akdiver

Ahhh, finally someone like me who didn't marry through a time machine.

Although....I will say - if I had a time machine, I would use it to go back and check out babes through the ages (:

So to continue on a discussion that was touched upon on another thread, what "wonder" does your new SO find so interesting or amazing?

Did you teach them yourselves?

My wife was a "non-driver" before she came here.

a). She got the manual from the DMV and studied it for a week.

B). Went back to the DMV, she took test and got learner's permit.

c). Practiced for a two weeks or so, under my instruction.

d). Went back to DMV, she took road test and got license.

She had her driver's license after being here just under a month, and before we got married.

Pretty brainless overall - nothing to worry about.

One thing to keep in mind. For the first time driver, and for those of us who have 20-something brides, insurance rates are gonna be sky high.

My wife renewed her passport last year by mail through the Russian embassy in DC. Wasn't difficult or expensive as I remember, but took a while.

My understanding though is that they have changed the requirements and you have to drop off and pick up in person. If that is really true, I don't see how these passport services can help you - unless the requirement does not apply to such services (which wouldn't surprise me at all - someone is getting kickbacks), in which case, they would be well worth using for many people (like us, who would have to buy 2 plane tickets to Seattle).

Had to giggle about your description of Alaska's beaches.

Sorry, but at this point I've lost all patience with the stupidity of this process.

They talk to hundreds of people each week. They do not have the time or patience to reschedule people for the sake of personal convenience. Show up at the appointed time (that you have waited many months for), or not. If I were you, I would just keep the Monday appointment and suck up the costs.

I attended a beautiful Hawaii wedding this year. But! It's only good if you have attendees who can make the trip - for the expense, they almost have to spend a week there because it's just silly to go to Hawaii for only a weekend. If you decide on a beach wedding, you might consider a coast line nearer to you.

Not much point in a beach wedding here in Alaska - the cost for "attendees" flying up here isn't any less than Hawaii, and the beaches all look like gravel or mud parking lots anyway.

How do people do it? Is it possible to plan a real wedding in the USA in less than a month, but not in Las Vegas?

I'm also not so sure "confidence" is the primary reason most women slog to the grocery store in Jammie bottoms and no make-up.

I'm very glad I do not have a "fashionable" wife. That fashion ###### is expensive...and a huge waste of money IMHO.

Proof of on going contact: Receipts from Western Union

showing Cameron sent Svetlana at least $100 a month for the last 8 months, emails from each other, a call record.

Then why the heck are you sending her $100 each month?

Love

Or, possibly he is not yet married to his "spouse"

I am married. My employer doesn't offer family plans.

Assurant isn't available in my state.

Good luck!

I am not able to put my spouse on my work sponsored health insurance.

What are the alternatives? I want her to have medical insurance. Running into all sorts of road blocks.

Why won't they let you put her on your insurance? If it's not too personal that is.

OP: you can get a short term policy of various kinds. When my wife changed jobs and we were without insurance through her job for the first 90 days, we used such a policy. Got it through Assurant. http://www.assuranthealth.com/corp/ah/

Russian women also still believe in dressing nicely and using make-up EVERYDAY. They enjoy looking good if only just for their husband...no sloppy sweat pants or worn out jeans around the house. For me, this is one of those things that really contrasts Russian and American women in my many observations.

My Russian wife usually doesn't bother with makeup or fancy when she is going out, let alone around the house. She also doesn't need makeup or fancy clothes for me to consider her beautiful. I am SO THANKFUL she is confident enough in herself that she doesn't feel the need to waste her time with that stuff, and can focus her time on things that actually matter.

I'm willing to bet large sums of money that the numbers will correlate well with this theory.

Age at marriage for those who divorce in the United States

--------------------------------------------------

Age Women Men

--------------------------------------------------

Under 20 years old 27.6% 11.7%

20 to 24 years old 36.6% 38.8%

25 to 29 years old 16.4% 22.3%

30 to 34 years old 8.5% 11.6%

35 to 39 years old 5.1% 6.5%

How many men on this forum had an American wife before moving on to a FSU fiancee or wife? Now that ought to tell us something.

http://www.divorcerate.org/

According to enrichment journal on the divorce rate in America:

The divorce rate in America for first marriage is 41%

The divorce rate in America for second marriage is 60%

The divorce rate in America for third marriage is 73%

So, if you already had an American wife, we can expect that you have a much greater chance at divorcing the second one too (relative to someone on their first marriage).

The piece of information that is more useful is age at first marriage, along with education level. The theory is that the younger and dumber you are when you get married, the more likely you are to get divorced. I'm willing to bet large sums of money that the numbers will correlate well with this theory.

If the wife was a teenager at first marriage, the marriage is much more likely to dissolve than if the wife was at least 20 years of age at marriage. The first marriages of brides under age 18 years are the most likely to dissolve at all marital durations, followed by the marriages of women 18-19 years of age at marriage. Marriages of women at least age 20 years at marriage are much less likely to dissolve (table 3 and figure 1). After 10 years of marriage, 48 percent of marriages of women under age 18 years at marriage have disrupted compared with 40 percent of marriages of women who were 18-19 years of age at marriage, 29 percent of marriages of women who were 20-24 years of age at marriage, and 24 percent of marriages of women at least 25 years of age at marriage (CDC).

Without an EAD one can not work legally.

My thought process was if you are not out in the work force, that you should be doing work at home. Just some little things, nothing major like re-painting the house.

Am I unreasonable to expect some of these things to be done?

Furthermore, she can VOLUNTEER her time. This will allow her to develop localized job skills, practice language if needed, and cultivate references for the eventual job search. My wife was here for all of a month before she came up with idea all on her own, simply to relieve boredom. It worked out well for her. Within 6 months of her arrival, she got a job making about $35K/year (with full benefits, including 50% off a masters program for BOTH of us). Within 3 years of her arrival, she completed a masters degree and got a job making $60K/year. It all started with her initial volunteering, which got her a reference for the first job.

Good luck!

I decided it will be another mystery of this forum

Is that just a polite way of saying, "I'm not really sure."????

I'm a permenent resident, my husband is a citizen. Please, if you know, tell us how to bring my grandma to US. Thank you.

...IF my husband was going to work for me AND we were related...

Is it too late to request them to change it, and why didn't you ask them to do it right then?

I would worry more about Russian customs, not American. They will require a document about legality of the money over $10k (Amex checks included).

On the American side - there is no tax. The customs form is about money laundering and such things, not taxation. You will fill out the form (which you can get on-line and fill out in advance), make your declaration, and that will be that. Given that she is bringing a check rather than cash, they will not even think about caring.

One thing to keep in mind is CASHING the check. If her name is on it, she will need an ID. With an amount that large, they will probably not just do it with a passport - they are likely to want a social security number, esp. since she will not have an account anywhere - and be unable to get one without an SSN. All things considered, you could probably save a lot of effort if the check is made out to you, or to you "or" her.

Why is she bringing money that is not hers with her? If some of it belongs to her kids, she should just leave it there with her (unless I misread the OP).

Cheers!

AKD

How To Shop

MEN:

I need item X. I go to store Y. I go directly to where item X is located, grab the item, go to the register, pay with cash or credit card and go home.

WOMEN:

Go to the mall. OH LOOK!!! A Sale!!!

Yup it's me again. I have been to Kazan 3 times since I have been on here. I now have a beautiful fiancee. I am working on the forms. Kind of skipping around a little. On the I-134 form, I have a co-sponser. On my form can I put something like, I intend to provide all means of financial support needed including room and board. On co-sponser for can I use, I intend to provide anything that Cam and Svetlana can not provide for themselves.

You need a timeline. If you haven't filed yet the I-134 isn't required for the initial filing.

You need a timeline. If you haven't filed yet the I-134 isn't required for the initial filing.

How much is the fee to file the I-129F packet.

Saw the headline - was expecting a post from Cam.

So disappointed.

That's pretty cool! I lucked out, a small Eastern European corner store opened up right down the street from me that's stocked with all sorts of Russian goodies too.

Their prices are kinda high though - but that's how it goes.