ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusBringing my mom to the USA to live
QUOTE (YuAndDan @ Jun 17 2008, 06:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Some states provide insurance to citizens that fall below a set amount of income.
I know California provides some form of Medi-Cal to just about anyone who is here legally with a social security number, regardless if they have an I-864 sponsor if you are over a certain age and under a certain income, or are disabled.
But finding private coverage for someone over 50 or 60 is going to cost you an arm and a leg. My recommendation is for mom to get a job with benefits ASAP, even if it is washing floors at your local super market.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-06-17 08:56:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusAmerican movies!
QUOTE (Corey-Mariya @ Jun 12 2008, 02:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hey Everyone yes.gif since Mariya has been here we have seen at least 6 movies at the movie theater and in all of them Russians always seem to be the bad guys! does anyone else notice this?
Perhaps the cold war had something to do with that? tongue.gif

Edited by Satellite, 12 June 2008 - 10:02 PM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2008-06-12 22:01:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusQuestions regarding medical for interview
If you do your medical at MOM you can arrive at 6 am that day go to the medical exam and get your results that day. Hit up DHL while waiting for your results during the same day. Next day you go to the interview. Only possible if you use this clinic and your interview is on any day but Monday.
No vaccinations are required for K1.
Kids also need medicals.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-09 10:00:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusExpired J1 married to a US citizen
Did your J1 have a two-year residency requirement? If not, just go ahead and file your I-485. All overstays and unauthorized employment will be forgiven. What ever you do, do not leave the country until your green card is in hand, regardless if you receive your AP in a few months.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-13 10:03:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusVisas In Hand
QUOTE (Chuckles @ May 30 2008, 11:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Having done this before, I'd recommend not putting the child into Public school right after they land anyway. It doesn't matter how much English they know. Give them a month to acclimate. Even though kids adjust faster then adults, being in a class full of strangers you can't understand (even if you know English) is tough on a kid.

If they are typical Russian kids a month or 3 will not make much difference to them, because they will probably be ahead (curriculum wise) of the other students anyway. Although the American curriculum does tend to catch up to the Russian system around high school.
Based on personal experience and other relatives who have come here as minors, the best thing you can do is throw them into school the next day. They will learn English ASAP and will do just fine. Sitting around the home does not help the acclimation process.
Also American high school is way behind Russian high schools. The real catch-up is done at the College level. At the top universities especially. Unfortunately our children are so unprepared for these schools that the catch-up is very difficult. Personal experience here, in terms of math and science.

Edited by Satellite, 31 May 2008 - 09:18 PM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2008-05-31 21:17:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusI got dumped!
QUOTE (Bobalouie @ Jun 17 2008, 12:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I was trying to say that she was pretty good if she was scamming because not only did she get him, she got me and my fiancée as well.
Well for someone who gets
QUOTE (akdiver @ Jun 15 2008, 11:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
all bent out of shape over a freakin' post on an internet forum,
I wouldn't expect any different.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-06-17 23:25:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusI got dumped!
QUOTE (Bobalouie @ Jun 13 2008, 11:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Sat,

That is a new all time low for you. Nuff said.
QUOTE (novotul @ Jun 14 2008, 05:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
And Satellite, I remember a time when I didn't find your comments contemptable -- but that was quite a while ago.
QUOTE (mox @ Jun 14 2008, 10:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Satellite, someone needs to kick you in the teeth. Seriously. STFU until you can act like a human being.
Oh, of course, the censors are out again.

Since when did saying "I'm sorry for you" become a more valued opinion than "its not a total loss", perhaps you finally got laid and a hot woman paid attention to you for one year for $600. Most people pay a lot more for that kind of attention. At least we are all in agreement in wishing the man the best of luck in his next endeavor at love.

Edited by Satellite, 15 June 2008 - 08:48 AM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2008-06-15 08:46:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusI got dumped!
QUOTE (irish44 @ Jun 13 2008, 06:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The fact is that this was a scam. She took the $600.00 I sent her for the Moscow tickets and, no surprise, won't return it. She said that it was a birthday present!
Well.. better $600 now (+ all the money I already spent), than the $2,000 to get her and her daughter here.. then it would have gotten worse.
How hard did this "scammer" have to work for all the money you spent on her? Did you at least sleep with her? I hope you got your money's worth....good luck on your next love journey.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-06-13 09:11:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusK1 Visa
I agree with the rest, having two visas doesn't hurt you at all. Just understand that you will only be able to enter the US on that K-1 and not the B1/B2. Otherwise I have no experience on this subject and will learn from your experience.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-16 01:26:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarusvisa to travel together but son does not want to come
QUOTE (fwaguy @ Jul 12 2008, 12:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
It only works until someone puts the pieces together.... It will be some day at a POE when she attempts entry and the CBP officer takes the green card or when they need to remove conditions.....
I have rather silly but technical question. How do the POE entry officers know how long you have been out of the country when you are returning on a Greencard? No one swipes your card or enters that data upon leaving the US, based on my wife's personal experience here. They do ask you how long was your trip, but there is no real way to verify it and what would trigger them to get suspicious if you said I was gone two weeks rather than say 50 weeks?
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-12 23:26:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDS-3025 problem?
QUOTE (sense1 @ Jul 29 2008, 07:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I will take my fiancée and her son to a public health facility if the vaccination records will be accepted for AOS, work permit, etc.
It's completely up to the civil surgeon here in the US to accept that Russian vaccination records, ours did not. So you just get them done again. What else can you do?

As far as not needing vaccinations for a K1 to enter the US, the staff there is absolutely right about that.

QUOTE (novotul @ Jul 29 2008, 07:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Another reason not to go to IOM (MOM to Russians). They also have a history of harassment. We got quite good (but not perfect) service at AOM.
As for harassment, most recent reports on the clinic have been absent of such reports. My wife can attest to no such treatment in 2004.

Edited by Satellite, 29 July 2008 - 10:07 AM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-29 10:07:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusDS-3025 problem?
QUOTE (sense1 @ Jul 29 2008, 05:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
She said that she did not have the form DS-3025 because the lady at IOM told her that she could get vaccinations here in the U.S. My fiancée admitted to wanting to keep more of the money that I sent and that is why she didn't get the shots done. headbonk.gif Maybe I have misunderstood how this is supposed to happen, but I didn't think she could even get into the U.S. without the proper vaccinations.
You must have gotten the same lady we did nearly 4 years ago. She flat out refused to give my wife the required vaccinations for the $30 they were charging then. That is a good deal compared to what most of us will pay in the US for those same shots. We even had a proper medical passport with us. The good news is that we got those shots done at public health here in the US for $10 each, thus we didn't lose that much money, by my wife had to suffer through most of the same shots she already had. But for most of you, who can't get a fiancée on your health insurance and won't take them to a place like a public health, the cost of vaccinations along with the civil surgeon visit who has to sign off on it, is going to be very price. Doing to a test for the presence of vaccinations is also costly.

Edited by Satellite, 29 July 2008 - 09:28 AM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-29 09:27:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusHotel in Moscow
Think outside the box.

There are many suburbs around Moscow located along the commuter train routes. Prices for apartments in those areas are substantially cheaper there then next to the embassy, yet central Moscow can be reached in less than 1 hour from those destinations. If you can handle sitting on a wooden bench on a Russian train for an hour each way, you'll be fine. Trains run literally from 5am to Midnight almost every 30 minutes.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-31 12:21:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusFriend Gets Goodbye Email from Fiance
QUOTE (Jeraly @ Jul 28 2008, 08:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I don't know, I have had this commented on in other threads I frequent and the general consensus is that everyone has made friends here and remain to keep in touch with them and find out how they are getting on smile.gif
I have always tried to be strictly business on here. Joined to find out how to get my fiancée here after her tourist visa was denied. Did that, long before there were many members. Very happy for it. Kept learning and then began preaching advice on how to get it done. Never cared as to anything else and my time on here is coming to an end too. Oath Ceremony scheduled for next Monday. The DS-11 remains the last form to fill out - application for passport smile.gif Overall I don't see much use for VJ, once the journey is over; in my case it will still be a useful resource for my immigration cases. Why re-invent the wheel?!

Edited by Satellite, 28 July 2008 - 11:10 PM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-28 23:08:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusFriend Gets Goodbye Email from Fiance
I don't know who to pity any more or who to feel sad for; Korat for following Mox onto VJ or Mox for hanging around VJ despite not having a "visajourney" anymore. In grade school, we would call Mox a "wannabee". As for Korat, perhaps simply a "Whoooooo Cares?"
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-24 09:20:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusFriend Gets Goodbye Email from Fiance
QUOTE (bruc @ Jul 3 2008, 07:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I was talking to a friend this morning and he told me that one of our friends had gotten an email from his fiance telling him she wished not to leave Russia and hopes he can find his happiness with another Russian girl....she was to have her interview in Moscow in about two weeks.
QUOTE (slim @ Jul 7 2008, 11:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Yeah, we haven't seen him on this forum for a while and it was pretty abrubt. There are a million things that could've happened and who knows what really did.
QUOTE (NYGirl @ Jul 7 2008, 08:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hmmm, I wonder if it's MOX.


Are you sure it is MOX?
http://www.visajourn...?showuser=38377

His timeline says the interview was scheduled for:
http://www.visajourn...le.php?id=38377
May 14, 2008

Unless there was a change of date with no update, bruc must be talking about someone else.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-08 09:34:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusFriend Gets Goodbye Email from Fiance
QUOTE (akdiver @ Jul 3 2008, 04:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I think she probably got a "better offer" from someone else.
I'll second that.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-03 22:17:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarusinflation
QUOTE (Neonred @ Jul 11 2008, 05:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
So who is dirty here, the government or your relatives?
Oh they are not alone, trust me on that one.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-11 22:10:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarusinflation
QUOTE (Bobalouie @ Jul 9 2008, 08:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The Russian government subsidizes the black market?
When no effective controls are implemented or enforced, it's hard to argue that the government comes out clean.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-10 05:44:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarusinflation
QUOTE (Neonred @ Jul 9 2008, 03:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
With gasoline prices in Russia around $3.80 a gallon their not doing a great job with government subsidies for a petroleum producing nation.
Perhaps that is what the price at a Moscow gas station is selling it for, but my relatives are doing just fine getting diesel on the black market at 7-8 rubles a liter.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-09 09:49:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarusinflation
QUOTE (russ @ Jul 7 2008, 04:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
When oil gets to $200 a barrel, at least it should start cutting demand, and boosting output - which should in theory start to lower prices...
I wish this was true. But in reality, when demand drops so will production both in oil producing and refining thus artificially maintaining a high price as demand falls. The oil folks aren't idiots and have now grown accustomed to the high profits.

The real solutions lies in alternative energy for our vehicles, mainly the electric car that costs under $25,000, gets 300 miles to the charge, is easy and cheap to dispose of, and runs under warranty for 10 years. Secondly, developing nations like China, India, and even Russia, lifts their government subsidies on gasoline, thus forcing all their citizens to cut back.

Edited by Satellite, 08 July 2008 - 09:22 AM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-08 09:22:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarusinflation
QUOTE (novotul @ Jul 1 2008, 05:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
inflation, how severely is it hitting your family over there?
Forget them, I have enough problems with inflation from gasoline and food right here in the United States.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-01 10:07:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusOther Encumbrance(s)
QUOTE (Fettman @ Jun 15 2008, 02:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
In the I-134 form, does other encumbrances mean things like student loans, or other personal loans, aside from a mortgage?
As far as I can tell they are interested in income first and if you lack that, then you better have decent assets which you could liquidate if need be. Debt listing is not required, this is not bankruptcy proceeding or a loan application.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-06-15 18:45:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusFreebies
QUOTE (KGSodie @ Jul 16 2008, 11:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
So Natasha has developed a new 'hobby': obtaining as many freebies as she can.
Here is what I thought was annoying:
http://sacramento.craigslist.org/zip/
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-17 08:40:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusAP received today
QUOTE (akdiver @ Sep 2 2008, 10:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (Satellite @ Sep 2 2008, 08:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (akdiver @ Sep 2 2008, 12:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Wife is technically allowed to apply for citizenship today (been married exactly 3 years), but we'll drop it in the mail tomorrow just to be on the safe side (:
Before you waste $675 in filing fees, it has to be both 3 years since she had her green card and not just 3 years of marriage. And of course you can apply 90 days before that three year anniversary.
Yes, I know. But her 3 year "resident since" requirement was met in January. Her 3 years "married to me" requirement was not met until today (:
For some reason I thought your were a K1 since you got married in Hawaii. In such a case you would have been married a whole lot longer then you were a resident. Because the green card is issued many months after the marriage. And it's 3 years from the date of issuance on the card.

Edited by Satellite, 03 September 2008 - 07:34 AM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2008-09-03 07:33:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusAP received today
QUOTE (akdiver @ Sep 2 2008, 12:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Wife is technically allowed to apply for citizenship today (been married exactly 3 years), but we'll drop it in the mail tomorrow just to be on the safe side (:
Before you waste $675 in filing fees, it has to be both 3 years since she had her green card and not just 3 years of marriage. And of course you can apply 90 days before that three year anniversary.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-09-02 23:25:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusRussian city you would most like to visit?
None.
It wasn't an option in this poll.

Edited by Satellite, 23 July 2008 - 09:29 AM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2008-07-23 09:29:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusLess and less people in russian forum
QUOTE (russ @ Aug 28 2008, 10:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Sat - I guess you really have disappeared. How is the law treating you?
I am almost gone. Actually, I am retired from VJ, Naturalization certificate in hand since August 4. Still haven't gotten around to checking in with social security of change of immigration status nor ordering that US passport. Mostly because I have been like you said:

QUOTE (russ @ Aug 28 2008, 10:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Just working too much, not enough time to waste here.
For those that don't know I have been working for a Consumer Bankruptcy Law firm since March. And especially with the housing crisis in California, it's like being a doctor in the middle of the black plague. 10 to 15 new clients a day!

And to add to it all those silly topic conversions to pie kind of turn me off.

QUOTE (russ @ Aug 28 2008, 10:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
So, what are the old timers (from '04-'05) up to these days?
I actually was registered on here in 2004, but lost access to both the email account and the password. So I had to create a new account in 2005. The old name was:
http://www.visajourn...hp?showuser=898
But you can't view any of my original posts, since they took the old forum down some time ago.
So I think a lot of the old timers could be in the same boat, but do not want to create new accounts.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-08-29 08:47:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusIntroductory Vacation after arrival
QUOTE (Turboguy @ Sep 10 2008, 03:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I think I would hate to go through this process on 125% of the poverty level. It seems like every month there is something else. Airfare one month, wedding costs not much after, then AOS costs, then bringing the MIL, then learning to drive including 5 grand for driving into a porch, then getting her a set of wheels, then college tuition and books. It is worth every penny but I think I have laid out more than 125% of the poverty level just in extra costs.
I think AK would agree with me that it really depends on the type of lady you brought over. By far AK's wife has had the most success in the US based on everyone else's stories.

We certainly survived on less that 125% of the poverty line. We finally broke it last tax year. Granted airfare and AOS costs were significantly cheaper in 2004 than they are now. Wedding license was only $75. A small restaurant dinner afterwards paid for itself with the gifts from family. My wife got her EAD walkin style and was at work the next day with me. MIL paid for her own expenses when she came over. My wife has never gotten into a car accident, and we have made it on one car. But if I had to buy it would be used and most likely salvage title. And because my wife comes from a frugal and small income family, not living the high life was completely acceptable. Because we were below that poverty line, the State of California and the Federal Government has covered all of her education fees and then some. When she begins her Masters next year, it will be the first time we have to pay. Because my wife has been employed every year since she has been in the US, and has contributed some years more than me, it was definitely worth the capital investment before her arrival.

Edited by Satellite, 10 September 2008 - 07:44 AM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2008-09-10 07:41:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusIntroductory Vacation after arrival
QUOTE (slim @ Sep 6 2008, 10:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The only thing about a road trip is make sure you tack on about 20 minutes extra to each hour you'll be driving.
The biggest problem I have found with a road trip for newly weds in "our" situation is that only one spouse can help drive the car. We drove to Las Vegas and San Diego from San Francisco in one day on two separate trips and those wore me out pretty good.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-09-07 01:42:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusResidency registration

Satellite, where are you buddy?
To register at the Consulate here in the U.S., does the RC have to "unregister" from their home of record? And, what exactly are the benefits of registering here with the Consulate? (Travel ease for going back to Russia? Tax relief?)

I'm still here just not as often.
Yes, in order to register at the consulate here you must bring proof of "unregistering" from back in Russia. Usually a stamp in the passport or letter from Russian authorities with all the proper official seals.
The benefits seem iffy. By far the best is that you can return to Russia and if you stay under 90 days you don't ever had to register in any city. Passport renewal can be done in the US, supposedly with less of a hassle. You'll have to call, email. or write the consulate to find out what other benefits might be associated with registering. There must be some distinction in terms of being treated as a temporary versus permanent Russian citizen residing in the US.
SatelliteMaleRussia2006-09-07 11:34:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusResidency registration
You really should have your wife address these questions with the local Russian authorities.
Basically as I understand it, you can only have one registration. In order to get another registration you must first unregister from one place. Keeping her registration in Russia will obviously prevent her from registering at the consulate. As you mentioned someone will have to keep paying her "registration - flat" fees while she is away.
Akdiver has had a much different experience dealing with the Russian consulate in Seattle than I have in San Francisco. Again, as I was told you need to register with the consulate in order to do passport renewals in the US. But I can't see why they wouldn't do renewals for their citizens who are just "temporary" visitors. Again email,write, or call the consulate in question.
I hardly doubt anyone on VJ will have much experience with this.
Not to mention Russian law at all levels is always changing without notice and arbitrarily enforced.
SatelliteMaleRussia2006-09-05 13:02:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusBest Value Way to Call Russia?
QUOTE (SVIChet @ Jun 27 2008, 11:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Has anyone ever used TelphinUSA? Information is at www.telphinusa.com. It's VOIP with unlimited calling to Russian Landlines and other countries.
$44 a month for unlimited to Russia...kind of pricey for us. I like there direct line approach but again it only covers Moscow and St. Petersburg numbers and because where my relatives live in Russia broadband is too expensive to setup a local US number to call them.

Still hard to beat:
http://www.internetc...com/en/faq.html
At 120 days of up to 300 minutes a week for only 10 Euros. This lasts my wife typically three months.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-06-28 08:33:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusBest Value Way to Call Russia?
MagicJack sounds great but in our case I'd much rather prefer to get a local Russian number and install it here in the US, because my wife's relatives all lack broadband, because no cable or copper wires were ever installed in their homes. They use some kind of "radio" telephone devise for phone services. Internet can only be obtained through a cell phone using GPRS or setting up a satellite devise at about $8,000 for both ends, $1,000 for downloading only.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-05-07 09:15:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusBest Value Way to Call Russia?
QUOTE (Kazan @ Apr 2 2008, 08:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I really don't like phone calls. I prefer to talk in face to face.
Add me here. Of course I already made my point about in person relationship building.

QUOTE (seanconneryii @ Apr 2 2008, 10:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I talk to my wife three times a day.
Lucky, I suppose. When we were apart we talked like twice a month because I was and still am poor. Email was free so we did a lot of that instead and ICQ. Limited myself to two $5 cards per month; which still got me a total of 5 hours using:
http://www.uniontele.../2051/boss-usa/ at $0.04/m with no service fee.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-04-02 20:50:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusBest Value Way to Call Russia?
QUOTE (Corey-Mariya @ Mar 30 2008, 11:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Speedypin.com is by far the best! (I think so at least! go to there website and you choose what phone card you want they give you a pin number to type in the phone every time you call(you can recharge=rge this as much as you want) I Usually buy 20 dollar phone cars at a time! 1 twenty dollar phone card to call from the USA to Russia is 1600 minutes!!!!
QUOTE (slim @ Mar 31 2008, 07:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Awaiting Satellite's hidden charges break down......
It's pretty simple to do the break down.
For this card / website:
Gemini AT $20 you can talk for 1600 minutes but only if that is 1600 straight minutes. Here is why:
Connection Fee None
Billing Increments 3 minute rounding
Maintenance Fee 69¢ weekly
Carrier Service Fee 16% - 25% carrier service fee deducted after each call
http://speedypin.com...one-card/GEMX05
Once again, the 16-25% kills either 1/4 or 1/6 of your card per call.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-03-31 20:41:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusBest Value Way to Call Russia?
QUOTE (ramzis51 @ Mar 24 2008, 11:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
http://www.trycards.com/ These are SUPER CHEAP international calling cards. They worked great for me.
I looked at the terms of all thees cards, and they are hard to swallow:
Example:
· Connection Fee - 18 cents (for calls over 1 min.)
· Maintenance Fee - 88 c/weekly
· Service Taxes & Surcharges - 28%
I can live with all but the last one. Pretty much you lose 1/3 of your card value after making even a 1 minute call.
http://www.trycards.com/p/info.php/123 - Cheapest card to Russia.

QUOTE (Scott and Iryna @ Mar 24 2008, 03:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
And it's completely free!
How so? Most Russians do not have access to FREE flat rate broadband internet. When I was lat there it was $20 for 1 gigabyte. That can go by really fast when you are sending audio and video through skype.

Edited by Satellite, 24 March 2008 - 06:35 PM.

SatelliteMaleRussia2008-03-24 18:34:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusBest Value Way to Call Russia?
It all depends on how much you talk and how long is your average conversation.
CrazyUSA is the cheapest at $0.028 if you plan on talking for 179 minutes straight, otherwise the 30% tax per call is too high.
We used to use BossUSA at $0.04 a minute to anywhere in Russia.
Both cards are from http://www.uniontele...tions/7/russia/

Now we use VOIPCHEAP, which for 10.50 Euro ($15) gets you 300 free minutes per week for 90 days and then the money is subtracted at 0.024€ a minute. So if you do the math 416 Minutes + 300(12) = $15/4000 minutes for 3 months or roughly 1/3 a penny per minute. Best deal in my opinion. But requires you to use a microphone but you can dial to a land line so your Russian counter parts don't have to pay for outrageous bandwidth costs or if calling places where high speed internet is not available.
http://www.voipcheap.com/en/rates.html
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-03-12 00:47:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusSo.... how are the driving lessons going?
QUOTE (Turboguy @ Aug 24 2008, 09:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Sorry for getting back on subject here but try two at the drivers test was a bust. Try thee will be in 10 days. She has spend more time parallel parking in her 7 months with her learners permit than I have in my life and normally does great. However, I think she was nervous. The pylon that simulates a parked car and her fender sorta shook hands and once again the test ended early. I really thought she would breeze through it this time. The saying is that the third time is a charm. Guess I get to drive her to school for the first week at least.
They sure are strict our there in Pennsylvania. I don't recall parking as being part of the test here at my local DMV. More like 5 minutes around the block, one lane change, and a left turn was all that is needed. A few feet of straight reverse and basically normal parking at the end.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-08-24 13:47:00
Russia, Ukraine and BelarusSo.... how are the driving lessons going?
QUOTE (Thomas-n-Elena @ Aug 9 2008, 06:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Now I want to hear about what pieces of ####### everyone drove as their first car.
1984 LTD Ford Station Wagon. One of those 1980's semi bight yellow color. It moved like a tank though, with steel bumpers. Retired it for $1000 in 2001 under the California gross polluter law, when it failed smog, better yet the year it was randomly selected to have smog checked by a particular dealer.
SatelliteMaleRussia2008-08-10 01:12:00