Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	Date of when DS-230 is generated	Oooohh, I see... you would not know about the US address, because they send everything to UK, and even that in a screwy way I am not the agent BTW, so I don't get NVC letters... OK, I guess I will have to poke my agent (he hates paperwork, and I foresee some resistance and complaining there) Thank you Alan, ...NVC is still thinking over your problem? Rika your address should be identical to the correspondence which they already send you alan Yes NVC still chewing on it.. Carolyn thinks she got a tentative 'promise' that if she sent her 'State' taxes form, then they would mark it complete... I fedexed the form Friday and it arrived 9.45am monday...Still checking auto message all the time... On Friday I sent an email with more info for them and also a fax. There is a ton of evidence that her absence is temporary and therefore fits the rules. We even have a letter from London saying that they wont take our case because she has temporary status in the UK and to file in Nebraska. We are getting no sleep and we both feel ill. Day after day after day I don't like to log on to VJ much as all the 'case completes' make me sad and I feel like everyone had a good party and got home smiling - but I am the one who got mugged on the way home and lost my front teeth. We will call them Thursday eve and try ask for the same lady who promised us - if they still say no then our 1 year project is finished for now and we will have to rethink. To think I may have spent a year in this house in this horrible area in the worst weather since the ice age - just to be with Carolyn and to do the visa - for nothing I think the situation is barbaric alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-08-15 04:54:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	Date of when DS-230 is generated	Hey guys, a question to those who already received DS-230 bar code sheet (Alan? Diana?) The format of the name and address of the agent: DOE Jane Pretty <---- is this correct (LAST First Middle name) ?? Address (from Jamie's shortcuts DS-230 v.2.2): Anytown, USA 12345 Shouldn't it be Anytown, CA 12345, USA <---- ? Thank you in advance Rika ok i am looking at my 'real' ds-230 coversheet which arrived 2 days ago... your address should be identical to the correspondence which they already send you -iv fee bill etc ? all the correspondence from them will have an identical address format for you and the agent ? should be identical to the address which you supplied on the agent form or - if you sent an email, the address on the email if different yeas just dig about in your file and see how they addressed their letters to you - and copy that they had a screwy address for me 'great britain and northern ireland' but i used that and the real cover sheet is identical... ask again if i am not clear alan Edited by saywhat, 13 August 2007 - 11:44 AM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-08-13 11:41:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	Date of when DS-230 is generated	Since they've given you the week that it was generated, it should be easy to guess that the date it was generated was that Monday since the NVC always generates documents on Monday. Why not just throw that date on there and mail it off? Is there something I'm missing here? Besides, somehow I get the impression having the right date isn't that important...they seem a bit more relaxed at the NVC than at USCIS... Hello ghosty ! yes i think we have it cracked now - the NVC are truculent when it comes to giving dates 'generated' so yes its a case of calling every tuesday very early without fail and then using the previous day when they say 'it is coming out to you this week' we had some problems figuringb out messages when they stayed on ' missing docs' even though ds230 was generated.. now its saying checklist received' when it means ds230 received so we reckon we have it figured now - so we all have our ds230 lodged and ticking and we are trying to guess the 'case complete ' date from the looks of erica's timeline, about a week from the date it went on the system (2 days after receipt) is about right... it will be a big relief when we get that and all we have to do is flush our bodies of all the drugs and alcohol and flesh eating viruses so we are ready for the medical... After deep consideration i think this system is designed to make the uncommitted fall out during the process. No way could someone have designed it like this... anyway last lap (we hope)	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-08-02 10:39:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	Date of when DS-230 is generated	You're almost there, all you're missing is the DS-230 and that's it. yes still got the 'received your checklist' message - 'wait 8 weeks for us to read it' - but perhaps you tomorrow friday late - and us monday..... calling again friday !	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-08-02 10:21:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	Date of when DS-230 is generated	I'm also getting the same "we received the checklist" message but mine says 7/27. I'm hoping for a case complete message for next week some time. Hey thats nice to know - that you are getting exactly the same message - and you are friday and we are monday - thats 1 working day different ! that was fedex taking 2 days instead of 1 but at least they gave me all my money back- i wanted to draw with you on the same day ! Its horrible when they add that 6 to 8 weeks junk on the end ! Good for VJ - we are keeping tabs on each other so we know that the messages are ok - thats great Erica got her 'case complete' quite quickly (she gets everything quickly the lucky girl !)- so i hope we follow her footsteps- i am going to call EVERY day from now on ! yippee ! alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-08-01 10:55:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	Date of when DS-230 is generated	Hey Alex The address/phonenumber of the doctor (and the X-ray clinic) + office hours were in the letter, along with some medical forms and instructions (vaccinations/what to fill in). There was even a map on how to walk from the x-ray clinic to the doctor. Very thorough I called the doctor's office, they asked for my visa-interview date and then scheduled me in a week prior. All in about 30 seconds Ahhh, that's interesting. So once you get the case completed and forwarded, the embassy sends medical info AND an interview date. I have to check with how the Australian embassy works. I recall them sending information on getting a medical and other items such as the marriage certificate, police certificate, etc. After that the foreign spouse would contact them and let them know they are ready for an interview. Thanks for the info Erica! Good luck! You're almost there! -Alex yes from what i read , london send a letter saying arrange medical/police cert and then return that - and then they send interview date when they know you are ready..seems all the embassies are different	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-08-01 09:54:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	Date of when DS-230 is generated	just back from holiday in Cornwall - red hot and saw 6 x 10 metre basking sharks and lots of seals --- at last Carolyn saw the sun... anyway as soon as I got in the house i rang NVC the message has changed from 'missing documents' to 'we have received your checklist' that must have been the DS-230 which got there last Thursday they put it on the system Monday 30th july so it wasn't the case complete i wildly hoped for but at least its a new message It gave the usual 'wait for 6 to 8 weeks for us to read it ' - that sends shivers down my spine but i know they dont mean it i hope for case complete Friday or Monday at the earliest fedex sent me a 100% credit of £32 for delivering ds-230 in 2 days instead of 1 - thats a real company - not like UPS who i had to deal with for 3 weeks and 8 phone calls- i would certainly use fedex again	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-08-01 09:51:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	Date of when DS-230 is generated	I'll let you know when mine completes! I wanted you and i to complete on the same day but fedex delayed me so i reckon you will be at 'yay' stage before me.. I won't be far behind though... One of the toughest year's for many years but it will all be over soon... I think I will start a business being the receiving point for applicants from overseas so i can receive petitions and send em in my office will be across the street from NVC in new hampshire so they can be filed 15 seconds after 'generation' and the client informed 10 seconds after that. I wouldn't have to be a lawyer to do that... I would have a colour laser for doing the bar codes etc so they would just email em to me and they would be perfect how about that !	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-07-27 14:27:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	Date of when DS-230 is generated	Hey at least he'll get his 10 year card and not have to pay the almost $600 we're going to pay for it. Thanks Rika! Cost me a lot more than that but it was my fault...I came back to the Uk with 6 weeks to go before adjustment of status to green card - don't ask ! Only way we could be together after that was for Carolyn to come here to the UK and slog out a year in an expensive rented house If you put all the costs together including flights home for her and a car etc it would be more like $20k +visa Still it's our (my) fault and nobody elses so i can't complain. Tell you what though - I have made 2 times K1 applications + adjustment of status and now a CR1 - and I am FINISHED with it. SO FINISHED ! If I hit problems now I wouldnt mess for 3 years being rehabilitated - it would be come and live in the Canary Islands or nothing.... I am exhausted with it... oh well off to Cornwall until Thursday and then when I get back I will be onto the NVC to see if we have 'completed' or whether it's Tenerife here we come ! I have a special bottle of wine ready for 'case completed ' day- it wont be the end of the process but it will be a milestone seems about 10 days from receipt of the 230 is 'normal'	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-07-27 14:08:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	Date of when DS-230 is generated	Ok now I'm getting started lol! My husband's drug tests were clean of course, as he hasn't used any drugs since he experimented with cocaine as a teenager about 3 or 4 times, he doesn't even smoke and rarely drinks. But about 3 months before our K-1 interview he had stuck his finger into a baggie and licked his finger to taste what was inside of it, as he has seen police officers in Mexico do to identify a substance (which to me is stupid but whatever I don't make the rules) that some guys would have eventually tried to sell to his younger siblings. For that reason he is a drug addict according to the Mexican corrupt panel physician and their rent-a-psychiatrist. So we have spent the past 2 years (1 more to go) getting Javier drug tested every few months, psychologically evaluated and "treated" for his drug problem, getting married, and filing the I-130 so when all is said and done, we'll be walking out with a 10 year green card and those #### won't get anymore of our money. So there! Haha, that was fun. I didnt want to ask but jeez that's a long journey ! I have never been too careful where i stick my fingers either but that's another story... Good for you for sticking with it...you deserve a straight run at the green card for doing that He will do well in the USA -fighting long and hard for something is appreciated ...	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-07-27 10:57:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	Date of when DS-230 is generated	when you are done with nvc you are done with em Your Embassy send you a check list about 2 or 3 weeks after case complete at nvc- you tick to say you have the police certificate /birth cert etc etc and have arranged the medical then they send packet 4 which is the interview date the medical can be weird so no booze night before etc as they do a blood test and they are still pilgrims you know and very puritan about things. I will get totally ratted and buy some cannabis when i get home after ! (its a joke folks) Funny my USC wife did not have to do a medical to get her UK green card - or fingerprints - or police certificate or a chip under the skin on her neck ..ok ok that one was an exageration now - but you will see in 2017 Oh Alan, you know what? Your case is different than mine since the NVC asked for all those documents to be sent with the DS-230, police certificate, birth certificate, marriage certificate, all that stuff. So we won't be getting a checklist. In our case, the NVC schedules the interview at the embassy before they mail our paperwork to them and then they send us packet 4 which is the interview letter. All we have to do is do the medical stuff. But I do know that I can find out when the interview date is BEFORE I get packet 4 in the mail. I just don't know who gives me that info, the NVC or the DOS. Diana ah right ! thats because Colombia is not a 'standard post' like london ? - i was forgetting.. sorry about that disinformation ! alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-07-27 10:42:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	Date of when DS-230 is generated	Heina, You should be getting your IV Bill any time soon. And yes, waiting for the NVC to finish each step is very annoying but what can you do? I have a question for Erica since she's all done with them. Once the automated message said that your case was completed at the NVC, did your husband call the NVC to find out when the interview was? Or did he call the Department of State? Did he talk to a live person or was it automated as well? I'm still confused about how they let you know when the interview date is. Thanks Erica! Diana when you are done with nvc you are done with em Your Embassy send you a check list about 2 or 3 weeks after case complete at nvc- you tick to say you have the police certificate /birth cert etc etc and have arranged the medical then they send packet 4 which is the interview date the medical can be weird so no booze night before etc as they do a blood test and they are still pilgrims you know and very puritan about things. I will get totally ratted and buy some cannabis when i get home after ! (its a joke folks) Drugs...the reason we're in the middle of an IR-1 case right now instead of happily married with one on the way...don't even get me started! I guess I should clarify-we are actually married...the happily was the key word. I passed the K1 medical and had a skinful of lager the night before (sat in tiny room in london alone) so the medical aint that bad.. but i am abstaining 48 hours before this one.. I wouldn't like to be too happily married - i bet the years go by fast and boring coz nothing happens and you dont appreciate the nice times if its all nice... one needs some contrast... When I get better after a nasty cold I feel absolutely wonderful Beware the 3 rings of marriage the engagement ring the wedding ring the bore-ring !	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-07-27 10:28:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	Date of when DS-230 is generated	Heina, You should be getting your IV Bill any time soon. And yes, waiting for the NVC to finish each step is very annoying but what can you do? I have a question for Erica since she's all done with them. Once the automated message said that your case was completed at the NVC, did your husband call the NVC to find out when the interview was? Or did he call the Department of State? Did he talk to a live person or was it automated as well? I'm still confused about how they let you know when the interview date is. Thanks Erica! Diana when you are done with nvc you are done with em Your Embassy send you a check list about 2 or 3 weeks after case complete at nvc- you tick to say you have the police certificate /birth cert etc etc and have arranged the medical then they send packet 4 which is the interview date the medical can be weird so no booze night before etc as they do a blood test and they are still pilgrims you know and very puritan about things. I will get totally ratted and buy some cannabis when i get home after ! (its a joke folks) Funny my USC wife did not have to do a medical to get her UK green card - or fingerprints - or police certificate or a chip under the skin on her neck ..ok ok that one was an exageration now - but you will see in 2017 Edited by saywhat, 27 July 2007 - 10:18 AM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-07-27 10:15:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	Date of when DS-230 is generated	the brain damaged cockroach dance ! I hope your 230 is good so that doesn't have to happen! As for me, well, they generated the IV fee bill on the 16th and so far we haven't received it. Don't even ask me about the I-864. No clue whatsoever. See I thought I was all clever and had figured out the NVC-they generate it on Monday, mail it out on Tuesday, it'll get to me by Saturday....but no. Therefore I am still waiting to receive the bill 11 days later. Not like I'm looking forward to paying it anything, but I always worry about things getting lost. course i am doing it all from uk - it takes weeks and weeks - just under 3 actually, to receive all the letters that is a long time - i dont think they mail it for days - then they send it to some centre in deutschland and they sit on it for a while and it arrives yellow with age and damp from all the rain and the places it has been 3 weeks for every one ! ok you can't do the visa fee bill but anything i could do short cut wise - i did saved very many weeks so far (i hope) and of course you can't courier the bills to a po box so that adds 6 days + every time dont worry the mail will be fine but slow	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-07-27 10:03:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (akdiver @ Aug 21 2009, 11:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (saywhat @ Aug 21 2009, 02:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (akdiver @ Aug 21 2009, 11:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (saywhat @ Aug 21 2009, 11:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The thread is about immigration fraud basically As this thread's OP, I have to disagree entirely. Please get us back on track and say what the discussion should have been about Sex, drugs, and rock & roll - not necessarily in that order (: Well it is Friday - don't get caught with one of em and be in tune with one of em and keep it at home with one of em please re - arrange to make sense	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-21 17:16:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (akdiver @ Aug 21 2009, 11:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (saywhat @ Aug 21 2009, 11:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> The thread is about immigration fraud basically As this thread's OP, I have to disagree entirely. Sounds alright to me I wasnt bothered either way and in the end we lived in the UK then the US and then we will probably live in the Uk again for a while if she retires early (health cover) That isnt immigration fraud into the UK either I reckon Edited by saywhat, 21 August 2009 - 05:14 PM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-21 17:09:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (mox @ Aug 21 2009, 09:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Well, I'm not really sure if I really did read more than what you were trying to say, or if you're backing away from your initial point. Either way, I'll concede. If you're saying that you're happily married to someone who loves you for who you are and not because of where you live, then we are indeed on the same wavelength inasmuch as we both seem to share similar circumstances. I can assure you I don't back away - just the opposite , mealy mouthed and fawning is not me - I state my opinions all the way popular or not - and when I compliment it is never flattery I would be similarly on guard for inappropriate comments if my wife was from an economically less wealthy country so I sure don't blame you for that and your spirited defence is totally natural and commendable even if there was nothing to defend against as it turns out. Nothing wrong with vigilance and there are plenty of rednecks out there to guard against Love is impossible to define as there are a million inputs and anyway some of them are more ridiculous in the light of day than immigration benefits. I remember a 'many times married' film star saying 'I once married a pair of legs' and it's amazing what pushes people's buttons. My mother used to say she was never happy with my dad's short legs but the rest made up for it and they were married 60 years As long as you both want to be together 24/7 and it's not temporary, and the 'where' is secondary, then that's as close a definition as I can think of Good, glad we are understanding each other - it's nice - Alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-21 15:50:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (mox @ Aug 21 2009, 08:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Your point seems to be that you don't consider it immigration fraud for a FSU woman to figure living in the US (or the corollary, getting the hell out of her country) as an important part of the equation when marrying an American citizen. And yes, you are right, this is not immigration fraud. But by making that point, you keep re-enforcing this notion that FSU women are trying to get out of their horrible countries, and one way they're doing it is by marrying Americans. In one post you called it a "flow" of women. So MY point is that yes, I agree that having an economic motive is not immigration fraud, but it's a non-starter because there is generally no economic component to begin with, at least in my experience and the experience of my FSU-married friends, which I think is a much more valid data point than your own pontifications. It's like saying that it's not immigration fraud to have a "easier to get access to rare Pokemon cards" component to the decision. While probably also true, if you were to make this argument then you would be de facto implying that FSU women are coming to the US to collect rare Pokemon cards. So my objection is not that you are saying these women are fraudulently immigrating, my objection is that you seem to think many (most?) of these women are basing their decisions largely on a desire to come to the US. I can accept that this mostly non-existent "financial icing on the cake" argument does not violate immigration laws. Can you accept that there's no evidence to support your notion that FSU women are "flowing" into the US with some kind of financial component in mind? Let me take back the word 'flow' as I have no idea of the numbers and 'flow' implies large numbers so I did imply there. I don't know about whether the component of 'cake icing' is ever present or not but if it is then it's ok by me I found the enormous 'newness' and 'difference' of marrying an American to be the 'icing in the cake' but that is all it was. My wife was the same about being with a European and being shown around Europe and living and working in the UK. I am sure it has opened up her life in the same way as living in the US has opened up mine I never used the words 'many' or 'most' - I reckon it might be 'some'. If it is 'some' or 'many' or 'all' then that just makes them the same as me and my wife and I reckon that's ok I wouldn't be having the great experiences I am having if I had married Dolly from Yorkshire - so yes it IS the icing on the cake for me (us) Economically I am worse off but I don't care. It sounds like we are closer to frauds than you two (but we aren't frauds) Are we on the same wavelength yet ? Alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-21 15:09:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (mox @ Aug 21 2009, 08:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Uh-huh. You're careful to avoid coming right out and saying it, but the round-about ####### of "well she might love you but her desire to actually be with you is motivated by the fact that she wants to get out of her sh1tty country" says it all: That's not fair - you are ascribing words to me that I never said and I never implied and I don't believe You shouldn't ascribe words to people that they never said or ascribe sentiments to people that they never felt or expressed The most I said (I don't imply) is that moving to a more economically developed country is 'the icing on the cake ' for some and that I don't see ANYTHING wrong with that Now that doesn't apply to your circumstances and that's fine - so please don't see it as pointed at you. But I ask you to to allow that it might be true for some people from some countries and again I say there is nothing wrong with it There are no implications or dark agendas here so there is no need to be suspicious. I write openly and plainly and if there was anything else to impart then I would say it Again, don't be upset because there is nothing to be upset about and I am on the side of these immigrants whether they come from Europe or not Can you accept that ? Edited by saywhat, 21 August 2009 - 02:44 PM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-21 14:41:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (mox @ Aug 21 2009, 08:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I'm on a first name basis with a lot of former and present members of this forum, and I can tell you that each and every one of their wives agonized over the decision to leave their friends, families, and lives to come live with their husband. Some couldn't make the transition, and had to go back home to their ultra-shitty 3rd world lives. Your views are at least 10 years out of date, uninformed, and quite frankly pretty offensive to those of us and our wives who have been through this process and understand that "living in the US" goes roughly dead last on the list of reasons to come to the US. Hey whoa just hold on - there is no reason to get all offended. The thread is about immigration fraud basically and all I have done is make 2 points 1: Odessa wasn't nice (in my view) 10 years ago 2 I believe nearly all immigration is genuine and fraud is minimal That is what I believe and there is nothing there to get upset about You should be getting upset with people who think that immigration from poorer countries is based on fraud much of the time peace ? I am your side !	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-21 14:27:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (mox @ Aug 21 2009, 07:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (saywhat @ Aug 21 2009, 11:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Do we see any lessening of demand for east Europeans to head for the USA via marriage is the question and is it wrong for the move to be a part of the attraction ? I would say no to both questions so long as the spouse doesn't actually secretly despise their American sponsor and is using them - and only events/time will show the outside world whether that is in play - Each case should be seen separately and i think it is right now by the USCIS - so the world and Americans should not assume it's always only about money and a better life style, because it isn't Would I marry Joan Rivers to get out of a Taliban prison ? Yes ! I say again...there's no evidence that supports the notion that FSU women are "flowing" into the US for even partially economic reasons. As Ekee and others keep pointing out, Eastern Europe and Russia have changed a LOT since you were there. Yes of course there's going to be the odd green card scam, but there's nothing to indicate money is a primary or even secondary motive. You keep steering the conversation back to this point, which is really nothing more than your opinion based probably on watching too many movies. What's your agenda? I have no agenda other than to make a statement and hear others and get educated through discussion I am pleased to hear that Odessa has improved enormously - your statement that it is has is valid I am sure, and so is mine that it wasn't nice not too long ago - and it's interesting to learn about what is happening As far as the GC thing is concerned, I am actually on the side of immigrants and I don't think there is much real fraud. I keep bringing it back to that subject so I can reinforce that view	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-21 13:57:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (Minya's wife @ Aug 21 2009, 07:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I was actually disagreeing with what Brad&Vika was saying about Poles migrating to the UK, and his little quip about the Romanians and Slovenians taking their place. In the context of my comment 'places' can be substituted if you prefer. I guess what I was objection to is that the type of argument that atempts to extol one side at the expense/detriment of another is not sound. Well each person has their own preferences and I hate humidity - so I would say that Nigeria would be a horrible experience for me. So in each person's own terms, I am sure everyone 'likes' or 'dislikes' different places. Some like cities, some like the country. Some like spicy food and some like plain. On that basis I think it's fair enough for people to say - 'There is no way I would live there' I never feel offended when people decry Yorkshire as they are coming from the perspective of different cultures and it's natural that they would not like it. 150,000+ Pakistanis moved to within 6 miles of my house in Yorkshire - so there must be something good about it When 150,000 Pakistanis move to Odessa, it will be vote of confidence in the changes that have happened and the Odessa people will be proud I am sure So it's an individual thing and we shouldn't be surprised when foreigners turn their noses up at our home country/town because their values and their yardsticks are different to ours and given time, they might actually like it - in the way that I am warming to the US Anyway, if they never experience Yorkshire black pudding and Timmy Taylors Golden Best, then it's their loss	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-21 13:39:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (Minya's wife @ Aug 21 2009, 06:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I beg to differ with you on that point....Poles are actually returning to Poland in large numbers, and I don't really know of any Romanian (and I know many of all ages) who are moving 'en masse' to better paying parts of the Schengen zone. Why poopoo on another nationality in defending the one you 'prefer'? Just as another poster mentioned above...its all in the eye of the beholder. I prefer places rather than Nationalities - Yul Brynner had Roma ancestry and he looked like a hoot for a night out. As I say, my best friend was Polish when I was in the UK and my other boozing buddy was a Sikh (not a very religious Sikh). I have a friend in Berlin who is stereotypically Prussian and I don't agree with his right wing ideas but he is interesting. My son has lived in Spain for 14 years and I mingle with all his Spanish friends. I am married to an American and live in America and I worked for an American company for 14 years - so I am not totally little Britain So it's not a people thing, because we get the same range of personalities across the globe - more a 'place' thing and I would not like to live in Odessa or India or Sophia or Kingston or Beirut or Moscow - Munich I like and would be OK except for the sauerkraut and boiled pigs feet which reminds me of Wisconsin (joke). It's just a preference thing and not a revulsion towards any of these places so none of those nationals need feel offended Do we see any lessening of demand for east Europeans to head for the USA via marriage is the question and is it wrong for the move to be a part of the attraction ? I would say no to both questions so long as the spouse doesn't actually secretly despise their American sponsor and is using them - and only events/time will show the outside world whether that is in play - Each case should be seen separately and i think it is right now by the USCIS - so the world and Americans should not assume it's always only about money and a better life style, because it isn't Would I marry Joan Rivers to get out of a Taliban prison ? Yes !	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-21 13:15:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (akdiver @ Aug 21 2009, 04:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (BluesTraveler @ Aug 20 2009, 06:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Not a matter of finding a job, it is a matter of finding a job that can support you. Sure. And if that is the case, people should say, "couldn't find a job that would support me", rather than "couldn't find a job." It's like when people say, "I had no choice." One almost ALWAYS has a choice about something. Not having any ATTRACTIVE choices is a different matter. That's why I was single for 18 years between wives - sometimes you just have to wait for the right situation to come along - but keep trying hard - and boy did I try hard - trying hard can be fun Always there is the question - 'do I settle for less or keep going' Each must answer that for themselves	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-21 12:29:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (BluesTraveler @ Aug 21 2009, 03:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (akdiver @ Aug 21 2009, 12:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Pretty much anyone can find a job in the U.S., if their willingness to accept employment is appropriately adjusted and they are sufficiently motivated. Not a matter of finding a job, it is a matter of finding a job that can support you. Certain parts of the country are expensive to live. When rent is $1500 a month for a 400 sq foot studio, you need to find a job(s) that will cover the rent. And the cliche about just moving to a different part of the country doesn't really hold water, since if you had the money to move, you would have the money to pay the rent. That's right it's a catch 22 I laid awake at night and even registered a company to install house alarms ! Just coz my hobby was electronics. Fully qualified accountant up a ladder installing alarms ? Your judgment suffers when it gets rough My advice would be to stick with what you know. Changing course is a luxury for people with rent money who can build something up as well as the day job When I was 36 my net worth was minus £500 on my credit card and I had never had a house other than a rented council house I had alimony and child support of 60% of my earnings. I lived in a 1 room flat in Bradford west Yorkshire and it rained and the flat was damp and I was alone and cold and it was November and dark. My wife had left me for an 18 year old boy. 18 years later at the age of 54, I retired a dollar millionaire plus 3 pensions and with a fabulous new wife and I live like a king in Washington State - and I ain't no genius So don't despair - it will come right if you stick with it and have confidence and grin and bear it ps my ex hates him now and says he stinks and he is stupid ! He works inside a garbage skip and sorts out recyclables by hand	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-20 22:05:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (akdiver @ Aug 21 2009, 01:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (saywhat @ Aug 20 2009, 03:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> congrats again - now keep it safe ! Yep - all that stuff is in my rather large, rather heavy, and rather "fireproof" safe - as we speak. QUOTE ps my wife could have taken any old job i agree - she hung on for 6 months and now she has a better salary than I had when I was 'European Finance Director' for a US company and looking after 28 subsidiary companies across Europe (She doesn't get a Mercedes though so hah !) So nobody should sell themselves short The flip side of course is taking a job that pays a lot of money, but makes you hate going into work every day and very unpleasant when you come home. The money isn't always everything. Cheers! AKD agreed ! I love my job arsing about on VJ and providing company for the cats and hunting lawn weeds - best job yet	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-20 19:55:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (akdiver @ Aug 21 2009, 12:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Pretty much anyone can find a job in the U.S., if their willingness to accept employment is appropriately adjusted and they are sufficiently motivated. My wife got a pretty good job here ($60K+ manager job), but she would still rather live somewhere in Europe. The U.S. isn't all things to all people, despite what the media would have you believe. As for us - my wife's passport, passport card, and certificate of naturalization all arrived in the mail today (3 separate mailings, only the passport was with delivery confirmation). So, the process is OFFICIALLY ###### OVER for us!!! FYI - mailed off passport application on 1 August, we got everything back on 20 August - so right at 3 weeks. Keep that in mind if you are tempted to pay a lot more money for expedited processing - I don't think it is worth it (we went with normal processing). Cheers! AKD end of the road - you must feel GREAT !!!!! Congrats as they say on VJ The basis of arranged marriages is that they work 99% of the time and they say the Western way is no better, and getting divorced a few times is not going to get you anywhere nearer to satisfaction as they are all the same at the end of the day in that you just swap one problem for another when you swap spouses I think countries are like this and they all have something going for them and something lacking - so we might as well relax and enjoy the ride and try not to be too nationalistic ... congrats again - now keep it safe ! ps my wife could have taken any old job i agree - she hung on for 6 months and now she has a better salary than I had when I was 'European Finance Director' for a US company and looking after 28 subsidiary companies across Europe (She doesn't get a Mercedes though so hah !) So nobody should sell themselves short	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-20 18:54:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (eekee @ Aug 20 2009, 10:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (mox @ Aug 20 2009, 10:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (eekee @ Aug 20 2009, 04:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Saywhat--when were you in Odessa? Things in Eastern Europe even in the last five years. And sure, it's different, and not for everyone. Not saying that saywhat falls in this category, but for many Americans if there isn't a McDonalds and a Starbucks on every other street corner, then it classifies as barbaric and backwater. This is true. I know many expats who will only settle for EURO REMONT apartments and anything else is barbaric and uninhabitable. Saywhat, Eastern Europe has changed DRASTICALLY since 1999. You really can't compare it to the way it is now. I live in Russia quite comfortably and in fact had to move back here because I couldn't find a job in the US. I know what you mean there - My USC wife got a job in the UK but could not get one in Florida After 6 months trying 10 hours per day and 7 days per week, she gave up and we were lucky she got one in Washington State finally. It's in hydro electric and now the rivers are drying up through global warming so she is on compulsory leave with no pay (If Sarah is right, it's only a blip and it will be normal next year) The West got all these stories about Russian Grannies being conned into signing their Moscow flats over to some gangster before being taken into the woods and shot and that is still the Western view of Russia now - from the outside. I guess that stuff is a form of capitalism taken to the extreme It's encouraging to learn that it is more affluent and civilised now Don't tell the North Africans and Kurds and Romanians though or they will be all heading your way to claim benefits and you might even get some American Republicans coming your way to escape from Socialism/Nazism in the US (to hear em talk) I look forward to the day that Westerners pour East - that will be very interesting OK the question is - has this economic improvement stopped the flow of beautiful lady Muscovites/Ukrainians to the USA and if their motive is partly economic, is that unlawful. I dont think it is so long as it's a part and not all of it - as evidenced by them staying with their husband after the GC or Citizenship. Part of the motive is fine. It's a heck of a lot tougher for them than me and I know a lot go back. My wife is very suspicious by nature and was slightly surprised when I first suggested living in the UK instead of the promised land (Finest country in the history of the world - Mitt Romney) - and then I stayed with her after the 10 year unconditional GC. Goes to show that people can be overly suspicious .... I am typing this with the need for a root canal - they just quoted me $780 and I told em I paid $15 for my last one in the UK. My insurance is blown for 2009. Faced with that, I am sure many immigrants wonder if they have done the right thing. Still I will be able to go to Cuba and get it done for a bottle of Sangria and $10 US next year if Mr O gets his way Rambling in pain	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-20 18:09:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (eekee @ Aug 20 2009, 12:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Saywhat--when were you in Odessa? Things in Eastern Europe even in the last five years. And sure, it's different, and not for everyone. I would guess around 10 years ago Time flies quicker as you get older - ask anyone It was amazing to drive into what was East Berlin too. My pal who is West German describes the East germans as 'osties' and points out their white socks which are the identifier These huge changes take time to digest I know that US policy is to pump resources into places like Ukraine and Georgia to destabilize the neighbours who see the increased living standards. Same in Taiwan/South Korea/West Berlin (as was) In some places like Afghanistan, policy was to send in missiles and arms of all kinds with the results we know of all too well All these moves were pretty successful too The next move will be to pump resources into Afghanistan, so the Iranians/Pakistanis all want to be like them. In 10 years we may have VJers saying how nice Kabul is now - I certainly hope so Let's hope Odessa gets more and more attractive so that all the illegal immigrants who are swamping the UK/Holland/Spain etc, decide to target Odessa instead Success brings it's own problems as Miss Spears and Mr Jackson and Mr Presley etc etc found out Edited by saywhat, 20 August 2009 - 10:04 AM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-20 10:03:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (Brad and Vika @ Aug 20 2009, 12:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Not out of date at all with that, but you are spot on - things have changed in Eastern Europe for the better. No more lines for basic foodstuffs for example (not for 15-20 years). Grocery stores, and in fact lots of shops, in Odessa are really upscale - you can get nearly anything you can buy in America (except peanut butter ). Poland is a notable exception to the "I'm happy at home" rule, as there is a huge migration west underway from Poland to the UK, and there has been a very large diaspora of Polish in America for generations. Hey, the Poles have to make room for all those Romanians and Slovenians moving west into the better paying parts of the Schengen zone right? The reason you don't see Americans and Brits immigrating to Eastern Europe is income, simply put. If I could maintain a similar living standard in Ukraine, I would try it. I don't say that out loud, because my wife would be packed before the words left my mouth. American women do dig foreign guys too - check out the MENA forum - you will find one or two around In this day and age, I just don't buy that the fantasy lure of America's gold-paved streets holds water anywhere any more. I remember a middle aged, married, British woman bringing a 20 year old masai warrior back to london and setting up in an apartment with him. He was sat there with his spear and cheetah skin loin cloth and wondered what the hell had hit him. I felt a bit like that in the USA but it's weird how what seemed so insane becomes the norm after a couple of years. Someone being arrested and called a slimeball by the TV newscasters before their trial seemed so unfair - but now I hardly notice it. The Poles get very homesick but a couple of weeks back home cures that. It's becoming like that when I visit England. My boozing buddy every Friday night for 14 years was Polish and he still struggled with English after 40 years living in the UK. I have a wonderful Polish vocabulary now including 'horse's teeth' and 'fat legs' and 'huge bottom' and 'massively huge bottom'. . Ukrainians can usually folow it Many people where I lived were from East European countries so we had to be careful when practising this essential vocabulary It's hard on the brain and a lot of immigrants from non English speaking countries develop mental illnesses in later years Nobody in the US can follow my expressions as it is - so I have great admiration/sympathy for people who come and do driving tests etc etc and live in English speaking society. They must feel very lonely at times and that nobody really understands the way their home culture thinks. Inability to speak your thoughts in your meaningful way must be like solitary confinement Don't know how they do it. My wife is learning Yorkshire English subliminally and she teaches English to Hispanic people on a voluntary basis. In a few years there will be Mexicans saying 'look sharp duck' in the Pacific North West and they will have swapped one foreign language for another It's not easy	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-19 22:04:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (Brad and Vika @ Aug 19 2009, 04:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I think I see your point about getting real - seeing love for all that it is, instead of some fantasy. As for the rest - I have to call bullsh1t on you I have been to Odessa four times (twice with my wife, and twice without). Enjoyed it each time. It is a different environment than a typical vacation, granted, but still quite nice. There are good and bad areas like most cities. Maybe my perception is different, as I enjoyed Bucharest, Minsk, Warsaw, and many other cities too. I should also mention that most people I have met in Eastern Europe have no desire to be saved somehow by leaving. They are quite content in their own country. Hard to believe, but lots of people outside the US actually like their country . Many immigrants actually do leave to be with their SO - that is the benefit they see. I may be out of date in that people were prepared to be shot in their attempts to cross the Berlin wall etc to freedom and I believe the West is very attractive to Easterners. I worked with many Poles and none of them wanted to go back. They just wanted to marry an Italian or Irish catholic and stay in the UK Ok the political thing is different now but 600,000 Poles just rushed to live in the UK. So I am not on board with the idea that Eastern Europeans don't find the idea of moving to the West to be attractive The last American to enjoy living in Russia was Lee Harvey Oswald and that didn't last I wonder how many East European/American marriages result in the couple living in Eastern Europe There has to be a reason for that. It's nearly always an East European woman and an American man Many British men marry American women but how many American women marry Vietnamese men or Ukrainian men or men from Moscow ? I am sure there are some but not many I am not saying anything is wrong with that by that way - it's just the way it is and for a reason (a number of reasons) and that's fine by me. Had I not been married I might well have taken that route myself in my parner search. I actually took my American bride to the UK to live and she had a UK green card and a job there - but she didnt like it and so here we are in the U.S. and it's fine by me. I don't see any of this stuff bordering on immigration fraud and I think the conditions in many countries are an added incentive, and I don't see a problem in admitting that either to ourselves or the USCIS If some 70 year old toothless lonely gimmer gets a beautiful 29 year old bride from a horrible steaming sweat shop in a dangerous dirty poverty stricken city and they are both deliriously happy with what they both got out of it and value each other enormously, then I say good luck to them and well done. It's 'the market ' at work and all Americans and Margaret Thatcher are in favour of that I think it's great that people have options and possibilities to escape their situations whatever or wherever they are and 'love' per the USCIS field manual is indefinable anyway Good luck to all of us	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-19 12:27:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (mox @ Aug 19 2009, 04:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Pretty sure you haven't been to THE Odessa then. It's a beautiful city, lots to do, and a main tourist destination for many Eastern Europeans. There are problems and eye sores just like any Eastern European city, but overall I think it compares pretty favorably to any other modern EU city. The Odessa I went to was via Istanbul. I then flew north over the Black sea and landed at a horrible little airport with concrete huts and grass growing in the concrete runway. The communist style security was oppressive. Many women in town were 5 foot 10" and 90lbs and had tiny heads like cheetahs and very tall heels. It was the stinkiest and most run down and dangerous place I have ever been. The Lada taxi had no windscreen or carpets - just a steel floor with holes in. I was a prisoner in Saudi etc and even that felt safer. I could see that around 1900 it had been quite a city and I went to the opera house etc and saw its former glory - but not now. The gutters were full of weeds and the roofs had holes in them where the pigeons flew in and out. I would rather go to the back streets in Jamaica where I would feel safer (done that too) I guess if I had been with a young lady who was all over me I would have thought it a glorious setting - but I had my eyes open. I was woken up at 3am by a man's terrified screams - a gang had burst into his hotel room (next to mine) and they were torturing him - it went on a long time I went to East Berlin before the wall came down and that seemed quite well off compared to Odessa Sorry if this doesn't suit the Ukrainians who are understandably proud of their dim and distant past, like the Brits are of their Empire, but I had to leave England to gain a more objective perspective of England, and I call countries as I see them and not according to loyalties which cause biased reporting Back to the subject - for residents of somewhere like that to be given the chance of living in the West, it would 'add to' the attraction of the person who got them out. Love has many inputs and gratitude for getting them out of there is a legitimate part of love so long as it isnt the sole reason or a temporary 'using' of the person. If part of loving somone is because they saved you from a horrible life and made you feel safe and secure for the first time, I see that as entirely genuine - more meaningful than loving them for their perky chubbies and sensuous hands and love of animals or whatever we love people for So there is a line as to what is genuine, but if having a nice new life is simply a 'part' and not the whole of it, then that's genuine in my book. I reckon the GI brides of world war 2 wanted out of the poverty of bombed out London and it was a factor in the attraction to their American husbands We need to get real about all this and not be so lofty about Hollywood style love which is more about vaseline smeared camera lenses than the real world where people marry to escape loneliness and sexual frustration and Odessa and a lot of things - and genuinely think the world of the person who saved them and genuinely 'love' them for it Edited by saywhat, 19 August 2009 - 10:41 AM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-19 10:40:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Wife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?	QUOTE (workin4somethin @ Aug 17 2009, 12:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> QUOTE (akdiver @ Aug 16 2009, 02:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Has this ever happened to anyone? Just curious. Hasn't happened to me. She did get citizenship recently, and we sent off for her U.S. passport, but we're still happily married. Coming up on our fourth wedding anniversary (less than a month). My, does time fly! Cheers! AKD I have a good friend whose wife just got her U.S. citizenship; and, sadly, I expect to hear about her divorcing him (just any day now). You didn't ask, but she is Ukrainian. And it seems of all the Russian couples I personally know (30 to 40 couples), the Ukrainian spouses are the most difficult - come to the U.S.; get married; get SSN and driver's license; maybe get some additional college paid for; acquire U.S. citizenship; and then go and file for divorce, claiming their American husbands don't treat them well. - This is only a few, but it sickens me when I see it happen. I have been to Odessa (THE Odessa), and if I were a resident there I would be prepared to marry Elton to get out. Don't know why they don't ditch the spouse after the green card and do naturalization on their own after 5 years. I am sure there are genuine Ukrainian brides but boy they have an incentive By the way, Do any non - Asian American ladies import Thai men ? My daughter was asking and I said it doesn't work like that.... I am sure there will be AN exception somewhere	Captain Oates	Male	England	2009-08-18 23:34:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	NVC make me mad help	Try emailing them and ask them the question why yours hasn't been received when other approved after you have. I sent them this email and they replied today saying they have received the case and are in the process of assigning case # GOOD LUCK Wow and look at your dates ! What have I got to moan about... Interesting though that they will admit they have it before assigning a number.. I thought they would just respond to email like the operator or the auto service v interesting - I will give it a shot I know they are in the process of requiring UK Citizens of Pakistani background to get visas for visits rather than visa waiver... Perhaps all the UK applicants are getting double checked right now in advance of tightening ... other folk seem to be cruising through in a few days.... many thanks alan	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-05-16 11:04:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	NVC make me mad help	I just called tonight and I got the 90 days speech. It's just no way they receive that many cases that it takes 3 months to log them into the system at least. we are may 1st - nothing as at may 16th - I got the 90 day answer too...... pity they don't have an email system like USCIS i will try again tonight - 5pm their time does anyone know whether these things appear after an overnight batch or are they loaded on real time through the day - that might save me a call or two... Edited by saywhat, 16 May 2007 - 09:44 AM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-05-16 09:44:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	When do NVC update for new case numbers ?	Our I-130 took just about a month to get from the CSC to the NVC Hecky thump the potential disasters are doing my bonce in... Think I will sink some beer and cross everything that's crossable.... I am retiring from visa stuff once I get this one - it's a swing on the porch for me....	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-05-16 14:10:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	When do NVC update for new case numbers ?	found this : Timeframes for Data Input Most petitions are scanned into the NVC database and given an NVC case number within 24 hours of being received from the USCIS. This case number is used to track the case throughout its duration at the NVC. http://www.murthy.co...s/n_natvis.html	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-05-16 13:55:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	When do NVC update for new case numbers ?	yippee it could be thursday - wow you chaps had a long wait for your forms to be generated .....at every delay I am going to be thinking '2 year administrative review '! Carolyn is on her way back to Milwaukee tomorrow as her dad is v poorly - so I am here on my own for a week or so to chomp on the bit and phone every time I get a coffee... ok well i will just check everyone's date for receiving a NVC number and see if it's a thursday !	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-05-16 13:00:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	When do NVC update for new case numbers ?	Keep calling NVC and you will find out. Your case number will be assigned soon. Thanks for the assurance - I need it ! Edited by saywhat, 16 May 2007 - 12:40 PM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-05-16 12:40:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)	When do NVC update for new case numbers ?	I know that the forms are generated once per week but I am wondering if I can save myself some phoning.... Do new case assignments get loaded onto the computer when they are allocated a number - like 10am or whenever or do they do overnight batches...or even once per week ? anyone know ? I am just knitting a noose in case we get A/R alan Edited by saywhat, 16 May 2007 - 11:26 AM.	Captain Oates	Male	England	2007-05-16 11:24:00