ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusEven females get it
Hey, offering naked pics is probably a very good way to entice new friends!
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-09-30 11:25:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWelcome to the United States
All true, but it's just the cliche of being officially welcomed.

Natasha and Vika received their green cards yesterday!
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-10-08 10:31:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWelcome to the United States
So Natasha and Vika received their welcome letters today. It was a thrill, but to be honest I was quite bummed that the officer at the POE didn't welcome them when we arrived back in March. To quote Walter, the new greeter at Walmart (and bonus points if you know this reference), our officer welcomed Natasha & Vika into the United States like this (I'm paraphrasing): "Get your s**t and get out!".

Still, it's the thought that counts.
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-10-03 14:22:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusAOS Interview yesterday
Interesting, AK. I asked about their EAD cards, and the woman said that the stamp in the passport obviated them but she didn't ask for them or anything.

I didn't convert the PDFs to images since I have the professional version of Acrobat, and can use the typewriter mode to 'fill in' the fields. I do agree it's silly that the time gap between receipt of EAD and the interview is so short that getting the EAD is almost worthless, even though you have to pay for it whether you get it or not.

Thanks for the reports, guys, I enjoy reading them.
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-10-01 09:58:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusAOS Interview yesterday
YPA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-09-30 13:05:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusAOS Interview yesterday
Thanks raymaga, I appreciate that. It was a good speech, I agree.
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-09-30 11:24:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusAOS Interview yesterday
Natasha, Vika and I had our AOS interview yesterday at the local USCIS office. To my surprise, they didn't keep us waiting too long (maybe 5 minutes), and then took Natasha and I in (Vika remained in the waiting room) for some old-school Spanish Inquisition. Just kidding - the woman really only had 2 questions for us which she spent about 20 minutes on. For Natasha, she wanted to know if she was aware of my past marriage and of the fact that when I met her I was still legally married (she was). For me, she wanted to know if I was aware of Natasha's previous K-1 visa. She didn't ask these questions like this - for my ex she asked me questions about the marriage, and for Natasha's previous K-1 she asked her who the guy was and what happened. It is my assessment that the real purpose was to gauge our reactions to these questions and see if we were both honest with each other. Or maybe I'm just paranoid, who knows.

We brought our entire mountain of paperwork with us (all the original documents whose copies were submitted with the AOS applications), plus everything we thought would be need for the 'All supporting evidence' blanket requirement, but in the end she only wanted to see two things: proper identification at the start of the interview, and then photos. We had prepared two photo albums, the first from my trip to Russia where I met all of Natasha's family, and the second of photos from going to visit my parents as well as photos of the wedding and family activities since the wedding. She didn't even ask for anything else. I'm going to assume that our mountain of paperwork scared her off, or maybe she had an early afternoon tee time to make.

The most interesting part for me was when she brought Vika into the interview, and at the end of asking her some general questions (how do you like living here, was it difficult starting school without speaking any English, how are things at home, etc) she gave her the scared straight speech:

"Vika, you may make some American friends here who like to break the rules, and steal things from a store or experiment with drugs. If they are caught, not much will happen to them, other than maybe they will pay a fine. But if you do these things and are caught, you will go back to Russia for the rest of your life. No one here will care that your Mother lives in the USA. You will go back to Russia for the rest of your life, so you have to make good, smart decisions, even if your friends don't."

It was an impressive lecture, and something that quite honestly had never crossed my mind. I also assume a lot of this lecture applies to Natasha too!

Anyway, we 'passed' the interview and their passports were stamped with the temporary green card, and she confiscated the I-94 forms from the passports and informed us that the permanent (2-year) green cards would arrive in the mail in about two weeks. She made a point of telling Natasha that if I died and she wanted to remain it the USA that she would need to submit the application for the 10-year green card herself, about 3 months before the 2-year card expires. Maybe I looked a little peaked or something to the interviewer, but in Russia you don't say things like this (talking about someone dieing) so Natasha cringed a little, and the woman wrote down the form number on a post-it note and Natasha affixed this to her passport for safe keeping.

In the car afterward I asked Natasha if she was happy to have her green card and she replied that she wasn't really happy, just relieved that we were 'done'. She says her feelings on this might change when she has the real green card in her hands, kinda like a kid with a new toy on Christmas.

So, that's my (mostly) matter-of-fact report of our interview experience!
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-09-30 09:19:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPlease Note The Good News In My Signature
Wonderful news! You have been waiting so long I can imagine how excited you are that they are finally on their way (logically, anyway).

CONGRATS!!!!
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-09-30 10:04:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusHas anyone had luck in inviting fiance's mother to US for the wedding??
We'd love to bring much of Natasha's family over at some point, but we've (wrongly?) given in to the fact that they will likely have to visit in waves (her Dad was injured in an on the job accident a little over a year ago, and though he has recently gone back to work it is at a substantially reduced wage).
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-11-06 12:04:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusInterview passed
Congratulations! Here's to hoping you receive your visas prior to your travel dates (we didn't, but that's a WHOLE 'nother story!)!

Good luck on the rest of your journey.
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-10-31 16:32:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWhich Candidate Is Better For Your Spouse's/Fiancee's Country?
QUOTE (mox @ Nov 6 2008, 07:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (slim @ Nov 5 2008, 11:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (mox @ Nov 5 2008, 07:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
But under a popular vote, Wyoming's votes would never count at all. So it's a compromise, and it's not perfect. But just like most of the framework that came from our founding fathers, I've yet to hear a better idea.


Why would they not count? If you counted every single person's vote individually and then the candidate with the most votes won, in effect, every state's votes would count because every single person's vote would count. The way it is now, like you said, a state with a relatively low population influences the election with it's electoral votes. If it was simply a "most votes wins" election, it wouldn't matter what state a voter lived in because their vote would be counted.

It goes back to the US being a Representative Democracy, not a true Democracy. So when I talk about "Wyoming's vote," I literally mean the State of Wyoming's vote, not the individuals who make up the state, although the individual is still the underlying mechanism. Each state gets Electoral Votes equal to their total number of Senators and House members, which makes a lot of sense when you think about it...you're guaranteed 3 EV's no matter what your population is, just like Congress. As a Federalist, this should actually appeal to you, because it gives the state to the popular vote of that state instead of diluting the vote nationally. A nationwide popular vote actually goes against your Federalist ideology.

There are two states, Maine and one of the Eastern states (New Hampshire? Deleware? Maine?) that divide their EV's up based on who wins the Congressional District, and it's a system I like a lot. I think if every state did this there would be more opportunity for 3rd parties to make a difference. Which is why it won't happen. But at least it's the State making the decision as to how their EV's are counted, and not the Federal Government.

This is all academic of course. President Obama will herald in a new era of socialism. He'll replace Congress with a Duma, seize your property so he can fund abortions and mandatory gay marriages, ship your children off to Muslim madrases, and invite Secretary of State Osama bin Laden to set up camp in the Lincoln bedroom. Those of us who voted for him will be appointed Camp "re-educators." Because you didn't actually vote Slim you'll just have your guns taken away and sent to Alaska to build a bridge to Russia. Anyone who voted McCain will...er...you did see One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, right?


Actually, that other state is Nebraska, where I live!
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-11-06 11:53:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWhich Candidate Is Better For Your Spouse's/Fiancee's Country?
QUOTE (akdiver @ Nov 4 2008, 02:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Thomas-n-Elena @ Nov 3 2008, 05:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Drop the electoral college
A lot of people think this - and it is flawed thinking. The EC is the only thing that keeps the most populous 5 or 6 states from dominating the entire country. People don't realize this, or think about it this way because they forget that the country was set up as, and is SUPPOSED TO BE RUN AS a REPUBLIC, of equal and sovereign states. From that perspective, the EC allows the "small states" as entities unto themselves to have some representation, in addition to giving people as individuals some representation. If the EC ever gets abolished and we go to just a pure popular vote, then the small states are just screwed. Of course, if it were up to me, I would still completely change how the EC works. Among other things, I would give the governor of each state a vote in the EC.

I agree with about getting on the ballots though. Anyone and everyone who wants on the ballot and pays a $1000 "anti-nuisance fee" should be able to get on.



Uh, the small states get a handful of EC votes, and the big states get buckets full. So, what was the point, again?
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-11-05 15:40:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWife interview scheduled
I feel like a counter-scenario is appropriate. After our interview, we received the visas (we picked them up at DHL directly) about 3 weeks later. Please keep in mind that sometimes, through no fault of your own, these things CAN (not MUST) go into bureaucratic limbo. Plan accordingly. Changing airline tickets (3 times, in my case) can be a costly affair.

That said, statistics show that you will probably not have any problems, and I sincerely wish you and yours the very best of luck!
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-11-06 15:33:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy theory of Mox
I, too, must profess a certain fondness for the friend apple pie at McD, though Natasha prefers the little cinnamon roll things. Go figure!
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-03 13:17:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy theory of Mox
I believe it's pronounced "Steek"
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-02 14:19:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy theory of Mox
QUOTE (PlatyPius @ Nov 26 2008, 10:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
There is no Mox.

Yes, but is there a spoon?
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-11-29 10:04:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy theory of Mox
Looking at Mox's profile, I see he is but 1 year old. That must make him very similar to this guy, if in fact they are not one and the same person. Notice how you never see Mox and this guy in the same place at the same time. Coincidence? Hmmmmm.
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-11-26 13:20:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusGulag Fantasy Camp
You know, Natasha tells me that on many Russian women forums, the term 'popcorn' is code for 'porn'. I'm just saying.

We DO still have pie though!
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-11-26 13:48:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusIssues with phone connections
To quote Asok: "What's a memo?" (because this thread is WAY to on-topic - forgive)
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-03 13:19:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarussecond K-1??
I'm with Mox on this one. If the USC files a K-1 within 2 years of having a prior K-1 approved, they need the waiver. Oddly, though, a non-USC beneficiary CAN have had an approved K-1 filed on their behalf within the past 2 years, and can still be the beneficiary of a new K-1 (from a new USC petitioner). This was the situation with Natasha. May or may not have had anything to do with our delays in Moscow post-interview. No way to tell since they have no requirement to explain themselves when such delays occur.
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-05 11:09:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusAn ounce of prevention
(putting his Ronco ® dehydrator back into its box)

Aw, man! No cat jerky?
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-11-26 13:14:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusChristmas Gift Ideas for your Russian/Ukranian Family
Yeah, visiting DHL to make some inquiries is on my to-do list. Thanks, Mox!
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-08 12:38:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusChristmas Gift Ideas for your Russian/Ukranian Family
Natasha really wants to buy a nice watch for her Mama (please ignore my post in the superstitions topic regarding watches as gifts - apparently, there must be a daughter/mama exception) but worries to no end about getting it safely to her, though 'customs' inspections where apparently items of value are regularly replaced...
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-08 12:04:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusAm I going to have a problem if I won`t do name change stamp before travel???
I think the general advice goes something like 'when in Russia, use your Russian documents. When in the USA, use your USA documents'. To enter the USA, all you need is your green card for ID. Right, guys?
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-05 16:00:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPertussis
Thanks, Kotenochek! She's getting along very well in school, except for one boy Patrick, but I still wonder if there's not actually a secret, underlying attraction there. She often comes home 'doing' the latest tease/chant/whatever she just learned from the girls at school. I can cite the words, but it's the little dance and attitude that really sells them. Last night's: "u-g-l-y, you don't got no alibi, yea-ah, you're UGLY, yea-ah, you're ugly!"

Her English is quite passable with an ever-expanding vocabulary. Next year should be interesting, as her elementary school ends at 5th grade so next year she moves up to a middle school, which, when coupled with our planned move this summer, should bring her (possibly) a new set of classmates.
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-16 13:45:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPertussis
Ya, the school sent home a note at first saying 'one kid has it, be advised'. 2 days later they sent home another note, this time from the health department, saying 'several kids have it, and now we recommend every student in the 5th grade, plus all 5th grade staff, start prophylactic antibiotics'.

So, I trooped Vika to the doctor's office, gave the note to the doctor, then we both scratched our heads. We called the school, who told us that 'several students' means '2'. Vika's school has 3 5th grades, and neither of the students afflicted were in Vika's actual classroom. A call to the health department clarified their position as meaning that students with DIRECT contact with one of the afflicted students should start antibiotics. So, twixt the doctor and me we decided to forgo them.

It was Vika's first visit with an American doctor though, which we construed to mean it was the perfect time for a photo-op!

Oh, and the doctor's name? John Smith. I wasn't suspicious at all.

Edited by KGSodie, 11 December 2008 - 02:37 PM.

KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-11 14:36:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPertussis
You know, I've said it before and I'll say it again: what exactly did we do before the advent of the internet? THANK YOU!!!!!!!!
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-09 22:25:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPertussis
Vika's school has had an outbreak of Pertussis, and I have been unable to locate the Russian translation for this virus (for relaying to Vika and her parents). Anyone know it?
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-09 22:11:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusInterview 8th Visa 11th
A lot of planes must have landed around the same time ours did, because the line to get through customs was huge. After waiting in that line, they directed us downstairs to actually be processed, where there were 3 lines of IOs, only one of which was processing visas of our type. Although there was only 1 file in front of ours, it still took at least an hour before they called us. No idea why, but I'd like to think it was atypical.

Good luck!
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-17 10:17:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusInterview 8th Visa 11th
We flew through Atlanta, and it took us about 3.5 hours. JFK will, obviously, be different.
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-11 12:21:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusNational life-cycle (and pie)
How rude of the pie! The pie can just eat me too!

KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-24 10:38:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusNational life-cycle (and pie)
"Great nations rise and fall. The people go from bondage to spiritual truth, to great courage, from courage to liberty, from liberty to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency, from complacency to apathy, from apathy to dependence, from dependence back again to bondage."

The author of this quote is, I believe, anonymous, though quite astute (IMO).

Discuss amongst yourselves - I'm a little verklempt.

Pie, however, follows a different life-cycle. It goes from raw ingredients, to assembled possibility, to hot deliciousness, to excreted waste, to processed sewage, to fertilizer, and then back to raw ingredients.
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-23 14:05:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusOzersk on NPR
QUOTE (Brad and Vika @ Dec 22 2008, 11:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (KGSodie @ Dec 22 2008, 04:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Also, my story relates to pie in the following manner: While on the aforementioned visit to Volgodonsk, we often visited Natasha's sister, Ulyana. On 2 occasions, Ulyana made for us what Natasha called pie, and which I will describe for you now (Natasha is at work so I can't get the Russian name of this dish. Natasha called it 'Apple pie').

Imagine a really flaky, thin pie crust. Now imagine many such layers stacked up with a thin apple paste in between the layers. I'm told beer goes into the batter, or maybe it was the paste, I don't remember. Very tasty.



Did you also eat mushrooms gathered fresh from the field?

Oh good Lord no! Even now, if Natasha sees a mushroom in the food she eats at a restaurant, she will ask me if it's safe.
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-23 10:02:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusOzersk on NPR
Also, my story relates to pie in the following manner: While on the aforementioned visit to Volgodonsk, we often visited Natasha's sister, Ulyana. On 2 occasions, Ulyana made for us what Natasha called pie, and which I will describe for you now (Natasha is at work so I can't get the Russian name of this dish. Natasha called it 'Apple pie').

Imagine a really flaky, thin pie crust. Now imagine many such layers stacked up with a thin apple paste in between the layers. I'm told beer goes into the batter, or maybe it was the paste, I don't remember. Very tasty.
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-22 16:34:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusOzersk on NPR
I gave this a listen, Mox, and it was informative. Natasha was born in the Chelyabinsk region. She also related a story to me about the Volgodonsk nuclear power station, and its malfunction in May of 2006 (still not officially confirmed, I believe, by the Russian government), which was just a couple of months after my first visit to the city!
KGSodieMaleRussia2008-12-22 16:28:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDHL waybill BEFORE interview?
There is a DHL office in a little mall about 1 or 2 blocks from the consulate, and that's the office we used. When the visas were finally released, we took the metro/bus out to the main DHL shipping facility and picked up the visas ourselves, instead of waiting for delivery.

All of the info (addresses/phone numbers) is on the DHL website.
KGSodieMaleRussia2009-01-12 10:49:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarustime to interview ..
The last mox knew is almost always better than the first I would know, but my timeline agrees with around 3 months (we received NOA2 on November 23 and the interview date was February 26).
KGSodieMaleRussia2009-01-14 15:31:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWish us Luck
Philly, huh? Is the mood down there now, after yesterday? Hopefully the IO isn't an Eagles fan!

Just kidding around, you know. You guys will do just fine, and please do share your experience with us!
KGSodieMaleRussia2009-01-19 13:03:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMscow embassy interview procedure
QUOTE (mox @ Jan 13 2009, 11:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
As it happens, I'll be drinking with some friends tonight. I'll make a toast to the happy couple!


Is it a day that ends in 'y' already, Mox? :-P


And CONGRATULATIONS K1researcher!
KGSodieMaleRussia2009-01-13 14:05:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMscow embassy interview procedure
The letter is also usually accompanied or followed by a packet of information detailing what your fiancee will need to bring to the interview (the so-called packet 3/4), though some fiancees report never receiving this. In any event. the guides here, and the consulate website, list in good detail what is required.

Good luck!
KGSodieMaleRussia2009-01-08 16:28:00