Mary and Jeff

We appreciate you, and hope you have the best IWD ever.

This is our first IWD together. I made sure I didn't forget.

Happy IWD!

Thanks for the info! I'll let him know that. I told him unless there is some big advantage going with a K3 through his embassy in Singapore, it probably would be better to just go with a CR-1.

Hi Everyone,

I know someone who just submitted an I-130 and he stated that he was just starting the K3 process to get his wife over. Now I'm very familiar with the K1 process, but I told him I heard a lot of people on VJ prefer the CR1 over the K3 due to the lower cost (without AOS) and relatively equal amount of times of processing.

From what I read in the guides, it seems it is possible for him to still choose a CR1 path over K3. He has just submitted the I-130, but has yet to receive NOA1 for that. Am I correct to assume he can still take the CR1 path at this point? or is he stuck taking the K3 path?

Can you think of any negatives for him to take a CR1 over a K3?

You can feel free to make whatever assumptions you like and post insults about me or my wife because the moderators do not agree with me and will never take action against you, it is OK to post anything if it is against Gary and Alla. I am not one of the "protected class" Neither are FSU women. Blast away.

It seems I notice that many people assume the worst when I say "My wife is from Ukraine" they immediately have this look that I made a colossal mistake getting a "mail order bride." Then, when they meet my wife in person, they see that with the beauty, there is an intelligent wonderful woman , and immediately afterward they know I am a very lucky man.

I think that if people haven't experienced the way many FSU women act... (to me it is hard to describe, it is more "natural" or "feminine" whatever it is, all I know is I love it.) they cannot give an accurate opinion or judge what we say about our wives. Our experince with them is beyond just positive, it is like each day is a miracle that we found each other.

I think earlier I read some people say we are tearing down our siters and mothers when we don't prefer American women. I completely disagree, American women are wonderful mothers and sisters.... they are just not good wives (my wife's comment)

I just tell people the cure to swine flu is to be immunized with a daily dose of salo in the morning.

A) Once you new the interview day

B) After Interview

C) Once Kiev had your filed

D) Other

I was planning to buy the ticket after I get the interview date. I'm thiking of buying a tiket departing from Kiev 15 days after the interview. What do you think???

2 1/2 months after the interview.... that was because our approval went faster than either of us could ever have expected... and she had a lot of unfinished business with work, family, home, etc... that needed to get done... (we were expecting an embassy interview in July, not April)

But as soon as she said she was ready... I bought the tickets the same day

The consulate in Ukraine is notoriously a "#######" when it comes to issuing visitor visas and notoriously a cinch for K-1 visas. There is no comparison between the two and any attempt to relate a visitor visa experience to a K-1 is useless. Alla applied for a visitor visa 2 years before I met her. She owned TWO flats, free and clear, in Donetsk, had a job paying 5 times the national average income, was leaving two kids and a mother behind AND the trip was a 9 day trip to New York sponsored by an internationally known manufacturer for her to be a translator at a business convention. They had purchased round trip tickets for her.

She was not only denied...she was flatly denied and basically unceremoniously TOSSED from the consulate and scolded on the way out. As she puts it, "treated like a dirty monkey". She was petrified to go back for the K-1 interview where we were treated very professionally, very courteously and were issued the visa without a question asked. I am as certain as I can be. that had I not gone to the interview it would have taken the Budweiser Clydesdales to drag her into the consulate because of the way she was treated before.

There is no telling what the consulate told someone applying for a visitor visa, it wouldn't matter anyway, it is merely a BS excuse to toss them out and deny the visa. There are also so many rumors around Ukraine about this process I cannot believe it. Alla delayed arriving by one month because of business concerns and it was the worst month of our journey. AFTER she had her visa she was told by who knows how many "experts" that it was "no good" without something or another document of some sort and she ran around collecting completely useless documents for every rumor she heard. I wanted to tell her to lock herself in her room and not go out until it was time to leave the country!

When she gets her visa, issued using her Soviet birth certificate, she wil have EVERYTHING She needs to leave the country in her special big envelope. Anyone saying otherwise is WRONG!

This sounds familiar... Mary had the same problem when she applied for a visitor visa a while back to visit some of her family in the U.S. They treated her very rudely and for her it was a traumatic experience that it took a lot of courage for her to be willing to go there again for hte K1 interview.

I'm guessing once they realize they are dealing with a future spouse of a US Citizen they suddenly show their professional side.

Thanks for the info.

I know a copy of the DS-3025 is included with the I-693 the doctor gave us. What I'll probably do is include the copy of it, and add the sealed envelope as well... it is a bit overkill, but I'd rather give them too much info, than not enough.

As for Advanced Parole, we decided that we didn't plan to go anywhere outside the country until the AOS was complete... (her family already lives in the U.S. and we prefer to save some money until she is allowed to work )

Thanks for everyone's help.

We'll see how it goes when I send it in tomorrow...

-Mary and Jeff

About Vaccination, we just sent a copy of DS - 3025 ( I was given in Kiev, when I passed medical exam)

we also made copies of my ID, SSN and an employment letter from Joe's work, his BC and his drive license.

Hi Everyone,

I am just about ready to send out our Adjustment of Status, and I’ve read the guides, forums, government papers, etc…. but I thought it doesn’t hurt to do one final check to see if I might be missing anything before mailing…

Here’s a checklist of what we’re sending in…

• Cover Letter
• Signed Check for $1,010
• Copy of Entire Ukrainian Passport
• Copy of K1 Visa
• Copy of NOA2
• Copy of I-94
• Copy of Birth Certificate (with English Translation and Certified by Mary)
• G-325A (all four pages)
• 4 Passport Photos
• I-693 (The doctor filled out this entire form instead of just the I-693A Vaccination Supplement)
• I-864 (with Employer's Letter, 2006-2008 W2's & Tax Forms/Transcripts, Last 6 months of Payechecks
• I-765
• Copy of Marriage Certificate

Is there anything obvious I might be missing? Or does all look well?

Thanks again for everyone's help!

-Mary & Jeff

Thanks so much for the help.

I was a bit confused as I searched around the forums, as it seemed some used the original and others used copies...so I just want to clear it up.

I'll go ahead with just a copy and see how it goes... with Mary here in the States now it seems I'm willing to live with a RFE as she isn't 5,000 miles away now

Thanks again everyone!

Mary & Jeff

Hi Everyone,

We're starting to put together out AOS package, and I was wondering if you need to send in an original Marriage Certificate you get at the courthouse, or if a regular copy of the marriage certificate will do?

I prefer to hold on to our original Marriage Certificates if possible, but if I am required to give up one of the nice ones...no big deal. I was wondering if anyone might know if just a simple copy is fine.

Thanks,

Mary & Jeff

I think i have seen some one on the forum say theere is a place to check? Its 30 days today and me and my girl have another 4 maybe 5 maybe 7 months to go Oh god I miss her so.

We all feel this same pain..

Keep busy ! You are not alone..

Keeping busy is the best advice... as long as I am doing something it help the time fly... Perhaps try to find things to do to make life easier for your fiance before she arrives... find a store with similar cuisine, find places where she can enjoy her hobbies... etc...

NOOOO - wait for my "mind erasing distilled liquid" -- coming soon....

Once i figure out how to stop falling on the floor after hours of testing it that is...

Please let me know once it is ready to go! In the mean time... vodka will have to do it for me

I think i have seen some one on the forum say theere is a place to check? Its 30 days today and me and my girl have another 4 maybe 5 maybe 7 months to go Oh god I miss her so.

We all feel this same pain..

Keep busy ! You are not alone..

Keeping busy is the best advice... as long as I am doing something it help the time fly... Perhaps try to find things to do to make life easier for your fiance before she arrives... find a store with similar cuisine, find places where she can enjoy her hobbies... etc...

Thank you so much everyone for the warm congratulations! I was able to speak to Mary briefly about the interview... and it seemed like everything went well without too much hastle...

From what it sounds, one piece of advice that might help...when you go to one of the windows where they ask for documents... you may want to be prepared to have your package of evidence for your relationship divided out so it fits through the window...

Mary would be the best one to write out the story, but for now, we (mostly she) need to get some rest after such an exhausting yet rapid journey though "Phase I"

Thank you everyone for the help and support you have all given... I know we'll probably continue needing it as we start to do Phase II - AOS

"DA!! DA !!! DA!!! " Were her words on the phone... I only talked for 1 minute... don't have details... I currently don't care!!! She PASSED the interview!!!!

That's all the matters!

I'm going to have a heck of a time trying to be productive at work today...

Don't worry, I'll give full details later...

Congrats!!!

It's over we got a PINK slip after 2 hours waiting. In our case they not let me be present at the interview. It took only 5 - 7 minutes, and Yuliya came to me with all our documents and a PINK slip, can't wait when we get her passport. Still worrying, I want to see it in my hand.

I envy you! Our interview is next week... I only hope things go as well for us as it seems to be for everyone else

Good luck you two!

I would just like to give my sincerest thanks to everyone who took the time to answer all my questions about this crazy K-1 process! Today we went to the consulate for Vova's interview and everything went well! The best to all of you and I'm sure I'll be back for more help once it's time to adjust his status!!

But oddly enough when we went I handed the cash through the window and the teller handed it back to Alla, scowled at me and said "SHE has to pay" LOL Ok, whatever.

Ok... since I'm too far away right now to pay the visa fees for her, I'll be sure to tell her to pay for the fee herself since "SHE has to pay."

I'll also make sure she knows she shouldn't give the money to an anonymous person on the street claiming they can buy the visa fees for her...

My fiance has all her documents together and is ready to schedule an interview...

After finally getting through to the call center, they said that all the April interview dates are filled and try and call back in 10 days...

I thought they would schedule it for hten ext available time (perhaps in May sometime) is this normal? Should she perhaps call back in a couple days and see?

Also, I was wondering, I noticed there is an 800# for me to call on her behalf... could I possilbe schedule the interview for her (don't worry, I'll be sure to communicate with her to find out what days work)

Thanks!

Mary & Jeff

Strange. I called this morning to schedule our son's K-2 and was told no interviews for May are being offered as April dates are still open and they haven't started to schedule for May yet. Two other VJ members looking for May interviews have been told the same this week. I am trying to schedule one for June.

Yes, you can schedule the interview by calling the 1-800 number but you still pay using the PIN code.

May 1-May 9 are Holidays in Ukraine and the consulate schedule can be all mixed up, but I was told it is because they have not yet "opened" May and June dates as April dates are still available.

Thanks so much for your input Gary and Alla! Mary just called up again and got an interview day set in late April... now it seems we're excited yet scared at the same time with the interview so soon...

I will say "relax" but you won't listen.

Kiev is very straight forward, give all the documents they ask for and you are good to go. But I was worried also, so was Alla. It is natural. I feel a whole lot better this time with the K-2 interview coming up. After our interview, Alla's comment was "We worried for THIS????"

You are right... neither of us will be able to relax until after our approval

I guess I'd much rather spend the energy now worrying about it, planning for the worst, and being pleasantly surprised rather than doing the opposite...

I know Mary had a bad experience several years ago when trying to get a visitor visa to visit relatives in the U.S. Basically I reassured her that if anything bad happens we'll cross that bridge together if it comes up...

I know I sent copies of the letter I got from the NVC to Mary containing the KEV#... I'm guessing she won't need any "official documentation" that the KEV# is for her... in reality... I don't think many people will decide to pay our visa fees just for the fun of it...

It seems also we got an updated copy of the instructions from the embassy, and I did notice a change after looking through it yesterday that they added a statement in regards for paying K/V visa fees...

"ProCredit Bank currently offers this service at every branch all over Ukraine"

So it seems she can get the visa fees paid for in her own city (at a proCredit bank), but this good news seems to be offset with the fact that they changed the medical fee which is now up to $125 (from $100 before) but it seems I won't lose sleep over it...

There is a list of procredit banks which accept these payments inmany cities in Ukraine. The bank may have one particular teller assigned to this. Go to the bak and tell them you want to pay a US visa fee. She will need her passport for ID and the KEV number from the NVC. She can pay when she has the KEV number. They will give her a receipt to take to the interview. Don't lose the receipt!

Thank you so much!

This will definately help set both of our minds at ease... I'll be sure to let her know a well to bring her international passport

Thanks again!

-Mary & Jeff

she will get a receipt to show the embassy the fee has been paid. she can pay the fee anytime at her convienience

APPLICATION FEE

All applicants must pay the mandatory U.S. Machine-Readable Visa (MRV) application fee of USD 131, paid in UAH according to the exchange rate set by the Embassy as of the date of payment. This fee may be paid at any branch of ProCredit Bank in Ukraine. Please note that the Consular Section cashier does not accept payment for the MRV fee.

A sample of the ProCredit Bank voucher will consist of two copies of payment receipts printed on one page. One of these copies has to be attached to the visa application, the other one is the applicant’s copy. The voucher includes a unique payment number as well as the first and the last name of the applicant as it appears in his/her international passport.

The payment can only be made if the visa applicant presents to the bank cashier the original international passport, which will be used for the travel to the U.S., or a copy of the bio-data page of such passport. If the payment is made by someone on behalf of the visa applicant, a copy of the applicant’s international passport must be provided to the bank cashier.

My fiance is little worried as to the exact process with paying the visa fees... as stated in the KEV-1 Instrucations...

it states... "The total fee for EACH K and V VISA APPLICANT (including children) is $131 payable in Ukrainian Hryvnya equivalent only.

Beginning January 01, 2008 the fee for K and V visa can be paid only at the bank."

What my fiance is worried about is, what is she supposed to ask for at the bank, and will the bank give her something to confirm she indeed paid her visa fees? (She doesn't want the bank to just keep her money without knowing the embassy received payment)

If someone doesn't mind sharing, could you tell excatly what the process entails with paying the K visa fees at the bank, and how the embassy knows you have paid?

Also, how early can she pay the Visa fees? she was going to go to Kyiv about a week before for her medical exam, and she thought she could pay for it while she is there...

Your help is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

My fiance has all her documents together and is ready to schedule an interview...

After finally getting through to the call center, they said that all the April interview dates are filled and try and call back in 10 days...

I thought they would schedule it for hten ext available time (perhaps in May sometime) is this normal? Should she perhaps call back in a couple days and see?

Also, I was wondering, I noticed there is an 800# for me to call on her behalf... could I possilbe schedule the interview for her (don't worry, I'll be sure to communicate with her to find out what days work)

Thanks!

Mary & Jeff

Strange. I called this morning to schedule our son's K-2 and was told no interviews for May are being offered as April dates are still open and they haven't started to schedule for May yet. Two other VJ members looking for May interviews have been told the same this week. I am trying to schedule one for June.

Yes, you can schedule the interview by calling the 1-800 number but you still pay using the PIN code.

May 1-May 9 are Holidays in Ukraine and the consulate schedule can be all mixed up, but I was told it is because they have not yet "opened" May and June dates as April dates are still available.

Thanks so much for your input Gary and Alla! Mary just called up again and got an interview day set in late April... now it seems we're excited yet scared at the same time with the interview so soon...

Strange. I called this morning to schedule our son's K-2 and was told no interviews for May are being offered as April dates are still open and they haven't started to schedule for May yet. Two other VJ members looking for May interviews have been told the same this week. I am trying to schedule one for June.

Yes, you can schedule the interview by calling the 1-800 number but you still pay using the PIN code.

May 1-May 9 are Holidays in Ukraine and the consulate schedule can be all mixed up, but I was told it is because they have not yet "opened" May and June dates as April dates are still available.

Thanks for the info! I wanted to double-check to see if this was normal... I had a feeling of deja vu when I heard they told her that... it reminded me how they told me I would get my lost bags in Kiev in a day, then someone else said 3 days, then another said my bags would be sent to Austria... I am so thankful to Mary for letting me know how things work in Ukraine, otherwise I don't think I'd have my bags even now!