clueless_in_usa

Just to clarify: She is allowed to attend the interview without an interview letter, but she must have an invitation. I.e., she must show up on the date of her scheduled interview.

That is what I meant with the question, because she might not receive the packet. However, we are well aware that she can only go to the interview the date the consulate expects her. No doubt about it.

I decided to ask if the possibility exist. They will probably answer in a week. I will let you know.

Who are you responding to? Have you received an offer to have your interview moved up? If so, how did this happen?

To the consulate. I wrote them explaining our situation and asking relevant questions about it. At no time I asked them if the interview could be moved. Instead I asked what we were supposed to do, so everything worked out fine for everybody.

Somebody at the consulate replied with answers to my questions and with a suggestion to apply for a change on the interview date to an earlier date. However, no guarantees are given. I was only told that if we ask for it with the proper justification, it will be considered and a change could happen if they find a way to accommodate her after approving our reason.

That is the reason for my question here: is there a reason to worry if the consulate kindly makes it happen?

In addition to being together earlier (a great consequence), what are the benefits and/or pitfalls of accepting an offer by the consulate to have the interview earlier.

Should we jump on the opportunity if it is available?

She already has all documents she needs, except for the medical exam and the invitation to the interview (packet 3 has not arrived yet).

Is she allowed to go to the interview without invitation?

Thanks for the advice! Even if we say yes, we were told that it may not happen ... but we must respond soon.

I empathize with you. I understand what you are going through ... and be prepared for what is coming. Some laws in the USA are so screwed up that you will not see the end of it for a long while ... and be prepared in case the tables are turned on you, especially for abandonment in a foreign country.

Be very careful! The law is NOT on your side. You are the man, so you can get easily screwed.

I guess I don't understand your comment?? Thanks for the empathy though.

Like somebody else said, you have to be prepared for anything, because she can make any kind of allegations and she may be believed without question (that is what WAVA is being used for), especially when you left her behind in a foreign country. That alone can easily come back to bite you in the A$$.

I empathize with you. I understand what you are going through ... and be prepared for what is coming. Some laws in the USA are so screwed up that you will not see the end of it for a long while ... and be prepared in case the tables are turned on you, especially for abandonment in a foreign country.

Be very careful! The law is NOT on your side. You are the man, so you can get easily screwed.

thanks guys, No, i dont plan on leaving untill at least November

Thanks Kathryn for the forms answer.

If I were you, I would not make any travel plans at least until the end of 2010

Do you really think that your AOS and corresponding Green Card will be ready and in your hands by November? If it happens like that, you are the luckiest guy in the UK.

I do not know how much scrutiny your case will get, but I recommend you to gather as much evidence as possible to answer any and all RFEs you may get while you wait. If you don't get any, count your blessings. But be prepared to call your people in the UK to send you valid documentation to support your answers to difficult questions that you will be asked.

Be realistic, you are not going to leave the USA at least until the end of 2010, if you are not deported first. That is my wild guess.

Nicely put! I would add find a good source for cheap international calling minutes ld post, and check out some internet sites where she can see TV and movies in her native language. You will be glad you did - surprise her with them.intv

Nice phone rates to Russia (Moscow land line), but read the fine print. I use this instead: Phone Cards

I get charged 6 cents a minute to mobile phones. Almost two cents less than the company above.

Feels good to get it finally done, huh?

Good job. Now, relax a little, read all you can here on the forum and don't hesitate to ask questions. We're here to help!

Got our NVC receipt of petition letter today including our Case number.

Here we gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo...................................

Slim, I'm revising my interveiw date to Sep. 11. You gonna stay with the 15th?

And I have Barnaul and some of that excellent Portuguese and South African also. (We ARE talking NATO rounds right?)

If everything proceeds normally, your fiancee's interview should be two months after the date printed on the NVC's letter. In my fiancee's case it was two months and two days (due to the July 4th holidays).

Brad, it appears we met our ladies the same way. I found mine at Walmart. really, she's a cashier.

I also bristle whenever I hear someone start in with the MOB ####### and they usually change their tune by the time I'm done "explaining" things.

My problem is not what they tell me about having an MOB. I could care less about what others say or think, but I am very worried about what these people will tell my future wife. I am not sure that she is ready for the harsh reality, especially after people find out our "large" age difference (by USCs standards).

I worry that she is going to crumble under pressure ...

You want to see his birth certificate?

Here it is!!!!

Satisfied?

Call it how you want, but you didn't buy yours because the local supply was satisfying you. You went exotic because the domestic models, for whatever reason, weren't doing the trick. All this "we met and it was fate. Love brought us together" balogna I don't buy for a second. (You guys do have a pretty good story though... but I don't buy it!) There's a reason all of us have gone global.

I have no excuse for having gone Russian ... I purposely chose to do so. I had an image of the woman I wanted in my life since I was little, and Russian women fit the bill.

However, I have a very valid excuse for going global, but still, many US born Americans see me as the enemy for having gone global after becoming an American myself. I have been asked (not kindly) a few times to "go back to my country" because I do not fully embrace the "American ideas," especially those related to relationships.

My only complain about the USA so far is the inability for some people to keep their mouth shut and say nothing when they do not have anything good to say. Making those intolerant comments is what makes so many enemies around the world for Americans... myself included now (as an American)

It is sad for me to realize that even in my own home country I usually have to hide the fact that I am now a USC. But it helps to have a Russian lady by my side

So, yesterday I returned from the motherland of my fianceé. Besides wanting to spend time with her again, I also went there to prepare her for the upcoming interview at the beginning of September, and provide her, in person (I was afraid to do it by mail), with all the documentation that she will need on her big day. Following are my thoughts about the current state of the affairs ...

1) Sheremetevo terminal 3 is very much a reality. The inside is still lacking, but the structure is fairly complete. Soon it will be better to fly to Sheremetevo than to the congested Domodedovo

2) Aeroexpress is a great way to avoid inflated prices from greedy taxi drivers at any of the airports. Unfortunately, depending on the time you arrive, some times the schedule does not work on your favor and you have to decide what is worth more: your time (waiting up to one hour), or the cab ride

3) The Aeroflot shuttle is not the only way to transfer from Sheremetevo II to Sheremetevo I and vice versa. You can also use the free bus linked to Aeroexpress

4) Going to the consulate in Moscow in person is better than trying to access their phone visa service. I got all the answers I needed in just five minutes

5) Air France managed to finally change the bad opinion I had about them. Of course, it helped to have Skymiles Elite status. But despite the difficulties (a broken plane when leaving the USA and lack of chosen food coming back), this time they handled it great. I am not ready yet to take them from my narrow list of travel providers to Russia

6) I would have stayed longer if I did not have to work to get over this crisis

If you have particular questions that I can answer, feel free to ask.

I did not know if it was better to create a new topic, or add the other side of the coin here ... I will try here first ...

The following is a blog of a guy who lives in Siberia and loves Russian women to the extreme. His words are biased indeed, but they serve as a contrarian argument to all those (especially women) who don't like the competition from Eastern European women (especially Russian).

Check this out.

After you read some of the articles (I especially like the ones regarding feminists), please post your comments

If anybody has his/her k-1 interview in Moscow in September, please let me know in case it happens the same day as my fiancee. You could make a new friend and support each other during the wait. The newest schedule was published today, so check it out if your fiancee is waiting for a word from the consulate. I asked them and they scheduled interviews in September already but they have not sent packets to beneficiaries yet.

Latest Citizen test

Good Luck Comrades!

I answered EVERY question correctly (in my first attempt). And I am the USC. Look:

You answered 100% of questions correctly. Here's your rating:

85-100%: Welcome to the United States! (And, truth be told, you know more about this great land than most Americans.)

1. Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?

Correct

Thomas Jefferson

2. When was the Constitution written?

Correct

1787

3. What are the first words of the Constitution?

Correct

We the People

4. What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?

Correct

The Bill of Rights

5. Which of the following is NOT a right outlined in the Preamble to the Declaration of Independence?

Correct

Right to bear arms

6. Which one of these is a right guaranteed by the First Amendment?

Correct

Freedom of the press

7. How many amendments does the Constitution have?

Correct

27

8. Why does the United States flag have 13 stripes?

Correct

They represent the 13 original colonies

9. Which of these was NOT among the original states?

Correct

Maine

10. What territory did the United States buy from France in 1803?

Correct

Louisiana

11. Under our Constitution, some powers belong to the federal government. Which of the following is NOT a federal power?

Correct

To provide education

12. Which of the following is NOT one of the three branches of the government?

Correct

Federal

13. The House of Representatives has how many voting members?

Correct

435

14. We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?

Correct

6

15. In what month do we vote for President?

Correct

November

16. If both the President and Vice President can no longer serve, who becomes President?

Correct

The Speaker of the House

17. Who was president during World War I?

Correct

Woodrow Wilson

18. How many justices are there on the U.S. Supreme Court?

Correct

9

19. Who is the Chief Justice of the United States?

Correct

John G. Roberts, Jr

20. What did Susan B. Anthony do?

Correct

Fought for women’s rights

See, if people could find entertainment like that in real life, then we wouldn't need TV to bring it to us. Therefore, this is not a valid generalization.

I wouldn't be so sure

OK, for the first time in over a month, Alla and I were able to have a long Skype session. For all of June she had been vacationing to her hometown in southern Russia (Causcusus Mtns.) and took a side trip to a resort town on the Black Sea. I was able to call her on the phone every day and was able to participate also but only by audio.

Anyway I had awoken early this morning and saw that indeed yesterday she was able to pay for her Internet service at her flat and rang her via Skype.

Now to on topic. She told me she had been watching a National Geographic documentary about this water in Canada. We quickly determined what she was talking about was a waterfall.

Being early, my mind was more foggy than usual, and the synapse junctions weren't clicking, when she talked about the waterfall being by Canada and USA.

She kept repeating.......Nee-eh-GAR-a, Nee-eh-GAR-a, Nee-eh-GAR-a.............Oh....you mean Nigh-Ag-ra Niagara Falls.

We both had a nice laugh about Niagara Falls. We agreed that we will go to Niagara Falls. She wants me to try to jump in and go over the Falls!

Is this one of those Red Flags they talk about?

Make sure you visit Niagara before you buy the life insurance ...

he could have just went overseas, did the line up,and pick out his fav five for further review!!

It is easier to pick them from the local store (cheaper because there is no travel costs involved) and he looks like a savior because of the coveted Green Card ... unfortunately he has to whine when things do not go his way.

You are married (not single) the day you say "I do" in any country around the world. If you say otherwise, yo u will be breaking the law, even though you have not officially reported your marriage in that country.

Your marriage certificate has a date. Any claims to the contrary after that date can land you in a lot of trouble. You can get away with it, but if you don't, be prepared for the consequences.

Sorry for posting here but I don't know where else to do it.

I was wondering if my future marriage in the US it will be valid in Italy.

I always thought, for example, that marrying in Las Vegas wasn't recognized here.

Thanks

Marriage is marriage, no matter where it happens, as long as you fulfill all the legal requirements of such country.

If you want it recognized in Italy, you need to take the marriage certificate, properly certified, to the Italian consulate with jurisdiction where you marry. They know what to do with it.

If anyone is ever interested in how to obtain a Private Visa this is how I obtained mine. I would assume it is the same for anywhere in Russia. I obtained a Private Visa because I stay with Luba. In January 2009 on my visit I had a tourist visa. Not really knowing the full details, and not realizing I should have registered it differently , we went to OVIR and were chastised for me having the wrong type of visa. They told my fiancée if it happened again they would fine her.

I scanned my bio page from my passport and sent her this in a pdf file. I could have sent a jpg file just as easily. She went to OVIR and they asked her several questions:

1. Country of birth.

2. The exact place of birth (City, State).

3. Where would I obtain the visa: Country, City, where there is a consulate of Russia.

4. Place of work: the full name of the organization (firm).

5. Position at work – job title.

6. Employer's address (full address of the organization, company)

7. Type of work of company.

8. Cities to visit in Russia.

She had to have her English teacher translate these answers into Russian so she could fill out the form.

It took three weeks for her to obtain the visa. She sent it about a week later by Global Express and I received it in about 6 days. Sent to SF and used normal processing. Had my passport back with visa 13 days later. Figure 2 months, less or more depending how sent from Russia and the processing speed. Company I use in SF cost me $160 - I receive $10 off each time after the first time. They also send me coupons I can give to others to receive $15 off. I paid UPS ground (next day for me because of my proximity to SF) both ways which cost less than $10 total.

The cost for her to obtain the Visa is minimal. Even with her sending it like she did I feel it costs less than paying someone additional for the tourist invitation AND paying someone to register it for you.

Can you register a Business visa with OVIR?

learn as much russian as you can. promote her communicating with other russians so it's not so taboo and be a part of it. they won't talk sh!t on you if you know what they're saying!

Thanks!

I speak Russian ... it is the only language in which we can really communicate ... so far

To tell you the truth, knowing her language has helped a lot ... and it is a blessing for her. I would recommend it to anybody trying to get involved with a Russian speaker, even if s/he speaks English fluently (Russian women only speak Russian when they are angry )

this guy is totally just asking for pity and everyone else's sympathy and if he gets bitter comments, he lashes at them... definitely entertaining;

as i said back in his other thread, he loves to play "victim"; it's not really nice to keep reading about the "poor-me-sob story"

I read somewhere in the Internet the following comment (I am only transcribing, so don't blame me). It was written while they were still married and "happy together":

"S?????....I tagged you in some photos! It was great meeting you! Good luck DEALING with my insane Uncle! Hopefully I will see you soon!"

Once again, I had nothing to do with it (I only removed her name). I am just showing what makes me think what I have written so far about this topic.

In case you have not read it, this may be interesting to read ... a little related to the discussion here. I found it in the IMBRA forum ...

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=204935

... MOB qualifiers have cost me a few "friends" already, because I will never accept anybody calling my fiancee an MOB (nor is she one - we did not meet through an IMB). Some times, when I am told this, I respond: "and I even got a money back guarantee." I may be taking it too serious, but a "friend" must first respect me and my family (and my future family).

The statement above may answer MOX's question about friends I would make if I were to live in Russia

During my first marriage, we met quite a few of the "bad Russians." I felt so sorry for the American spouses who didn't speak a word of Russian and so had no clue the extent to which their wives would bad-mouth them to others right in front of them! I can give you many examples of the types of "negative influences" that my wife encountered from these "bad Russians". But I still would never blame them for the breakup of our marriage. Our marriage broke up because of issues that existed even before we were married or before we met any of these people, problems which were there but which we both chose to ignore. Perhaps these "negative friends" helped speed along the break-up of the marriage, so in my particular case, maybe I should be glad they were there.

Of course, almost all couples fight at some point-- have their arguments, disagreements, rough patches, etc. In those situations, I can see where such negative friends might be the difference between whether the marriage survives or doesn't. But what can you do about it?

1) THE MOST IMPORTANT--- you need to make sure that you truly know your SO and are as certain as you can be about the strength of your relationship and about your commitment to each other BEFORE you even file the petition. If that means you take some additional time to make additional trips to Russia to resolve any doubts-- you do it. Or you have them come here on a tourist visa so that you can spend time together. Or you spend time together with them in a 3rd country. If you don't have the time, the patience, or the finances to do that -- you don't go forward with a petition and simply hope that things will work out.

2) Have open and direct discussions with your SO about this topic (along with 1,000's of other topics) before they come here. Even before they come here, they are encountering Russians with many different views about foreigners and the different types of relationships that they (the Russian women) should have with foreigners. They will recognize that many view these relationships only as a form of "manipulation" and know that for a TRUE relationship to thrive, people with that type of attitude should be avoided.

3) Be vigilant and observant and wary of everyone that you meet with as individuals or as a couple. It's not just Russians that can have negative influences. Often the attitudes of some American friends can be very condescending and hurtful to your SO ... and to your relationship. You can encounter Americans who think that all Russians are liars and manipulators and only here for the green card, or consider all such relationships to be "MOB" relationships, and not "real" relationships.

4) Continually reinforce with your SO that your marriage and your relationship with each other is THE most important thing in each of your lives ..... and ANYone who exhibits attitudes or behaviors that threaten that or that are disrepectful of that MUST be eliminated from your social circle.

The main thing is -- COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION. If you have good communication with your SO BEFORE and DURING the marriage, no amount of communication from these "bad russians" is going to make a difference. If that good communication isn't there to begin wth, then you can't really blame anyone else for the failure of that relationship.

The process cannot be delayed anymore (the long wait is not healthy) and her interview at the consulate should happen within a couple of months.

Regarding your suggestions, I already did 1) and 2) over and over and I have got plenty of reassurance from both options. However, she has never been to the USA and I want to make sure that WE are prepared for what SHE is going to endure here (I know by my own experience).

I was wondering what other's experiences are/were so I can prepare myself for the worst and hope for the best

... but, what if I cannot be there with her often?

What about your friends and family? Could they hang out with her or include her in the group?

Unfortunately I live far away from my family, and I have friends here and there because I work here and there. B)