dardislake

I need to send some money to a party in Kazakhstan. Can anyone recommend a reliable means to do this?

Very nice Elya - thank you so much!

...I should have said, which Russian consulate office in the US....

Hello - does it matter which US consulate office I send my Tourist Visa application to? If not, any recommendations? Thanks

Hello - I'm hoping someone has had a similar situation to this.

We'll be traveling JFK to Moscow and back in July - myself, wife, and 2 yr old daughter. Our daughter has US passport and Russian passport (dual citizen), and we will not be obtaining a tourist visa for her (just me). She is not listed on my wife's Russian passport though. Also - Wife's passport is in her maiden name. We will bring birth certificate and marriage certificate with us, and ticket my wife in both married and maiden name.

Questions regarding our daugher:

1) When we depart JFK - do we show just her Russian passport?

2) Entry in Moscow - just her Russian passport?

3) Depart from Moscow - just her US passport? If so, is there a problem there will be no entry visa in it?

4) Arrive at JFK - US passport

Or, should we just show both passports all the time?

Thanks for your help.

Hello - anyone have any good contacts for renting an apartment for a week in Sochi?

We did it last year - took a trip to Seattle to have it done. I recall around $100 total in 3 money orders. Nice thing about Seattle though - they usually travel around to major cities they handle and let you know when they will be there. About 6 months later they were in Milwaukee and we able to pick up the new passport here.

<!--quoteo(post=3502815:date=Nov 18 2009, 09:18 PM:name=akdiver)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (akdiver @ Nov 18 2009, 09:18 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=3502815"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=3502694:date=Nov 18 2009, 05:14 PM:name=Neonred)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Neonred @ Nov 18 2009, 05:14 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=3502694"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->My wife renewed her passport last year by mail through the Russian embassy in DC. Wasn't difficult or expensive as I remember, but took a while.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->Mine did mine through the mail, through the consulate in Seattle. They changed the name on her passport and renewed it for a new 5 year period. Was very easy to do.

My understanding though is that they have changed the requirements and you have to drop off and pick up in person. If that is really true, I<b> don't see how these passport services can help you </b>- unless the requirement does not apply to such services (which wouldn't surprise me at all - someone is getting kickbacks), in which case, they would be well worth using for many people (like us, who would have to buy 2 plane tickets to Seattle).

<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->I heard that a number of firms do it even after new laws went into effect. My guess would be they do it using a "trust letter" - doverennost' (not sure of the exact translation into English).

Thank you all very much, I will go that route.

Thank you - excellent links. I've read through them and wondering - we'll be staying at her parents for a few days, then a week in Sochi (probably an rented apartment) then back and at the parents again for a few days. It looks like I'd want to get a Homestay Visa instead of a Tourist Visa??

Hello -

I'll be traveling to Russia in July with my FSU wife and child. What type of visa should I apply for (wife & child are taken care of), and do any of you have a recommendation of the best way to obtain it? Also any insight on where to find the best fares would help - flying Chicago to Moscow.

All that's required is cable modem or DSL access to the internet. Vonage which works off the internet so why would you need a land line? Call Vonage again.

Thanks - correct. Believe I didn't ask the question to them properly the first time.

Visaveteran - please advise how you are using Vonage without a landline? I just called Vonage, hoping to sign up, but was told one was required.

My wife just went through the passport renewal process. She was required to go to the embassy in person to apply, and also told she must return in person to pickup the passport (approx 1 month later). We live in WI and the embassy that handles WI is in Seattle. Having a 1 year old, she tried speaking with officials to be allowed to do this by mail, but got nowhere. They wouldn't take our pre-paid FED EX when we were there in September either. Good news is that the passport was done in October, and in late November they called and said that a consular will be Milwaukee in January and she can pick it up from him/her.

Might someone here have a better number for Seattle than the 206-728-1910 that is listed on their site? Been trying for days at all different times of day but cannot get through to a live person there. Thanks

Hello All -

My wife's Russian passport (external) expires the end of December. Can anyone tell me what the current procedures are for her to renew it here in the US?

I've been to the embassy sites and cannot find any information. I've also tried to contact each of the 5 by phone the last 2 days, but cannot get through the prompts to speak with anyone. The Seattle Embassy handles our location.

She has heard the procedures changed in April, and one must personally visit the embassy to get this done?

Any help would be appreciated.

Just last week, my wife's parents, sister, and nephew all were granted visitor visas. Parents for 2 years, sis & nephew for 1 year. Like you Sashagrin, sister is also divorced but has a good job and a flat (age 33). They all completed the interview in Moscow together. Her sister was asked a little about her job, but that was about it. She of course did have a letter from her ex that it was ok for the nephew to travel here. I did do an invitation letter, but it was pretty generic. My wife organized their files very nicely from what is instructed on the embassy site. Also - her parents were told that after their 2 yr visa expires, they can re-apply by mail with no interview needed which will be very nice. PM me if you need any help with it, and I can put you in touch with my wife for any assistance.

Great... Thank you all

Hello - if one sends in the I485 package (including EAD and AP) without the DS-3025 or I693A, what would happen? Would Chicago return it, or process it and then issue an RFE later for this?

Meph - I realize you are beyond your I94 expiration, but perhaps this may help you somewhat...

We just went through this at the Wisc DMV. Was told effective 4/1/07, Wisc enacted new rules following Fed legislation (ACT 126???) that all new State ID's require proof of legal presence in the US - and for a period of 90 days FORWARD from the date of ID application. My fiance's I94 expires 5/8/07 and they wouldn't issue the ID. DMV supervisor said they are just following the rules. When i got home I called DMV in Madison and was told the same thing. So I called my State Rep and explained how this new rule makes it impossible for a k1 holder to obtain a Wisc ID, and how it will cause difficulty for obtaining joint accounts needed for a smooth AOS approval. Two days later 2 people called me from DMV for faxed documents, a day later they called again and sent me back to the same DMV supervisor, and my fiance was issued the ID.

Slim -

Can't help but notice you resemble one of this year's American Idol singers - the rather handsome, big shouldered fellow sporting a gotee (spelling?). Svetlana is convinced, shouting "Look...Slim!!" at the TV last week. We've had quite a fun time with it and are now cheering for you all the way!!

Go Slim!!!

Congratulations Barry!!

Very nice!!

Congrats!!

Thanks!

Wednesday they told me quit calling so much, call back in 1 week. Thursday afternoon a woman from the embassy called Lana and said she was approved, but they forgot to get her fingerprints. She was very nice, and kept apologizing for the prints, conserned she had to return and arrange travel, but arranged for her to make an appointment for it, then come back to the embassy 2 days later to pick up her passport instead of DHL. So, Lana is flying here 2/8 APO Atlanta!

A letter of support was emailed to the embassy on Wednesday from my Senator's office. That may have triggered something. I'll never figure it all out.

Barry & gogal - hope my pm's helped a little. I hope you get the call soon also!

Thank you all for your support.

Capitalem,

Yes, I was one of them also. Feel free to PM me if you'd like.

Good luck,

Chris