Guess who got a tourist visa?

[philb]

The woman I have been seeing for the past year will be coming to visit me on a tourist visa this August.  And guess what?  I didn't have to send her any money or pay a travel agency $1000.00 for her to obtain this.  All it cost her was $100.00 for the application fee and $65.00 for a five year multiple entry visa.  Same as Ukraine charges.  She will be spending 3 1/2 weeks here.

Now she did have a few things working in her favor.  She is 42 years old (I am 46), owns substantial property in Ukraine,   has traveled extensively throughout western Europe, and maybe most importantly is an employee of the US government.

Yes, I am gloating here a bit.

[Son of Clyde]

You lucky devil. :cool:

[Turboguy]

I have a feeling there would be a lot fewer divorces of AM & RW if tourist visas were easier to get.

[BC]

Yes Turbo I think so too. Would probably weed out 99% of the real scammers (on both sides of the water) but then again probably more suckers would then buy into the visa/flight scam.. oh well..

Phil,

Kudo's.. One year romance with a woman who knows a bit about the 'real' west and 'real' mericans.. Patience is indeed a virtue. btw mind reminding us how you met? Nothing specific needed.. just curious whether MOB or 'other' venue?

She sounds like a real gem. I'm sure you both will enjoy her visit.

[jb]

She sounds like a real gem.

Quite possible, I like a gal who has something on the ball, not just a leech looking for a free ride.

My wife made two trips to the USA on visas not pertaining to marriage before she came here as a K-3 wife.  As you listed, she owned valuable property in Russia, wasn't a young chicky-babe of 21, had money in the bank, and had good reason not to over stay her tourist visa.  

Travel for such a woman is not impossible.  I think you should use this opportunity to the max, get to know her on your home turf.  To see how well she likes what she sees in your own back yard.

Good stuff.....

[philb]

btw mind reminding us how you met? Nothing specific needed.. just curious whether MOB or 'other' venue?

She had a personal ad on a dating site and I responded to it.  No agency involvement.  I had been planning a trip to Ukraine last summer with no real plan other than to have a bit of a vacation.  (This was a couple of months after I had ended a relationship with a different Ukrainian woman. ) Anyway we had exchanged maybe 8 or 10 letters prior to meeting.  I have been to see her in Kiev 4 times for a total of 12 weeks.  This will be her first trip to the US.

[Ste]

I posted on the 'other' board some UK Government figure showing the visa rejection rates for Russian to UK, all types but most visas are non-settlement, ie tourist, student visas etc.

The average over Moscow/Pter/Ebug, the three UK consulates for visa rejection was about 3.5%, with Eburg (Nadia's closest consulate!) the lowest at 2.7%

That's extremely low when you consider many applications are totally badly prepared and indeed, some applicants don't even bother to turn up for the interview....

When Nadia got hers to visit me here, there were about 20 applicants that session, all visas granted bar possibly one - she was asked to return later that afternoon so she might have got it. But she was a fiancee visiting her UK bf on a tourist visa, UK Immigration doesn't like that - tourist is for touring - not possibly marrying! She was screaming at the guy behind the glass - 'but I love him, I love him!!!'

Ste

[MandM]

My little sister is now here on holiday, for the fourth time. It's the first time she ever went to the Embassy herself. She has never had an interview, just submitted her papers in the morning, and was told to pick up her passport and visa later on that day. Ekaterinburg Consulate is closer for her too, but it's easier to get to Moscow and luckily, they are not strict about it. BTW, they issue new UK visas this year with your picture on the visa itself.

[Ste]

Good to know M&M. BTW M and M's used be called Minstrels in the UK - bloody Americans!!

And Snickers were Marathons....

Nadia came here on a slightly dodgy short term student visa - two week easy English course - six month visa.

We never thought about tourist visa actually - she has USA visa and UK visa before so should be a good candidate.

But would ur sis come here on a Family visa?

Ste - Arch thread-hijacker!

[MandM]

Ste,

What is a family visa? My sister came here on guest visa. Is Nadya in the UK now?

[Ste]

Ste,

What is a family visa? My sister came here on guest visa. Is Nadya in the UK now?

Well there is no 'guest' visa so far as i know - it's a tourist/visitors visa. There is also a family visa specifically for members of your immediate family - mum and dad, bro and sis etc. Getting link now...

There isn't one!! I must have dreamt it. I can't belive it!!

Nadya not here yet - we are still weighing up the options. We are meeting in Kiev soon though 23rd July!

Ste

[Jet]

Congradulations Phil!

 

 

That's extremely low when you consider many applications are totally badly prepared and indeed, some applicants don't even bother to turn up for the interview....

Considering the fact that the Embassy only gave Liliya 15 hours notice to come to the interview, and the bus>train>metro ride takes around 11 hours , I too am suprised it's so low! (good thing she didn't live any further away).