ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusRenewing a passport in Russia -- how long?
QUOTE (kc456 @ Apr 10 2008, 08:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I believe the Russian consulate requires proof of legal status in the US. if PR card the way to prove someone is here legally, she'll need to have a copy of it. I don't think the consulate will go ahead and renew without the card, unless she has some other documentation to support her status.
Well I ask again, do you really think the consulate will not renew a passport for its own citizens, which is the only way he or she can return to Russia? What if she has yet to receive her green card? No renewal? I disagree. She can show her K1 from back in the day and claim she has no green card. I know they wont register without a green card. Thus someone stuck in say an AOS background check would be stuck indefinitely in the US? Makes no sense to me.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-04-11 00:02:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusRenewing a passport in Russia -- how long?
QUOTE (IrinaNMike @ Apr 10 2008, 08:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If you don't have a green card, they will renew your passport.
How will they be able to prove she has or does not have a green card. Just have her say she doesn't would be the simplest solution.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-04-10 20:45:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusRenewing a passport in Russia -- how long?
QUOTE (IrinaNMike @ Apr 9 2008, 10:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Here's the problem: Irina, reading the Russian-language text on her Embassy's website, and me, after posting a topic on this subject two years ago, arrived at the same conclusion: in order to renew her passport in the US, she must first register as a US resident.
That's doesn't make any sense, because suppose she needed to renew and didn't have a green card, she can no longer return to Russia? Non-sense, the Russian consulate will let her renew without registering with them.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-04-09 19:35:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusAre there any Russians in Mississippi
http://www.odnoklassniki.ru/ is actually similar to the failed paid version of http://www.classmates.com/. Basically odnoklassniki, means same classmates. But I suppose it can be compared to http://www.facebook.com/. My wife use facebook to communicate with locals here and odnoklassniki to keep up with her friends from Russia. Even my father is on odnoklassniki. I seem to have no interest in any of these.
SatelliteMaleRussia2009-02-15 03:24:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusRequesting Advice for Purchasing Flight
It depends on how much of a risk taker your are.

(1) If you buy in advanced you are betting to have the visa in hand before you must fly. Which in most case is a saving of X dollars.

(2) If you are buying the tickets after you may lose some money on a lost deal but it will serve as insurance and piece of mind. Let's call that an overpayment of Y dollars.

(3) If you buy in advance and no visa is in hand at the time of the scheduled flight, what kind of loss will you experience in (1) changing the tickets or (2) refunding them, let's call that Z dollars lost.

So now do the math and take the option depending on what level of risk you feel comfortable with.

When I did this in 2004, I gambled and went with the first option and won. Other experiences have varied. Most cases are success based on VJ stories.

Edited by Satellite, 02 February 2009 - 03:11 AM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2009-02-02 03:10:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarusreturn flight
First of all:

"The Expiration Date for the visa should not be confused with the authorized length of your stay in the U.S., given to you by the U.S. immigration inspector at port-of-entry, on the Arrival-Departure Record, Form I-94, or I-94W for the Visa Waiver Program. The visa expiration date has nothing to do with the authorized length of your stay in the U.S. for any given visit."
http://travel.state..../info_1298.html

In plain English if your fiancée is using a B2 tourist visa to come see you, then all you have to do is enter the US before the visa expires and then typically you get another 6 months of authorized stay stamped on your I-94 which can run beyond the expiration of the originally issued visa.

If you are using the K1 visa to just visit, then what a waste of resources and time on your part; and yes you will have to go through all those hoops again to get her another visa. And her authorized stay will be limited to 90 days.

If you plan on getting married, she plans on staying here permanently and she leaves on her K1 before she either has a green card or Advance Parole in her hand, you will then need to do this all over again under the K3 / CR-1 and if it takes over 2 years IR-1 provisions.

SatelliteMaleRussia2009-03-22 10:22:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusI134 and financial documents

1. You are correct. If you do not need more income then from your employment, there is not need to include anything else.

2. Yes, the copies are ok.

3. Include the originals of you W2 forms. Anyone disagree?

As a general rule you can always provide copies as a substitute for anything that is not specifically requested to be original. But get always be ready to provide originals of any copy.
And generally for sponsoring:
You can get by on just Federal Income Tax forms, Employment Letter, W2, and current pay stub. The bank statements adds nothing new. I think you might be able to go on less but haven't heard anyone mentioning it on here. That is all we used.
Your local state tax forms are not needed.
SatelliteMaleRussia2007-06-20 14:44:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPridnestrovian Moldavian Republic
So what role does question #20 play in all this of the I-129F

"20. Your fiancé(e) will apply for a visa abroad at the American embassy or consulate at:
NOTE: (Designation of a U.S. embassy or consulate outside the country of your fiancé(e)'s last residence does not guarantee
acceptance for processing by that foreign post. Acceptance is at the discretion of the designated embassy or consulate.)"

I am going to put Moscow here anyway and see what happens. Because Neonred is dead on, a visa is required for both Moldavian and Russian citizens to enter Romania. What a pain. I could also try to put Kiev, since it is closer and does not have any visa requirements, but if I can have my choice I rather send him to Moscow, at least he'll have the same Russian passport as everyone else and I am more familiar with the procedure there.

Edited by Satellite, 14 March 2009 - 10:01 AM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2009-03-14 10:00:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPridnestrovian Moldavian Republic
He doesn't reside in Moldova. He resides in a republic that has broken away.
http://en.wikipedia....ki/Transnistria
It lies in between Moldova and Ukraine.
I do tend to agree with Neonred that it is probably Romania. I find this particularly odd as you have to travel to a foreign country to get a US visa, what if the foreign country denies you entry?
Slim and Mox, this country / Republic and even Moldova for that matter do not have a US embassy. Moldova has a consulate but they do not do K1 visas.

Edited by Satellite, 12 March 2009 - 08:29 AM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2009-03-12 08:27:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPridnestrovian Moldavian Republic
I need your help here. I have a K1 client and now he resides in Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic. But he is a Russian citizen and not a Citizen of Moldova. Which embassy would he be invited to?
Bucharest, Romania - http://moldova.usemb...v/marriage.html
Moscow, Russia - Based on citizenship.
Do I actually have a choice in this matter?

SatelliteMaleRussia2009-03-11 23:12:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusReeiving new russian passport in US
My wife was more than happy to abandon her residence in Russia considering she owned no property and probably would never have the means to do so. Also her family had to pay extra in communal expenses for each person who was registered, therefore, she was already unregistered when she registered at the consulate.

When she returns to visit for a month or so she doesn't get any problems with the propiska because she has her consulate registration valid in all parts of the country.
SatelliteMaleRussia2009-04-09 09:41:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusReeiving new russian passport in US
You guys are doing something wrong. The first step you should be doing before any of your documents expire is to register with the local Russian consulate. Then you can use their services like getting a new passport in one month. That has been our experience at the San Francisco location.
SatelliteMaleRussia2009-04-07 01:21:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusVisa for my son
QUOTE (novotul @ Mar 28 2009, 07:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If you opt to get Russian citizenship for your son, he may not want to travel there when he is 18-27 years old, unless he wants to get drafted into the army! Something to think about.
I wouldn't be so pessimistic about this anymore as the Russian government is striving for an army of volunteers by 2010; considering that they have already implement a smaller mandatory term.
http://www.globalsec.../army-intro.htm
But I can't seem to find a media source for this.
And I suppose you could surrender the citizenship at age 18 here in the US if nothing has changed in that time frame and depending on how many trips you make to Russia from 0 to 18, you might still come out ahead.

Edited by Satellite, 29 March 2009 - 12:03 PM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2009-03-29 12:01:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusVisa for my son
Your son is also eligible to receive Russian citizenship at a Russian consulate near you.
http://www.consulrus.../citizen.html#2
If you do that, no visa will be needed for him.

Edited by Satellite, 27 March 2009 - 09:57 AM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2009-03-27 09:56:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusChange of plans k-1 to k-3
QUOTE (Cixelsyd @ Apr 19 2009, 07:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
In other words, are there any potential pitfalls by getting married in the states and then following the marriage visa route?
Nope. Intent to marry is not the issue. Immigrant intent is.

SatelliteMaleRussia2009-04-19 22:32:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusChange of plans k-1 to k-3
If you are considering marriage in the US and you came on a visa other than a K1, consider the USCIS internal rules:
See:
9 FAM 40.63 N4.7 Applying the 30/60 Day Rule
http://www.state.gov...ation/87011.pdf - Pages 5-8.

"If an alien violates his or her nonimmigrant status in a manner described in 9 FAM 40.63 N4.7-1 within 30 days of entry, you may presume that the applicant misrepresented his or her intention in seeking a visa or entry."

"If an alien initiates such violation of status more than 30 days but less than 60 days after entry into the United States, no presumption of misrepresentation arises. However, if the facts in the case give you reasonable belief that the alien misrepresented his or her intent, then you must give the alien the opportunity to present countervailing evidence. If you do not find such evidence to be persuasive, submit a comprehensive report to the Advisory Opinions Division (CA/VO/L/A) for the rendering of an advisory opinion."

"When violative conduct occurs more than 60 days after entry into the United States, the Department does not consider such conduct to constitute a basis for an INA 212(a)(6)©(i) inadmissibility."

Therefore, make it easy on yourself and get married after you have been here at least 60 days to take the presumption off you.



SatelliteMaleRussia2009-04-19 12:37:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarusnew russian passpor
This has been asked and answered multiple times before in the Russian Forum.

Simply put the name change probably isn't going to happen here in the US unless you can convince a consulate like a AK did to Seattle to do it.
Instead you will probably have to get your marriage certificate certified, translated, appostiled, and consulate verified. Take it to Russia, get the authorities there to update the internal passport and order a new external passport in Russia.

If you are cool with just the amendment to the existing passport that reads this bearer also goes by this name the consulate will do that for you.

If you just need a new passport with the old name the consulate will also do that for you.


SatelliteMaleRussia2009-04-29 08:21:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusOkay, dammit...
Slim,

Do you remember our situation? Both were students when she arrived. I rapped up law school with a bunch of debt and my wife got free education (based on low income) and will be graduating with BA this summer. I now make the big bucks as an attorney and she is going on to do a masters program on our dime, but all in state tuition so it's not that expensive. I've paid back about 1/4 of that student loan debt and looking to buy a home this year to take advantage of the housing market and the tax break I will so desperately need this year. But like your wife, she has been working all this time and going to school full time as well. Biggest difference is that our wives came from different life circumstances and experiences so mine was never spoiled by other men or had bread winner expectations of her current man.

Edited by Satellite, 09 April 2009 - 09:51 AM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2009-04-09 09:50:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusRussian Internal passport renewal
QUOTE (chili74 @ Feb 21 2009, 11:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I guess the question is whether one's external passport has, like my husband's (received in the US), a stamp ("internal passport bears no record that external passport was issued"). He was given info at the Consulate to the effect that when your external passport bears such a stamp, then upon arrival in Russia, you must take some action with the 2 passports, where and how long it takes, we don't know. Otherwise he will be unable to leave Russia with his Russian external passport.
[Side note: my husband did not leave on ??? (permanent residence abroad). If someone did leave on ???, all this will not apply.]
This is starting to make more sense. In our situation my wife purposely got the stamp in the internal passport as well as a letter stating she is going to reside abroad permanently. With that she registered at the Russian consulate in San Francsico and has had no problems. My advise would be to do the same when he arrives in Russia.

SatelliteMaleRussia2009-02-22 11:39:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusRussian Internal passport renewal
My wife has had her internal Russian passport since the age of 16. I am sure it should have been changed when she got married and when she reaches some other age group. But who cares, since she lives in the US, seeks no benefits in Russia and when she does travel nobody bothers her because she enters and leaves on her external passport which she renews every 5 years here in the US.

If you want that internal passport changed, go to Russia, and good luck on waiting times.
SatelliteMaleRussia2009-02-22 02:20:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus2 stupid questions
QUOTE (slim @ Jun 1 2009, 11:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I don't think there's really anything you can do in Russia that you can't "pay the fine" to get out of, including public sex.
I can think of one counter example.
Having political ambitions and the ability to pull it off. See Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
http://en.wikipedia....il_Khodorkovsky



SatelliteMaleRussia2009-06-02 09:37:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusRussian wisdom from Natasha
QUOTE (seanconneryii @ Apr 16 2008, 12:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If a man wants sex when is wife is cooking dinner, she stops cooking and heads to the bedroom. No problem.
If only you were right...
Let me tell it to you straight: Your wife will kick your butt out of the house in a matter of months if you even attempt to try something like this along with your masculine "words" to justify it.

QUOTE (seanconneryii @ Apr 16 2008, 12:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
But I hear Russian women say they want to be rid of Russia. They want new life..a new way.
Maybe your wife feels this way and you have been mislead. Maybe the women you pick out of an internet catalog feel this way. But everyone else in Russia and I'll agree with Eekee do not feel this way. It's Russia #1 in all aspects.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-04-16 14:57:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusTourist Visa while on a K-1?
QUOTE (AKguy @ Jun 11 2009, 02:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
She was approved today for a tourist visa! dancin5hr.gif
Congratulations on pulling off something deemed impossible just a few years ago.

It looks like the tides are changing. The consulates have to come to the understanding that due to our poor economy and high unemployment the extra in flow of "tourism" money will out weigh the risk that the "non-immigrant" will find a job or spouse and actually choose to stay.

SatelliteMaleRussia2009-06-11 09:34:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPopping in to say hello, I'm new here.
QUOTE (slim @ Jun 15 2009, 08:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I've been trying to relate to my wife that you can't just skip work to travel. If you do, you have to save money for several months, if not years before, in order to overcome not only what you'd spend while traveling, but what you're "not earning" while away. She's talked about going back for a few months and I'm doing my best to illustrate how her car sits in the driveway while she's gone with no one making payments on it because no one is working or sending money back from Russia. Once we figure out a way to send money back or have enough money here first, then we'll make that trip. Til then.... time to pay some bills.
Remember I had and still have this problem every time a trip to Russia comes up. The loss of three months of wages when not working was enough to make me scream don't come back because this is not fair. The total cost of a 3 months trip when considering the non-earning months makes the trip prohibitively expensive for a household that relies on that 2nd income.

SatelliteMaleRussia2009-06-16 08:39:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDid you consider living in Russia?
I was born there, am a native speaker, could find a decent job there and wouldn't go back in a million years.
SatelliteMaleRussia2009-06-01 09:53:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusSurname question
The solution is to find a Russian fiance whose name does not decline. Like mine, but that's because the origin of the last name is not Russian smile.gif When you have a non-declining Russian name; both partners keep the same name by the way.
SatelliteMaleRussia2009-02-21 12:39:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusHotels in Moscow
QUOTE (lee b @ Jun 27 2009, 07:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
(To fina an) Inexpensive hotel (in Moscow)
Oxymoron for the day.

SatelliteMaleRussia2009-06-27 09:43:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusObtaining Private Visa
I used to post this information all the time, but everyone said it was too hard or too difficult and that is was so much easier to just pay for the tourist visa. It's not. Plus the 90 days no hotel ####### needed was a huge benefit. I did exactly as you did bobb. However, since I lived within 100 miles of San Francisco, I would bring the documents to the consulate myself and then pick them up two weeks later. So I did not incur any kind of 3rd party processing fees. Also self registering is under $1 in Russia versus paying some third party $30.
SatelliteMaleRussia2009-07-04 11:44:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusAnybody else has interview in September?
QUOTE (clueless_in_usa @ Jul 10 2009, 01:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If anybody has his/her k-1 interview in Moscow in September, please let me know in case it happens the same day as my fiancée.
September 13, 2004 at 8:00am. Coming up on 5 year anniversary now.

Edited by Satellite, 11 July 2009 - 07:39 AM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2009-07-11 07:38:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusSuggestions for Taxi Kazansky Rail to DME please
Be a strong couple, grab your baggage together and walk down to the Komsomolskaya metro station. Get off at Domodedovskaja and the get on the local shuttle to DME. Total cost under $10. Total time about 1.5 hours. Experience Russian public transportation with multiple heavy bags, priceless.

http://upload.wikime...osmetro2008.png


SatelliteMaleRussia2009-07-09 09:43:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusHow long to get new international pasport?
It took us 1 month. Maybe because we actually registered with the consulate when we first got the green card and didn't have to show the internal passport anymore.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-12-05 09:25:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusWife got citizenship, announced she wanted divorce the next day?
Good to see you back AK.

Congratulations on the citizenship.

As for divorce, it actually happens more times then you think. The divorce is filed the day after the citizenship ceremony. For many petitioners this is the last step before they get paid the full amount for their services in "helping" someone come to the US. In other cases the wife completes her journey in moving up in the world for herself and her kids.

As for VJ, we cannot encourage this kind of activity. For those confused moderators, this post does not encourage this activity, it simply acknowledges that it does happen in the real world.

Edited by Satellite, 16 August 2009 - 01:28 PM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2009-08-16 13:27:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusPossible problem with Russian passport renewal
Like others have said, both documents are valid IDs. One is recognized by Russia and the other by the US. Your biggest problem is the airline ticket if she flew in on Tatyana and returns on Tatiana. Since she is departing Russia, which will recognize a Russian passport over the US green card which is not a passport.
SatelliteMaleRussia2009-07-04 11:36:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarusembassy no longer accepts med exams from AO"Medicina"
I actually came back to get an answer to a question I had:
http://www.visajourn...p;#entry3391954
I didn't draw any answers I liked.
I made one post here just for fun too.
SatelliteMaleRussia2009-10-13 09:55:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarusembassy no longer accepts med exams from AO"Medicina"
It's pretty simple here. Pay up and do another medical exam or you don't get a visa on October 26. You will be lucky if you even get an apology for their mistakes,
SatelliteMaleRussia2009-10-12 11:11:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDHL airway bill and payment for passport delivery

But are you suggesting that pay 50% to DHL ahead of time and 50% after delivery of passport?
Is that what you did?

No silly, with DHL you have to pay the whole thing upfront or they won't serve you at all. I was just talking in general about how everything else works in Russia.
Russ might be more familiar with DHL, but working for an attorney here in San Francisco, we sure get a lot of services (from couriers to office supplies) up front or on our tab, that sure wouldn't happen in Russia.
SatelliteMaleRussia2007-08-03 15:54:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDHL airway bill and payment for passport delivery

Just wanted to find out if the payment needs to be made to the DHL for passport delivery ahead of time while filling out the airway bill or is it that DHL gets the money during the delivery?

Just a general heads up, nothing in Russia gets done without payment up front. The usual method is 50% to start and 50% to finish. If you pay it all at once, you'll wait forever, same with paying everything afterwards.
SatelliteMaleRussia2007-08-03 12:12:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusMedical Exam
Tuesday is the best day you can have for your interview when you are coming from far away. If you plan it right you can stay in Moscow for only 1 night. We got stuck with a Monday interview, which meant way more nights. IOM was fine for us and yes same day results. It also gave us enough time during the day to take care of DHL and find the embassy for the interview.
SatelliteMaleRussia2009-05-01 07:56:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusIt's Biometrics time!
QUOTE (akdiver @ Oct 29 2008, 03:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I agree that citizenship by birth should be eliminated. You should only be born a citizen if you are the child of one or more people who are citizens. No more anchor babies!!! Even better, to gain citizenship, even if born of two parents who are citizens, you should be required to perform public service of some kind. Military, civil, or otherwise. The more useful the service, the faster the path to citizenship.
It's been tried in Germany. It doesn't work. You basically get a class of second class citizens. For example there were third generation turks born in Germany who had no citizenship, rights, etc... You would essentially create the same mess here.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-10-30 00:53:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusOh those wild and wonderful Russian Women

Not only will she be able to marry this other guy and adjust status, but because your I-864 when into effect she can in theory go on welfare to collect public benefits for the rest of her life and you will be on the hook for it.

This is not correct.

You are too critical and let me explain why. I used the word "theory" to cover the concerns you mention.

There have been NO cases of any government agency ~ever~ trying to recover means-tested benefits paid(such as welfare) from the I-864. In many cases, local and/or state governments do not even ALLOW these means-tested benefits for five years after the alien's arrival in the US.

This is true, but in "theory" and according to the I-864 the government can make an example of the petitioner. Although the possibilities are slim.
As I understand the benefits provided by states are not included in the definition of means tested benefits, so you would be off the hook on those, but I was actually referring only to the federally defined means-tested benefits.
I agree that there are few an alien living in the US for under 5 years would qualify for. But there are ways to make that alien qualify. Add an out of wed lock child to the mix and the odds become in the alien's favor.

Additionally, it is NOT "the rest of her life".

Again I re-iterate the word "theory". Look over the I-864 again on what conditions must be met in order to be removed as sponsor.
1. Alien becomes USC.
2. Alien works 40 quarters.
3. Alien dies.
4. Alien leaves country forever.
Now imagine an alien who never works, never naturalizes, never leaves the country and out lives the sponsor!
Sounds like a life commitment to me.
SatelliteMaleRussia2006-09-19 15:44:00