Chris & Olya

Congrats to both of you ! Very happy to see that both of you are reunited again ! Wing you both much happinness

Hi Mark, Olya's interview was on May 28th and she had Visa in on May 31st. But that was because she waited in Moscow. So if everything is in order I would allow at least a week just to be safe. Good LUCK !

I am happy to report that Olya and her son Stas arrived as scheduled June 6th. After a whirlwind week we were married on June 12th in a simple ceromony. So far there has not been any major challenges but continuing to learn English will be the number one focus along with deciding the best course of action for Stas to continue his education. He recently graduated high school in Russia. The interview in Moscow lasted about 15 to 20 minutes and was conducted by a very nice young man. He asked all the usual questions that you might expect like how did you meet, where did you meet, and when. There was nothing that was really unusual. It was not a bad experience. The POE was Detroit. It took about 2 hours to clear after the plane landed. Thanks for all the words of encoragement from everyone along the way. Now it is on to AOS.

I will post a review as soon as Olya and her son arrives. Olya can not explain things in detail over the phone but my general impression was the same as Kazan's. It was short, sweet, and painless. She will arrive Friday at 4pm and I will write a review in due time )

Olga went to the interview carrying two 3 inch binders also. Very little was looked at but we were prepared , just in case they wanted something. I think its worth the inconvenience carrying it around just as added insurance. Good Luck!

My fiance had her interview on May 28th. While I do not have the exact details I believe that she had a fairly positive experience. My advice is to ensure you have plenty of documentation in regards to your affidavit of support and proof of your ongoing relationship. Finally she should relax and feel confident.

While i am sure that there are some rejections it seems that almost everyone That I have have met on this site has passed there interviews. The worst case scenario was that the visa was delayed in a few instances but eventually granted.

We had our interview on Wednesday and had our visa in hand by Saturday. She waited in Moscow with her son for her Visa. It was faster than I expected. She should arrive with her son this Friday. Good luck to all of you June interviewees ! May you be reunited soon !

Wow, Its all over but the flight now ! Olga had DHL hold her Visa in Moscow and she picked it up today at 12 :15 Moscow time. What a relief ! Olga and her son will stay in Moscow until Friday when there flight leaves for Detroit.

What a wonderful feeling ! Good Luck everyone ! I will post her interview comments after she arrives

GOOD LUCK !!!!!!!!!

Congrats Jeffery ! Glad to know that you and Alla will be together soon !

Wow I just came home from work and read everyones posts. Thank YOU ! I will post details of her interview shortly after her arrival of June 6th. It really seems surreal that after all of the time that has passed that we will finally be together and be able to start the real journey upon her arrival.

Once again Thanks !!!!!!!!!))))

What a way to start my day. Shortly I after I woke up my phone rang and I received the good news that Olga was approved at the Moscow consulate. The only details I was able to get about the interview was that she was interviewed by a young man and that he was very polite. Was told that she would receive the visa in a week.

The timing of her receipt of the visa is the only hurdle left. She is staying in Moscow to wait for the visa and hopefully she will have it in time for her and her sons flight to Detroit on June 6th! What a relief to be almost done !

Ditto...Congrats ! )

Jeffery !

I was pleased to come home and see that there was some common sense at the embassy ! Congratualations and it is nice to see Good thangs happen too Good people. Also Thanks to you and Slim for optimism in my Olyas upcoming interview.

Jeffery,

Glad to learn that she was approved but bummed that they would hold your time in Russia against you. Its great that you have someone to sponser you. But its really a bummer that you would haven to even do this. It really goes to show that many people that work in the government are pretty black and white on the regulations. If any of them were empowered to make a reasonable decision on there own there would be probably a lot less horror stories in the immigration process.

But I am happy you have a solution to there request. I guess Olya and I are up to bat next May 28th. Hope we sail through.... I have gambled and purchased her and her sons airline tickets to the U.S. Olya is from Vladivostok and does not wish to fly back home so she will wait in Moscow with her son and fly here on June 6th pending eveything is successful. If not. My wallet takes a huge hit

Hope everything is resolved and you and Alla are reunited soon

Thanks ! I am at the end of the month , May 28th...But at least the end is in sight. I will go to sleep on the 27th hoping to be awakened by a phone call from my Olya with good news :0 Good luck to all of the May interviews.

This is unbelievable ! I agree that everyone is entitled to there own opinion and what works for one may not work for the other. But I must say I think Kevin's story is priceless and I am looking forward to similiar situations with Olya and her Stas. As for the American way, Is there really an American way ? Are we not the melting pot? My hope is that we take the best aspects of both of our cultures and combine the best and go forward. Thats not to say that is right for all but it is for me ! Sometimes this Russian men versus American Men and Russian women versus American women is a little overblown. I love my Olya not because she is Russian but because of who she is. Actually, I wished she was from here and I could have skipped this process Keep the good stories coming Kevin !

THANKS ! My computer was already set up for this I guess I just assumed that it was not...Should have looked first. ! I appreciate your help everyone !

How about whistling in doors? While this is not a problem with my fiance, I thought that I have heard somewhere that this is not a good thing to do in russia

Just looking for some quick ideas to update my computer to make it more friendly for my fiance and her son once they arrive. When I went to the internet cafe in Vladivostok and in Odessa, Ukraine I noticed the computers were able to be switched to russian language and English language rather easilly by double clicking an icon on the bottom of the screen. Also, The key boards had Russian and English charectors on them. If the there is any computer genius that might be familr with any of this software, I would appreciate any tips. It would save from scatching my bald scalp as I surfed the web wondering if I could identify what I needed. While my Olya nows English reasonably well, I was thinking that making this conversion would aid both of them emailing back home where the parents and grandparents could get the email without having to have it translated .

Any thoughts?

I am bringing up the rear ! May 28th

I'll add my fiancee's visa arrived all the way in Vladivostok after seven days.

This poll is very interesting. My Olya also lives in Vladivostok. A long way to Moscow She wants to stayafter the interview and fly direct from Moscow to the U.S. While I am for this, I am also reluctant after Kevins experience. I think a good way to ask the question in my situation would be to those that have waited in Moscow to pick up there Visa from the DHL office? We are consdering purchasing tickets 9 days after the interview. Very Risky but the cost of flying back to Vladivostok and then going across the pond to Detroit would almost equal buying 2 more tickets from Moscow to Detroit . Any thoughts?

What a relief !!!! Now if your luggage follows you home Everything will be right in the world ! This is really great news !

Kevin, I am truly saddened by this. Hang in there ! Get your Congressman involved ! While you are now truly living a nightmare now, I truly believe everything will work out for both of you. Chris

Hello,

If I have yearly income 18,200 (but I just started to work one month). I used to have about 14,400 on previous job (it was about month) . My tax from last year is 16,000 . Do I have to look for sponsor? Thank you

Ben

Ben,

The requirement is to have your income exceed 125% of the poverty level currently and records over a 3 year period with documentaion to support this.

Hi Kevin,

Everyones pulling for you and hopefully you will have the Visa soon ! Also disappointed that you appear to be getting such a run around by the embassy and no answers. Hang in there !