bobb

Which airline will you be using? Just sent my stepdaughter back to Russia yesterday. She had two bags weighing 34 and 37 lbs. and we had to pay $50 for the second bag. Really glad she didn't need a third bag, but they did let her slide through with 3 carry on pieces (purse, laptop, and a full bag of gifts including a second laptop).

For a lot of the international flights now the no cost limit is one bag of no more than 50 lbs.

American Airlines: Click here!

Two checked bags no charge up to 50 lbs. each. Total dimensions limit per bag = 62 in.

One carry-on up to 40lbs. Total dimensions limit = 45 in. A laptop and a carry-on would be no charge.

Agree with slim ... what is the point of paying so much money (excess baggage in airplanes, taxis, etc.) and going through so much hassle to bring countless bags, with things she may never even look at again?

My fiancee is bringing only one medium-size bag ... anything else she needs, will be purchased here. She's starting a new life, so it will be time to renew everything that is not a precious heirloom.

And if you really have to bring a lot of stuff from another country for any reason, it is better to hire a cargo forwarding company and they will take care of it door-to-door. I am planning to do so with valuable, big, and heavy stuff I left in another country.

Maybe so for younger women. My fiancee is 58 years old. She has some nice clothes she will be bringing. She also has other items that are very important to her she wishes to bring. Their is no cost for baggage, on international flights, if you stay within size and weight limits, and number of checked bags. The size and weight limits are also greater than for domestic flights. So, it costs me a few dollars more for a bigger taxi to DME. That is the only additional cost, which is negligible in the whole scheme of things. At the moment it is still very expensive to send big and heavy items from Russia to the U.S., from what I have read elsewhere.

I went with go-to.ru

Business class taxi - Mercedes. The website shows $89USD (an estimate). Actual cost is 2400.00 rubles, plus the 3% most credit card companies tack on for foreign transactions. With the credit card fee, which will show up later, it cost me just under $82.

For me it is worth not having to hassle with anything after we leave the train. Maybe, just maybe, I might have found something for $10 or $20 less after departing the train. I prefer having it taken care of now...and it also pleases Luba I have arranged for it ahead of time.

With the luggage we will have, taking the metro was just not an option this trip. In the future - Yes.

A side note. I had Luba buy my plane ticket from DME to Izhevsk on Izhevia Air. The ticket will be at one of three counters at DME where I will pick it up on August 14th. No need to have it sent to me by mail. Give them a six digit code and show them my passport and I will have my ticket.

I have only one suggestion which will prove very valuable to you.

Patience!

Your timeline indicates the RFE was sent within the 6 month time frame, according to the USCIS site, before you should consider asking questions. As many have indicated you will most likely receive your NOA1 soon.

There is no rhyme or reason as to why some applications are processed faster than others. This first period of waiting for the NOA1, and longest wait, seems to be the most stressful. Relax and lengthen your fuse a little.

Personally I would suggest you would send the same form on which your correction had been clearly made to them. Just make sure you have a cover letter stating why you are sending this particular piece of article. Do not forget to put in your case number which I presume you already got since you received your NOA1 through post mail. Just my suggestion.

Anything you send in will be returned without them even looking at it. I know, I did this with a previous I-129F years ago and that was my experience. At this point I think an option to consider is to wait until you have received the NOA2. The wrong date will really have no effect on the approval of your NOA1 or NOA2.

After NOA2 send an email to the USEM explaining what has happened and ask them what to do. In my case, this year, I had entered the wrong marriage date for my fiancee on her G-325a. I had actually entered my previous marriage date, which was many, many years after her correct divorce date. They never even asked me about the obvious wrong information. I informed them of the correct date. Heck, they would see the correct day when they review the documents at her interview. I contacted the USEM by email. They replied they had not received the the paperwork from the U.S. yet but they would convey the information to the person who would be handling her case. It was never a problem.

Will her daughter be over or under 21 at the time she would come to the U.S.? If over it will have no bearing at this point, or on future processing. If under it can easily be corrected down the road. The USEM understands people make small mistakes. Trying to make a correction with USCIS will be a waste of time. Again...only from my experience. I don't think you should waste your time stressing about something that is not stress worthy.

I would recommend you listen to others who speak from experience and not speculation.

You also do not want to be sitting around the train station at night; too many low-lifes at that time. You might get into a car and be taken into the forest and we would never hear from you!!!

Not to worry, during the day everything is OK.

Phil

When I said Sunday morning I was referring to 10:00am. Thanks Phil, I'll wait for your suggestions also after you talk with Alla.

This forum is the best. Great responses for me to check out. There is absolutely no reason for anyone to visit other areas if your fiance(e) is from the FSU.

I must say though I just don't see us using the metro - although it is very attractive. For me, $50 or even a little more is more convenient. I just don't see us dong the metro with the amount of luggage we will have. In January we only had 3 bags (1 big) and it was a big pain. Of course, we were let out by our taxi when the roads became jammed at a metro and had to transfer a couple times, etc. In the future, with less luggage we will use the metro.

I had checked out the go-to.ru site and it seemed like the $50 car was fairly small, but I'll call them. Now that I have MetroPCS cell service with unlimited Int'l calling for $5/month extra it's easy to call anywhere.

In late August Luba and I will need to travel from Kazansky Rail station to DME on a Sunday morning. We will have 5 or 6 suitcases (3 BIG). Luba suggested to me we should arrange ahead of time for a taxi. She thinks it will not be as easy to grab one that day easily because we will have so much luggage. Has anyone else been in a similar situation and could provide some contact number, or suggestions.

Thanks

Vika and I keep kicking around a possible trip to SP next year, and I will of course be the only one with a problem getting in

GO!!! St Petersburg is a magical city and you should visit there sometime in your life. The sooner the better. It is very easy to walk and take public transit anywhere you need to go. You can find reasonable, nice, comfortable apartments at a good price. Oksana's is one source to check for apartments. They provided us with excellent service, will pick you up at airport at a price you won't find from driver's at airport, and provide your registration for a reasonable fee. Ten days there eating half our meals, at least, at the apartment and we didn't spend $400 for the both of us on food.

You won't have any problem getting in.

Brad, PM me and I'll send you a link to a webiste with many, many photos of St Petersburg from last October.

Trip past January:

SFO - Chicago - DME - Train to Izhevsk -> 37 hrs with 7 hours of non-traveling time.

Trip this August:

SFO - Chicago - DME - Izhevsk -> 25 hours with 8 1/2 hrs of non-traveling time.

Returning August with Luba:

Train to Moscow - Taxi to DME - Chicago - SFO -> 40 1/2 hrs with maybe 7 hours non-traveling time, which includes taxi to DME from Kazansky Rail Station.

Please note the red area I highlighted above, as OVIR does not issue the visa, just an invitation that you send to the embassy here to get the visa.

Ah yes, I meant to write invitation and wrote visa in error.

It may well work for you where you visit as you say. But, in Izhevsk as I pointed out, they were very strict and would not let it happen again without a fine. Everyone's situation is different. I was just trying to provide my experience in obtaining a Private (Homestay) visa.

It takes several weeks for him to even get the invitation and time for the original to be mailed here to the USA. Not very convenient if you want to travel on short notice.

Of course. But if you are not rushed it is very easy and convenient for the private visa. If we are ever in a situation where we need to travel very soon I will do the tourist visa and contact a travel agent in Izhevsk to register it once I have arrived.

If you take the application to the consulate the fee is $131 for 4-20 business days proceesing; $250 3 business days processing. If you are a citizen of any country in the EU other than Denmark, Ireland, or Great Britain it is $50 for 6-10 business days service and $100 for 1-3 business days. The day of drop-off is not a day.

Wonder what Denmark, Ireland, and GB did to piss Russia off.

Interesting I assume this is a kind of "friends and family" visa.

If you are going for a visit and plan to stay at a person's residence you are 'supposed' to obtain a Private visa. It can be done the way peejay says. But, Luba did not have the knowledge on how to do this nor did I think to mention this to her. Whenever I return with her to visit I will have to have one of her brothers, or her son obtain go to OVIR. She will not let it be done any other way because she knows we are supposed to do it this way.

I understand for many it is a hassle and inconvenience. Every situation is different and it will be no hassle or inconvenience for us in the future.

If anyone is ever interested in how to obtain a Private Visa this is how I obtained mine. I would assume it is the same for anywhere in Russia. I obtained a Private Visa because I stay with Luba. In January 2009 on my visit I had a tourist visa. Not really knowing the full details, and not realizing I should have registered it differently , we went to OVIR and were chastised for me having the wrong type of visa. They told my fiancée if it happened again they would fine her.

I scanned my bio page from my passport and sent her this in a pdf file. I could have sent a jpg file just as easily. She went to OVIR and they asked her several questions:

1. Country of birth.

2. The exact place of birth (City, State).

3. Where would I obtain the visa: Country, City, where there is a consulate of Russia.

4. Place of work: the full name of the organization (firm).

5. Position at work – job title.

6. Employer's address (full address of the organization, company)

7. Type of work of company.

8. Cities to visit in Russia.

She had to have her English teacher translate these answers into Russian so she could fill out the form.

It took three weeks for her to obtain the visa. She sent it about a week later by Global Express and I received it in about 6 days. Sent to SF and used normal processing. Had my passport back with visa 13 days later. Figure 2 months, less or more depending how sent from Russia and the processing speed. Company I use in SF cost me $160 - I receive $10 off each time after the first time. They also send me coupons I can give to others to receive $15 off. I paid UPS ground (next day for me because of my proximity to SF) both ways which cost less than $10 total.

The cost for her to obtain the Visa is minimal. Even with her sending it like she did I feel it costs less than paying someone additional for the tourist invitation AND paying someone to register it for you.

I remember a flight from Kiev to Donetsk, in January 2005. There was an actual center area in the plane that had a table! And I was sitting at it. No joke - it was like we were in our own cabin area with another couple.

You most likely will find round trip tickets originating in Russia will cost more than a round trip ticket originating the U.S. for the same flight dates. I paid $200 more for my Fiancee's ticket from Moscow to SFO for this August as I paid for my flight from the U.S. when I go visit and then bring her here.

For me an extra $100 or $200 is worth it if there are fewer stops and good times between connections. If you want to save some money sometimes be careful not to have 'short' layovers. You just never know when a delay will occur. All in all an extra $100 or $200 is peanuts in the overall total cost of this endeavor.

American has a direct flight from Chicago and United just began a direct flight from Dulles recently. If you have air miles with either of these companies you might check their flights out.

I was waiting for a post like this so I could add Luba's info from her interview on June 25. No sense in starting another thread.

1. How did you get acquainted with your fiance?

2. When did you met him?

3. How many times have you met with him?

4. What is the name of your fiance?

5. How many times has he been to Russia?

6. What is your fiance's occupation?

7. Where does he work?

8. Why did you decide to get married?

9. When do you go to the U.S.A.? (August 23rd)

10. When will your wedding be? (September 5th)

She added he did not even look at the documentation of a relationship, which was a half inch thick. Luba's interview was in Russian and she said everyone was very nice. From the moment she went in the building at 8:00 until she exited was 2 and 1/2 hours.

Budget cuts due to the recession. The Spelling Police have been eliminated, and their case load has been transferred to the Grammar Police. It's a sad, sad time to be in Linguistics Enforcement.

You can notice this in software today! Just look at Word - when you do a Spell Check it is combined with a Grammer check!

Luba and her friend just stayed at a 'reasonable' and nice (their description) hotel in Moscow for 4 nights for a little over $400 (3 nights @85; 1 @95 plus 18% VAT). That was for business twin during the high season. A regular twin room through August is running 67 or 61 per night plus VAT tax. In September, when you will most likely have the interview they are running 74 or 82 per night. Fri-Sun lower rate. I paid for it ahead of time with my credit card and they didn't charge the card until three days before arrival. Before that you can cancel with no charge, or even make changes if needed. Initially I began an email correspondence where all my questions were answered.

http://www.moscow-hotels.net/izmailovo-gamma-delta-hotel

It's in the NW part of Moscow four stops from Kazinski rail station. Maybe 7 or 8 stops to the embassy area. Luba used IOM, closest to embassy and was pleased with the staff. It is also one day service.

If you want PM me and I can email you some great maps and photos showing the metro system and how to get from the hotel to the embassy area.

I typed the info in word in a small font. Used scotch tape, copied them before signing. Maybe overkill but my small printing is not very good, or hers.

Just finished talking with Luba and her friend and English teacher, Luba, 1/2 half hour after she completed her interview. I was told by her friend that Luba told her everyone was nice and polite at the embassy. At the end they wished her luck and a good life in America. They even complimented her on the organization of all the required paperwork. I have asked Luba to write down many questions they asked on her train trip back to Izhevsk, which I will post when I receive her email.

The medical at IOM went good on Monday. It went quickly and again I was told the people were nice and polite. Their train leaves for Izhevsk in about 5 hours and it takes a little over 16 hours to Izhevsk. They arrived Friday and it was rainy and cloudy until Monday.

Next - I leave 13 August and WE return 23 August and marry within two weeks.

Be prepared for her to tell you she needs some documents with an apostle. At the ministry of justice they told her this was required for America. I just told her they wanted to take more of 'our' money. It's not worth arguing about. I asked her to ask them at the embassy if that was true or not. A subtle attempt to prove I am right. I'm just wondering if she will even remember my request when she has her interview tomorrow, or I should say today as it is only 7+ hours away.

I sent a WU receipt with my I-129F and had no problems. I sent another with my documentation of ongoing relationship which is part of the required info she will give them next week at her interview.

Slim made the best statement - Stay away from the K-1 forum. Sometimes, when bored, I go look at the inane answers to questions on that forum. It is not worth the effort to try and correct the numerous incorrect replies - it would be a full-time job.

I think the Marriage Broker stuff is reserved for men (Women?) that find their perspective mate through a "Mail Order" type service.

Please do not reinforce out-dated concepts such as 'Mail Order'. There is no such animal!!!

Luba sent me the private invitation for my visa last week by Global Express Mail. It took 6 days to arrive. It was about 3 weeks from the time Luba went to OVIR to fill out the paperwork for my private invitation until she received it.

After she finally saw everything I sent her she is now calm about her upcoming interview. She now knows she has everything she needs for the interview.

UPS arrived today - on-time. Nothing yet from the USPS shipment. Sorry Slim, but your scenario is not possible unless UPS gives their packages to the local post office, which I doubt. I did a check at FedEx - same shipment would cost $2 more and they say it would arrive in 3 days with Fedex Int'l Economy, but they also note the destination is outside their primary pickup/delivery area. So it could take a week also. The FedEx site wouldn't let me use the 'letter' packaging, where UPS did. Don't know if that added to FedEx estimate or not.

I can see where using UPS to only Moscow is efficient. My UPS package was in Moscow two days after I sent it.

Now we have a Skype session for tomorrow evening after she has reviewed all I've sent. I'm sure there will be questions. It's hard to answer the questions before she has the information in front of her. Her good friend and English teacher will also be in the Skype conversation.