Forum	Title	Content	Member	Sex	Country	Date/Time
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Western Union or Moneygram?	They say 10 minute transfer on their website... is it truly ten minutes, or is it more like a couple of days? There are about six locations in the immediate vicinity of my apartment, so I figured I'd go to the banks and ask to make sure they can do it. It's a LARGE sum of money though (need to pay tuition), so the fee is a difference of over 200$ versus less than 100$. No, I have to pay in person. I sent money to Kazan several times, amounts up to $800. Much cheaper than WU and the money was always available right away.	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-08-22 05:35:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Visiting fiancée	Can't seem to find a solid answer to my question. I met my fiancée here in the USA while she was visiting on a J-1 summer work\travel program in summer 2010. She is from Belarus. I have visited her twice in Belarus and once in Ukraine as I have many friends in Ukraine)) On my visa applications for the two visits to Belarus I stated my purpose of visit as "VISIT SEVERAL OF MY FRIENDS WHOM I MET IN THE UNITED STATES ON SUMMER WORK & TRAVEL PROGRAM". Which is true because there were two other Belarusians staying with her when she was here. But now that I'm about to send off the packet for the K-1(I-129F) and my visa application for my next visit in September, is it ok to state that I'm visiting my girlfriend or fiancée? Will they question my previous visits now that I'm stating girlfriend or fiancée? Or maybe they'll see it as "oh, he's coming to take away one of ours". And because I haven't filed the petition yet(assembling the packet as I type), maybe I can just use the "visiting friends" statement I used before, THEN send off the I-129F. Or am I safe putting visiting girlfriend/fiancée? Because I do plan on one more visit to Belarus early next year and I don't want to run into any problems because by then we'll be well into the K-1 process and I do want to be able to continue visits to Belarus in the future after we're married. I am no expert on Belarus' attitude toward Americans taking their women. But I do know that the I-129F is a document that is not seen by the government of Belarus. It is only for the US government. So what is the worry?	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-08-08 01:39:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Where is Gary?	That depends on how you brandish the weapon. If carried in a non threatening manner, pointed safely downward...nope, no law against it. Unloading your weapon in advance may help keep it from being seen as 'threatening'!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-08-28 01:14:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Where is Gary?	Yes. We've been skinny dipping 3 times this week (its been hot this week and this ain't gonna last much longer) and the Colt goes with us. So how exactly is your weapon concealed when your other 'weapon' is not?	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-08-26 23:14:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	I am lost and angry	I had the "luxury" of living in Minot for two winters. Can't say I miss that place much. Although... if I would've had a RUB spouse with me, it probably wouldn't have been all that bad! +27 internetz. You fellers need to understand something about these RUB ladies. The don't own pants. They wear skirts because you wear the pants. It's your job. Don't be scared to put your foot down. At the end of the day, you'll be rewarded for it. Why not Minot? Freezin's the reason! They do say there that the cold keeps the 'riff-raff' out!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-08-22 05:26:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Okay I am offically confused	I thought Olya was getting used to the idea that if shoes are reasonably clean they can be worn inside. Nope! I got an earful this weekend. I tried to counter with an argument regarding how much carpet soiling has occurred from the new puppy she wanted and the toddler spilling various things. That went nowhere. So no shoes inside!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-04 22:48:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	MIL Visa	It may seem counter-intuitive but you DON'T want to emphasize why you want/need to visit! What needs to be focused on at all stages of the process while applying for the visa is why you want/need to return home!!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-06-26 02:13:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	MIL Visa	I don't disagree with this, but there seemed to be a number of VJ members relatives in the same situation as my MIL that did not get a B visa. They owned properrty, had a pension and salary, were married, same age, etc. MIL told my wife that there were also other women her age at the Embassy the day she interviewed with similar circumstances (according to them) who were turned down. If getting a B visa really is the ####### shoot it seems to be, maybe things like a Schengen visa or congressional interest would help. MIL also says that the CO asked her who lived with her, so she was able to briefly mention her dad's poor health and the care he needed. If they wanted to check, she had the ZheKo document (not sure I have that acronym correct) to prove grandpa lives with them. Maybe none of this stuff matters at all, but I wanted to put the information out there so VJers could see what might be different from their relatives' cases, or what they might do differently. I did also send my MIL an invitation which contained recognition that she would be here ONLY one month and that we would be picking her up and returning her to the airport. We also sent an e-mail to the consulate outlining her situation, stressing that she has a job there with only one month of vacation and an elderly mother that depends on her for help. I don't know if any of that is what made the difference or if she just got lucky.	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-06-02 22:55:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	MIL Visa	My MIL has an average factory job, no husband, an elderly mother that lives close by, minimal assets beyond her apt. She had never had a schengen visa. She got the B-1 on the first try, has been here twice already and a 3rd trip coming in August.	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-05-31 21:53:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Russian post and immigration packages	So you're saying the packages from the immigration services and the embassy will come trough Pony Express, right? Of course there are ways to deliver Really Important Stuff except Russian Post, if you are sending it yourself, but I thought the embassy uses Russian Post and it's impossible to get them or the Immigration services to mail your package through something that they don't normally use. Embassy now uses Pony Express. They have not used Russian Post anytime recently that I have heard about, at least not for anything important like visas!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-12 23:11:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Green Card approval	Congratulations! Russia's loss is our gain!!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-12 23:13:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Problem with First Name	So my Fiancee's name is ????? on her birth certificate. However on her international passport this was transliterated to Mariia with two i's. Since her official passport states Mariia, that's how we filed the K1 paperwork. However, in reality she never uses Mariia in English, but the normal spelling Maria. I'm curious if there is a way change Mariia to Maria as a correction of the transliteration, instead of a full-blown name-change, before any paperwork on this side of the pond gets filed (but after the I-95 / entrance to US). Has anyone had any experience with this kind of name correction? My step-daughter had the same thing, she is now Valeriia! I kind of like the unique spelling. It also acts as a conversation starter.	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-15 23:38:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Ukraine warned against passing defamation bill	Who said anything about accuracy? People are asking for socialism. I agree that in asking for socialism one does ask for totalitarianism but people rarely ask directly for totalitarianism. They'd rather have the kool-aid first. My point is that the way politics works at present in the US is that the right wing party is the one that seeks to tell people what they are allowed to do with their bodies. That is a rather totalitarian sort of view of how far government can legitimately go! A purely capitalist mindset and system will eventually result in all power and wealth (they ALWAYS go hand in hand) concentrated in the hands of a very few. The USSR was far from a purely socialist economy. I would argue that both extremes are wrong. We have had for a long time a healthy blend of the two, as has western Europe!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-20 19:35:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Ukraine warned against passing defamation bill	Can you remind me again of what that big red country was called, officially? And what was the name of their official newspaper? Names are sometimes not completely accurate!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-20 19:16:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Ukraine warned against passing defamation bill	I'm constantly amazed that people ask for socialism. What is even worse is when people mistake socialism for totalitarianism! That comes in both right-wing as well as left-wing versions. Many might argue it is a more natural political model to accompany the economic model of capitalism. Democracy should be the complementary political system for economic socialism. In practice a lot gets fcuked up with all systems!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-20 18:55:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	CR1 Interview 11 Oct, Kyiv Embassy	Congratulations We hope to be completed at NVC soon and have a interview in Oct. but will probable be in Nov. Some questions if you don't mind: What papers did your wife have to bring to the interview? Are there more fees to pay at the interview? If so how much will my wife need for her and her son? Thanks, Phil Medical exams (and whatever the agency is charging now) and vaccines (much cheaper done there!). Fees for the visas, they were $350 each person last year. Papers? Go to the guides on here to get the list. You need evidence of bonafide relationship. Also the I-864 which basically is you showing proof you have the means to support a wife and son. That will require tax returns, pay stubs, bank account statements, etc. Again, go to the guides on here.	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-20 22:56:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Posting	I think it is nothing short of amazing how it is removed so quickly and efficiently and safely. They always wear slippers so who needs carpet? You have to wear 'slippers' now that the carpet has been removed? We prefer 'barefoot'!! Edited by james&olya, 25 September 2012 - 08:13 PM.	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-25 20:12:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Posting	You want her to have a shaved head? You have said that she prefers no carpet! We don't mind carpets where we live.	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-20 22:48:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Posting	That would be the logical extension. (Or lack of extensions.) Extensions?	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-20 19:11:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Posting	What if a lady prefers a Brazilian? Or a landing strip? Mohawks and shaved heads?	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-20 18:59:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Posting	Please allow me to answer, if you will. All are welcome. Currently, the topic is carpets (*snork!*). And I prefer that the carpets match the drapes!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-20 18:29:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	D + 4 years	I do not agree that it is "sometimes" I do not agree that it is "sometimes" I do not agree that it is "sometimes"	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-20 18:16:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Buying a Wife from the Ukraine	Congratulations! Your life has taken another permanent change and, I am sure, you will never regret it! LOTS of work and much less sleep but nothing can match the joys of being a parent!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-25 20:05:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Buying a Wife from the Ukraine	I wake up naked with Alla, but I have a Dodge mini van. AND a PIckup Truck! I've got the Dodge mini-van, the p/u truck, and I will raise you a BMW motor-cycle!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-25 17:10:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Buying a Wife from the Ukraine	a very tight nit group What is with all these tight nits for you and Kip? Sounds pretty lousy to me! Seriously though, congratulations in advance on the anticipated arrival!!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-20 18:11:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Buying a Wife from the Ukraine	My spouse isnt from Eastern Europe but I once watched a documentary where men bought contact information for Russian or Ukranian women. And they went to the said countries to meet hte women. Most of the women needed translators and didnt even speak English. But you know, it was pretty cute The women looked genuinely interested and had a lot of fun with the men. I think in the after story one of them married his wife and started the immigration process for her	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-20 18:00:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Buying a Wife from the Ukraine	I never asked why you marry 'RUB women'. I presume you married Alla (ONE woman) for a myriad of reasons. Which you actually don't need to explain, but you won't understand that. But seriously...how dirty is your house, how much laundry do you have, how much could you possibly eat, that your wife is so busy 'tending your needs' that she can't 'waste time online'? Alla is not the first woman to run a household. We all do it. But for her to be so busy that she literally has *no time* is a bit sad. Perhaps you should make less of a mess or eat less. I dunno. On my, and Olya's, list of priorities, going on VJ to read posts like yours is wayyyy down the list! The only reason I am on here is that when I am on duty where I work there are often slow times with very little available to do. If I could have Olya here I would have NO time for you!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-16 20:30:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Buying a Wife from the Ukraine	One of the clerk's in our local courthouse once asked me if my husband speaks any English. I mean, you'd think someone who works in local government would be a little smarter than that. I am a cold war baby, brought up to believe that America ruled the world and is Number One. I had a sneaking suspicion (as I got older) that this wasn't entirely true. I've often tried to explain to people the weird feeling I had walking around the streets of Wes' hometown the first time I was there. I can honestly remember thinking to myself - hey this isn't so bad - I don't see anybody in chains. One reason I stick around these international web communities is to learn about the rest of the world. I don't have the money to travel everywhere I'd like to go, so I'll not see all these place with my own eyes. But I can visit them through the eyes of others and I like that. It would do any American a lot of good to see other parts of the world - and not just the third world bits. It's humbling. I have to agree 100% about the value of travel. But travel where you are truly seeing things the way people really live is so much better than taking a 'tour'! My appetite was created with my first visit to FSU. Now I want to travel all over Europe and beyond. Olga is happy now just seeing the USA!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-15 23:29:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Buying a Wife from the Ukraine	Out of curiosity, and I'm being entirely sincere here...if your wives are too busy sexin to VJ, how are you not as equally busy? I work long shifts and there are enough slow times I need something to do! Next question.	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-15 23:16:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Buying a Wife from the Ukraine	I am all for globalization for this particular 'market'! My dating 'capital' goes so much further there. And it really has been a terrific experience so far. One potential drawback has to do with the ignorant attitudes about this that some people have. It is nice to be able to ignore them or play with them a bit but it can also have a serious downside when it causes family discord. My very insecure DIL has been openly hostile to my wife and I and has kept my grand-children away. I don't want to see my son have to suffer the pain of divorce but if it happens I will certainly suggest to him he consider looking further than just within this country if he decides he wants to try again!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2012-09-12 23:34:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	The best of times, the worst of times.	Olya got her visa and flew here Kazan-Frankfurt-Chicago with her children on the 24th. No questions at POE, just opened the envelopes, looked at the passports/visas, and did the fingerprints! Their flight was late due to having to avoid the iceland volcano eruption. It was a good thing we had already decided it was not worth chancing the connection in Chicago which was less than 90 minutes. We had decided I would meet them there and we would make the 7 hour drive north rather than wait 10 hours for an uncertain next flight north. On the way north the 2 year-old vomited once. No big deal, they all had restless stomachs after the airline food. We arrived home and tried to sleep but she vomited twice more. She was fine Wednesday but vomited again that night. Thursday morning she had a seizure. Olya was terrified! I wasn't doing much better! We spent the day in the hospital where they found dehydration, low blood sugar, and fever. After IV fluids she was discharged at 5pm. At 6pm while happily playing outside she fell and had a second seizure! More sheer panic and back to the ER. She stayed in the hospital this time and began strong meds for epilepsy. All the tests that could be done locally were done and no answer was found. She needs referral to a major children's center soon for specialist evaluation and more testing. For now she is doing well but suffering major side effects (sedation, incoordination) from the meds. At least we hope it is only the meds! I have a good income but we are talking some major expenses here. Of course I want everything done for her, what could be more important?! But we decided that since we were planning marriage anyway why wait? We got the 3 day waiting period waived and a marriage license Friday. A clergy friend performed the wedding right there in the hospital room. Now the 2 year-old has insurance! But it was not what we had wanted, certainly! Maybe we will still do the ceremony in July. This has been the most intense and excruciating emotional roller-coaster I could ever imagine! Olya was convinced her daughter was dying. We have both lost children in the past so we share that awful knowledge already that nobody should ever know. Now we face an uncertain future. It remains to be seen whether this stress will bind us more tightly together or threaten to tear us apart. The point I hope to make here is that the risk so many of us take of having our fiancees going without good health insurance while our marriages are pending may be a very foolish risk. The last thing any of us needs during this is a great deal of added financial stress if the unthinkable should happen. I hope none of you out there have to endure what we have faced the last few days (it seems like years!). But if you do I hope you have the insurance coverage you need. The risk is not worth taking!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2011-05-29 20:57:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Time after the interview for visa issuance	I bought the tickets ahead of time. Like you said, it's a risk. But it seemed calculated and I was ready to take the hit if it happened. Everything worked out and she got the visa in time. We did the same. The tickets were cheaper that way and we were reasonably certain we would be approved without AP. And we were ready to spend extra if the visa was to be delayed. My philosophy is that life is short and I did not want to waste another month apart from my loved ones if I did not have to! Edited by james&olya, 01 June 2011 - 06:51 PM.	james&olya	Male	Russia	2011-06-01 18:50:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Time after the interview for visa issuance	I had the same question. Olya interviewed on the 13th and the visa arrived at her home in Kazan by DHL on the 18th. I understand you have the option of addressing the DHL envelope you buy to go instead to a local DHL office in Moscow where you can pick it up in person. This is the fastest way to get it if being in Moscow is an option. Pick-up direct from the embassy is not an option. If you live in a remote area I have heard it can be 2-3 weeks to get it but in the major cities it should be 5-7 days.	james&olya	Male	Russia	2011-06-01 08:19:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Interesting Article on Scams in FSU	Haven't we seen similar here on VJ? Not that long ago some guy was posting the mysterious situation with his fiance not showing up at the interview. I think there are plenty of independent skamerska working out there as well. Poor girl needs money for Passport, then money to go to Moscow for the interview, then poof she is gone! If that is the same one I recall, evrything turned out to be a misunderstanding! She is now here in the US with the OP!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2011-05-08 09:38:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Hotel and Travel	Can anyone give me tips on hotels that are near the Embassy that are affordable, and near the DHL and medical places? What is the best way to get between these locations? Thanks in advance. Consider renting a small apartment from one of the many places that do this. We rented an apartment right there on 'New Arbat' street a block from the embassy for about 120 a night from City Realty. They even have a limo service to pick you up from the airport and I highly recommend that unless you really know your way around Moscow.	james&olya	Male	Russia	2011-06-01 08:23:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	NOA2 Approved! Just one major concern...	Ukraine, and most of the countries of former USSR, doesn't give you an option to have name of father(or mother) to be blank in Birth Certificate. My step-daughter's russian BC does not have anything listed. Makes it that much easier for me to adopt, I hope!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2011-06-04 23:49:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	I have this friend .............	ALERT -- look at what they've started and are getting away with in the OT forum: http://www.visajourn...oreign-husband/ It's OK, those chicks need lovin' too!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2011-06-09 02:13:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	I have this friend .............	I have to agree with that entire post of yours (other than the you left out the fact where most RUB chicks can gut a man like a fish with a plastic spork and never break character). It's all about "attrition".	james&olya	Male	Russia	2011-06-09 00:35:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Hotels in Kiev	Hi All, I may have reason to travel to Kiev in the not-too-distant future, and I'm wondering about hotels. Prices I've seen online range from ? $100 per night, all the way up to ? $500. In the ideal, I'd prefer not spending a week in one of the standard RUB nightmare hotels, but I'm also not to keen on spending thousands of dollars just on shelter. Does anybody have any experience with this? Are there any decent (by Western standards) places in Kiev that are reasonably priced? Or am I reasonably screwed? Thanks! Z Apartments are often cheaper, more convenient, and are otherwise handled just like a hotel as far as reservations, etc. I stayed in a great place right in the center of the city, I think it was called Kreschatyk Guesthouse or something like that. It was considerably less than $100 a night and was clean and comfortable!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2011-06-25 20:40:00
Russia, Ukraine and Belarus	Alla Graduates, Finally!	Some med schools will take students who have non-science degrees, as long as they've completed a certain requirements (usually a year of bio, chem, etc). She can look into schools like that. I think the Mayo Clinic did this, but it was a loong time ago when I was looking into med schools so I might be wrong. Or eekee's idea is also great. Actually, almost all med schools will take applicants with degrees in fields other than science. It is actually preferred by many schools as it makes for a more balanced educational background. Someone like Alla would probably get accepted very easily and do very well! If she is interested I would say go for it!	james&olya	Male	Russia	2011-08-04 20:12:00