ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusFlight from E-Burg>Prague>Frankfurt>US
I think there are some airports where you can get a transit visa at the airport if you need to overnight. I have spent the night in Warsaw and Frankfort - and met people from non-visa waiver countries (like Ukraine and Russia) that I think got the visa due to the time they would be in layover. Since I didn't need a visa I didn't really pay much attention. The hotels near the airport are not really near anything cool to see - but you can train it to Weisbaden (I think).
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-06-24 06:30:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusFlight from E-Burg>Prague>Frankfurt>US
I think the response is an oddball way of telling you that she needs a visa to overnight in Prague. I don't think she will be able to leave the airport otherwise. In any event, she can always stay in the airport regardless without a visa. Not sure if she can get a transit visa in the airport to spend the night if necessary, but you might check into that too.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-06-23 15:33:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusSpies like US

Even if Nastasha was HOT, she is still a cartoon. Now, Jessica Rabbit...THAT is a cartoon you can believe in. :lol:


But not a Russian spy.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-07-06 06:41:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusSpies like US
Much prettier than the last two we caught.

Posted Image
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-07-05 19:35:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDo you truly love your fiancé???

Will my fiance is from the States and I am from Canada, so if I were not allowed he would move here in a heart beat. The only reason for me having to move to the States is because of his daughters and his family there, other than that he would have gladly come here instead, both countries are great! :star:


Easy to do as well. That is another reason we debate the issue so much on this forum. Problems of culture, language, cuisine, etc. are viewed in a variety of ways by RUB USCs, and it makes for interesting reading. Perhaps others here will disagree, but it seems to me that Canada is similar enough in most respects that the transition would be an easy one for a lifetime USC.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-02-12 19:32:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDo you truly love your fiancé???

And I always considered FSU women to more "Darwinian" that others and I do not say there is anything wrong with it. ( I could be biased) I think the reason many FSU women prefer older men is that they not only usually have more stable jobs, but have a track record of proving they can keep one. A guy in his 20s or even early 30s is simply too much a wild card to bet your life (and your children's) on. :lol: So I have been told.

And YES I believe in freedom of choice, particularly a choice in who I will sleep with for the rest of my life and I will choose a pretty woman over a, well, not pretty woman, every time. It is the last stand of personal discrimination and I demand my right to it.


We have discussed ad naseum on VJ that most people have no desire to leave the country or even region of their birth, and are very content to live their lives in the place where they grew up. Many of us on VJ seem to be a little different in that regard. Something wrong with it or not, it makes sense to me that to move to a different continent, any one would want a reasonable sense that their life was going to be secure and safe - economically as well as physically.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-02-10 07:29:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDo you truly love your fiancé???

Of course. I have a friend...well...it's along and effed up story. But one of her fiances is in Kiev, actually. And she basically refuses to even entertain the idea about him here, because she'd actually have to provide for him lol. Even if that was for a month or two.
That's FSU girl right there :rofl:


Now there's a switch. Some comments (other than from Slim :lol: ) about the mercenary spirit of Eastern European women, rather than our own? Showing my geezerhood again here, but I don't hear much about ANY woman over thirty joining a guy in equal partnership - let alone paying his way. Seems to me that the stability represented by the ability to hold down a decent job is almost a Darwinian criteria for selection of a guy, the same way men (and be honest here guys) tend to prefer beauty over *ahem* the opposite. Truly poor men, and truly ugly gals, have the same problem dating, and there is nothing new about it.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-02-10 06:26:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDo you truly love your fiancé???

If I could somehow get away for a few months without getting in dip financial troubles here


Exactly my problem!! :thumbs:
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-02-09 22:23:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDo you truly love your fiancé???
We have also talked about an extended stay in Ukraine, as a sort of compromise. I would love to spend 3-6 months (maybe between jobs?) in say, Odessa. Close to the in-laws, and I could enroll in an immersion language school 2-3 days per week. An acquaintance tells me there are several good schools there that will even accept geezers like me if they can pay. Then back to the grind in the good ol' US for the paycheck.

Has any one else thought of or proposed this?
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-02-09 14:48:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDo you truly love your fiancé???

However, absolutely 100% if she would've made the offer to send me a plane ticket to come stay with her, reassured me she'd take care of everything and I'd only have to work part-time when I felt like it, do whatever I wanted whenver I felt like it, and she'd take care of me all in exchange for sex once or twice a month - HELL YEAH! I would've been all over that!

That offer was never made on her end though. She "loved" my offer, by the way.


:lol:
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-02-09 07:59:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDo you truly love your fiancé???

At least it's not your mom calling you the broken rubber... Good ol mom.

:whistle:


Ewwww! Sounds like the voice of experience :lol:
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-02-08 13:46:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDo you truly love your fiancé???

The best one "Oh and is your husband a refugee from Russia also?" Da! Yob tvoyu maht! :lol:


Language :o

I think that's because by nature, we have gone out and reached out to another culture-- so we're probably a very skewed demographic of Americans as well as our SOs :)

People always think i am kind of nuts for wanting to go home with my husband.. but he didn't ever really want to live here-- it was a means to an end for both of us. Since I was very young I had thought I would go back to either the UK/Scotland, France, or Germany... i took the time to learn the latter two languages as part of my possible process (and my medival studies stuff, two birds and all). I always loved the desert and SoCal too though.. lots of time there growing up. So, when I visited Jordan in my husband's area I was in love immediately. He's in the NW corner which is wettest part of their country and the mildest for climate. He lives in a SoCal (Riverside county to be specific) copy of a climate. Rainfall is a bit higher in his area, but not much. Everything is perfect. What matters is the aforementioned finances. Cost of living there is the same as here but with that added bonus of locals usually only making a couple hundred a month. So, you need to make money here and then bring it there and build what you want. Building is cheaper at least, so that part we do have an advantage on... and they have everything we have-- it's just that most people cannot either afford it or do not have the desire to get it (such as a dryer.. they have them but no one cares).

Going over there as an independant person financially means it's wonderful. You can live in the best climate and with all your favorite things. For me, land and home mean 99% of my happiness; social issues only account for 1%. My personality works for that.

I would think this is the same for you RUBers. As long as you like the basic area, have the means, and either don't care about being part of a social structure, can fully integrate, or are willing to attempt to integrate, things are fine.


Seems like lots of us have the same pipe dream/plan, but you are doing something about it. I resent being called a RUBber by the way. :P
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-02-08 11:05:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDo you truly love your fiancé???

The USA is a great place, don;t get me wrong, but it is not the only place in the world and MOST people in the world don't live here and MOST of them don't want to (which may come as a surprise to some Americans :wow: ) I also lived in canada and UK and both were very nice and interesting places.


We have talked and posted about this bit many times. Still surprises me that some USCs don't see it. Most on VJ are pretty accepting though.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-02-07 19:00:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDo you truly love your fiancé???

The comparison, for us, was to live an average to slightly above average lifestyle in the USA OR live a far above average lifestyle in Ukraine. Either way is pretty good. Other than skiing, we actually had a more active social life in Ukraine, in a downtown city, than we do here in a rural area, perhaps not a fair comparision.


Never having lived in Ukraine, I am surprised at the similarity in thinking and conversations we have with the wives. We both agree that either life at current income level is doable, and that it is an important consideration.

Social life is another issue. We find that we, and most of our friends, are so busy that we simply cannot get together as much as we like. The pace of life in Ukraine seems (at least to me) much slower - with emphasis placed on social contact rather than productivity. Honestly, that is part of the appeal of moving there for me. Now if I could just find the time to develop a true fluency in Russian....
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-02-07 13:19:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDo you truly love your fiancé???

Oops... I just noticed that this is in a regional threat, sorry to intrude!


No problem! RUB appreciates the occasional friendly drive by visit.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-02-07 08:41:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDo you truly love your fiancé???

I am a little surprised that so many people said that they would move to Russia / Ukraine to be together with their fiancé. I think that most people who was born in USA and visited these countries only a few times for short period of time with $$$ in their pockets don’t realize what they would sign up for. I think that majority of people who was born in USA wouldn’t last there for more than a year if they had to work in some small Russian / Ukrainian city to support their family. Of course if you are rich and don’t have to work then it is a different story. This is just my opinion.


No doubt this is why we are ok with the idea. You are right, I could never make the kind of cash in Ukraine (with a Ukrainian company, anyway) that I make here. Leisure or nothing I guess.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-02-06 21:31:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDo you truly love your fiancé???
We actually talked about it, or the possibility, regardless of her visa status. I would still love to try it, but now I realize that she might never let me move back :star:
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-02-06 00:06:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusTax Info for Kiev Interview
We used return copies with W-2 copy stapled to the back. Worked fine.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-04-29 18:15:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusVisa Approved!!!
Congrats :dance:
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-05-01 14:03:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusHow many times did you meet before you started the visa application process???

Anna tells me she has 3 months to decide... :lol:


You know that its ok for HER to say that :lol:
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-05-03 07:22:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusHow many times did you meet before you started the visa application process???

Yes true. But you can use that as a trial period, it is OK. :whistle:


Did you tell Alla she was here for your 90 day test drive? :lol:
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-05-02 22:18:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusHow many times did you meet before you started the visa application process???

In order to file a petition, you must document that you have met in person at least one time in the last two years, that is all.


And that you intend to marry within the 90 day period allowed.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-05-02 21:17:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusHow many times did you meet before you started the visa application process???

I'll take the opposite point of view. If you have little vacation time, I wouldn't spend it going to the interview. To me, it would be more useful for you to meet your lady again, as soon as possible, in her home town, in order to know her better before making such a big decision as marriage. I realize you didn't ask for advice, but meeting someone for a week on a vacation at some exotic beach resort is not real life, and not enough time to know someone. Seeing her at home and with her family and friends would certainly be more useful. Granted, I have more time than you, but I met my wife 5 times for a total of almost 4 months before she arrived in the USA. I did not travel there for her interview. The interview is no problem if all of your papers are in order, and if they are not, your being there will not change the fact that she will need to send in the additional documents that they require. My wife's interview was all of 6 or 7 minutes, according to her, and everyone she saw was coming in and out of the interview in 10 minutes. Don't sweat the interview. It's more important to make sure you are marrying the right woman.


Honestly, I did both. Although we met stateside, I visited my wife in Ukraine three times, and went for the interview too. You are among the majority here in saying that the interview isn't really worth attending, and you make an excellent point about time together. One visit is worth a thousand email and skype conversations in my book. Vika did say that it was a huge comfort to her having me there - and that made it worth the trip for me. Also, the interviewer really only spoke to me, other than to ask if she spoke English. Also, my presence was irrefutable proof that we met in person.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-05-02 20:47:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusHow many times did you meet before you started the visa application process???
So long as you can document that you met in person at some point during the last two years, you don't have to meet again. It doesn't look suspicious, and USCIS and consular see that all the time. If it were me, I would save my time and attend the interview. Your attendence isn't required at all, but we think my wife's interview (for K-1) went easier because I was there. Good Luck
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-05-02 19:00:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus10 Yr. Green Card received

Thanks all! Brad, salty fish isn't the only stinky thing she eats! She loves to eat whole garlic cloves as well as onions...she's sort of a health food nut and eats anything that is supposed to have benefits.


Vika too. She makes a dish with cooked eggplant that is SO loaded with garlic and onions. The stench is so foul that it almost drives me from the room. I am getting a little more used to it, but phew! As I mentioned earlier, the salty fish in Ukraine is better, and I can even stomach a bite or two.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-05-04 14:03:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus10 Yr. Green Card received
WoooHooo!! Please tell the lady to eat a salty fish for me (but not really) :lol:
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-04-30 14:19:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWatch National Geographic

I've read the Holy Bible from cover-to-cover probably a dozen or more times. I have admittedly not even read the Book of Mormon a single time cover-to-cover, although I've gone through it, and hell I think I might even have a copy in a box somewhere.


Reading scripture as a purely intellectual exercise, unless your chosen field of study is comparative theology, just doesn't make sense to me. I assume all this mental masturbation (or deep philosophicial thought) happened before you got married. Where on earth would a guy married to a Russian woman find the time for that?
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-04-20 20:49:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWatch National Geographic

Reported TO GOD!!! for thinly veiled personal attacks. :D


:blush: Sorry - former Marine here. We tend not to do thinly veiled well.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-04-20 06:32:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWatch National Geographic

But Brad, you need to read more than just Penthouse Forum :D


Didn't realize that was an atheist periodical. We live and learn. And you are a silly, godless heathen. How is that for a thinly veiled attack.

Edited by Brad and Vika, 19 April 2010 - 09:20 PM.

Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-04-19 21:17:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWatch National Geographic

Atheism is quintessentially about serving something beyond ourselves.


I wouldn't claim to know much about atheism, but this statement doesn't seem to jibe at all with most of what I read over the years.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-04-16 20:24:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWatch National Geographic

And I thought I was the only one who picked up on this. The guy who bought his girl the round necklace, and she got him a jumping toy cow....Man, that guy had NO GAME. He had multiple opportunities to make eye contact, and hold her arm, give her compliments, etc and so on to try and make it a special emotional connection. He acted like he was just her buddy or something. They had a romantic date in a frozen military boneyard?!


Nodoubt. Andthanks for rescuing the thread.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-04-15 07:16:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWatch National Geographic
Please some one interrupt this snooze-fest with a special bulletin, or something....

Edited by Brad and Vika, 14 April 2010 - 06:18 PM.

Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-04-14 18:17:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWatch National Geographic
:huh:
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-04-12 15:28:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWatch National Geographic

Divorce rates is not the whole story with international LDRs. You'd have to factor in how many Fiancee Visa people never actually got married and split up before the 90 days. I grant that this is an interim stage you would not contend with in marrying a local woman. But as you fiancee visa boys know, the 90 day period can make or break a relationship.

I'll be like you guys and make one of those "I know a lot of people" comments and say I know a number of American men who've married 2 or 3 Russian women. They must get addicted and keep coming back for more. But, obviously, these guys keep getting divorced. Why I don't know. But this does not support a theory that Russian marriages work better than American ones.


I agree with most of what I see above. I think the trouble is that for some USCs that reach overseas for a spouse believe that the cultural differences are not just just nice or exotic, they are a cure all for the relationship or personality problems they had to begin with. Other than a cure for lonliness possibly, I think that position is bunk. Whatever personality/emotional problems you have just get packed up in your luggage when you range afield to find some one. In other words, if you are a jackass here, you are a jackass there. It is all about what your SO can put up with, and how much of your SOs emotional baggage you can handle IMO.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-04-09 17:34:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWhere to withdraw money in Kiev?
Cranehand above had a good suggestion too. We use Moneygram to send money to Ukraine all the time. It costs about $10 at Wall Mart, while Western Union can run $30-$40 to send $500. The issue will be how many Moneygram locations are there where you are going, and can you send a moneygram from your present location. Western Union is pretty much everywhere.

You may have a real problem if you try to draw money from a bank in Ukraine with a credit or debit card. Make sure that your passport name and card name match exactly, or the bank may take the card. Fraud is a concern there.

Regardless of where you get money while in Ukraine, if you are in a bank or wire shop, you may want to ask for dollars if you plan to leave cash behind. The hrvna is always more shaky than the dollar, but sometimes institutions cap the amount of dollars they will give you, or claim to run out of dollars. And guard your identity by never disclosing your SSN.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-05-01 12:41:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWhere to withdraw money in Kiev?

Brad,

Find a bank that does not charge exchange, ATM, or any other fees. They exist. I don't even get charge the customary 3% fee for international transactions with my Credit Card. It is great if you spend money in other currencies, even through Internet (like sending flowers to the MIL on March 8th)


Thanks, but I thought all banks charge fees for conversion. Honestly, I usually carry cash, so I seldom worry about the ATM fees any way. When I buy stuff like flowers I use paypal or something, and just pay in dollars.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-05-01 09:10:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWhere to withdraw money in Kiev?
ATM cards work fine everywhere in Ukraine. Ukrainian banks also don't charge fees, but the US banks charge 1) foreign ATM fees, and 2) currency conversion fees. They also round down, and keep the difference. Because the conversion fees are a percentage of the transaction usually, they can be steep.

When I go to Ukraine I usually carry plenty of cash, although I understand that in your circumstances you wouldn't want to walk around too long with a large amount. You might try to draw as much pay in cash as possible just before you leave (not sure if you guys can do that now - old school stuff there). Also, if there is a base in Germany you can get to, the bank on the base should be able to cash a check. Thinking out loud, but you could also use Western Union to wire yourself cash and pick it up in Ukraine anywhere. Years ago, Western Union (on the base) waived most fees for active duty personnel.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-04-30 14:27:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusSlim is AWOL

Have not heard from Slim for a long time. Anyone know why?

Maybe he's off on a Black Ops mission?


No, but he has been lurking around the past day or so. Just not posting.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-05-01 13:24:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusI129F: Divorced. Could that be a problem?

Good luck. I hope everything works out for you.
What does "Touch" mean in your timeline? I am new here.
03/26/2010 - Touch
03/27/2010 - Touch
03/29/2010 - Touch


According to USCIS, a touch just means that some one handled your file. There are bar codes on the files, and each file gets scanned when it is moved or worked with, so they can supposedly keep track of where it is. So some files are touched many times (receipt, placed in file room, moved to different service center, placed in new file room, taken by adjudicator, sent to NVC, etc.). I always believed that a touch is a good thing, because it demonstrates that USCIS has the file, and it is in the process somewhere.
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-05-08 05:09:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusI129F: Divorced. Could that be a problem?
Probably no biggie to get a visa. As stated earlier, USCIS isn't tasked with evaluating the facts and circumstances of your prior relationships. Might be a question at your AOS, but nothing you can't explain. Good Luck!
Brad and VikaMaleUkraine2010-05-07 20:34:00