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Tennis
Shoes or High-heels?
Every time I plan another trip to Russia I face a dilemma of sorts
– I need to go through my closet to pick the best outfits.
Perhaps that is standard operating procedure to nearly all of us, but
what does that mean for me and you? Do people in the US and
in Russia really dress differently?
To answer, I must establish a simple premise: It’s more
difficult to discuss an “average American” than an
“average Russian”. American society is a melting
pot comprised of people from all over the world with different ethnic
and cultural backgrounds. One common theme in the USA is
tolerance to others and this tolerance starts with the way people look.
Here it’s more difficult to surprise society with unusual
appearances as the definition of “usual” appearance
has seen marked change in the past 40 years here (my husband says it
was not always so). With individual liberty comes individual
expression. This is not to say that there is no cohesive theme to
dress. No. What I mean to say is that people choose
to look the way they like and sometimes that choice is quite
dramatically different. There are certainly some standards within
particular social groups and regions, e.g. business attire for work,
jeans accepted as casual dress; however, there is no universal fashion
and, what is more important, there is no
“enforcement” of such. Each person follows their
personal criteria often giving equal consideration to comfort ahead of
style. A woman in a business suit can walk downtown wearing tennis
shoes…need I say more?
This is just one of the important differences between Americans and
Russians. For years we have been hiding our personalities in collective
society, now we choose to emulate “everybody
else”. Having seen Tobolsk, Tyumen (both in
Siberia), Moscow and Saint Petersburg within the past month, I have
noticed one trend for women in all of these cities: this year it is
skinny jeans tucked into high boots with heels. Anywhere you look, you
will see young girls and women following this common trend. Having
traveled and lived in all different parts of the US, I will only
note dominating shorts, jeans, T-shirts, tennis shoes and flip flops.
After seeing this kind of clothing, I always find it weird to get back
to busy Moscow subway with its high heels and expensive outfits often
purchased with their very last dollar (ruble as it were). Russian women
tend to spend much time, energy and money (some might say too much) on
looking good exaggerating the importance of our appearance. Said
another way, looking fashionable for Russians carries with it a
steep price and commitment.
Just remember, regardless of how good someone looks on the outside, it
is what is on the inside that matters.
 Tamara
von Schmidt-Pauli is a native of St.
Petersburg Russia
who has been visiting, and living in, the United States and Canada
since 2002. She holds bachelors and masters
degrees, with honors, covering teaching of language and
translation and
currently resides in the greater Minneapolis
area. Tamara is affiliated with Prime Language Services (www.primelanguageservices.com)
Fewer Western
Men Coming to the FSU?
In the
past year or two we have seen a significant decrease in the number of
men who are visiting the FSU (Former Soviet Union) to find a suitable
marriage partner. This is especially true for America, but also Europe
and Australia as well. Why is this? I think there are several reasons.
First, the news media has been very aggressive in reporting any type of
terrorist related “gloom and doom” story they can
find. I believe this has made many people a little concerned, if not
downright afraid, of international travel. Never mind the fact that
Russia, Ukraine and the other FSU countries are some of the safest in
the world! I have been all over and never felt afraid or in danger,
whether in an airport or even downtown in a strange city at night. How
many guys could honestly say the same thing about an urban area in
America?
Because of these incidents, some of the countries in the FSU have
tightened their visa requirements. It is much more difficult now for a
man to get a visa to enter Russia. Hopefully, this will be a boon for
Ukrainian travel, since restrictions have been eased. It is now
possible for an American citizen to visit Ukraine with no visa
whatsoever! There has never been a better time to travel to Ukraine!
And trust me, guys, the women will make you feel very welcome!
Secondly, I think this is a decision that can be very difficult to
make. Especially for a man. He is supposed to feel confident and sure
of himself. Yet, the decision to travel half way around the world, to
go to a country he has never been to before (and probably never had any
desire to before) is huge. The media in the west has portrayed the FSU
as the “Evil Empire” and taught us not to trust
their leaders. The fact that we were engaged in a long struggle during
the cold war times still has an effect on the American male psyche.
Even if this is not voiced consciously.
Third, of course is just the uncertainty. How will I know what to do? I
have no clue about the language? Or the culture. I certainly do not
want to look like an idiot and make a fool of myself. Nor do I want to
unwittingly give offense because I am unfamiliar with Russian and
Slavic customs. I think that the language barrier is the biggest issue.
In Europe and the FSU many people speak more than one language. This is
much less true in America. Because of our geography most people have
little day-to-day contact with foreigners. The only foreign languages
we are likely to encounter is Spanish. Russian, with it’s
funny writing (the proper term, by the way, is Cyrillic. Named after
one of the first missionaries to the Slavic and Russian peoples, St.
Cyril) and weird pronunciation, seems very intimidating. Especially to
someone who may have struggled just learning some basic Spanish!
I want to try and dispel the myths and help people make the decision to
come! I have been to the FSU 14 times since September 2001. After
actually living in the FSU for a while I married a wonderful Ukrainian
woman. Truly the girl of my dreams! If I had allowed these ideas and
fears to overcome me I would not be nearly as happy as I am today.
If you are a single or divorced man, having a hard time meeting a
quality woman at home, you need to give serious thought to expanding
your search to the FSU. Since you are reading this I assume you are at
least open to the possibility. Good.
First of all, the FSU is an incredible place to visit. It will be the
vacation of a lifetime, if nothing else. The women are incredible.
These ladies are well educated, beautiful, sexy, sincere and really
want to marry a good man and be happy. Contrary to another widely held
myth, they are not all just looking for a “way
out.” They want to find a man who can win their heart;
someone they can love and make happy for the rest of their long lives
together!
It is generally a very safe place to be. Yes, you do have to take
proper precautions, just like back home. But in all my time in the FSU
I have never felt afraid or threatened in any way. This includes being
in downtown areas of major cities late at night, and also being in
areas which might be considered by Americans as
“slums.” Nowhere was I concerned for my personal
safety. The travel routes are well-used and safe. Come…the
women are desperately waiting for you!!
Contrary to those old 80’s movies, the FSU of today does not
resemble the “Evil Empire” of the past. Yes, the
economy is a bit behind most of the West, but you will find the people
to be kind, warm-hearted and very friendly. Especially if you try to
speak some Russian (there are plenty of resources to help you online
and offline). They will go out of their way to help you!
I hope you do not suffer from any of the “Cold War”
myths about the FSU. There are no tanks in the streets, nor are there
secret police waiting on every corner. There are local, lightly armed
police and militia to keep the peace—just like in any Western
country.
Another myth some foreigners have about this region is that the mafia
controls everything. It would be untruthful if I said there was no
mafia in the FSU. However, you will not see this element trying to
chase foreigners! In fact, they want to make sure you have a good time
and hopefully return! Why? Because most foreigners have more money to
speed on luxuries and entertainment than the locals. In fact, many of
the doormen in hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, etc.. have gone out of
their way to make sure I was taken care of and had a good time,
sometimes even introducing me to the ladies (not that I needed any
help!). They know where their bread is buttered!
Russia, Ukraine and the FSU have all of the modern conveniences. There
are tv’s, computers, internet cafes, showers, etc…
As I said before this will be the vacation of a lifetime, if nothing
else. Just keep a spirit of adventure with you, because from time to
time there are power outages. You may wake up one morning and not be
able to use your laptop. Don’t worry…the power
will be back in a few hours. There are plenty of internet cafes that
will be working! The FSU is also becoming more and more wired every
day. So, you will find Wifi hotspots and your wireless card may even
work as well (find out for sure before you go, though). From time to
time there may be no hot water available. If you have done any
international traveling, you undoubtedly know this is pretty much the
situation throughout most of the world. So, just keep your wits about
you, treat it as a bit of an adventure and have fun! It will be the
time of your life…and you may just find that one special
woman you have been waiting for your whole life. That is what happened
to me and several of my friends.
Do not worry about the cultural differences or the language. There is
plenty of help available in these areas. Many people do speak some
English. The ladies in particular. Of course, many are very
self-conscious about this ability since they do not often have the
chance to practice. There are many books and guides that can help you
to learn enough about the culture so you do not unwittingly give
offense. Even some guides that can give you a rough knowledge of the
language. Many are written phonetically (as the word would sound, using
the English alphabet) and not in Cyrillic. You can do this.
Isn’t your happiness worth this little bit of effort?
There are plenty of reasons to come. The women are waiting for men like
you. Men who are truly seeking their happiness. Too many men in the FSU
are not interested in marrying and having a family (due to the economic
situation and other reasons), have drug or alcohol problems, or just do
not treat women with the same respect a western man will. Come, the
ladies are waiting!!
Good luck!
After
having
traveled to Russia,
Ukraine
and the FSU over 14 times,
and being married to a beautiful Russian woman, Joseph Carducci is
truly a man
who has ‘been there, done that!’ For more info,
advice and details on the
process of finding, meeting and marrying a Russian woman, along with a
free
report and 7-part email course, please visit his site: How
To Marry A Russian
Woman
Core
K1 Visa Criteria
by Richard Bracken, esq.
In
order to establish eligibility to receive a K1 Visa, several core
criteria must be carefully considered. To even consider filing for a K1
visa for an alien fiancé you
must meet the following criteria:
- The U.S. citizen and the alien
fiancé have met within the last two years.
- There are no legal impediments to
marry.
- The petitioner is a U.S. citizen.
- Both parties have a bona fide intent
to marry within 90 days of the alien fiancé’s
entry into the U.S.
- The U.S. citizen must provide a
certified criminal record if one exists.
We will now explore these requirements in better detail.
The U.S.
citizen and alien fiancé have met within the two
years previous to filing the I-129f petition.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) expect
that evidence of this meeting will be verified with documentation.
Verifiable evidence of said meeting can include some of the following:
- Airline ticket receipts of
visits to the foreign country
- Receipts of hotel
accommodations
- Pictures taken together
(Recently USCIS has indicated a preference for date-stamped pictures
taken within the last 2 years.)
- Copies of passport with entry
and exit stamps
- Credit card statements,
including foreign transactions
- Other proofs of visit
These are a few examples of the sort of evidence USCIS will expect from
you in order to verify that you and your fiancé have
actually seen each other in person in the last two years. It is not
necessary for people to submit all of the examples listed above, but I
recommend to my clients that they try and submit as much proof as they
possibly can. This will prevent any unfortunate delays in the case
should USCIS ask you to submit additional evidence of meeting in the
form of a Request for Evidence (RFE). RFE’s are not
detrimental to your case, but it is absolutely necessary that they be
replied to on time and holdups often ensue.
When discussing evidence of meeting, I always try to remind my clients
that when they travel to or return from visiting the alien
fiancé abroad they try to save copies of the documentation
indicated above. U.S. citizens should not to forget to obtain a U.S.
passport and visa from the foreign country they intend to visit before
traveling. Most countries have embassies within the U.S. that can
answer questions that you might have about obtaining such a visa.
Applications for U.S. passports can be made and obtained from your
local post office.
Exceptions to the
Meeting Requirement:
There is an exception to the two-year meeting requirement in instances
where both parties could not meet because of either extreme hardship or
due to a long established custom. 8 C.F.R. §214.2(k)(2). USCIS
is granted the authority to waive the requirement in such cases, but it
should be noted that such instances must be supported by documentation
and are extremely rare. As a result, if you believe that this exception
may apply to you and feel unable to travel to your
fiancé’s home country to visit, you should consult
an immigration attorney prior to filing.
There are
no legal impediments to marriage.
In other words, the marriage must be one that would be legal in the
U.S. For example if the bride or groom would be ineligible for marriage
in the U.S. due to being underage, or a multiple wife in a polygamous
relationship for instance, they would be ineligible for a visa even if
they would be considered to be eligible for marriage in their home
country.
In addition to this point, prior marriages must be properly concluded
prior to entering into a subsequent marriage. If either party has
previously been married, then evidence must be included which shows
that all previous marriage(s) have concluded either by way of divorce,
annulment, or death. In this case you should include a copy of the
certified final divorce decree(s) (judgment) or death certificate(s). I
usually require my clients to obtain these documents before filing with
USCIS from either the court or the county which maintains the records
if they do not already have a copy because USCIS will likely return to
you a request for evidence which places you on a timeline to respond
and slows down the case. If these documents are not in English, then a
certified translation will be required.
A cautionary note: I have had a few clients who after they left prior
husbands or wives preferred to assume that they were divorced and free
to remarry. In almost all of these cases the presumption proved to be
false as no divorce decree had ever been filed for or issued. Do not
assume that your prior marriage was dissolved merely because you no
longer live with your husband or wife! Moreover, do not choose to try
and lie about a prior marriage to the government. Failure to disclose
prior marriages can render the beneficiary inadmissible or removable
later for making a material misrepresentation. This can happen even if
the mistake is discovered after the alien fiancé has become
a U.S. citizen!
The
petitioner must be a U.S. citizen
By law, only U.S. citizens can request their foreign born
fiancé(e)’s to enter the U.S via the K1 visa.
Thus, lawful permanent residents must first naturalize in order to
request their fiancé(e)s through this process. Proof of U.S.
citizenship can be evidenced in the form a of a copy of a birth
certificate issued in the U.S., a U.S. passport, a copy of a
certificate of citizenship, or a copy of a naturalization certificate.
Both
parties must have a bona fide intent to marry within 90 days of
the fiancé(e)’s entry.
Both fiancé(e)’s must prove to the satisfaction of
the government that they both have an intent to marry for
non-immigration purposes. Evidence of this intent is commonly evidenced
in a pair of notarized letters from each party. The government may
request additional evidence which can include things such as wedding
announcements, communications, or other indicators of intent to marry.
The U.S.
citizen must provide a certified criminal record if one exists.
This requirement is set out under the Immigration and Nationality Act
(INA) section 214(d)(1). Criminal records can be normally obtained from
the clerk of the court in the jurisdiction where the conviction
occurred. If the citizen has an arrest record, but NOT a conviction, it
may be necessary to obtain a letter from either the arresting agency or
the court indicating that the case was never filed or that the matter
was dismissed.
If the U.S. citizen has a criminal record, other than minor traffic
problems, the citizen should consult with an immigration attorney prior
to filing the I-129f petition.
If you have been confronting any issues dealing with this Eligibility
Requirement then feel free to leave a comment or question on my site at
www.simplek1.com.
Good Luck!
Richard
Article written by: Richard
Bracken
Richard is currently practicing as an immigration attorney in
Riverside, California and is a founder of http://simplek1.com -
an information resource for those seeking a K1 Visa.
Once a very closed society, Russia has opened up its doors to tourism
and in a very short period of time has become one of the most popular
destinations on the planet. And romantic as well! Especially in spring,
as it is the most beautiful time in Russia when the nature is awake
after the winter sleep, flowers and trees are in blossom and all the
people look spruce and happy.
May is the warmest month of spring and the most suitable for spending
holiday with your loved one in Russia. A lot of things are
opening up and you’ll get a wonderful opportunity to walk
much around the city, stroll in the parks and avenues, do sightseeing,
and even make an unforgettable romantic river cruise. You’ll
be also lucky not to feel on your own back famous Russian frosts!
The reason why you should visit Russia just in May is that the Russians
celebrate a lot of holidays this month. Traveling at this time could be
quite interesting. You can escape the awful rush hour traffic, which is
very common during the average work day and as a matter of fact you
will get a chance to see cheerful Russians and witness how they party.
And believe me - this is something to discover! Another nice thing
about Russian holidays is that all the shops, supermarkets and the
grocery stores are open throughout the day and usually work until the
late evening, especially in big cities and downtown areas.
There’re two main holiday in Russia in May. The first, Spring
and Labor Day, is celebrated on May,1. Labor Day in Russia has
traditionally been politically charged. Marked with parades, it is used
as a
day of relaxation for those who do not have a political agenda to
emphasize at a rally or demonstration.
Though not too romantic, these
festive parades are quite amusing to watch, especially if you are
interested in Russian culture. The second holiday is celebrated on May,
9 and is called Victory Day. Victory Day is an important secular
holiday in Russia, which is also celebrated with parades. Its
significance arises from Russia's victory over Germany in WWII. Many
Russians still consider this victory heroic and worthy of memories and
praise.
Spending time with your beloved one in Russia during May holidays is a
romantic adventure for you both and an excellent chance to get to know
Russia from the inside!
To learn more about Russian holidays please visit our website http://www.russianflora.com
This article is provided by
Russian Flora:
Russian Flora specializes in high-quality, reliable gift and
flower delivery to Russia , CIS and Eastern Europe. The company works
directly with established, local Russian florists to offer deliveries
within 24-48 hours of submitted orders. After the founder and owner
David Skol experienced firsthand that many of the existing delivery
services to Russia provided either low-quality or over-priced flowers
and gifts, he decided to provide a U.S.-based service that would
provide the type of service he believed was lacking. Learn more at www.RussianFlora.com.
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