Brad and Vika

Welcome aboard!

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We are trying to help prepare my Mother-In-Law for an interview to get a Tourist Visa so she come and visit us for about 3 weeks later in the year. As part of the interview, she is going to take several documents to show her ties to home such as documents showing flat ownership, power of attorney over my wife's affairs in Russia, Employment Letter, other Children's Birth Certificates, etc...

Are these documents required to be translated in English for the consulate officer? When going through the K1 process, everything had to be translated, but I can't find any requirements related to Tourist Visa interview. Being that they are legal documents and rather long, they will cost a quite a bit to get translated and I don't want to do it if it's completely unnecessary.

Her interview will certainly be in Russian, as she doesn't speak English, so I am sure the CO doesn't need them translated...

Has any of you gone through this with the consulates in Russia and have any information?

Thanks For Your Help...

We never thought a translation could hurt. Translation of documents is pretty cheap. We just thought that if there ever were any questions from anybody that didn't speak Russian anywhere, MIL was covered.

actually i was needing to know the answer to this question as well. I have already schedule an interview date for my mom, but i was just gonna see what all she has to bring..

do i need to write a letter of invitation? i don't reckon so, because on the visa application it asks where she'll be staying and her relationship to me, yet she still insists that she needs it.

from what a gathered, i told her to bring her marriage certificate and proof of employment and when she's supposed to be back at work. credit/bank card statements.. loan papers that show that she had financial obligations.. anything else that im missing?

My response may be too late for you, but here goes. See my comments about invitation letters below. My MIL had a letter from her employer stating she had a job to return to, and a letter stating that she had a pension. A document showing property ownership, and a doctor's letter stating she her dad was living at her house and couldn't take care of himself. She also had a recent visa from the EU to demonstrate that she has a history of returning. We may have bought a ticket for her, or reserved a seat to get an itinerary too.

Edited to say that she also had proof of marriage, and that her spouse was staying behind.

Invitation letters are a common misunderstanding of the tourist visa process over there. Everyone seems to be under the impression that if you write them an invitation letter, they will magically get a visa. This is probably because Russia requires an invitation letter to issue a visa to come there.

They seem to not understand that the US wants proof of ties to the home country and that is pretty much all they look for in deciding whether to issue a visa (some other things help, but having no ties to home country is pretty much a guaranteed denial), and don't really care about any invitation letters.

We found that the real value of the invitation letter was at POE. The consular officer did see it, and the letter did have a length of time in it if I recall, but the CO did not take a copy or ask any questions. My MIL does not speak English. We had English and Russian versions of my invitation, and the customs officer did look at them, as MIL could not explain why she was here or give enough detail. The rationale was the same as the OP here - just wanting to avoid hassle for MIL. Here is the language from the Homeland Security website that I was concerned with:

If you are an alien, the CBP Officer must determine why you are coming to the United States, what documents you may require, if you have those documents, and how long you should be allowed to initially stay in the United States. These determinations usually take less than one minute to make. If you are allowed to proceed, the officer will stamp your passport and customs declaration form and issue a completed Form I-94 to you. A completed form I-94 will show what immigration classification you were given and how long you are allowed to stay.

Here is the link http://cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/id_visa/legally_admitted_to_the_u_s.xml

I too dislike the stinky fish (sorry OP - it is the smell and taste). In Vika's part of Ukraine they salt back all different kinds of fish. I tend to like salyanka and most non-fishy dishes. Vika knows to turn down the volume on the garlic and onions if she wants me to eat any dish.

Don't get me started on the pots and pans in the 'fridge.

Interesting. My MIL applied from Kherson, and had no questions at her interview in Kiev. She is not really a scientist though, more of a engineer I guess. She runs a metallurgy lab for an aluminum producer. Thanks for posting this though.

How long does it take between approval at interview and for the embassy to send my fiancee her passport/visa?

They told her 3-5 business days and yet it has been a week so far.

Any information would really help at this time, she's kinda worried and freaking out.

Any update? Still sounds like you are within normal time. Hang in there.

I have removed several posts with personal attacks and baiting language. This is the only warning. Stick to the topic and stop the insults or administrative action will follow.

Boryspil

That said, I never wrapped my bags or had anything stolen but I am not surprised it is a frequent event. I also would not be surprised to find that there are a large number of fraudulent claims of stolen items...scams work both ways you know.

While we are there, Alla scarfs up all the good stuff which is cheap in Ukraine, pharmacueticals, contact lenses, voodoo medicines, oils, potions, lotions...you know, all that stuff that is no good in the USA.

I wrapped my suitcase once in Odessa. TSA cut the plastic off the bag in Chicago and destroyed it in the process. Word to the wise.

I wonder if Vika could buy ambien in Ukraine?

No problem. I hope you get the answers you need.

Moved from AOS to ROC

Any problems with RUBbettes and speed limits, huh man?

Since Vika had the baby she is super nervous on the road. Lots of hysterical gasping and twitching around. It does earn the occasional "will you please relax?", and does drive me crazy.

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Check you PMs. You are welcome.

Nice one!

Congrats! Having been through it recently, I can relate to the 1st rule. Honestly LL, what impresses me most is that she was able to stop pushing, and then deliver on the doctors command.

Moving this topic to K-1 forum, as OP is asking about K-1 form.

My wife has already asked me: "Are Americans aliens?"

Yes, we are It will be easier to answer this way.

Welcome home all three of you!

Although there is a strong difference of opinion about this on VJ, we thought that my presence helped. The CO doing the interview spoke mainly to me, although he was apparently fluent in Russian and Ukrainian (Vika's English was already fluent). If nothing else, your appearance proves beyond a doubt that the two of you have met during the past two years, and you can tell the CO yourself that you intend to marry within the 90 day limit.

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Posts containing baiting and personal attacks removed. Any more TOS violataions and admin action will follow.

It looks like Ewok resolved the issue. Closing

Closing, as the issue was resolved by Ewok.

Looks like the question has been answered. Closing

OH HELL NO! Also never forget ANY other event which involves her getting gifts...New Year's, Women's Day, Mother's Day, Birthday, Anniversary, Christmas, even Sweetest Day It would be like all 7 deadly sins in one to forget

Same in my house. I enjoy doing it, so no big deal.

When I met Alla, quite by chance, we had a great couple days together and then I had to leave Prague. She asked me, walking to the subway, if I would email her. I said "I will send you an email every day for the rest of my life" She stopped and stared at me and said "You are lying". I said "No I am not, and I will do it even after we are married and living in the same house" She just laughed.

I have sent her at least one email every day since then, except about 3 days I was in the hospital until one of the boys brought me my laptop, so how would I forget? I have to think of something to write every day!

I do the same with flowers, as described in the much maligned and censored Flower Power topic on RUB. I promised live flowers always in the house. The signal is the emptying of the last vase.

She also does not like cut flowers...better to buy her a plant with flowers she can put in her flower garden, or a blooming houseplant

Vika likes fresh flowers better than almost anything else.

1/Give in - Just give in and make notes, create 10 reminders in your calendar, phone, set alarms and all that stuff, so you won't miss the next one.

2/Own it - Come clean and tell her you can't remember these dates in the way she expects and promise her to celebrate your anniversary on a random weekend of your choosing, by taking her somewhere nice, as a surprise, or getting her a special anniversary gift on another date 'just cause'. (and of course, remember to come through!!!!!)

I suggest putting all the important dates into a phone or auto reminder in the calendar. Also, don't just do the day. If your reminder is "her birthday is tomorrow" you are going to get into trouble again Maybe set multiples.

Tell her you will take her to Hawaii and if she is good you will come back next year and pick her up.

I like it I may actually use this one myself.

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It is a TOS violation to: Condone or instruct, either directly or indirectly, others on how to commit fraudulent or illegal immigration activities in any way, shape, manner or method.

Any more of this and admiistrative action will be taken.