anka

Yep! But if this isn't something new and those who haven't seen these changes coming over the past decade (ie: laws getting more and more stringent, et al), then they've been living under a rock! And I mean no disrespect to those who don't follow Russian politika.

There are Americans who own business and property in Russia. The climate is going to become tougher and tougher, IMO, but not exactly because of this law in particular.

4:25 GMT -4 (MSK)

Slime

Caffeine (because lawd knows a lot of us need it!)

Vermont Service Center

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved.....GC Received

ANKA.................08/30/11........09/07/11.......10/07/11........06/08/12......06/26/12

JAXXEE...............09/01/11........09/15/11.......09/30/11........06/15/12......06/21/12

BMORE................09/01/11........09/06/11.......10/21/11.......06/13/12......--/--/12

AKIKOA...............09/05/11........09/07/11.......10/13/11........--/--/--......--/--/12

SEABAS...............09/05/11........09/12/11.......10/14/11........06/11/12......--/--/12

CANADA2US............09/06/11........09/09/11.......09/30/11........--/--/--......--/--/12

MISR.................09/06/11........09/09/11.......09/29/11........06/21/12......--/--/12

CHERRYRED_04.........09/07/11........09/12/11.......11/07/11........06/18/12......06/23/12

NEWBIENAIVE..........09/07/11........09/19/11.......10/31/11........--/--/12......--/--/12

JEFF&MADZ............09/08/11........09/12/11.......10/12/11........06/04/12......--/--/12

FLICKER..............09/09/11........09/13/11.......10/17/11........--/--/--......--/--/12

FABILOUS.............09/09/11........09/12/11.......10/14/11........06/07/12......06/16/12 (Early Bio 10/5)

SAMARO11.............09/09/11........09/12/11.......10/26/11........06/06/12......06/13/12

BIGBUBBLE............09/10/11........09/1?/11.......10/24/11........--/--/--......--/--/12

JOHN & MARY..........09/12/11........09/16/11.......10/26/11........--/--/--......--/--/12 (Early Bio 10/12)

JOSHUA EBBI..........09/12/11........09/15/11.......10/12/11........--/--/--......--/--/12 (Early Bio 10/3)

KAT & A..............09/13/11........09/19/11.......11/23/11........--/--/--......--/--/12

MONKEYJUICE..........09/14/11........09/19/11.......10/14/11........--/--/--......--/--/12

ANNA1988.............09/15/11........09/16/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--......--/--/12

KARENANDTREV.........09/15/11........09/19/11.......10/18/11........--/--/--......--/--/12

CANADIAN/AMERICAN....09/15/11........09/19/11.......10/18/11........--/--/--......--/--/12

SHANI-SAURUS.........09/15/11........09/??/11.......10/28/11........--/--/--......--/--/12

WESTERNRIDER.........09/16/11........09/16/11.......10/13/11........--/--/--......--/--/12

ACINLOVE.............09/17/11........09/20/11.......10/14/11........--/--/--......--/--/12 (Early Bio 10/12)

LUVHASNOBORDERS......09/17/11........09/21/11.......11/02/11........06/13/12......--/--/12

BRIAN-CHARISMA.......09/17/11........09/21/11.......11/10/11........--/--/--......--/--/12

BABYROG..............09/19/11........09/22/11.......10/28/11........--/--/--......--/--/12

VSCSEPT2011..........09/??/11........09/23/11.......10/07/11........06/08/12......--/--/12

DYLAN&DOUGLAS........09/20/11........09/23/11.......10/21/11........--/--/--......--/--/12 (Early bio 10/11)

ELLIE-AND-DAVID......09/20/11........09/23/11.......10/21/11........--/--/--......--/--/12

BLUESTUMCGREW........09/22/11........09/26/11.......10/24/11........--/--/--......--/--/12

BARCA................09/24/11........09/27/11.......10/26/11........06/11/12......06/15/12 (Early Bio 10/7)

LINDAL24.............09/24/11........09/28/11.......10/19/11........--/--/--......--/--/12

MARTIN AND RAVEN.....09/24/11........09/30/11.......11/02/11........--/--/--......--/--/12

i must say vermont service center is doing a tremendous job the noa2 are coming on fast and i like the order in which they are going i am not pointing any fingers but if you take a look at the percentage graphs and see how petitions are being approved at both service centers california is all over the place and vermont is coming down the line that may have something to do with the fast pace of approvals i am loving it and hope my petition can get approve fast love what they are doing i am impressed

ARE YOU SERIOUS???!?!

(I almost said "Troll!" until I saw you're a legit VJ user, lol...oops.)

Just wait until you have to file an RoC for the 10 year greencard at VSC. They are actually, rather, TREMENDOUSLY SLOW, TYVM!

Adding myself to the Vermont list...I can't believe it's been over 9 months and NO one approved yet! What is going on up there in the north?! smh.

California Service Center (35 applicants, 34 approved 97%)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

DALIABAKKEN..........08/30/11........09/01/11.......10/13/11........03/09/12....(card received 03/15)

CHANTEL..............08/31/11........09/02/11.......XX/XX/XX........02/04/12....(K2)(card received 02/09)

BULGARICAN...........09/01/11........09/09/11.......10/03/11........01/20/12....(RFE received 11/29)

FOOLSKILL............09/02/11........09/06/11.......10/10/11........02/14/12....(Early Bio 9/21)

INKY.................09/03/11........09/06/11.......10/03/11........12/07/11....(card received 12/12)

CHUCKH...............09/06/11........09/08/11.......10/03/11........03/22/12....(RFE received 12/16, responded 01/26)

INNEEDOFHELP.........09/07/11........09/09/11.......10/03/11........11/02/11....(card received 11/07)

ADIIANN..............09/09/11........09/1?/11.......10/19/11........01/13/12....(Early Bio 10/13)(RFE received 11/25)(card received 01/19)

GUNDAS...............09/09/11........09/12/11.......10/03/11........02/07/12....(Early Bio 9/19)(card received 02/11)

INNA.................09/09/11........09/14/11.......10/05/11........11/21/11....(card received 11/28)

TANKGURL38...........09/09/11........09/12/11.......10/07/11........12/02/11....

MRMRS DRUMMER........09/09/11........09/12/11.......11/02/11........02/15/12....(card received 02/21)

FREYJA...............09/10/11........09/12/11.......10/03/11........01/30/12....(card received 02/04/2012)

LEXY.................09/10/11........09/12/11.......11/02/11........11/30/11....(Early Bio 10/14)(card received 12/05)

JULIDEN..............09/10/11........09/12/11.......10/07/11........11/18/11....(card received 11/25)

CHICAGOGUY 2.........09/12/11........09/19/11.......10/12/11........11/21/11....(card received 11/25)

MYPERFECTFLAW........09/12/11........09/19/11.......10/11/11........11/29/11....(card received 12/03)

TODSKIE82............09/12/11........09/15/11.......10/24/11........03/08/12....(card received 03/19)

LOVABLE81............09/13/11........09/15/11.......10/24/11........03/15/12....

DAVINCHI.............09/13/11........09/22/11.......11/02/11........03/16/12....

MINNEW...............09/14/11........09/16/11.......10/24/11........02/23/12....(card received 02/29)

SELMA&ELVIR..........09/14/11........09/16/11.......10/21/11........03/13/12....

ALIAS................09/15/11........09/19/11.......10/17/11........12/16/11....(card received 12/22)

SHAIMA...............09/15/11........09/??/11.......10/28/11........--/--/--....

1LUVV................09/16/11........09/19/11.......10/31/11........03/19/12....

MATT & BING..........09/16/11........09/19/11.......10/24/11........03/21/12.... (card received 03/26)

VA8688...............09/19/11........09/23/11.......10/28/11........03/14/12....

PURPLE22.............09/21/11........09/22/11.......10/21/11........02/22/12....(card received 02/29)

SIMPS................09/21/11........09/22/11.......10/20/11........01/10/12....(card received 01/14)

CHICAGOMAMMY.........09/21/11........09/27/11.......11/02/11........02/23/12....(card received 02/29)

(former _HOPEFULLY)

MIKE143..............09/22/11........09/23/11.......10/24/11........11/29/11....(Early Bio 10/12)(card received 12/06)

JULY09BRIDE..........09/24/11........09/26/11.......10/31/11........05/03/12....(RFE received 03/19, responded 04/23)

JJBANDERO............09/27/11........09/28/11.......10/25/11........04/30/12....

CHEESECAKE77.........09/27/11........09/28/11.......11/04/11........02/23/12....

NAT&SUL..............09/27/11........09/30/11.......10/23/11........01/19/12....(Early Bio 10/07)

Vermont Service Center (30 applicants)

VJName.............Date of I-751.....NOA1 Date......Biometrics......Approved....

ANKA.................08/30/11........09/07/11.......10/07/11........--/--/--....

JAXXEE...............09/01/11........09/15/11.......09/30/11........--/--/--....

BMORE................09/01/11........09/06/11.......10/21/11........--/--/--....

AKIKOA...............09/05/11........09/07/11.......10/13/11........--/--/--....

SEABAS...............09/05/11........09/12/11.......10/14/11........--/--/--....

CANADA2US............09/06/11........09/09/11.......09/30/11........--/--/--....

MISR.................09/06/11........09/09/11.......09/29/11........--/--/--....

CHERRYRED_04.........09/07/11........09/12/11.......11/07/11........--/--/--....

JEFF&MADZ............09/08/11........09/12/11.......10/12/11........--/--/--....

FLICKER..............09/09/11........09/13/11.......10/17/11........--/--/--....

FABILOUS.............09/09/11........09/12/11.......10/14/11........--/--/--....(Early Bio 10/5)

SAMARO11.............09/09/11........09/12/11.......10/26/11........--/--/--....

BIGBUBBLE............09/10/11........09/1?/11.......10/24/11........--/--/--....

JOHN & MARY..........09/12/11........09/16/11.......10/26/11........--/--/--....(Early Bio 10/12)

JOSHUA EBBI..........09/12/11........09/15/11.......10/12/11........--/--/--....(Early Bio 10/3)

KAT & A..............09/13/11........09/19/11.......11/23/11........--/--/--....

MONKEYJUICE..........09/14/11........09/19/11.......10/14/11........--/--/--....

ANNA1988.............09/15/11........09/16/11.......--/--/11........--/--/--....

KARENANDTREV.........09/15/11........09/19/11.......10/18/11........--/--/--....

CANADIAN/AMERICAN....09/15/11........09/19/11.......10/18/11........--/--/--....

SHANI-SAURUS.........09/15/11........09/??/11.......10/28/11........--/--/--....

ACINLOVE.............09/17/11........09/20/11.......10/14/11........--/--/--....(Early Bio 10/12)

BRIAN-CHARISMA.......09/17/11........09/21/11.......11/10/11........--/--/--.....

BABYROG..............09/19/11........09/22/11.......10/28/11........--/--/--....

DYLAN&DOUGLAS........09/20/11........09/23/11.......10/21/11........--/--/--....(Early bio 10/11)

ELLIE-AND-DAVID......09/20/11........09/23/11.......10/21/11........--/--/--....

BLUESTUMCGREW........09/22/11........09/26/11.......10/24/11........--/--/--....

BARCA................09/24/11........09/27/11.......10/26/11........--/--/--....(Early Bio 10/7)

LINDAL24.............09/24/11........09/28/11.......10/19/11........--/--/--....

MARTIN AND RAVEN.....09/24/11........09/30/11.......11/02/11........--/--/--....

IMPORTANT!

* Make sure that your VJ Text Editor setting is set to Rich Text Editor.

* Go to the MOST RECENTLY POSTED VERSION of this list (go to the last post and scroll UP) and "Reply" to it, deleting the "quote" tags in your reply.

* Please DO NOT change the font, font size, add colors, stuff like that.

* Please PREVIEW before posting to make sure it is properly formatted.

* Please check that you have not deleted anyones NAME & DATA.

Date of I-751 = The Date you sent your application

NOA Date = The Receipt Date on your original NOA letter

Biometrics = The Date of your biometrics appointment

Approved = The Date your case was approved

* Please Capitalize your VJ Name when adding it to the list.

* When you're on this list, please come back to update your information accordingly

* If you cannot add your information yourself, please ask another VJ member to help you do so.

$0 - No cable TV subscription. Our only option is Comcast which I will NEVER open an account with again..total rip-off, money-hungry, evil, etc. etc.

$8.00/mo. - Netflix subscription (streaming).

~$25.00 - DSL/HSI through Verizon. Used to be pretty quick but has become slow as hell since October 2011. But we're just too busy to spend serious hours troubleshooting and running circles with CS. Will be looking into better options soon, though. For some reason Verizon won't install FIOS in our building...perhaps it has to do with it being an old building? Whatever the reason is I find it odd.

Are the satellite services - Dish or DirectT- for internet/TV worth it? Do they work in apartment buildings (we have a balcony and face due East)??

We also filed in September 2011 and Biometrics in October and have had no news from USCIS since then either.

I was getting ready to ask this same exact question so THANKS for asking for me! And thanks to everyone who replied - I'm much relieved now...phew!!!

Yeah don't worry...we have the same issue.

It reminds me of a custom gun shop (lacey, but otherwise the same ) where they take great care to make sure everything fits

Your description is hilarious and dead-on! And, yes, that's exactly the type of store I was talking about. I bet the items she buys from the shop you mentioned don't end up stabbing her in the armpit with under-wire and she actually gets what she paid for (if not better) - two major things that can't be said for Victoria's Secret.

She visited VS a few times, was turned off by the prices and general lack of service for a shop that looks like it should give service and now buys her unmentionables about anywhere except VS and still buys her bras in Ukraine.

I like your wife's thinking!

Just a note here. VS doesn't actually have the bigger sizes. Depending on your girls bust size VS might not be the place to go. Last time I was there their limit was DD... that was last year. So before you sign up for their ####### try and find out if there's any point first.

SERIOUSLY. Their sizes are all over the place, too, their band-width sizing being the worst.

IMHO, I think VS is able to pull off the stupid/wrong bra sizes due to the company being so easily accessible since it's in every American mall and mailbox, is relatively affordable, and give 110% to their silly marketing campaigns (and much less than that percentage to their quality, lol). In many cases, if a women goes to a lingerie boutique (like Intimacy or someplace) where getting measured and correctly fitted is treated as part of the whole bra-buying-experience by staff who actually know what they're doing since they earn commission this way, she'll discover that the cup and the band sizes will usually be completely different than what they'd normally be told they wear at VS.

Basically, VS and department store lingerie brands at the mall seem to have devised their own measuring system to suit their sales, rather than women's boobs.

Sorry for the scathingly long, VS-bashing reply ...haha! I have *brassiere angst I guess!

/end rant

I bought the house before we got married. We didn't even worry about that. We sent joint bank statements and utility bills in both names, along with joint tax returns. We sailed through the ROC process in record time with no RFE's, no interview.

Good to know since I, too, bought the apartment prior to marriage and haven't added my husband to the title yet. We basically sent exactly the same thing in as you did, yet I'm still nervous about an RFE.

We are in that situation (filed Feb this year, hopefully approved soon, no RFE to date). My wife owns our home and has done for more than a decade. I'm not on the mortgage.

We wrote a letter addressed to USCIS, explaining that my wife had held the mortgage since long before I even knew her and that, while we had explored the options and possibilities of me becoming a joint owner with her, that it made no financial sense at this time (explained in more detail than this) and that therefore she remains the sole owner of our home. We went to the bank and signed it in front of a notary for good measure (no idea if that helps but it can't hurt - at least it proves we both signed it) then included the letter in our evidence along with a copy of a mortgage statement. We were following what seemed like a common sense approach, that if we simply couldn't supply something that is normally considered basic evidence, that we should explain why we don't have that rather than just say nothing (and then make up for the shortcoming in other areas of evidence).

This is basically what we did as well (wrote and signed an explanation letter of why my husband isn't on the title + got it notarized).

Congratulations!!!

And the USCIS does whatever Ewok tells them to do.

Yeah you're right. Must not have been thinking too deeply when I said that above.

Looking at it that way, then yep, the government basically owns everybody and everything, even Visajourney.

Hello/Privet!

I've been a VJ member since 2007 though I never have formally introduced myself (bad me!). So..

I'm Anna, an American citizen Vasya is my wonderful/crazy/awesome Russian husband who I met in 2006 while living in his spectacular hometown of Saint-Petersburg. I lived there for a long while ( a couple years) so when I (sadly) returned to the States in 2008 is basically when we decided to do the whole K1 visa thing, which was approved. We were finally married on May 15 of 2009. Currently, we are preparing to submit all the necessary paperwork for removing conditions so he can upgrade to the 10-year green-card. Ahh yes, the last year and half has been such a nice break from all the stresses that come with USCIS/NVC/DHS dealings.. Alas, that break is over! And it came incredibly fast I can't even believe it! So, yay, back to being stressed out and documents spread out everywhere. /Le *sigh*.

By the way, I really need to say that I cannot thank all of you brilliant VJ members enough! We owe it to Visajourney that we are married and together today! Without you awesome people who make up this incredible site, we would have definitely needed a lawyer. Either that or I would've moved to Russia and married Vasya there instead - yikes. You all are amazing, albeit a bit crazy at times -*cough* Russian forum*cough* ! I am thankful from the bottom of my heart this place exists! Just had to express my appreciation!

Err, it doesn't own this site.

The government owns everything.

ANY documents I deem "important" being sent to Russia or Ukraine I send Fedex for station pickup. I then track the package and when it has arrived I tell the person to go to the Fedex office and pick it up. Works perfectly every time, a bit of a hassle, but reliable.

Yes, this is what I've always done (when living in Russia) and never had a problem sending/receiving anything via FedEx... For example, a little while ago I had to have some very sensitive bank stuff FedEx'd from the US to SPb and it arrive d without a hitch. Just be sure to get the tracking code(s), pick it up at the station, etc. but you probably already know all that.

You do need to be aware that at the very least you should let the bank know you will be there or your card may not work. Some banks won't allow atm card use at all over there. I opened an acount just to give the ATM card to my fiancee and then found even with notice they would not allow use there.

One other thing, if you do take cash, make sure the bills are perfect. Even a crease from a fold or a mark from one of the pens they use to test a bill to see if it counterfit will make the bill virtually unusalble in the FSU. Sometimes you may find you can use it but won't get full value, other times you can't use them at all.

YES!

Also, in my experience, it's ~safer~ to go to an ATM that's physically attached to/inside of a banking establishment. I'd avoid using ATMs found in other "unofficial" locations such as in a cafe or on the street or something. And there's a lot of things that are still "Cash Only" so it's best to get a bunch of rubles out at once and then keep a stash of it in a safe place (other than on you/in your wallet).

Filed ourselves. BUT If I hadn't discovered Visajourney, we probably would've resorted to a lawyer. Thank goodness this place exists - and the kind people who make up the forums and give such great advice and help!

Hi all!

It's been awhile but I'm so glad to see that my ~favorite~ VJ forum is still holding up strong!Yay

For those who have visited Russia with his/her Russian spouse:

Sorry for such lame questions but it's eating at me. Thanks so much.

:star:

Just cause she's from another country and probably has no money of her own and cant control her life in general at the moment you want to tell her what to wear too? Let her wear what she wants and give her the damn money to buy them!!!

Not trying to be snide or rude, but are you really serious?!? I don't see how you think slim (the OP) is controlling of what his wife wears - or her life for that matter - just because he doesn't like the boots his wife wants to purchase (with his money). Am I missing something here?

IMHO, telling your spouse that a pair of boots s/he wants to buy are ugly, is perfectly legit. In fact, I personally like it when my husband tells me when he think something looks hot on me and also when he thinks something doesn't look so hot. His opinion on what I wear really matters a lot because, after all, I want and like looking good for my husband - why would I not?!? I'm sure you like looking great for your SO too...

That said, it doesn't mean I limit myself to only wearing or buying clothes that he likes...Good god, if I always did that, I'd probably have mortified myself 10 times over!!! Being the fashionable lady that I am , I always wear what I love. And if there's a piece he hates (which isn't often), I can usually work it in a way so that he likes it too.

"NOOOOOO!"

Personally, I hate the sight of those things with a vengeance. Argh! Those things are n-a-s-t-y and a waste of your hard-earned money! Don't do this to her and yourself. Almost anything is better than those fuggs. Seriously.

Follow your instincts and just say "No!" (and then give her some $$ when she decides on an alternative boot). Oh, and also tell her what eekee wrote in her post.

i use it but not very often...usually only to say 'happy birthday' or when I get an email notification or something.