ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusFriend Gets Goodbye Email from Fiance
QUOTE (Chuckles @ Jul 10 2008, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Is she marrying him for the money? Probably.

If that bothers him, then he needs to leave. If it doesn't bother them, they can still be happy.

No point in judging people. Love is not always the cornerstone of marriage. That is a modern, western ideal.


Happy? Maybe for a short time. Unless a guy's extraordinarily wealthy, what's to prevent his Russian wife from upgrading once she arrives in the land of plenty? Not much! If she's young and attractive she'll have plenty of suitors to choose from when she's here.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2008-07-10 14:16:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusFriend Gets Goodbye Email from Fiance
QUOTE (DairyFarmer @ Jul 10 2008, 06:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I also have 2cents to offer.

In the world outside of VJ where people meet, decide to get married without government approval cold feet is common. Its not new, people panic about the commitment and what is to come. From moving one town to another, one state to another or even just learning to live together, the unkown can be scarey. It doesn't mean they don't love the other person in the relationship.


You're absolutely right, but in the world outside of VJ people who meet and decide to get married usually know each other fairly well before deciding to make such a serious commitment.

If your fiancee backed out of your engagement and phoned to discuss it with you, would you have your friends listen in on the conversation so that they can give their opinions on how sincere she is?
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2008-07-10 08:36:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusFriend Gets Goodbye Email from Fiance
QUOTE (Brad and Vika @ Jul 9 2008, 02:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I don't think it is hogwash to the OPs friend. I believe we in America really underestimate the influence of friend/family opinion on Eastern Europeans. We apply our standards, and don't get the picture sometimes. While I see the same possible relationship issues here that you do, I think they stem from a legitimate fear of leaving a very comfortable situation (in terms of long term relationships and familiar surroundings) and taking a great risk with the happiness of her and her kids. All that doesn't negate the problem we all see though.


Attached File  3dflags_usa0001_0001a.gif   10.35KB   1 downloads Attached File  3dflags_ukr0001_0001a.gif   9.03KB   0 downloads


I have no doubt that there is a high level of anxiety for any woman contemplating leaving her family, friends, language, and country behind. But I see so many similarities to other crash n' burns that I suspect there's a lot more going on.

My apologies to Bruc for picking at his posts, I don't mean to attack the messenger, but do any of you married guys see the following quote as strange?

QUOTE
This took several phones call to her from a lot of people discussing this with her.
She sent her fiance a sms and told him to call her and he did. Some of us know the conversation and heard the conversation between them including the two girls from Russia.


Would you have other people contact your fiancee - the woman you love and plan to spend the rest of your life with - and when she finally agrees to talk, have others (who are probably strangers to her) listen in on the conversation?

My wife and I had plenty of disagreements and issues in the days leading up to her interview, some of which gave her second thoughts, but never in a million years would I have considered having a "Russian friend" contact her and act as an intermediary. Not only were our squabbles no one else's damn business, but my wife would have seen such behavior as weak and indecisive, which in turn would have only made matters worse.

I sincerely hope things work out for Bruc's friend and his fiancee and I apologize for being cynical, but sometimes a guy in this situation can use a dose of reality from his friends rather than "support." Sometimes it's really difficult for guys who are also involved in the K1 process to see another pilgrim entwined with the wrong type of woman, as the first instinct is to think, "damn, this could be happening to me too and I just don't realize it yet." So then the most palatable option is to rationalize the obvious problems and blow sunshine up his butt.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2008-07-09 09:17:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusFriend Gets Goodbye Email from Fiance
QUOTE (bruc @ Jul 8 2008, 09:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It didn't have anything to do with love and trust. She loves him and trust him but she wasn't so sure about our country and what the future held even the possibility of her fiance eventually being unemployed and not being able to support them. I certainly understand this and you should also because the only real person that knows your future is your employer and you never know when you might get walking papers yourself.


Sorry, but I believe this is hogwash.

Whenever I see one of these relationships go up in smoke - and I've seen many, including my own years ago when I was courting a Ukrainian woman - the guy's first instinct is to ignore reality and pin the blame on anything other than the obvious fact that his girl simply never loved him and never will, and that her motivation for marrying him was not in the best of his interests. Time and again I've watched guys try to squirm out from under the weight of logic and blame controlling parents who don't want her to leave Russia/Ukraine, pessimistic and jealous friends who spread rumors of a horrible life awaiting her in the US, fear of retribution from ex-husbands, etc. The list goes on and on. It's hard to except the reality that his girl is trying to let him down as easily as possible and the alternative of believing her story is a million times better than accepting the fact that she's been playing him for a fool all along.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2008-07-08 10:04:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusAny Doctor Will Tell You...
For those who aren't married and living with their Russian spouse, don't think that the wacky "alternative" opinions your significant other has are cute or endearing. Hearing a woman tell you that she caught a cold by sitting on a cold bench may seem amusing, but it's a whole other ball of wax when you're living together and medical issues arise.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2008-08-09 12:36:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusFreebies
You guys might want to bookmark this page or d/l the widget smile.gif

http://www.totallyfreecrap.com/
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2008-07-17 14:50:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusSo.... how are the driving lessons going?
QUOTE (visaveteran @ Jul 9 2008, 12:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I see one has to be careful what they post on the Russian forum. I hear swords being drawn.

My intent was to make a joke with an element of truth to it. Don't think it's naive to look at public transportation where it's available, walking to the restaurant and giving old Nelly Belle a rest in the garage, or getting good exercise and transportation at the same time on a nice mountain bike.


I realize for most your suggestion isn't an option, but my wife and I live in the NYC area and we both rely on our feet and the subway for transportation, 24/7. I have a car but use it only on weekends to visit friends, etc., and every couple of months my wife decides she's going to take the driver's exam but loses interest after a day of studying. If her experience in driving a snowmobile last Winter was any indication, the local driving population ought to be very grateful smile.gif
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2008-07-09 11:58:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusSo.... how are the driving lessons going?
QUOTE (slim @ Jun 10 2008, 10:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If you're not from around here it takes some getting used to and it's not the chili you want to be eating out on the trail (has kind of a White Castle after-effect) but it sure is good for chili-cheese-coneys (hot dogs with chili and cheese) during the game.


A few weeks ago, on our way back from a birthday party for some of our Russian friends, we were driving past a White Castle and I felt that irresistable pull.

The b-day party was great but the food wasn't to my taste - too much smoked fish, caviar, and holadyets, so I was hungry.

Anyway, my wife was silent while we went through the drive-through and I ordered a sack. But as we were pulling out of the drive-through, she couldn't hold back any longer: "why did you order TEN gamburgers????"

I laughed the rest of the ride home and showed her how small the burgers are. And yes, I paid for it the next day, but it was worth it.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2008-06-10 12:56:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusAdjusting to Life in USA
My wife went through much of the same. She was one of the top interior designers in the huge Grand store in Moscow. When she finally received her green card and started looking for work in the US, she was very discouraged.

First off, never ever ever let her be tempted into doing the easy thing and working for Russian firms in the US. They are ghettos of low pay, no health insurance, and exploitation. I'm speaking in very general terms here, but in my experience most take advantage of illegal Russian immigrants or Russians who can't speak English or who simply lack confidence. I would even go so far as to caution against working for an American firm if her manager happens to be a Russian man.

So sue me.

Second, it sucks to be a new immigrant in this country. Everyone wants to exploit her. If she's offered a job, ask her about her colleagues. My wife had a job offer on her first interview, after her first day of work she discovered that all of her co-workers were illegal immigrants. No wonder they offered her no medical plan or vacation, and the only days off were NYs and xmas.

Lastly, if she's a true professional and loved her career, don't let her settle for anything else. She'll be earning money but ultimately she'll be miserable. Support her while she gets whatever training or accreditation she needs to resume her career here. She may have to start at the bottom of the ladder again, as my wife has had to do, and this will be frustrating, but she'll quickly catch up.

Hope this is helpful. good.gif
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2008-10-22 13:10:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPresidential Debate
QUOTE (slim @ Oct 31 2008, 05:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
So whitey's hands are clean in all of this?


Only if you believe there were dirty hands to begin with, which I do not.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2008-10-31 16:19:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPresidential Debate
QUOTE (mox @ Oct 30 2008, 02:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (slim @ Oct 29 2008, 03:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You guys are still dodging the race card...... well, that'd be the SOP, right?

I dodged the race question because it's not something I like to accuse someone of lightly. It raised my eyebrows too, but I take groovlstk at his word that he was describing the situation using "black" as an adjective rather than as a racial undertone. I otherwise disagree with his stance on the issue, but there's plenty to pick apart without going there. smile.gif


I don't know the demographics of the people cited in Blues Fairy's earlier post about the mob who beat students who were cheering after 9/11 (or was it all hypothetical?). There was no agreement that "something should be done," what occurred was completely spontaneous. There was no time for even the slightest planning and everything was over in a matter of minutes. If you coughed you would have missed it.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2008-10-31 16:15:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPresidential Debate
QUOTE (slim @ Oct 29 2008, 06:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You guys are still dodging the race card...... well, that'd be the SOP, right?


Slim, sorry if my initial post was confusing, there should be no race issue, it's just geography.

The area where this happened is sort of a conflux of two distinct neighborhoods, one Egyptian and one African American. There are actually more tensions between Copt and Muslim factions within the Egyptian neighborhood. I honestly can't imagine any different outcome were this to have occurred in the Italian, Polish, Puerto Rican, or any other nearby communities.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2008-10-29 22:23:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPresidential Debate
QUOTE (mox @ Oct 29 2008, 01:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (groovlstk @ Oct 29 2008, 08:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
yes, I know what the word means, and unlike you I know how to spell it

Damn that spelling mistake rule that automatically loses me the argument. Oh if only I'd been more careful with my spell checking.


Mox, actually that was a low blow on my part. I know you know how to spell it. So I may have to wrest the mantle of defeat from your grasp. whistling.gif
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2008-10-29 13:25:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPresidential Debate
QUOTE (mox @ Oct 29 2008, 02:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Please. The "I was there, it affected me more than it affected you, so you have no right to question my perceptions" is a tired fallacy that's been used for 7 years to shut down any conversation--sorry but I'm not buying it. You should look up the definition of "sanctimounious" before you start applying it so loosely.


I love reading these sanctimonious - yes, I know what the word means, and unlike you I know how to spell it - discussions about due process and justice after the fact. Mox, you're so willing to take into account that the poor guy who was beaten was off his meds that day, are you willing to extend the same possibility to the guys who beat him? Maybe they were "completely hysterical over recent events" and were not in control of their mental faculties, excuses you are quick to extend to the guy who ignited the fracas but not those who were initially minding their own business and wanted nothing more than to get on with their day.

Mox, you and your pals have the luxury of sitting here and preaching about justice and due process with all the earnestness of philosophers chained to a madhouse wall. I'm sorry if it sticks in your craw, but you could never understand the shock and tension in the air that day.

QUOTE
I gave you some really good examples of what might have been going on, and you ignored them because it conflicts with your own prejudices. You saw what you wanted to see.


Really good examples? Such as the guy was off his meds? Please, tell it to Dr. Phil or Oprah.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2008-10-29 10:40:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPresidential Debate
QUOTE (mox @ Oct 28 2008, 11:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (groovlstk @ Oct 28 2008, 07:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Seven years later and I haven't the faintest degree of empathy or sympathy for him.

If you believe might makes right, then I guess this makes sense.


If I went into an African American neighborhood and started shouting racial epithets, I'd deserve to get a good popka-whoopin'. The man was no innocent bystander chosen at random. He peed on the wrong group of people at the absolute worst possible time. He knew the possible consequences yet couldn't contain his joy at what he witnessed that day.

QUOTE
On the other hand, what if the guy had been mentally handicapped? Over-medicated? Under-medicated? So completely hysterical over recent events that he wasn't in control of his mental faculties? You think you were seeing the whole story, but there's a good chance you weren't.


Someone who watched the day's events on TV, who wasn't there to witness the exchanges I described, and could never fathom the emotions local people were feeling in the immediate aftermath wants to tell me I really didn't understand what I saw?

Do you realize how sanctimonious that is?
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2008-10-28 11:51:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPresidential Debate
I witnessed someone being beaten on 9/11, an Egyptian guy in Jersey City, in full view of the smoke and debris that was obscuring most of lower Manhattan.

I was in a liquor store waiting to pay for a bottle of much-needed Jameson's on the worst day of my life when a young Arab guy ran up to the open door and yelled "EGYPT OWNS THIS COUNTRY!" People turned to look but most were still in a state of shock over the events earlier that day, no one even commented, but I could hear the guy repeating this line as he went door-to-door along the street. When I exited the shop he was on the sidewalk surrounded by a group of black men who were beating the holy living Jesus out of him.

Did I feel sorry for him? Not a whit.
Did I try to help him? Nope.
Was it wrong? Technically, yes.
Did he get what he deserved? Yes, he got exactly what he was looking for, and then some.

Seven years later and I haven't the faintest degree of empathy or sympathy for him.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2008-10-28 09:43:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarusquestions about love and commitment relative to K1 process
QUOTE (slim @ Aug 13 2009, 03:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
As much as I'd like to agree with groovlstk, I don't think women even know themselves, so getting to know one over the course of three months is great, but you'll just have to relearn her three months later. And then again three months later.

.... and the cycle continues.

Get married. Don't get married. Whatever. I don't think it really matters whether you know the person or not. I spent the better part of six years communicating with my wife before she got here. I still don't have her figured out. I don't think it's because I can't do it, it's because she can't figure herself out so who am I supposed to get to know?

Three months is nowhere near long enough. Three years isn't either. Thirty, maybe. Check back in 2030 and I'll let you know.


I think we're talking semantics, here. I don't think it's possible for anyone to truly know another person down to the last centime - man or woman - but it's a flimsy justification for marrying a complete stranger.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2009-08-13 11:00:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarusquestions about love and commitment relative to K1 process
QUOTE (mox @ Aug 11 2009, 06:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Not to sound snarky, but I think this is common sense. Even two USC's who have been dating and seeing each other in person for months or longer will not have a "representative" experience within the first 90 days. People should do what feels right for them. If that means using the 90 days to "get to know each other better" then so be it. It's not my business to say they can't.


Maybe I wasn't clear, but the entire point of my post is that it's not wise to plan on doing the "getting to know you" thing while simultaneously making a decision on whether to marry her while she's experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime variety of stress.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2009-08-12 07:48:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarusquestions about love and commitment relative to K1 process
I'm late to add my two bits to this thread, but to any of you who think you can use the 90-day K1 period as a trial, you should know that those 90 days are not representative of what your life together will be like. When your fiancee arrives, she'll very likely be overwhelmed on many fronts as she tries to make sense of her new environment.

This is just my experience, but when my wife arrived in '06 she behaved much differently than she did when we met on her own turf (and thankfully, I had the sense not to propose to her after a few dates and spent enough time with her before filing my K1 to know this was not her normal emotional state of being). Her moods were mercurial, she was weeks getting over jetlag, she'd turn from affectionate to cranky in moments when she was tired - the list goes on and on. I guess the only metaphor that comes to my mind is your first days of school when you were a child - this time may have been a nightmare and you cried for your mom every morning, or you made some fast friends and had a blast - but in all likelyhood those days were not representative of the next few years.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2009-08-11 14:41:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusJoint Bank Account Advice and Insight
Don't sweat it, too often people get consumed with accumulating a sheer mass of evidence - if your marriage is bonafide you'll have nothing to worry about. FWIW, my wife and I didn't get around to putting her name on our checking account until after AOS, the only thing our AOS interviewer asked was the date of our marriage and if she had an EAD card (which he confiscated since it was no longer necessary). We were one of only a few couples who didn't have a lawyer with us (and listening to the lawyers coaching their clients 5 minutes before their scheduled interviews to be sure they had their stories/names/dates in synch was sad but comforting). It will be over before you even know it.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2009-08-21 10:59:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusThe movies you wanted to share
QUOTE (slim @ Aug 25 2009, 03:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
To be quite honest, I didn't really like The Big Lebowski all that much. It was funny, but I didn't buy it or anything. I've only watched it a few times, so maybe I'll watch it again one day and it'll just click for me. There were funny parts, but for my money, if I'm going to watch a bowling movie, I'll take Kingpin over TBL any day.


One thing to note with TBL - it's easy to semi-dismiss it as mildly funny but not very exceptional after a single viewing. I was persuaded to give it a 2nd look by a friend, and after that every time I watched it I discovered new comic gems in the dialog. There's so much going on just below the surface that it takes a few viewings to appreciate it whistling.gif


groovlstkNot TellingRussia2009-08-25 09:14:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusThe movies you wanted to share
QUOTE (eekee @ Aug 21 2009, 06:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Both the Big Lebowski and Army of Darkness are big in my house. I think the only films I introduced were some of my older favorites, like Sunset Boulevard.


Wow, I haven't yet shown The Big L to my wife, yet - I assumed the humor (most of which is via dialog) wouldn't translate well. I'll have to give it a try this week.

One of my friends and I went to Lebowskifest a few years ago when it came to NYC. I've never before watched a movie that gets funnier every time you see it.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2009-08-24 08:55:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusAfter Interview
QUOTE (lee b @ Aug 12 2009, 09:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I am trying to book flights for after the interview and I wasn't sure how long it takes to get the visa. I realize this might not be the wisest thing, but chance is good for the soul. Any advice would be appreciated.

As a side note, I have been reading on this forum for a while and occasionally posting. You guys crack me up.


You should arrange to pick up her visa at the DHL office. It's accessible via marshrutka. I took a calculated risk and pre-booked my wife and I tickets from Moscow to NYC 8 days after her scheduled interview date. Everything worked out fine (we had the visa in hand three days after the interview) but like others have said here, it's a risk.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2009-08-13 10:41:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPrivate sauna - in the Atlanta area?
QUOTE (Steve S @ Sep 22 2009, 08:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
In Cheljabinsk there is a great place where you can have 2 hours private sauna for only about 50 bucks. Not traditional Russian banja I guess (never have been, but I have read those involve beatings on the back).


Don't believe the things you read about banyas in the western press. I was similarly wary about the "beatings with twigs" until I went myself.

If you have a Russian banya nearby, treat yourself. I absolutely love going, especially in the Winter. The place my wife and I go to has several different heated rooms, some dry and some wet, all with different temperatures. There's a lounge area where people throw back Baltika and vodka, order food, etc. My favorite thing is hanging out in the hottest room until it gets uncomfortable and then jumping into a pool of ice-cold water. Sounds insane, just like the Russian guys who do the same thing in freezing river water, right? It's the best feeling in the world, and not at all uncomfortable, despite how it looks on TV.

I stopped trying to get my American friends to join us, they always give me a wierd look as if the whole banya thing is some quirky, uncomfortable tradition among Russians. The joke's on them, though - it's a million times more relaxing than ordering takeout and a six-pack and watching TV.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2009-09-22 12:42:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusHow do people do it?
My wife and I married in Las Vegas two months after her arrival, and then we had a more formal celebration for our family and friends four months later. I'm glad we took this approach since her family and some friends wanted to join us and needed to make arrangements and apply for visas, plus it just made things less frantic.

The place we used in Vegas was called A Hollywood Wedding Chapel. We didn't scout it out first and when we arrived we found a musty office carpeted with astroturf. The only "Hollywood" reference in the office was a poster of that crappy movie K-PAX on one wall. One of the couples waiting their turn were drunk as skunks, and we've speculated about what happened when they sobered up more than once smile.gif The minister speed-read a cheezy sermon he's probably done 2000 times and then gave us the "here's your hat, what's your hurry?" routine. And despite all this, or maybe because of it, it was the most romantic and wonderful thing in the world star_smile.gif
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2009-11-03 12:48:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusBehavior you (USC man) find odd
Not sure if your questions are rhetorical, but I'll answer as honestly as I can based on my experiences.

QUOTE
Dating as equals?


Yes, as in she didn't see me as a ticket to the land of milk and honey, and I didn't see her as someone desperate to escape a hard life.

QUOTE
Why do so many FSU women post their profiles to internet sites in the USA?


I didn't meet my wife through a marriage agency or dating site, but I'd say there are a myriad of reasons, many of which (both good and bad) can be boiled down to simple economics.

QUOTE
Why do so many American men spend a small fortune and all the grief of travel to meet a FSU women?


Same answer: I'd say there are a myriad of reasons, many of which (both good and bad) can be boiled down to simple economics.

groovlstkNot TellingRussia2009-11-17 14:26:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusBehavior you (USC man) find odd
QUOTE (visaveteran @ Nov 17 2009, 01:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I think women in Moscow and St. Petersburg probably are not so anxious to leave their homeland and also have nice flats, jobs, cars, etc.


This is absolutely true and something I took as a positive. My wife is originally from Moscow and when we were dating we were able to do so as equals.
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2009-11-17 11:46:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusBehavior you (USC man) find odd
My wife loves fruit, gorges on it, and one of my weekly pleasures is surprising her with new varieties she may not have tried in Russia and/or whatever is fresh at the time.

But man, we just had the Summer of Fruit Flies. Every time I thought they were eradicated, I'd find a banana peel or some juice spilled on the counter, and bingo a whole new generation of the little SOBs were free to spend their short lives circling my beer mug. wacko.gif
groovlstkNot TellingRussia2009-10-20 10:22:00
Europe & Eurasia (except the UK and Russia)Anyone here with Slovak fiance(e)'s
Sounds good... ;)
keep copies of everything you submit. From what I have heard and read here you will need them again when filing for AOS.

Back 2 years ago when we got married we did not even know about K visa and all that.
We went to the Czech embassy, back in summer 2004 to ask what should we do if we consider to get married but they did not really tell us anything constructive. They definitely did not mentioned the fiancée visa... ironic...
Anyway the process is exactly the same accept you just get married here as a snap decision and then file.
Honestly it is not better or worse, it's not illegal... you just need to figure out what works best for you. Now I know so much more about the whole immigration thing it's funny.

I am glad you will be there for New Years that is great. Prague is beautiful especially in the winter time. At least I think so.
Well good luck to you both... gather a lot of patience you will need it.
And feel free to email me anytime at lprenoveau@gmail.com (that goes for your fiancée as well).
This whole thing it’s quite hard sometimes. It’s nice to know that there are people out there in the same situation with their families far away.
Besides it also helps to speak to someone in your native language as well. I know I have been missing that a lot as long as I don’t have any Czechs/Slovakians close by.

Again best of luck to you both
Luc
ljprenFemaleCzech Republic2006-09-28 12:29:00
Europe & Eurasia (except the UK and Russia)Anyone here with Slovak fiance(e)'s
not many responses I see.
I am from the Czech Republic myself so shoot ... ;)
I will be happy to help if I can

Best
Lucie
ljprenFemaleCzech Republic2006-09-22 14:04:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusCheap FLowers ordering for Russia?
QUOTE (Ilya R. @ Apr 8 2008, 03:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I sent my girl some flowers for her bday it wasnt nothing fancy, but it sure cost fancy $250 for barely any roses. Does anyone know a good reputable site to send flowers to Moscow/St.Petes that wont destroy my wallet?
THanks devil.gif

www.topetersburg.com Very good service, reasonable prices.


Capt.
capt. jackMaleRussia2008-04-08 15:09:00
United KingdomDual Citizenship - UK and US

Good to know, thanks for the advice! 


gap1FemaleUnited Kingdom2014-04-17 14:04:00
United KingdomDual Citizenship - UK and US

Hello, 

 

I'm wrapping up my husband's naturalization packet (he's the Brit, I'm the American). We've done a great deal of research and everything we could find on both the US and UK government sites state that you can be a dual citizen of both countries and shouldn't have any issues.

 

We may want to move to the UK down the line, but thought it best that he becomes a US citizen so we don't have to worry about going back and forth between the countries in the future, worrying about status, etc. It just seems easier for him to have both passports. 

 

Do you have any advice on this? Do you recommend it? I know that we would have to pay taxes in both countries should we move to the UK in a few years, but other than that I can't see any downside. I just thought I'd check to see if anyone had horror stories before we submit. 

 

I know the oath doesn't override his UK citizenship, but a lot of the questions ask him to denounce it so I'm just making sure I understand things correctly. 


gap1FemaleUnited Kingdom2014-04-17 11:48:00
United KingdomLondon Medical - Knightsbridge Doctors
My fiance had his medical last week, but because of a really insignificant depression incident in his teenage years they are making him get a letter from his GP before passing him. He has an appointment on Friday so hopefully it's an easy fix and won't require further referrals. The stupid medical is delaying us.
gap1FemaleUnited Kingdom2010-12-07 07:59:00
United KingdomFiance Ready to Submit Packet 3...

This was to reinforce the statement of things that DON'T get mailed in because they go to the interview.


Thanks so much. Sorry for being redundant in my questioning, you can never be too sure in this process!
gap1FemaleUnited Kingdom2010-12-06 22:32:00
United KingdomFiance Ready to Submit Packet 3...

You are correct in the FORMS you listed to send.
Do not attach the photos. They do it at the interview.
Do not sign the DS156K.That's done in front of the officer like an oath.
Do not send your personal documents.
Do be sure to make photocopies for your records before you mail the forms off.

If you want to say (results pending additional information) beside the medical date, that sounds fine.

The documents that are taken to the interview are listed on London's website http://london.usemba..._documents.html
Make sure you have read the detailed explanations they give so you have the right kind of birth certificate, for example. Make a photocopy of any "official" document you want back (like birth certificate, police certificate) so they can verify the original, file the photocopy, and give you back the original. Things that you have a copy of on your computer don't really need a photocopy because you can easily print off another if you ever needed one (example Form I-134).


Do not attach what photos? As far as I understand we don't need to include photos for packet 3...am I wrong?

So we do not have to send copies of his birth and police certificates (we already have those), financial support docs or a new letter of intent for packet 3, correct? I wasn't asking about the interview stage, we're just talking about packet 3.

Thanks! You are a life-saver!
gap1FemaleUnited Kingdom2010-12-06 21:19:00
United KingdomFiance Ready to Submit Packet 3...
Hello. My fiance is going to submit his packet 3 forms this week. I just want to make sure we're doing it right.

We're sending:

Cover Letter
DS-230 Part 1
DS 2001 (checklist)
Form DS-156 (original in duplicate)
Form DS-157 (original in duplicate)
Form DS-156-K

I was told he doesn't need to submit evidence as suggested on the DS-230, is this correct? We DO NOT need to send a new letter of intent, birth certificate, police certificate, etc? We have them ready of course if need be.

He already had his medical, but we had a small issue and he needs to go back and get a letter from his GP this week before they will send off his results. Should we put the date of his appointment (Dec 2nd) and clarify that we're watiing on that information or is just putting "Dec 2" ok?

Thanks so much!
gap1FemaleUnited Kingdom2010-12-06 16:34:00
United KingdomPOE - Dublin?

Just to add more confusing and conflicting information, this here article says that immigration and customs is cleared in Dublin starting from the beginning of this year: http://www.irishcent...-112744504.html

:lol:


This is fantastic news, thanks Leenie! I think it will be ideal since he can clear everything then relax on his flight instead of worrying for 8 hours, and by the time he gets to Chicago he can just meet me with no fuss. Also if for some reason something goes wrong, he'll be a lot closer to home...well, his current home.
gap1FemaleUnited Kingdom2011-01-13 23:32:00
United KingdomPOE - Dublin?
Has anyone gone through POE in Dublin? I know you can go through US customs in Dublin on a connecting flight (I've done it, but I'm a US citizen...not sure how it works with foreign visitors/permanent residents). My fiance is looking to book his flight in the coming month or so and the cheapest option is a connection through Dublin to Chicago.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. It would be nice if he could clear customs before crossing the Atlantic. It would make for a far less tense ride.
gap1FemaleUnited Kingdom2011-01-13 15:04:00
United KingdomMail Service Warning
Yeah that's odd! My fiance and a friend each sent things to me in the States in Nov and Dec and they never arrived. My family also never received a Christmas card.

We never received a P3, nor did a few other couples I've spoken to. Don't wait for it, you don't have to. If you've confirmed that it's been "sent" out just send back your forms. That's what we did.

That said, his interview letter got to him in a timely manner.
gap1FemaleUnited Kingdom2011-01-20 08:43:00