ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusRussia to Vote on Sunday
What are you people talking about, nobody is forced to vote. Except, perhaps, the military who are led to vote for Putin in files, at the command of their officers. For all the rest of the citizens, voting is voluntary.

The removal of "against all" option is just that. Those who came to vote have to vote for somebody. If they chose not to vote, they stay at home.

Edited by Blues Fairy, 28 November 2007 - 05:56 AM.

Blues FairyFemaleRussia2007-11-28 05:55:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusRussia to Vote on Sunday
I wish I could vote, but my remote propiska makes it next to impossible. It's incredibly sad and disappointing to see many people for whom to vote means to make a 10-minute trip to the neighboring school, forego their constitutional rights and thus contribute to the undermining of democracy in Russia. They are myopic indeed if they think excercising their will is useless or shameful.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2007-11-27 17:32:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarusshare your movie
QUOTE (russ @ Nov 24 2007, 03:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
?????? ? ????????? was also a fantastic Russian miniseries if you can find it.


If you liked M&M you should check out the spectacular adaptation of Dostoevsky's "Idiot" by the same director Vladimir Bortko. Excellent cast giving superb performances, and Evgeny Mironov shines as Prince Myshkin. It's a 10-episode TV miniseries, too.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2007-11-25 08:24:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusChanging my name spelling
QUOTE (Satellite @ Dec 11 2007, 02:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Blues Fairy @ Dec 11 2007, 09:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Maybe there's a sneaky way to prevent all this hassle and set it straight from the beginning?
There is, I mean there was a way. A bribe of some sort back in Russia, or handing in a prior translated documents when your passport was being made by UVD. But its a moot point now, but for those starting off, I guess the advise would be to take care of all name corrections in Russia before applying for a visa or filling out any US documents.

The bribe in Russia was not possible because I was rushing my passport as it is and was happy enough with the fact I got it in time.

So at which point does the correction take place now? Can I use the NOA for my AOS package as proof of new spelling for Social Security, or must I wait for the actual GC/EAD to arrive?

Can I start changing my passport now, instead of after AOS? (Perhaps not a good idea because they'll have to reissue K-1 in this case).

I feel completely trapped.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2007-12-11 18:30:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusChanging my name spelling
QUOTE (mox @ Dec 11 2007, 12:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
With regards to your name change, this might be a little extreme but what about having it legally changed back to what it's supposed to be?


Actually the friendly officer at CBP advised the same but after some research I found that the courts and notaries only deal with name changes for citizens (am I right?)

QUOTE (Satellite @ Dec 11 2007, 12:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Wait until AOS / EAD. Just file with a new name and write down your previous used name where asked. That should solve it. Then use EAD to correct Social Security Card to then correct Driver's License. And when the green card comes, you might have a chance to correct the name on the Russian passport (when it is time to renew) if you try to do it here in the States.


Thanks Sat, I'm inclining to do the same as this spelling trap is getting on my nerves. But as both my first and last name are spelled incorrectly I'll be very uncomfortable obtaining all the docs in it - SSN, DL, employment, marriage license, bank accounts etc - until I get a chance to change it at AOS, if that really works. Maybe there's a sneaky way to prevent all this hassle and set it straight from the beginning?
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2007-12-11 12:21:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusChanging my name spelling
So here I am in Raleigh NC with my man, finally! Very happy and relieved and totally in love with everything I see around. The area looks like a better version of my home town - all the pine trees and squirrels and green grass, minus the shabbiness and remnants of Soviet Union, plus the sun (+80 F today!)

The only pain is that it looks like I'm stuck with the incorrect spelling of my name those dorks at Moscow UVD have put in my international passport. Name on the K-1 visa had to match the passport; name on the I-94 had to match visa; name on Social Security has to match I-94, drivers license has to match SSN and so on, and so forth. At some point there must be an opportunity to change it back to a more palatable version!

Please advise.

Tried so far: Customs and Border Protection office; they say they can do nothing and if I go to Infopass appointment with USCIS, they'll most likely send me back to CBP.
Form I-102 (correction of I-94) won't work as the immigration card matches my passport.
Where do I run now, before all my documents are made with incorrect spelling? Any info will be greatly appreciated.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2007-12-11 11:44:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusApproved!!
Hey, congrats guys! Getting NOA-2 sure feels great doesn't it? Best of luck through NVC and later on!
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2007-11-30 05:07:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusFree calls to Russia
I'm using Skype to talk with my friends. Totally free if installed on both ends, + video chats! Rate to landline phones = 2 cents per minute (Moscow and St.Pete).
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-01-14 15:36:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMilitary Service and Taxes for Russian Citizens
QUOTE (Chris Parker @ Feb 18 2008, 03:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Just one more question for you...
Since non-resident Russian citizens have only a zagranpassport and no interior passport, when entering Russia and obtaining temporary registration, the registration stamp is placed in the zagranpassport itself since there is no migration card?


Actually a temp. registration is not a stamp; it's a piece of paper given to you at the passport office.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-18 16:41:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMilitary Service and Taxes for Russian Citizens
QUOTE (Chris Parker @ Feb 18 2008, 03:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Nonresident Russian citizens visiting Russia without acquiring a new residence there are subject to the migration card and temporary passport registration the same as non-citizens, aren't they? Despite this, are you sure that military conscription would nevertheless apply in Russia?


Migration card is only for non-citizens, not non-residents. As for Russian citizens, residents or not, - according to administrative law (which is BTW in discrepancy with the Constitution), those relocating to Russia or within Russia have to obtain temporary or permanent registration on their new place of residence, unless they have something to show for their intent to leave soon (e.g. a return plane ticket). But being a non-resident does not excuse from army service obligation. If you are a citizen and a male between 18 and 27, you can be seized and drafted at any moment.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-18 15:30:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMilitary Service and Taxes for Russian Citizens
According to the current tax law, Russian citizens not domiciled in Russia are not subject to Russian income tax for any jobs performed outside of Russia. A citizen is considered non-domiciled if he/she spends abroad more than 183 calendar days out of the past 12 consecutive months in the current tax period. From here. So spouses of US citizens would not be subject to Russian income taxation, provided they spend the larger part of the year in USA. smile.gif

As for military service, those boys who have Russian citizenship, regardless of any additional citizenship, are definitely subject for drafting to the Russian army. If their parents defer the decision to their kid until his coming of age, and the boy ultimately decides to renounce Russian citizenship, he will have to pay a hefty fee - smth like $2K (not the easiest process too). So perhaps it's better to decide for him while he's still under age.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-18 11:41:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDiscrepancy
QUOTE (Satellite @ Feb 21 2008, 03:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
2. Will the Russian folks withhold or even issue my police certificate and/or fine me for requesting a police certificate for places I have lived where I was never registered?


The police certificate is issued by a govt structure that has not seen your G-325A information. They issue a clearance based on the registered addresses you provide directly to them, and the certificate states that the records were obtained for the entire territory of Russia, without listing specific towns or addresses. The Embassy accepts this formula no problem.

Therefore, one should list actual residences on G-325A and provide "registered" addresses to the ?? ???? and have no worries about the discrepancy.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-21 15:28:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDiscrepancy
Why not just explain, if asked, that she listed the official "registered" residence but really lived in Ivanovo which is an X hour drive from there?

BTW strange lawyer. If I followed an advice like that, I would have had to list my "residence" in Novosibirsk in parallel with several years of working in Moscow. Long commute eh?
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-21 11:15:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusAlmost free tickets - what is current visa registration scam?
When my then-fiance was planning to visit me in Moscow, I had StarTravel issue him a tourist invitation. He listed their recommended hotel as his intended place of stay on the visa application, but of course never went there and stayed the whole time at my place. We never went to any OVIRs and completely dissed the whole registration thing.

On the last day he shows me the arrival/departure slip in his passport and asks what to do with it. I jokingly press my lips to it and leave a kiss mark with my red lipstick! Then I drive him to the airport, he passes the luggage inspection and ticket registration and goes to the exit customs with a poker face; the officer looks at the kiss mark, chuckles, shrugges his shoulders and lets him go without further questions. tongue.gif
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-20 15:06:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusInterview date set!!
QUOTE (Jason-Sasha @ Jan 12 2008, 01:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If not, I'm simply going to have to go with the W-2, paystubs, employer letter, etc. Thanks for any info you can give... or anyone else for that matter.


Jason don't sweat. My fiance only sent me I-134, employer letter and paystubs. When the embassy people asked why I didn't bring tax returns, I reminded them that they were optional and paystubs should be enough. No problem!

In reality, my fiance's lawyer advised him against sending his tax and SSN information to Russia, for security reasons. Enough said.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-01-14 12:21:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusRussia: DS-230 and a new SSN to do a name change
I assume the spelling is wrong in her passport? SSA, unfortunately, looks primarily at the spelling of the immigrant's name in her passport, visa, and I-94 - all of which have to match the passport spelling. You can try it with the marriage certificate - but in my case, this trick did not work. I applied for SS card with my lame passport spelling and then filed AOS with the correct spelling. After EAD arrives, I'll have to make another trip to SSA and change the name. I think that's what you'll have to do, eventually.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-26 20:46:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusAnother Passport Name Question
QUOTE (Kharkov_Natalie @ Feb 29 2008, 03:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
So, in summary, my understanding is the names must match the Russian passport translation.


Absolutely correct.

seanconneryii, plz. see PM.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-29 10:17:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusRussian Movies

?????? ??????, ??? ? ?????? ?????! is still and will always be my favorite.

I used to like it too (like most Russians who celebrated many New Years in the 70s-80s), but as I grow older I find myself more and more irritated with the lead character Zhenya. What a wimp. And he's supposed to be the archetypal Good Guy. :wacko:
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2007-05-24 06:15:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusRussian Movies
The only recent Russian movie I would sincerely recommend is the screen version of Dostoyevsky's Idiot, by director Vladimir Bortko. Superb performances and very good script adaptation; I believe the film would impress even those who haven't read the novel.
It's a 2-disk miniseries, 10 episodes. Netflix has it.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2007-05-22 09:36:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPay off debt to get out of Russia?
QUOTE (vuhtran @ Mar 14 2008, 06:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Thanks everyone for their response to my question. As a follow-up, what department checks up on this? Can you go to that department and request a check be performed on someone ahead of time to know if the system has them red flagged so they can take care of it in advance before trying to leave Russia?


??????????? ?????? ???????? ????????? (Federal agency of court bailiffs): (495) 620-65-97, then if found a hit check with the regional branch of the agency.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-03-14 23:19:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPay off debt to get out of Russia?
QUOTE (Satellite @ Mar 14 2008, 10:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Blues Fairy @ Mar 13 2008, 08:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Correct, plus any unpaid traffic tickets or alimony.
So someone who is up to date on their alimony payments can leave or does he or she have to pay the entire amount in advance? What about child support is that included in the law too?

They look at any outstanding payments. Child support is included. In fact the most revenue from such exit denials came from citizens who did not pay child support but were thus forced to.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-03-14 09:56:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPay off debt to get out of Russia?
QUOTE (Kazan @ Mar 13 2008, 03:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Does all debt have to be paid off in full prior to departure? "No, only if there is a court order or it is in current litigation."


Correct, plus any unpaid traffic tickets or alimony. The new law is in effect starting February 1,2008. The bailiffs can blacklist such citizens for 6 months maximum, then they are supposed to clear them and inform the customs about this. If the blacklisted person pays the debt, he/she will remain on the list for up to a month. It's useless to try to pay at the exit customs.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-03-13 22:07:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusVisa Approved!
KGSodie, I'm sorry about your troubles.
The good news is that unlike NVC which can hold people on AP forever, the consulates usually don't delay overmuch. If they said a month, you have good chances of waiting just that long. Be hopeful. At any rate, if visa is approved at the interview, there is extremely little chance it will be denied as a result of AR.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-03-12 09:32:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMedical exam Question?
She'll have to go to M. for her interview anyway - suggest that she schedule her medical 2-3 days prior.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-03-20 09:23:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusTranslation?
"Also now that the spring is coming one feels unrest, pity towards oneself, a craving for something missing... it looks quite okay on the outside but ever gnawing inside. Let's talk about it privately on the phone some time... maybe."
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-03-24 10:43:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy wife left me!
QUOTE (Satellite @ Mar 1 2008, 01:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Oh my God, I've heard so much new about myself!


Actually very few of us had anything against you Olga, it was your husband's behavior that was the cause of all the commotion. So your apologies, though obviously well-meant, are completely unnecesary. smile.gif
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-03-01 17:46:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy wife left me!
QUOTE (akdiver @ Feb 27 2008, 02:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Consider the comment, "you are a typical American". Some people may be flattered and say, "Oh, why thank you very much!" Others may be offended and say, "yeah, well, #### you!". You just don't know how they will feel about your comment. What IS clear is that the decision on whether or not to choose to be offended by the comment rests with the receiver, the one who may or may not be offended, not the one making the comment.


Drivel again!
You're having lunch with two Australians and one of them is burping continuously, while another is eating with good manners. You comment to the first one: "you eat like a typical Australian". blink.gif blink.gif wacko.gif

Edited by Blues Fairy, 27 February 2008 - 02:41 PM.

Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-27 14:38:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy wife left me!
QUOTE (akdiver @ Feb 27 2008, 02:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
No. I don't believe in the notion that it is possible to "be offensive" to others. As previously indicated, I believe that others may choose to be offended by someone else - but that feeling originates from THEM, not the person they find offensive.


Ah yes, I forgot all about your previous solipsistic drivel. smile.gif
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-27 14:34:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy wife left me!
QUOTE (akdiver @ Feb 27 2008, 01:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Stereotypes come in all kinds of flavours and levels of validity. However, they are based on observation, data and beliefs, just like pretty much anything else humans think about. They are also useful and necessary for humans to survive.


In this particular thread, a stereotype was used to explain/justify the behavior of the original poster(s). "Sat behaved like a jerk, but considering that he is Russian (and all Russians are arrogant and insensitive), it's not such a big deal".

Quite an offensive way to use a stereotype, don't you think?

Another example: "akdiver is a heck of a demagogue, but considering he's an American, there's no surprise, since demagoguery is the typical style of dispute among the Americans." tongue.gif
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-27 14:15:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy wife left me!
QUOTE (slim @ Feb 27 2008, 12:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I generalized that Russians were arrogant and indifferent. Mox presented some examples of non-indifferent Russians (who didn't seem very arrogant either) but that fails to disprove my generalization. Once again, in a generalization, not every single one of someone or something has to fall into the generalization for it to still hold true. That's why it's a generalization and not a fact.


QUOTE (slim @ Feb 25 2008, 11:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
So you're going to deny that Russians, by very definition, are arrogant and indifferent?

If you can show me a Russian being humble or ashamed, I'll consider an apology. Until then, I'm sticking to my generalization.
Prove me wrong. I have hope that there are Russians out there who aren't arrogant and indifferent. Who are humble and compassionate. Who can be empathetic without being condescending.


As the discussion progresses, your concept of generalization changes like the phases of the Moon. whistling.gif
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-27 13:04:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy wife left me!
QUOTE (slim @ Feb 27 2008, 10:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I used good looks as simply an example. If you take pride in your good looks (only an example here) the thing that separates it from being simply pride or arrogance is the humility you display along with it. Best looking girl in the room? Cool. You can use that to downplay one of your "negative" qualities ("I'm attractive, but I can't play darts like that girl over there.") or you can simply focus on that while telling everyone to kiss your feet because you are the best looking woman in the room. Russian = arrogance comes from keeping the focus on your positive qualities and failing to acknowledge the negative ones. Simply sprinkle in a dash of humility and viola! you're proud!


Slim, that's demagoguery and a sly way to avoid the point of the original discussion. You have generalized that all Russians are arrogant and indifferent; I begged to differ. One example to the contrary of a generalization should be enough to disprove it, so I used myself as an example. To defend your generalization, you launched a rather lame personal attack having something to do with the way I look and my inevitable arrogance as a result. blink.gif I still fail to grasp your logic here. Just because one is Russian AND, presumably, the best-looking girl in the room (your words not mine!), she is absolutely obliged to bang her head against the wall and acknowledge her shortcomings, so people feel more comfortable with her beauty? Otherwise she's arrogant?..
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-27 11:22:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy wife left me!
QUOTE (slim @ Feb 26 2008, 12:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
And Blues Fairy, I'm not trying to shame you or anything like that. I'm sure you're compassionate and caring etc. But, can you say with honesty that you're better looking than most of the women you've met thus far in the U.S.? And doesn't that make you somewhat arrogant? If it's true.... it's not arrogance, it's simply the truth. But, the lack of humility directly after it and in dealing with others is what keeps the arrogance.


I honestly don't understand what you're trying to say. Good looks = arrogance, by definition? huh.gif
Please clarify your point.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-26 12:43:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy wife left me!
QUOTE (akdiver @ Feb 25 2008, 06:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
person A is not responsible for the response to his actions by person B


Sounds like an oxymoron to me. devil.gif

Anyway AK, if you agree that getting pissed off or seeking justice are equally personal and independent choices of each respondent, would you not also agree that those choices are none of your business, and you shouldn't tell these people to go get care? :tongue:
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-25 18:18:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy wife left me!
QUOTE (akdiver @ Feb 25 2008, 05:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I would agree - if I were to steal your car, I am hardly responsible for you choosing to be pissed off about it. Alternative choices you would have in such an instance include:

a). Relief
(...)
These are all choices a person whose car is stolen may choose, in response to having the car stolen. They don't HAVE to choose to be pissed off about it.


And how can you know if he is really pissed off? What if the (ex)owner of the car is not in the least pissed off, but nevertheless chooses to chase the car thief and put his ### in jail, just for the properness of things? After all, a thief belongs in jail, regardless of the feelings of the offended party. I may even send him a thank-you note and a bottle of champagne for stealing my car, after the formal act of retribution has been performed. wink.gif
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-25 18:01:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy wife left me!
Akdiver, we all have a choice how to react to boorish behavior (???????): some shrug and walk away and some give the boor a smack on the nose. If you prefer to walk away, that's entirely your business. If others feel it necessary to deliver a few smacks, it's THEIR business and none of yours.

And yes, it is kinda fun to see if inability to apologize is indeed exclusive to the Russians, as Slim suggests. Morbid curiosity, if you will. whistling.gif
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-25 16:25:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy wife left me!
QUOTE (slim @ Feb 25 2008, 11:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
So you're going to deny that Russians, by very definition, are arrogant and indifferent?
If you can show me a Russian being humble or ashamed, I'll consider an apology. Until then, I'm sticking to my generalization. (...) Prove me wrong. I have hope that there are Russians out there who aren't arrogant and indifferent. Who are humble and compassionate. Who can be empathetic without being condescending.


Yes I am going to deny that I, due to my being a Russian, am arrogant and indifferent by very definition, and I do not see any occasion to demonstrate my humility and shame to you, Slim, until you can find a valid occasion to humble or shame me.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-25 13:11:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy wife left me!
Sat you gotta admit that calling us "suckers" was rude and mauvais-ton, even though we're just virtual people to you. And since we're just a bunch of virtuals anyway, a simple "sorry for a bad joke" won't sap your emotional energy too much, will it? Consider it as fiiling an entry in a timeline and be done with it already.

And Slim I think you also owe an apology to those Russians here whom you so easily generalized as arrogant and indifferent by definition.
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-24 15:29:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy wife left me!
What the...
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-23 11:41:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMy wife left me!
Sat, I'm so sorry. Please don't despair and don't leave the forum. Your posts have been of great value and interest and I'm sure things will work out for you, with wife or without.
???????!
Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-02-22 22:55:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belaruscall History records
Easy.
Go to beeline.ru, ??? ??????, register an account with the phone#, and order whatever phone records you need using their interface. Records for 1 months cost $1 as far as I remember; the sum is taken off your phone.

Edited by Blues Fairy, 27 March 2008 - 11:10 AM.

Blues FairyFemaleRussia2008-03-27 11:09:00