dmhweb

I don't know of any cell phone that actually charges at 110-220 V with line current (input).

All will have some sort of transformer to bring that down to what the phone battery requires (output) (somewhere around 5 or 6 Volts and maybe 350 to 500 milliamps) you just need to find the correct transformer to match the output.

Any decent electronics store could help you.

Not good news...

http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersEdge...E4AK4L620081121

"It would probably be better from a macro-economic point of view to allow the ruble to float freely," said one senior Russian government official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"But if we do, there is a risk that it will overshoot, fall as much as 50 percent and trigger a run on banks."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122722633203246081.html

"The government has insisted there is no serious crisis and that Russia is much better off than Western countries, airing public reassurances on state television." ... LOL

I usually make her a warm glass of "shut the hell up."

+1

Absolutely hysterical Slim...

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations Sat... That's great!

B)

So if a girl is hot, she's automatically out of the running? You know, hot girls want a good marriage just as much as plain girls. I think it's unfair to discriminate them - after all, the fact that they're hot is not quite their fault, is it?

Um, no. But if she is hot, hot, hot and you look like the Elephant Man - there is a good chance a scam is involved.

That's hysterical AK...

True Dat

Currently in Russia. Registered in Kazan the day after arrival. Went to another town a few days latter. Registered within three days.

Local immigration officer is claiming we can't register here,

Supposed to be able to register at the local Post Office as well...

Haven't tried it but should be able to. Guess it depends on how small & backward the town is

Peanuts LD from LDpost is decent & cheap!

RUSSIA 5¢

RUSSIA, MOSCOW 1.5¢

RUSSIA, ST. PETERSBURG 1.5¢

RUSSIA, MOBILE 7.3¢

• No-PIN dialing
• No need to switch your current long distance carrier
• No expiration period
• No Maintenance fees
• No Connection fees
• 1 min rounding
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• Local access numbers in most states and Canada
• Local Access Number in a Variety Of Countries

...

(:

...

ok...

NOW YOU'RE REALLY PISSING ME OFF WITH THOSE DAMN UPSIDE-DOWN SMILEY FACES!!!

You all need to lighten up!

Sat always has good and generous advice.

As I understand it Olga gets mad at Sat (Mark) for spending too much? time on this board (could be ). She hijacked his account and posted the OP to get back at him.

Some of the n00b's on here don't quite get this and have taken offense.

I'd say the "suckers" part was more in jest than anything else, besides, how do we really know it was Sat and not Olga playing with Sats account again?

Does it really matter?

...

Second, and this is where my question is, my understanding is that the whole visa registration thing has changed quite a bit since the last time I was there. Can anyone point out what the current procedure is? I should point out that we do NOT plan to stay at a hotel in Moscow or anywhere else. We'll fy into Moscow, goof off a bit until it's time for the flight to Kazan, and then stay with a friend there for a couple of days before going to Bavly. Once there, we will stay with her parents. My understanding is that we can register the visa through the OVIR or whatever there - but I've heard that in these small towns, the people involved in this kind of thing are generally clueless. Bavly is a small town and I expect to encounter cluelessness. So - does anyone actually know what today's skinny is on this topic? Not looking for speculation - I can do that on my own. I'm hoping to hear from a recent traveler who has done something similar (i.e. not stayed in a hotel, but used a tourist, rather than visitor/homestay visa).

Thanks!

AKDiver

AK,

I posted briefly on this last year, Thread

The following seems to be a first hand, clear & detailed description of the new registration process. As the person notes below you no longer deal with OVIR. It is now UFMS & the Post Office or local Police and it's the landlord or the inviting party that is responsible for the registration.

TK wrote:

I am Russian, my husband is British. We just came back from Moscow and St. Petersburgh (June-July 2007). He had a visa done by one of the travel agencies, and I registered him under my own passport in Moscow. It was rather easy, though slightly time-consuming. This is what I remember about the procedure.

Preparation

1) 2 registration forms – here http://www.fmsmoscow.ru/docs/uvedomlenie_p...grac_uchetu.doc

I recommend to have at least 4-6 blank copies with you just in case, or 2 filled in copies and 2-4 blank. (They did not have blank registration forms at the postoffice.) Have white-out (aka Tippex) with you just in case (though miraculously they did have one at the postoffice). This is because you cannot make any corrections on the form, the postoffice clerk will reject any forms with cross-outs etc. (leave the unused ones with the post worker, help the “needy”)

2) 2 photocopies of foreigner’s passport

3) 2 photocopies of host’s passport

4) 2 photocopies of foreigner’s migration form (the one that you get when you get the visa)

5) host’s original passport (you do not need the original foreigner’s passport) – but have to show host’s at the postoffice.

6) In addition to the address where foreigner will be registered, do also get the name of the administrative area where the address belongs to. That is, if you are in Moscow, which “administrativnyi okrug” (Zapadnyi, etc.), which raion (Mosfilmovskii, etc.). Try to find out the address of the corresponding “Upravlenie Federal’noi Migragratsionnoi Sluzhby”, or UFMS. Again, such address has to be for the subarea, not just the big “okrug”.

7) Have a large envelope just in case – or you can buy an envelope on the post office.

You can register at the local UFMS office (which might be a hassle), or at the post office which is assigned to the address at which the foreigner will be registered. Alternatively I suggest to go to the central post office of your area. If you are in Moscow, I recommend one of the 3 central post offices:

Central Telegraph (Tsentralnyy Telegraf), Tverskaya ul., 7 (M. Okhotnyy Ryad), Daily 8-22

Main Post Office (Glavpochtamt) Myasnitskaya ul., 26/2 (M. Chistye Prudy), Mo-Su 8-19:45

International Post Office (Mezhdunarodnyy Pochtamt), Varshavskoe shosse, 37 (M. Nagatinskaya) Mo-Su 9-20;

We went to Central Telegraph on Tverskaya, asked where to do registration, joined a line of about 8 people (it was in the middle of the afternoon, at other times the line could be longer or shorter). Next to the relevant window there was an example of how to fill in the form (the forms have to be filled in Russian). We made photocopies of passport pages in the nearby photo service “laryek”. I asked for the address of UFMS, was given a folder with the addresses, found the address (you search first under the big “okrug” then search for the raion). One set of registration form and copies of passports and migr. card is kept at the postoffice, the other set is sent in the envelope to the UFMS via “tsennoe pis’mo”. For “tsennoe pis’mo” one needs to fill in 2 copies of content list (blanks for content list are available at the window). You write the UFMS address 3 times – on the envelope, and on the 2 copies of content list (as you will see later, it is a good idea to write the full address of UFMS on the content list).

I was rather slow (made a few mistakes while filling in the forms) so it took me about 40 minutes – but others may do it faster. As far as I remember, I paid less than 150 rubles – for the processing of the “tsennoe pis’mo”. (The registration itself is free.)

They give you the bottom portion of one of the forms, and one of the copies of the content list (as I understand, this is what people call the “coupon”), both stamped and signed. Make a copy of both of them straight away just in case.

Before we left, my husband gave both the bottom portion and the “coupon” (the content list) to my father (we kept the copies of both), who then sent both of them via “zakaznoe pis’mo” to the address of UFMS to which we sent our registration form in the first place (remember that this is why it is a good idea to write the full address of UFMS on the content list). He went to an arbitrary post office, and it cost him less than 50 rubles (possibly with an envelope). One needs to send this form within two (working) days after the foreigner’s departure. According to some law regarding foreigners, the govt has to take off foreigner’s name from their database upon his/her departure – and obviously it would be easier for the govt to comply with the law if the hosts does send the bottom part and if the same UFMS handles both registration and taking off from the database.

13/07 17:14:43

... some jackass rookie window clerk said he would not accept it. He refused my request to speak with his superior. He refused to give me his name. He refused to put the reasons for not accepting my petition in writing. He insulted me and was rude and dismissive. I felt like I was talking to a prison guard, not a civil servant. ...

Unfortunately, sounds like typical Russian Customer service... Any idea if the person you were speaking to was a USC? They employ a lot of Russians at the embassy. Did you try going to the USC service section?

Just kidding... But, seriously

Is there anyone on this forum with positive first hand experience at obtaining a tourist visa to USA for a Russian citizen?

Don't know

Is there anyone who can give me concrete information on the income, property holding and familial obligation minimums required for getting a visa?

No, this is left to the CO's judgement.

Can anyone refer me to a reputable travel agency in Russia that can assist in obtaining a visa without ripping off me or anyone else involved?

Not likely, an agency would have no impact on CO's decision.

... would like to make arrangements for her to visit me in USA.

Realistically, not possible (based on what you've mentioned) but what the heck, you only live once, go for it and then come back and tell us how it went!

Cheers!

Benjamin Franklin:

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

I have been chatting with Masha for many weeks and we both would like her to visit me in the US. She has found the one and only agency in her town and asked for info and pricing on getting a tourist visa. They gave her a quote for helping her with the US Embassy in Moscow and getting plane tickets. It seemed quite expensive. She does not own property or a business that would give her a reason to return to Russia. She does not have children or dependents. Not much to reassure the embassy that she would return to Russia.

Can anyone recommend an agency that has reasonable fees and a good success rate in these situations?

Not much positive information regarding agencies. There must be some reputable travel agencies in Russia that can give sound advice to Russians wishing to obtain a tourist visa to USA. I didn't see anyone so far identifying yourselves as Russian travel agents or consular officials. Debating each other about a trip to Russia that I am not planning on taking is not helping me much.

Is there anyone on this forum with positive first hand experience at obtaining a tourist visa to USA? Is there anyone who can give me concrete information on the income, property holding and familial obligation minimums required for getting a visa? Can anyone refer me to a reputable travel agency in Russia that can assist in obtaining a visa without ripping off me or anyone else involved?

Welcome to VJ!

I'm sure no one here wants to rain on your parade but what you are suggesting is just not possible for the majority of Russians, let alone an unattached Russian woman. No offense but the first thought I had after reading your post was "scam". It seems you have the impression that a travel agency could help obtain a tourist visa to enter the USA? This I'm afraid is not possible.

There is no simple formula for obtaining a tourist visa from the US Embassy. If the CO (Consular Officer) feels that the applicant has significant ties to Russia then they may grant you such a visa. Sorry, but from what you have described, she doesn't stand a chance (with or without you paying some agency).

If it makes you feel good, then by all means send her money but don't think that it would help her obtain a tourist visa.

Good luck!

I don't think that the people who run my country now are capable of completely changing their old Soviet ways. It can only happen when the new generation of people who don't remeber anything about the Soviet Union come into power.

As someone wise once said, "Forget the past and you'll be doomed to repeat it"

Prenup:

Yesterday I was in a trout stream with a lawyer

Is that like being up $#!T creek without a paddle?

Reminds me of the old joke about the lawyer and the catfish.

LOL... Yeah, and the latter is a fish!

...

its better to leave all bacterias collected outside near the door:)))lol

...

This always cracks me up...

There is much more "bacteria" on ones sweaty smelly feet than on the bottom of your shoes!

This is really just a hold over from when you would come into a dwelling after walking around in soil/mud/slush etc. and not wanting to track same about the dwelling. In many urban areas this has no basis any longer except in the winter snow/slush and then I'd say most people do remove boots or whatever before walking about inside. I'd say it's still practiced more in Russia because there's more soil in & around the streets (at least that's been my experience).

Cheers!

...

Is it too hard to get multiple visit tourist visas now? I know that it has saved me a bunch of hassle and money traveling to Ukraine. Of course, Ukraine is not Russia.

...

Correct me if I'm wrong but US Passport is all that's needed to enter Ukraine now. No Visa required. Or should I say no pre-entry visa required. I guess the stamp in your passport becomes your visa.

Also see the Supplement to I-693.

Hi there.

I was hoping someone could help me with a few questions.

My wife and I have been through the K1 visa process. She is from Russia.

We have our interview coming up for "conditional" permanent residence within the month.

My wife had her medical in Moscow for the interview. We did not request extra copies of her medical records.

Regarding vaccination shots:

We do not have any of her vaccination records.

We are trying to get the info. from her doctor's in Russia.

My lawyer said we do not need to scheudle a new medical exam, but we should get some offical documents

from my wifes doctors in Russia stating that she has all vaccinations.

I could bring this information to one of the gov't appointed doctors here in the US and they could sign off that she is up-to-date.

(without having to pay the extra money to get a new exam and shots).

My question is: What vaccination shots are required? What proof do we need from my wife's doctor in Russia?

Thank you very much for your help!

Has it been a year since she had her medical for the Visa? If not then she shouldn't need to repeat.

Without a copy of the DS3025 (the one that was sealed in the envelope for the interview in Moscow) some vaccines may need to be taken.

Any records you can get may help avoid duplicate vaccines. Take a look at the instructions on the I-693.

Good luck!

That was October of last year.

Oops...

You would think that the embassy would get tired of answering emails and phone calls about all this and just change their website to make it clearer.

Efficiency is not part of the government plan. What is clear to one person might still be confusing to another. And of course some people read but don't understand, and others still just don't read. So maybe it will reduce the volume of calls but not eliminate the need for the person who answers. Plus for those who call the embassy makes a buck on that too.

yep I called them twice and I think it costs me about $5 each time.

Nah... never call them unless it's absolutely necessary and even then you won't get to talk to anyone with answers and they will just pass your question on. Most of your questions can be answered buy DOS in Washington using the Visa info line 202-663-1225.

So i just realized the ds156 and 156k forms I need for the interview on 9-26-07 expired 7-31-07, so I went to the uscis website to print the revised forms and the forms are not there.......Not even the old ones are up.......?? I am leaving for Russia in about a week and I am wondering if any one knows how long the uscis usually takes to update forms?

You can probably just use the old ones... looks like they are taking them until October... then they go electronic... not sure if that includes the DS-230.

Attention! Beginning October 25, all K1, K2, K3 and K4 visa applicants must submit a completed Electronic Visa Application Form. The Electronic Visa Application Form must be filled out online at http://evisaforms.state.gov. After filling out the form online, applicants will be able to print a copy of their visa application form, which will include their data in a barcode format.

The Electronic Visa Application Form is not available in the Russian language. Answers to the questions on the application must be in English and must use English characters. The applicants are welcome to use the Russian language translation to guide them through the online English Electronic Visa Application Form.

Effective October 25, 2006, the old version of the application form DS-156 will not be accepted.

Actually, you can still buy the stuff over the internet. It is useful in cloud chambers, calibrating equipment, etc.

...

Amazing... But you'd need a state budget to buy enough to use as poison...

0.1 microcurie for $69 x 32,000 = over $2 million for a lethal dose (50ng) or something like that. These quantities are so small it would be very difficult and quite suspicious to assemble such a dose unless you have the power to make it (gather it).

What a perfect chain of logical conclusions. Five Russians walk in a store with counterfeit $100 while Putin visits = they are his security people = Putin is aware and involved = Russia is an enemy.

Yeah, That's why I called it bizarre...

But, the apparent backsliding is really troubling.

Notably, the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, a Russian dissident, in 2006 was announced as due to polonium poisoning [34] (see Alexander Litvinenko poisoning). According to Nick Priest, a radiation expert speaking on Sky News on December 2, Litvinenko was probably the first person ever to die of the acute α-radiation effects of polonium.

This stuff (polonium) is so rare and so toxic (it's 250 Billion times more toxic than cyanide) handling it is almost impossible and it can only be made by states with large nuclear programs. It also leaves a fairly obvious breadcrumb trail.