Dima_April

Todd,
Either file before you start divorce proceedings, or after you have received the decree absolute. If you wish to stay here (and I realize you are in a position to return to the UK if you so wish), filing to remove conditions during a divorce can put you in jeopardy of going into deportation proceedings. That can occur if an immigration judge does NOT grant you an extension.
I looked into this, the USCIS confirmed it.
I hope you won't mind my adding a quick note about your marriage: you married a) for love and B) for life. Good times and bad. This is a bad time, but it's not going to last forever. The promise you made was to stick with her, no matter what.
In order to save your marriage you have to work together with your wife to make it better and acceptable for both of you. Both sides need to concede at varying times to make it work; whether she makes some kind of concession in this situation, or you do.
Don't cheapen your marriage by bailing out. A marriage is a promise, a devotion, a dedication and a commitment. The vows aren't empty, and they don't have conditions attached to them.
Go and find this guy a replacement nurse to change his bandages, then spend some time with your wife away from the situation. If she was a fruitcake my advice would be to take her to a shrink to get her stabilized. If you were a fruitcake I'd advise the same. If all else failed and the situation was untenable, then think about separating.
Your marriage was entered into in good faith... it ought to e continued in good faith. To fail over a situation that you don't understand or don't agree on, which isn't necessarily constituting abuse to you, is bad for both of you. You cannot leave a marriage over something this trivial.
She doesn't understand your position on this. Trust me when I say this, but try marital counseling. You may be surprised by the results. It has worked wonders for myself and my husband... who were on the verge of splitting, but for far greater reasons than yours.
Good luck, Scott,
A Fellow Brit - Lucy

Yes, the US citizen may attend the k1 interview with their fiance - I did and there was no problem.  They actually welcome this.
You will need to apply for a tourist visa and you must also prove you have health insurance, enough money that you will return to your own country and hotel accommodations.
Yes, american credit cards work in Russia.  I used both my Master card and Visa.

I went through something similar in March of 2015.  I applied for a tourist visa to visit my  fiance in Moscow, so I could attend the K-1 visa interview at the US Embassy.  Dmitrii, made a hotel reservation at http://www.sherston.ru/ and then told the clerk that I needed a voucher to prove I had a host to stay with.  The hotel then sent a link to my personal email and I paid online with a credit card for a digital transcript to carry with me during my travels in Russia.  The hotel, informed the Russian authorities/police of my intended stay. You should check with the hotel you plan to stay at, as some do not offer this service.  Also, the voucher is only good for the hotel you originally booked, you cannot use it to stay at a different location.  In July of 2016, I traveled back to Russia, but this time I stayed with my fiance, in his home.  He simply went to the local police station and filled out a form that told the authorities where I was staying (his address), and that he would bare all responsibility for me while there.  That was it - very easy.
As someone mentioned in an earlier reply, Russia, does not care of your impending K-1; travel to Russia, as much as you please.  If your fiance intends to travel to the US, while your petition is pending, then there could be potential problems.  If someone wants to turn him back at the airport they may do so, thinking that it is an effort on both your parts to negate the entire K-1 process.  This could either result in a waste of time and money or even result in a 10 year ban from re-entering the US (according to our lawyer).  Good luck and safe travels.  All will be fine in the end - we have been married since September 15, 2016.

What an odd thing to say (youre going to wait to see what happens).. I mean you made this thread because you stated you were worried the marriage was a fraud and she may set you up for false charges. And now you are going to just sit back and wait to see what happens? 

Anyway- some of this has already been covered but its worth saying again. You can not make someone leave their home. And yes, it is her home- she has been living there. You can however leave the home yourself and go stay with family and friends until things are settled. This will protect you from false DV claims although I am not sure based on what you wrote that she would attempt that. It does not seem she wants a GC through you so I dont know why she would want one through VAWA. But you never know.

So to protect yourself you need to not be living in the same place as her. Again the easiest solution is for you to leave temporarily. Explain to her that you are going to stay at a friends/relatives and be filing for divorce. She does not have to remain in the US for a divorce to be processed. Offer her a ticket back home because its the right thing to do- unless she has her own funds to cover it. If she doesnt and you dont offer the ticket it most likely will come up in the divorce and she will ask for funds to secure a ticket back home in the divorce. You most likely will be ordered to pay for it then. So just do the right thing now- the sooner she leaves the sooner you can move back into your home. 
 
Its also worth noting if she wants to pursue VAWA under false allegations she does not need to claim physical abuse, she can claim 'emotional abuse'. There is nothing you can do if she chooses to file a fraudulent VAWA application. Your concern is only if she attempts to file based under physical abuse and creates a scenario where you are arrested and charge for abuse that did not occur- hence leaving the home. I know that stinks but its the only way. You could offer her a hotel room while she waits for a flight or the divorce as well. 
 
If you are not open to either of those scenarios I have known men that avoided a false physical abuse charge by simply turning on their cell phones to video record or audio recording when the woman began a 'scene'. Nothing about that is illegal. I suppose you can announce out loud I am recording this- but the point of recording is not to be used in court (where an issue of consent would be relevant) but for when the police ultimately come. They will view your recording and based on it most likely find you did not abuse her and have a better understanding of what was/is going on. 

I went through something similar in March of 2015.  I applied for a tourist visa to visit my  fiance in Moscow, so I could attend the K-1 visa interview at the US Embassy.  Dmitrii, made a hotel reservation at http://www.sherston.ru/ and then told the clerk that I needed a voucher to prove I had a host to stay with.  The hotel then sent a link to my personal email and I paid online with a credit card for a digital transcript to carry with me during my travels in Russia.  The hotel, informed the Russian authorities/police of my intended stay. You should check with the hotel you plan to stay at, as some do not offer this service.  Also, the voucher is only good for the hotel you originally booked, you cannot use it to stay at a different location.  In July of 2016, I traveled back to Russia, but this time I stayed with my fiance, in his home.  He simply went to the local police station and filled out a form that told the authorities where I was staying (his address), and that he would bare all responsibility for me while there.  That was it - very easy.
As someone mentioned in an earlier reply, Russia, does not care of your impending K-1; travel to Russia, as much as you please.  If your fiance intends to travel to the US, while your petition is pending, then there could be potential problems.  If someone wants to turn him back at the airport they may do so, thinking that it is an effort on both your parts to negate the entire K-1 process.  This could either result in a waste of time and money or even result in a 10 year ban from re-entering the US (according to our lawyer).  Good luck and safe travels.  All will be fine in the end - we have been married since September 15, 2016.

Hey Lowens8! Try not to worry to much, something similar happened to us. Our interview was mid-March and we were also placed in AP. I worried like crazy and stayed up many nights racking my brains out trying to figure out what to do. From what I understand, a Congressman or Senator, can do little...but worth a try. Typically they ask you wait 90 days before contacting the Embassy. I started early on, however after thye requested additional evidence - emails, pictures and Skype logs - they approved us without me even sending them anything. Basically, it took about a month and a half for them to do additional background checks. We were approved April 29th and I did not even realize it until May 5th. Stay calm and think positive. It is a very good sign that they kept his passport. I think you will be okay.

Hi guys, yes lots of news. At first they placed us in AP, then eventually they sent email saying that they wanted more evidence and to send it via email. It made me upset, because I had that with us and no 221 was issued before we left. Our case sat from March 15 to April 14, then updated; also updated April 15. Then came the request for more documents/pictures. I was getting that all ready electronically, placing our case number/passport on everything. I stayed up all night one night getting it ready (lots of material). The next day, I was trying to stay awake in class and when the students left, I looked at the CEAC site and it updated the 28th and 29th, they issued the visa, without me sending the additional documents in! I only noticed this May 4th and Dima, had his visa delivered that same day. Sorry, I haven't wrote back. I rested for many days.

We had my fiance's interview in Moscow, March 15, 2016. The appointment time at 9:30 am and seen around 2:30 pm. The interview was brief and cold at best; lasting approximately 5 to 10 minutes. I took a week off work, so I could attend; make him feel at ease. I also wanted to be by his side again. The last time I saw him, was July.
The CO asked what language we communicated in? She told my fiance, he spoke English very well. She proceeded to ask where we met; he said online. Where online? A dating site, called InternationalCupid. Was it paid for? I told her I took out a 1 month membership; it was not a marriage brokerage site and I had papers to prove so if she wanted them (she did not take the paper). Next, she said to him you came on a tourist visa and he said yes. She told him that he did not mention me when he applied for that visa. He told her that he was not sure if he was going to meet me. She replied: "you spent 5 weeks together." She then looked at me; I told her that was true, we had not been sure. I told we had talked about South Korea, but I asked him to come here because I did not want to meet someone I had never met in person before, in a strange land. She nodded her head; then asked why I picked him? I told that I had not responded to him quickly, but had spoke with others on the dating site. I responded to him later because I was attracted to him and out of all the people I spoke with he treated me with respect. She then said the relationship happened fast - Nov. 2014 initial contact, engaged by May 2015. She turned to him and snapped, how long were you on the dating site and he said about a year. Next she asked me why I had a Russian email account (yandex)? I informed her that it was the only place I could use both my first and last name and this was important because given the nature of my work, I wanted people to know who was contacting them. She asked if I was a sub teacher and I said yes, but hired in now. She told my fiance that he was leaving behind a very good job and asked what he planned to do in the US. Dmitrii, told her anything. She looked at me and I told her a friend might help us find employment with a Russian company not far from my home. Finally she asked us to say in our own words how we felt about each other and Dima, said I was kind. I told her he was my best friend. I realized that at the first window I did not provide all my documents (I turned in my I-134 and Income tax). I tried to provide her with the remaining documents: employment letter, pay stubs, bank statements/letter from bank officer and divorce papers. She refused to take the documents, saying they were not needed for this type of visa. At the end of the interview we were not given any ticket or 221 g. I asked if the visa was granted and she said that it would have to go before a supervisor. She took minimal emails, no Skype conversations. She asked were we communicated the most - Email and Skype. She told us to watch the website (CEAC I imagine), and walked away. I check the case everyday and it has never updated since March 15, 2016. On forums, I watch other Russians being granted visas. I don't know what has gone wrong. I trust my fiance 100%. He has no criminal record, did not overstay his time in the US. They did keep his passport. I have emailed the embassy and they tell AP, neither approved or denied. I called DOS and they did tell so far no additional documents have been requested.

AP makes you question yourself and your partner; it's simply stress. I was wondering if there was any other Russians or those engaged or married to Russians that have went to the hell hole of AP? Why, how long and what was the outcome? I already know it takes as long as the CO or those in charge want to take. I guess I'm looking for comparisons and yes, I know all cases are different. Others are welcome to respond and I appreciate it when they do.

Sincerely,
STRESSED OUT!

Hello, I'm starting this thread because I had found a similar one, that has since been put to rest, do to the fact it was really outdated.

I'm engaged to a lovable, yet typically stubborn Russian man. I'm known to him as the little CIA agent (I checked him out before meeting, during and after). I would call him my KGB sweetie, but he wouldn't like that. Instead, I've nicknamed him Yul, after Yul Brynner. In case you need clarification, Yul Brynner, was a Russian, born actor that starred in the Ten Commandments, he played the roll of Ramses. In the movie, one of his most famous sayings was, "So let it be written, so let it be done"! Truly, I think only a Russian, could pull that line off with such command. My guy, always says "So be it"! Short and direct; overly blunt or just a Russian, being a Russian?

Whatever it is Russian men, tend to be alpha males. The juxtaposition to this is, American females, are often painted in a harsh light, as being bossy and overly barring; almost non-feminine. Yet, some of us bossy American women, bend to a degree, when finding our top dog and the top dog, sometimes realizes that he may be the head of the house, but the women really are the neck! Gender role, is alive and well in Russia, but not always the case in the USA. Therefore, how do we make our new partner feel at home, without compromising ones self?

Granted all this talk, is simply stereotyping, but there are definite cultural difference. I hope this thread, can open up some comic relief and be a place to get acquainted with new members from Russia, the Ukraine and Belarus. A thread to share your jokes, recipes, what your visa process was like, what life is like living together as a couple.

Hope to hear from those just starting out and those that have been in the trenches for sometime.