Texas Proud

Funny thing is that with color printers now a day you can print one out with a blue signature and you can not tell it is original...

Try:

http://www.uniontelecard.com/phonecards/2051//rates/

4.0 Cents to Anywhere in Russia

1.2 Cents to Moscow

1.5 Cents to St. Petersburg.

The trick is to use the local access numbers. And even if you don't have one, use your cell phone during your unlimited minutes like nights and weekends to call those local access numbers.

It's a great deal. My wife goes through about 4 cards at $5 each a month and gets like 8 hours of talk time.

I think these rates even beat Skype.

Also no hidden fees or taxes.

No hidden fees.... but you do have to pay 69cents every 14 days.... not what I want to do...

I use Continental or something like that... 2 cents for St. Pete... no fees at all... sometimes a bad connection, but just call back and usually get a good one... I have tried a few others, and all have a problem with connections at one time or another..

p.s.: California sucks, but not as much as Texas. (:

Talk about stirring the pot!

At least when I stir the pot, I bring my own stick (:

Incidentially, I HAVE lived in Texas.... I was so happy to leave that when I finally got the chance, I made for the border as fast as I could. When I got to Oklahoma, I pulled over, got out of the car, went over to the Texas state line, dropped my pants and took a piss on Texas - vowing never to return.

Cheers!

AKDiver

And we are very glad you are gone....

New to the board and have not started... but can see that Slim is a wealth of knowledge..

Congratulations!!

Having a house that is smaller than mine that costs 5 to 10 times more is not something to brag about... and in the end, what does it matter UNLESS you plan on moving when you retire (which most people do not )... you will just have an expensive house and no or little other assets to live on

I disagree with you here. What has recently become very popular here, is doing a reverse mortgage in your retirement years if you haven't any other pension options such as defined benefit plan or the now more common defined contribution plan. A reverse mortgage will be a form of annuity where upon your death the life insurance company or the mortgage company forecloses on your home. I find this option more as a last resort, but if the idea is to not move upon retirement and receive a steady income, this plan makes sense.

Granted their won't be much of an inheritance to pass on, but with the modern high life expectancy, I myself am not expecting anything for another 30-50 years anyway.

Peace on all the subjects we discussed in our posts. I find them agreeable.

Yes, that is an option for someone who is 'house rich' and everything else poor... I would suggest that you get a reverse mortgage that adjusts for inflatioin AND that they must pay until you die (and spouse if you have one...).. If you live a long time... you win big time... the house is 'sold' for more than you could sell it for

Agree on the posts.. good discussions... but the AW seems to have left as they were getting beat up a bit (deserved in IMO)...

I am like the other in my thoughts... remember that the 'basics' are needed first.. housing, food, health... she does not have these yet... and you paying for only a couple of months rent and then expect her to be lovey dovey the whole time you are there is just wrong... If she had the job and knew she could live comfortably I am sure she would be like she was on the first visit..

This is real life, not make believe...

you will have to have two incomes to do it.. which also means you will spend a lot more money to do 'things' since you are both working and neither have the time to do them... and you will not be saving for retirement, but will work well into your 60s or even 70s... this is exactly what I mean by people THINKING they must have two incomes to make ends meet.. you do not..

We certainly need two incomes if we don't want to rent the rest of our lives. I have to agree with you on that. But I disagree with you about working well into our 60's and beyond. Our greatest asset and retirement benefit is our over priced real estate. Guess what happens if we wanted to retire in Texas? One decent home sold in San Francisco gets you a whole block of decent homes in Texas.

If you wouldn't trade it for anything then don't complain, because different lifestyles are possible elsewhere in America. If you love California and what it has to offer, then you've chosen that lifestyle, so don't tell us how the other figures are skewed.

...

Apparently you don't care to move, so don't criticize the lifestyle of somewhere else or say "he's out of touch with reality", especially if you've never lived there, or never been there, even.

I wasn't really trying to complain. Sorry if it came out that way. I was simply trying to bring up a counter example of a place in America, a rather big and populace place where the breadwinner lifestyle, may be feasible but not practical.

And back to Texasproud who is a big advocate of the breadwinner lifestyle, I voiced my opinion how disappointed I would be in my wife if she was only a homemaker. I think of her as smart and brilliant, and we can always hire someone to clean the home if she is very successful in her career.

Just a different view of life. I guess I read too many feminism books and was not pleased with the 1950's breadwinner lifestyles. And if what you are describing modernly is somehow different, then clue me in.

What is different as I understand according to the articles I posted is that government programs and assistance has all gone down and the price of living has gone up. Making the breadwinner lifestyle in general difficult if you are someone one like me who does enjoy two cars, a nice vacation, a nice home in nice location, etc.

Hmmm.. I never said I was an advocate of what you are calling 'the breadwinner lifestyle'... which I assume you mean that old '50s lifestyle... I said that it is the predominate lifestyle for the people I work with... and I was giving a rebuttal to someone who was saying you NEED to have two incomes in the US.. and BTW... all of them have very nice houses (most in the 4,000 ft range), two or three cars... take good vacations... it is just much easier to do here than in expensive locations like NY, SF, Boston etc etc... And most of them would prefer their wifes to work, but they want to stay home and be 'Mom'.. all have at least two kids and some with three... so PLEASE don't read into my post YOUR thoughts of what I am saying...

My other point is that we as Americans have been brainwashed that we NEED to have a lot of stuff and work hard to get 'ahead'... to have a Lexus, a big home, a 5 star vacation, etc etc... and I just see people working for the American dream, but really missing what the true dream is... having a good spouse, lovely children, a healthy body and a long life...

PS.. adding later... BTW.. having a house that is smaller than mine that costs 5 to 10 times more is not something to brag about... and in the end, what does it matter UNLESS you plan on moving when you retire (which most people do not )... you will just have an expensive house and no or little other assets to live on

I will say you are completely wrong in that you need two incomes to make it in the US.. I would say about 75% of the men who I work with are the sole breadwinner in thier families and the women stay at home with the kids.. some will take part time work, some will do full time for awhile and then drop out again.. but IT IS THEIR decision.. the man has to work and does not have this option... How many couples do you hear that the woman is making a lot more than the man and HE stays at home with the kids?? NOT MANY..

Why do most want two incomes??? They want expensive cars... a boat, a big house.. cable TV, cell phones for everybody... expensive vacations.. maybe even an RV, private school... big screen TV, Starbucks every day (or twice)... eating out all the time.. buying fast food for the kids.. many ways to waste money and say you need two incomes to get it... but, change the livestyle and you do not need that much income...

I will have to vehemently disagree with you! Are you stuck in the 1950's? Where did the 75% breadwinner number come from? My wife and I both have to work full time and its doubtful we'll ever buy a house in San Francisco. Median home price for a 2 bedroom 1 bath is $750,000. Do you know what the mortgage payment on that would be?

We struggle now to make ends meet on two incomes. Rent alone is eating up $1,100 for a one bedroom, where the landlord is living right above us. Welcome to reality here in California. Two doctors or two lawyers are priced out of the market without a substantial down payment or inheritance to even buy a 2 bedroom home. We would love to even go on one vacation a year, have two cars, etc...

And even if the cost of living wasn't so high in California, I would love to have the things you think two incomes can buy. What's wrong with a woman that earns more than a man? I would be so proud of my wife if she did that. By the way, my mother as a registered nurse is making nearly twice as my dad who is an electrical engineer. And such couples are not alone. The Filipino community for example has almost all the women go into nursing with the men working part-time and taking care of kids. Not sure how they do things out in the middle of the country, but that's how things work on the coasts.

Hmmm.. before you start throwing stones at me why not READ what I wrote instead of skimming and getting what YOU want to read..

I said 75% of the men I WORK WITH... not all men.. this is NOT the '50s, but real life right here in Texas..

I can not help that YOU have decided to live in such a high cost location... the median cost of a house here is $112,000.. and it is a NICE house.. so, my whole statement about making CHOICES still stand... you have made a choice to live where you do.. so you will have to have two incomes to do it.. which also means you will spend a lot more money to do 'things' since you are both working and neither have the time to do them... and you will not be saving for retirement, but will work well into your 60s or even 70s... this is exactly what I mean by people THINKING they must have two incomes to make ends meet.. you do not..

And I would have no problem with a wife making more than me.. but for some reason women seem to have this problem... not all, but it is an issue.. but I do know of two guys that do make less, and take care of the kids more than the woman.. both love it.. both wifes are miserable...

The difference is Lisa didn't go out LOOKING for a UK guy...she just fell in love with whom she fell in love with.

moving on...

And ?????? Is she not planning on marrying one??? Where did they meet? Why did she not 'like' the American guys??? There must be a reason and I can slap it down like she seems to be me for the way I found a partner...

OH.. and by the way... I lived in the UK for over a year.. met many nationalities of people... thought all were just great.. almsot got with one from the UK and one from New Zealand... just did not work out..

don't have any problems with any except for the radical Muslims that hate our country..

Just curious Lisa...

Are you an American woman??? If so, then why are you not marrying an AMERICAN MAN?? Is there something wrong with them???

I find it interesting that you past up my post completely... I could not find an american woman that met what I wanted... I want a smart, independent woman.. someone who looks 'good', but not a model, someone who is not fat... someone who puts family first and not a bunch of toys...

I will say you are completely wrong in that you need two incomes to make it in the US.. I would say about 75% of the men who I work with are the sole breadwinner in thier families and the women stay at home with the kids.. some will take part time work, some will do full time for awhile and then drop out again.. but IT IS THEIR decision.. the man has to work and does not have this option... How many couples do you hear that the woman is making a lot more than the man and HE stays at home with the kids?? NOT MANY..

Why do most want two incomes??? They want expensive cars... a boat, a big house.. cable TV, cell phones for everybody... expensive vacations.. maybe even an RV, private school... big screen TV, Starbucks every day (or twice)... eating out all the time.. buying fast food for the kids.. many ways to waste money and say you need two incomes to get it... but, change the livestyle and you do not need that much income...

As someone who wrote to many hundreds of women.. I can tell you that the term Mail Order Bride is vastly wrong... except for a few who was trying to scam.. the women were trying to find a spouse.. many that I wrote would prefer to stay where they are.. they have a friend who they know who met someone overseas and is very happy... so they are looking for that happiness...

And almost all were smart and had a mind on thier shoulders and knew what they were looking for.. and many decided that I did not have what they wanted.. and many did not have what I wanted... there was NO 'order' you lady and she comes over..

Now, most of these ladies have a different version of what makes them happy... and it is more in line with what makes me happy... a good family experience.... I do not want or need a fancy big house.. I do not need an expensive car.. I do not need to try and show people that I make more than them or am better than them etc... and most of the women I dated here think these are important...

I get kidded at work for not having cable TV, high speed internet, a new cell phone (and only got it for emergencies)... all these just don't make sense to me... I enjoy a simple life..

WOW... I have not been here in awhile and it seems to be a debate that surprises me... so I will throw in some answers to questions and add my thoughts...

Someone asked.. what journey.. well, the journey of finding a life partner...

Someone said about using a K-1 for 'dating' or something... I never said I wanted to do this... and I would not do it.. the warning giving was not needed.. SHE was the one who suggested this course of action as she wanted to come visit my family etc..

As to the demographics... there is a misperception in them... there is NOT a very large difference in men and women until the late 30s or mid 40s.. prior to that, there are more men than women. However, men die a lot younger in Russia and it changes quickly after that..

As to going for a Russian or Eastern Europe woman.. well, this is not the course of action I pursued. I tried a couple of dating sites here.. did a few of the fast dates etc... not much luck... in fact, most of the women did not even answer my letters... I am not a 'fat white castle' guy, but am not a stud either... but I make a good income.. I do not want someone who is materialistic.. and have met a few... When I was much younger, my sister wanted to set me up with this girl, but when we met there was nothing.. until she found out I owned my own house in my early 20s.. well, not interested...

back to the dating sites... as I said, not many of the ladies were interested, but one that said she was from my town did and we wrote for a bit.. then found out she was from the Ukraine.. this put me off and I stopped writing.. but did some research and found that this was an option.... decided to start to write and got responses... again, wrote may women and many did not 'click'.. and some were 'hot' and young, but I was not looking for 'hot' and young, but a nice looking lady.. and I think I have found her...

So, some stats.. wrote over 400 women local.. no good matches (it has to be both ways...).. wrote to over 400 overseas.. maybe 10 or so good matches.. narrowed to 2 I have visited and now only one...

considering that this is a MARRIAGE VISA board.. I find it amazing that some here are throwing stones at others... what are you doing here???

A few more thoughts.. there are 25% of women in Houston that have never been married and will not get married... there are more than 50% who are overweight (yes, I guess I am shallow in that I do not want an overweight wife)... so the number available that I would want to get married is low.. and since I did not find anyone... I went looking somewhere else and found someone... if you don't like it... tough..

What is the northern most state in the lower 48?

Without looking... Maine...

It's the obvious winner for North too..... now what about South???

South is Hawaii...

Contrary to popular belief. It is possible for a woman to receive a visitors visa from Russia to the US. My fiance visited me for a month in Dallas this past June.

We intitally went through an agency to fill ot the proper papers for submission. My Elena needed to provide proof that she owned an apartment. She needed to provide proof that her two children were inrolled in school. She needed her international passport and birth certificate. Basically she had to provide evidence that she intended to return.

For my part I wrote an introduction and invitation letter. I supplied a copy of my passport and an I-134 evidence of support paperwork.

Elena travelled to Moscow for an interview and was approved right then and there. It was a wonderful month together and the visa was actaully good for up to six months. But she needed to return to her boys so we kept it short. We are now in the K-1 porcess and hope to be together by April next year.

Total cost including train fare. $340.00 US

BUT... you also can be denied.... Same info.. owns an apartment.. two kids (only one in school.. the other to young)... gave letter of invitation and of support... but denied... OH.. yes, she had an agency fill out the paperwork

Is it true what they say? If you were about to respond with the "Yep, everything is bigger in..." I'll cut you off and let you know that I was going with the "Only steers and...." Anyway, just kidding. (I've got a few buddies from Texas, so I've heard all that stuff before... as I'm sure you have too!)

They talk about big things in Texas - but the fact is, Texas is so small that even if you cut Alaska in half, Texas would be only the third largest state. (;

Cheers!

AKDiver

Heard it all before... but we do not count ICE as land down here

Now, the trivia that some get.. but most miss... What are the states that are the farthest North, fartherst South, farthest West and finally, farthest East???

CALENDAR!!!!!

A calendar is like instructions... not to be read at any time by a man!!!

How about.....Labor Day weekend??

Hmmm... well, I guess.. if you MUST... I did not even know it was a holiday until Wednesday of last week...

From a newbie to this site....

Congratulations!!!

but I read the US site saying the things that you 'needed' to show you would return home and she had them... so I guess the site is not telling the truth.. lesson learned..

The site is telling the truth. Like you said you need to prove there is something to return to.

Returning to a $200 a month salary/job?

Returning to a small one bedroom flat?

Return to an old Russian Car?

In the eyes of the American consulate those are not the things a single young woman would want to return to.

However, if she presented documents stating:

She had a 5 bedroom cottage.

Husband and two young kids.

She is an executive of a Russian oil company making $5000+ a month.

Now those are things a US consular officer would consider having strong ties to which you certainly would want to return to.

Invitation from a boyfriend in America...and she has to prove she is not a potential immigrant just doesn't go together.

She had a nice job... not great paying job, but a teacher at an art university..

She has a two room flat in the middle of St. Pete.. shows ownership..

No car.. bad there..

TWO children.. that were not coming on the visa...

But, unless I can appeal... it is water under the bridge...

Yes, we need to visit a few more times to get to know each other better.. I will see about getting another visa to visit her.. or see if she wants to meet at a neutral site.. but I would like it to be with her children... I want to get to know them also..

Oh well, Memorial weekend!! Things will wait until next week..

Hey guys....

Don't worry about being short and to the point... I do that myslef and get in trouble...

I am not, or should I say was not, trying to 'try it for a spin'... we have met only once.. we both have a lot of feelings for each other, but I think (and I will ask...) we both need a few more meetings to decide... I was hoping one of those was her to come here...

Yes, she told me over and over that she could not get a visa... but I read the US site saying the things that you 'needed' to show you would return home and she had them... so I guess the site is not telling the truth.. lesson learned..

And you are right... I do not want to do a K1 for a visit.. so we need to discuss our next move.. she is in the country now, so I can not talk to her...

Now.. more reading!!!

Again... thanks...

Congratulations.... at least these are still happening...

Thanks guys.... but let me give some info since I am getting beat up a bit...

Yes, the forum said it was difficult, but not impossible... there are at least two on the board that had their GF come over on tourist visa.. most that had not were in the 'single' with no kids, no property etc.. I had read the US visa site and they said this would be taken into consideration.. ie, ties to have them go back to Russia..

She did not have to travel.. She lives in St. Petersburg and there is an office there... also, when I visited, I left money for her to do all the stuff, so no money out of her pocket.. only time..

I did not convince her that she WOULD get a visa.. I just said that she should try and lets see what happens... I am not trying to get her over here so we do not have to marry... I want her to see how different Texas is to her city (read HOT)..

I will read the board... but let me ask another question.. what about extensions on the K-1??? Can she come over by herself, then we decide to get married, extend the K-1, she goes back and get the kids and then all come, get married. etc....

I am VERY surprised... today 14 pages of NEW POSTS... how does someone keep up???

A single American man inviting a single Russian woman on a tourist visa is probably the biggest red flag at the embassy and rarely (if ever) approved. The potential for abuse and failure to return is, in the minds of the CO's, very high. Children, money, and property have nothing to do with it. Unfortunately she will NOT have another chance at a tourist visa now.

You will still be able to do the K-1. It does take much longer than the tourist visa.

Thanks for the info..

It does seem strange to me... they say if you have the ties like she has you can get a visa (on THEIR website)... and to go through a K-1 process just to find out you might not be compatible seems like a waste of time for both us and the Embassy...

Well, I guess the K-1 is the next step...

Hi all... let me introduce myslef a bit...

I have been on the Russianmeetingplace board for over a year now.. I have travled twice to meet with a lady.. this last time seems to be a winner... we have corresponded for about a year before I went to visit... now I would like for her to come visit me... so here is my first question.. and I do not see a spot for it.. so let me know the best place to put it..

I convinced her that she could get a tourist visa to come visit, to see how Texas is, to meet the family etc... if thing worked out we would then start the fiance visa.. Well, she was refused the tourist visa... I do not know why as it just happened today.. I will get more info when she cools off..

But, she has two children, owns her own flat and has a job.. not a great job, but a job.. there is nothing to indicate she would stay her past the two weeks we wanted her to come... I had sent a letter inviting her and also sent a letter stating that I would be responsible for all costs and would make sure she returned.. (thanks, I got those from here!!!)..

What went wrong??? What can I do about it??

If we went the fiance visa to visit and then decided to get married... how easy is it to get ANOTHER fiance visa??

As I said, I would love to put these questions in the correct forum for others to see...

PS... I have been a lurker here, but not as much as I was not yet to this need...