biggish data

I129F: 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 Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-07 20:34:00

Almost true. Just for information purposes, ya'll should read the new post from Kathrin where a US Army officer, married for years to a woman who came legally to the US on a crewman visa (!), cannot adjust any way. She would have to go home and sit out the 10-year ban.

Is there a link Bob? That would be helpful for all the posters we get here suggesting that being out of status isn't a big deal (assuming that is the case here).

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-08 11:53:00

It's my understanding that "invitations" are generally not given a great deal of weight in the process of issuing a tourist visa. They're more like niceties that add credibility to the visitor's stated reason for being in the country. Ultimately the consulate will judge each case on its own merits and risks. So even if onee did write a letter vouching for another person, it's not a legally binding endorsement or acceptance of responsibility.

... to the best of my knowledge.

That makes sense unless there is an ongoing, documented pattern of sponsorship leading to overstays. I don't know how many it would take to put you on the radar though.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-08 05:40:00

This kind of visa cheating to get backdoor marriage and overstays is the reason single Russian women are often turned down for tourist visas...and, in fact, any Russians, males or females.

But, again, you're proof it can seemingly work out.

I think it is tied to the intent of the visa recipient. Based only on what I have read here, if you intended to come to America as a tourist, to work, etc. and meet some one - you are fine. The trouble seems to be with the facts and circumstances. If I were the case officer, I would have a tough time believing that any one fell in love and developed a legitimate relationship leading to marriage during the span of a vacation - but it apparently happens.

You are right about Eastern Europeans having to beat a presumption that they intend to stay. Vice Consul in Minsk actually said as much to me - in addition to the already existing presumption that all visa recipients intend to immigrate, there is a presumption that Eastern Europeans will illegally overstay. I think the number he gave me was that 80% of the females under thirty who travel from Belarus to America on any kind of visa do not return. I would love to see stats on that for Ukraine and Russia.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-08 05:38:00

I am not sure there is a database for the USCs who invite others. There may not be any cross checking, or process for that. Don't see how one problem like that could be attributed to you, but others may have more solid information. I can't speak to Russia, but the Vice Consul in Minsk does keep files, and might remember enough to look up a prior letter, or at least ask a question.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-07 20:39:00

Speaking if lady sponsors in the RUB forum: Anyone knows what happened to that pretty brunette who sponsored a fiance (or husband?) from Belarus? I forgot her screenname.

Her name is Amburger, or Steakbaker, or something.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-14 19:40:00

When someone opens up their post by saying: "I'm not trying to be combative"...they're trying to be combative. Fix bayonets...they're coming at you. They have shown you their true intentions. And in this particular case, the intention was not to invite discussion, but to pompously lecture and scold some of us who harmlessly compared notes on our wives and fiancees life patterns.

What else should we discuss, jet lag? The best Vodka?

Now you are just being provocative. You know guns and pie are the only safe subjects around here. What were you thinking?

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-13 17:09:00

Uh-oh! Looks like several more candidates for the ignore function :lol:

I wonder if we all ignore each other at the same time, if some cosmic black hole will open up and suck the forum right over to the OT, or maybe expats - they need new meat over there.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-12 22:49:00

Looking back on it, I would've left it up to her a little more and not tried so hard to convince her of how it was... just let her figure it out on her own. For those of you who're in a better position to give her an "allowance" and force her to budget for her own stuff - do it. The quicker she can balance her own budget and figure out how buying things on credit works (and the subsequent necessity to work in advance to pay for these things later) the better off you'll be.

It's like a force-field that wears down. One day the final hard candy shell will fall off and poof! she'll be "normal." The one thing I'm wondering, and you maybe could shed some light on this - do they go back to day one when they step foot on the home soil? A "when in Rome" sort of thing?

The problem with the allowance idea is that it quickly becomes a moving target. As to the force-field, well, sort of. She does retro back a little after a trip (at least her first one). And I get no end to grief when her girlfriends return to the mother ship and she can't. She does think that every day she has nothing important to do here could be better spent in Ukraine. Unfortunately there is no Lear jet in our future, so the annual visit will have to do.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-12 07:25:00

It seems to happen between the second and third year.

Good to know. I do see a gradual progression though.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-11 15:13:00

And, let's face it...Russian women REALLY like to look good and I'll add, sexy. I'm sure her fellow male students in her English class look forward to class everyday just to ogle her well displayed female form. Good thing I'm not the jealous type. I actually like her dressing to look great, and she always does it with class. But with the bills, I'm not such a a happy camper.

Same here. Vika dresses to the nines to go to class, and always takes time to look great. She gets stares everywhere, that she claims not to notice. I am resigned to the wardrobe coming with the territory.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-10 10:23:00

My pet beef with my wife is her totally disorganizing and destroying my old system of storage. It happened in the kitchen (I can't find anything!). It happened in the linen closet (I can't find anything!). It happened in the bathroom (I can't find anything!). It happened in all the clothes closets (I can't find anything!). The whole place is different and I am not happy. If her system had some method or logic, OK, but it seems to be based on Chaos Theory. I can't even find my daily vitamins and meds anymore. My life seems to be one continuous search for something I know is located somewhere within the confines of my home.

For you guys just having your fiancees or wives coming over to be with you...DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!! Defend your closets and drawers (the wooden ones).

I suspect that we actually are getting short on closet space. Vika is slowly pushing my veshi into a smaller and smaller space. My work monkey-suits are about to get bumped into the spare room. I checked the closed out and guess who had filled it already. She finished classes last week, and I have already seen several new outfits. Shoping to relieve stress or boredom frightens me. We can make do without joint accounts for the present.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-10 06:58:00

Nor does the "remember when we talked about that yesterday?" discussion.

I seem to have better luck with this one. There is apparently some kind of shelf life for certain discussions. After a few weeks though, revision and selective memory are prevalent. Occasionally I even forget something important :lol:

I know this because Vika has an absolutely flawless memory for any mistake I make. I mean total recall - it is unbelievable.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-09 12:16:00

Hey everyone... thanks for all your warm wishes... everything went find at lax. flight landed at 6 pm, by 715 she was walking into my arms.. Flowers, chocolates, and clean sheets were waiting for her. I had not seen her since jan 3.. so wow. we had a great drive home, and once again we have fallen into our comfortable rhythm. Now she is resting in the peaceful sanctity of our home.... life begins....

Mark

Very cool Mark. Sounds like you are on your way. Enjoy the rest of the journey, and thanks for taking time to post up for us.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-08 21:17:00

As for changing the sheets and cleaning the house - don't set the bar too high. Let her know you're a slob now so she'll never complain about it later. "But my queen, you knew I was a slob when you moved in here."

An important point. We do occasionaly have the "remember when we talked about that in Ukraine" discussion. Not saying it helps or anything though.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-08 11:26:00

Congrats!

Two things:

1. New sheets are fine. It shows you care and have only been "used" by you as a couple.

2. No matter how clean you think your house is before she arrives it really isn't.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-08 07:30:00

So, how's it going? :rofl:

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-08 05:43:00

No Saturday delivery or pickup, I believe, either. Our interview was on Tuesday April 20 and wasn't released to Fedex until the following Monday. We picked it up in the Kherson Fedex office (interesting place) on Wed. the 28th and flew to the US on May 1st. You may get lucky and it may be released in two days or there may be a slight delay of a week.

Several of those days were probably due to transport from Kiev to Kherson, right? Any way, you are spot on about not knowing for sure, and building in time. To the OP, definitely do not try to turn it around in a week. I have talked with a couple of guys that are early in the process, and they suggested that they had a tight turn around. I think you are running a big risk trying to do the medical exam, interview, visa pickup, goodbys, and flight home together in less than two weeks. I understand that the medical facility is only open certain days now too. Most of us have schedule issues and limits on our vacation time, but this part of the process is too important imo to have a time related problem.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-14 19:53:00

Thanks for the info gents, but I was wondering how soon you picked up your visa at the FedEx office. The next day? 2 days? 3 days? Am I crazy to think we can have it with an interview on Wednesday before a flight on Saturday?

Thanks again,

Steve

Sorry to multi post here, but I forgot to say that your time frame seems to be too tight to me. Interview + 3 days = too late to catch the plane. If you are delayed even one day, it is Sunday, and Fedex may be closed. We built in a week or so.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-13 19:46:00

On Brad's disagreement, I will modify my suggestion.

Make plane reservations at your own risk and do not whine when you lose money because something unexpected happened. Check the fees for changing plans and be fully aware of what you are doing when you make the reservations.

That is good advice. It really comes down to math. If a $1,000 ticket will cost $200 to change, but a last minute ticket costs $1500 - the choice seems easy to me. Maybe a compromise where you buy yours now, and pick SOs up after approval or something. We just decided to leave extra time, and take the risk.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-13 19:31:00

Thanks for the info gents, but I was wondering how soon you picked up your visa at the FedEx office. The next day? 2 days? 3 days? Am I crazy to think we can have it with an interview on Wednesday before a flight on Saturday?

Thanks again,

Steve

I just checked with my wife, and the word is three days. I thought two, but she was sure it was the afternoon of the third day. We checked at 1:00 or 2:00, and were called back later.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-13 19:29:00

It is one of the delivery options offered. It is generally the fastest way to get the visa. Usually two business days.

I strongly advise against buying any plane tickets before the visa is in hand.

I will (as usual) disagree on this point. Just allow enough time to get the visa before you fly. I went to the interview with my wife, we picked up the visa, then flew back immediately. Well, in a week or so. Bought the tickets as soon as the interview was scheduled, and never a regret.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-12 22:40:00

No soap...no radio.

Or negative thought or words

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-15 10:42:00

This is me, totally not understanding the dialogue about Canada :whistle:

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-14 21:23:00

Not to mention what it could do to Slim's reputation.

That right, naked-boy? You are developing quite the rep yourself Gary. :lol:

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-12 22:42:00

My Eyes!!!! My Eyes!!! That is not an image I want to think about.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-12 07:19:00

Since I'm kind of on house arrest right now... that'd be a no.

I should know by the end of the month if I'm allowed to travel this summer. I'm also unemployed too so unless my wife is buying the gas... it may be a while. She's ready to take a little roadtrip and we do need to get out and do something together, but it's going to be a few weeks, minimum. I'll keep you posted.

Just give me a couple of weeks notice. Good luck with the other bit.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-11 15:17:00

Since I so seldom get the chance - I'm going to agree with Jenn!

As to the OP, I will not ignore anyone. Ever. This is the internet, it's not that serious. Sure I'd like to think I could be "friends" with folks on here (even met a few of the RUBbers in person)I can't say that I'm going to have "enemies" on here. Truth be told, you guys who're "enemies" here on VJ would probably be very good drinking buddies in real life. Don't ignore that!

Speaking of drinking, are you headed down here again soon?

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-10 19:07:00

Possible problem with visa packet...need advice!

Hi everyone,

My fiancees K1 visa was approved. She received 2 packets from Moscow. One had the K1 visa, the other was the sealed packet she need to give immigration when she goes through customs. The problem is the packages looked alike and she opened the wrong one by mistake. Our concern is she will have a problem at immigration now that the packet which is supposed to be sealed is not sealed.

Can she send the packet back to the embassy in Moscow so they can send her a new "sealed" package?? Or will they accept it taped up?? She lives in Ekaterinburg so can she go to the consulate there and have them issue her a new sealed package???

Please help, any advice is appreciated...hopefully this has happened to one of you out there and can advise us on what to do!!

Buckeye1

Sorry for your trouble. I remember the Kiev CO giving Vika her packet with the warning "do not open this envelope", and there was a warning on it in English. We were told that the packet must be sealed upon arrival, or the docs were not valid.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-14 20:04:00

Ok.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-16 21:13:00

Sure he can. I never disagreed with that and my opinion only applies to me. I just wouldn't do a pre-nup or snub my wife or children, ANY of them. I do not say it is morally better, it is just how I am.

However to correct your math just a little...

Lets say I have $100 right now. If I die Alla gets it all. The kids get nothing. I trust her to give whatever is left when SHE dies to the 4 boys. So you could say that, right now, if I die the kids get "nothing"

IF, on the other hand, Alla and I got divorced we would each have $50. If THEN I died, each of "my" kids would get $25, so they are actually money ahead, at this point, if I get divorced than if we stay married. They "lost" their inheritance when I got married again. Too bad for them. I share my life with my wife. We, together, as parents care for children and grandchildren. Before she left, Alla bought a huge amount of stuff for OUR grandchild who's 1st birthday will come and go while she is gone and sent it off to OUR son. So some of the kid's "inheritance" just got given away to the grandson. Oh well.

OK look. It just sounds to me like you are either passing a moral judgement on some one, or just making another statement about how much you love your wife and how close you are. If the latter, more power to ya. As for the math, why not prove how great it all is and just transfer everything into Alla's sole name now? Its all the same anyway, right? My point is still that you can do whatever you want, we all can. If it's legal there is not a thing wrong with it.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-16 21:07:00

I married my wife in Russia, so if I get divorced it would get very interesting.

Anyway, in my state there is marital property and non marital property. Anything owned prior to marriage is non marital property. So the only thing we'd split are things obtained after the marriage. I can live with that. So, all this talk of a 50-50 split of everything is not always the case.

Absolutely. Like I said earlier, state laws differ.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-16 20:51:00

I have no practical knowledge of death. I have a will. If I die, Alla gets everything unless she also dies at the same time (or within 30 days from the same cause) and then the kids get everything divided four ways.

Of course. Silly me.

I honestly didn't think any one would get that practical thing :lol:

And the rest of your post is my point actually. But if Alla (I am spitting over my left shoulder, knocking on wood) divorces you, presumably before you die, and gets 50% of your assets, then when you pass, your heirs only get half as much. No moral judgement here, you can give your asssets to any one you want - but so can Scott.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-16 20:40:00

Yeah, but if you die who gets your hair????????

The hair heir in the will of course.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-16 20:29:00

No problem guys. But if anyone was to get a pre-nup, it would be her. lol

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-16 19:10:00

Um, ok. Just for the record. I never said anything about a pre-nup... And I would never.

Welcome to VJ buddy. You have been thread-jacked :lol:

Happens

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-16 18:52:00

You are joking, right?
A pre-nup has nothing to do with death? A pre-nup determines how property is divided in the event a marriage is dissolved. Death doesn't dissolve a marriage?
Dude, you can not WILL away what isn't yours...
Let's say some divorced guy has a $700,000 net worth, and has a few kids. He gets married, and dies 6 months later. Without a pre-nup, that guy CAN'T will $600,000 to his kids (divided equally) and $100,000 to his wife. It's not his to give away!

Interesting. I would say that death does not dissolve a marriage, and in fact would nullify a prenup, but I will defer to any one with practical knowledge or experience. Any jurisdiction could just create a legal fiction that death came after dissolution for the purposes of a prenup, I would think that in most places the assumption is that property division after death is controlled by will or the descent and distribution statutes there.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-16 18:25:00

and they have nothing to do with dieath, that is what WILLS are for.

Technically correct, but here he is just taking an extra step. If he wants to protect and preserve his assets for his heirs, as it is his right by law to do, he cannot do that without a prenuptual. If a divorce were to happen before he passes (I know... sorry Scott), the will won't do him any good at all. A will can only convey assets that are actually in his estate, not what was parsed out in a property settlement.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-16 18:06:00

Not sure what standard, or special international prenup means. A certified translation, and a copy signed in both languages is always a good idea, as well as translators during each meeting regardless of fluency in English. The power of a prenup and the shelf life vary widely from state to state, but so long as both parties understood and agreed to all the provisions, you are good to go. Then the provisions of the document, facts and circumstances will govern what holds up and for how long. Generally speaking, the more punitive the prenup, and the longer the marriage lasted are the factors that weigh most heavily.

To my knowledge there is no state that requires a prenup or translation for an immigrant to be signed in the country of that immigrants origin (not saying it isn't true, just that I don't know), but arguably signatures, notarization, and witnesses that presumably cannot be examined at depth would be an easy way to blow up an agreement. I imagine the leverage comes in the form of an accusation that the immigrant was surprised by the prenup, and had to sign for the marraige to proceed or go back. That, and the argument that the translation was accurate, but the concept and consequences were so foriegn that the immigrant couldn't possibly have given any informed consent will be raised in any event.

So, as I suspected, the weaknesses are basically the same as they would be with an American fiance', just different underlying causes. Claiming that one party was pressured, or didn't understand are pretty standard, and raised in every property settlement as a matter of course. As long as there is a good lawyer on the back end, it shouldn't be a problem with all the translations, etc.

No, it's not that it is a requirement by state law. The issue is that many, many pre-nups have been deemed invalid by divorce courts because the immigrant claimed either misunderstanding (because it wasn't made clear in their native language), or duress (because the pre-nup was presented AFTER arriving in the States, and therefor seemed to become a condition of the marriage). The first is addressed by having an attorney in their country meet with them to discuss it in detail, and document such a meeting. The second one is addressed by doing all this BEFORE they enter this country, and LONG before the actual wedding.

In my case, my pre-nup was to protect my children. If I get hit by a bus tomorrow, my grown children still deserve the bulk of my estate, just as they did prior to my wedding. So, my pre-nup simply protects my assets prior to the marriage. Anything acquired after the wedding is normal joint marital property. A pre-nup can be an attempt to protect future assets as well, but I don't think that's fair and I opted not to do so, even though my lawyer stressed that I should protect myself in the future. But again, this was not a matter of trust for me, it was a matter of protecting my children.

Thanks for the confirmation, and for sharing some pretty personal stuff here. A quick word about the attorneys and payment. I think that any judge looking at the typical FSU immigration situation would find that to get the prenup done, the USC had to pay for both attorneys and basically everything else. So long as the attorney was found to be competent and representing only the non-USC client, I don't think that is a problem. Again, allowing that everything was translated and understood. You are right about the attorney having to be competent in that area too, just for CYA.

Brad and Vika

Male

Ukraine

2010-05-16 17:58:00