investment material, but it is a great source for other information relating to the new plan.

Best wishes!

I hope I'm not being retarded, but I am wondering, "What did she say?"

I'm interested in knowing what, harmless words, can be construed as flirting.

Also, I'm wondering, "How old was this girl?"

I've heard some younger girls say some really immature things before.

lol, you were not being retarded.

I don't feel as retarded now as I did last night btw.

Now how do I explain what she said ... because this was all in the context of World of Warcraft, which is the game we play. Our guild was preparing to form a raid group to enter a high-level instance (AQ20 for those who play WoW), and I think they were talking about different classes in the game. I was playing my character at that time, but was kinda spacing out on the conversation because I was trying not to get killed in a quest. Then I heard my husband tell a male guildie something along the lines of "Don't make me come out and punish you." The girl picked up on that and asked my husband what type of punishment he was referring to. Bless his heart and soul, my husband did not bite and simply said "I'm married." The girl then said something else which I couldn't decipher (because I was still trying not to get killed in the quest) and I heard one of the guys say, "I don't think Syanne is going to like hearing that." Syanne is my character's name.

I will make this clear - my husband did not say or do anything to encourage the girl. And God bless him, he did not share anything personal about ourselves on the Ventrilo server while he was grouped with them. I guess I got slightly bent out of shape by this girl's voice and her non-stop chattering, plus her flirting attempts. OMG she was so irritating. He also switched to his headset because I wanted to play a bit more, and I didn't want to hear her godawful voice on his speakers. But by then, my irrational jealousy had gotten a firm hold of me and I lost the mood. So I logged out of the game and went to the living room to watch TV.

My husband loves me to death, so he knew immediately something was wrong. He came out to the living room to sit with me and ask what was wrong. I told him about my sense of retardation and stupid jealousy. He reassured me that I have nothing to be jealous about. And I trust him completely. Three hours later, though, I made him log off to watch TV with me in bed. I think I felt a bit needy last night.

I guess once in awhile we all get thrown off the tracks a little by something totally unexpected and benign. I do have a few very personal fears, but I plan to share them with my husband very soon ... right after I give him one of my super duper backrubs.

Thanks for not thinking I was stupid about all this.

PS. When my husband crawled into bed with me, I burst out laughing when he said I ended up not being the only one annoyed by that girl. Apparently, she managed to irritate a number of other people as well.

Okay, so the deal is that my boss will implement 401K next week. I am eager to participate, but I am not savvy about investment options.

....... hope you can help. Thanks!

Lynne

Lynn,

I own a pension company, and I analyze situations like yours. If you would like the assistance of a pension professional, please send me a private message. I should be able to help you, and it will not cost you anything but a little of your time.

In any event, I hope you find the new 401(k) plan to be a good benefit.

Well this is the story. I am 23, she is 21 right now. I AM coming to her first to her on her birthday in july.

When we talked the first month, it was exciting, full of information. Then second month on the phone, emotions started with information, she the 3rd month she really opened and is sometimes is all open and tells me how she is scared she might stop loving me when i come to her.. stuff like its a fairy tale... untill i see i won't beieve most of it.. a lot of this frustrates me because I know its real and im meeting her, i got the tickets and my tourist visa..and etc. then she tells me 20 mins later..oh im sorry.. i didn't mean it.. plus she only says stuff like "I love you" only when she feels it, would never say because she knows it. Just a lot of frustrations, I heard that the best thing to do before meeting her, is just ignore those things from her and just know that things will be different when she sees, no more skaska.

I can tell you right now at this moment since my date of arrival is nearing, she is getting more of a reality point of view and thats why she is more scared...what could happen..

Any of you guys with this experience? what are your opinions, suggestions?

Sling,

Since you asked, I think you should go over there and expect all things to be okay. Be yourself, and try to have a good time. You will probably discover the answers to your questions and concerns. My advice is: Go with your gut feelings. If you feel that the relationship is right, go with it. If you feel that she is not the person you believed she was, then accept it. It's possible that you're some years away from a real committed relationship if this one doesn't work out. In any event, you should experience new and interesting things while you're there. And I hope you discover the woman of your dreams.

I just got jealous over a female gamer flirting with my husband....... I heard it. It was very harmless. But I dunno why I got jealous.

Now I'm so pissed off at myself and the girl ... and feeling so effing retarded.

I hope I'm not being retarded, but I am wondering, "What did she say?"

I'm interested in knowing what, harmless words, can be construed as flirting.

Also, I'm wondering, "How old was this girl?"

I've heard some younger girls say some really immature things before.

My post is to seek advice, enlightment, and suggestion.

I came to USA on K1 visa. We've been married for 8 months now. My husband was divorced when we have met. He was married for 23 years and had 3 kids but all are living from different states.

I love my husband very much and I do know that he loves me, too. But sometimes, I feel that he is insensitive of my feelings. Here are just some situations that I'm wondering if its my fault or he is just insensitive?

Aries05,

It must be really difficult to be in your position. It seems to me that your questions and concerns regarding your husband’s sensitivity are legitimate. Maybe you can present these six or seven items to your husband for his response. If my dear friend was in your situation, I would counsel her to seek help as soon as possible. You have now experienced your husband, his life and his character.

Perhaps there is a question to ask yourself: Is he the man you desire to love and to spend the rest of your life with?

I wish you the very best. By the way, I do not believe that it is “an American thing.”

1 terrorist is not worth all the americans killed over there and iraq citizens...

Let's change this up a little by removing "1 terrorist" and "not" and by adding "OIL"

Now we have:

"OIL is worth all the americans killed over there and iraq citizens..."

Because we all know this is the answer to, "Why our President believes the deaths and other expenses are worth it?"

Thanks for the responses and good information. If I accompany them, I will probably just go through a lane for U.S. citizens and allow my wife and step-daughters to go through a lane for non-U.S. citizens.

We have several months before their arrival. I want to know my options, and the experience of others provides a lot of insight.

I have not yet decided on which POE to use. I have heard both good and bad regarding several POE’s, and I assume “timing” has a lot to do with it. It seems to me that it would be ideal to use a POE near to one’s final destination, which for us would mean arriving in Memphis.