just out of curiousity

[Son of Clyde]

Have there been any studies of the percentage of FSU women who are actively seeking to meet men from the west? I just went to a reunion, and saw a friend in his late 70's, who married a Russian woman. I see Russian American couples everywhere now. I ain't complaining though. The more the merrier as long as it is legal and above board. I think there may be a higher percentage of people from the FSU in general than say 8 years ago.

[ML]

What are you alluding to with your words "as long as it is legal and above board." ?

And this sentence seems to be lacking context:  "I think there may be a higher percentage of people from the FSU in general than say 8 years ago."

You mean a higher percentage of such people living in USA compared to those of other nationalities, or both men and women looking to come to USA from FSU compared to other countries, or what?

[Son of Clyde]

I mean the percentage of women still living in the FSU who are actively looking for men outside of the FSU.
 
I said "above board" because I know of a woman from Latvia who came to Chicago on a fiance visa, left the man and stayed in the country illegally. She let her visa expire and stayed in the country.

[ML]

I mean the percentage of women still living in the FSU who are actively looking for men outside of the FSU.

I don't know the answer, but others on this forum have voiced the opinion that the numbers looking have decreased over the years.

[ML]

I said "above board" because I know of a woman from Latvia who came to Chicago on a fiance visa, left the man and stayed in the country illegally. She let her visa expire and stayed in the country.

Yes, I have seen stats that indicate the FSU countries have some of the highest visa 'overstay' rates of all nationalities worldwide.

This is one of the factors why their 'turn down' rate for tourist visas is also relatively high.

[Vincenzo]

Here are the official numbers for 2008: http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/yearbook/2008/ois_yb_2008.pdf

PERSONS OBTAINING LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENT STATUS
Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens by country:
Belarus 602
Russia 4,023
Ukraine 3,659
Philippines 30,662
Mexico 111,703

Look around, do you see more Russian or Mexican faces?

[GQBlues]

Vincenzo-
 
I believe SOC's inquiry is based on K-visas/MOB admissions. The Stat you posted, unless I'm mistaken, may well be a combination of petitions, including but not limited to, fiance/e visas.
 
Besides, considering where he lives, there's a good chance he likely sees more Russian-speaking nationals than he would Mexicans.

[Vincenzo]

I read that the US government issues about 1,000 K1 visas each year to Russian and Ukrainian citizens.

My 4,000 also includes overstayed female tourists, students, etc.

You can compare this number to the total number of people from Russia who got Green Cards in 2008: 45,092. Most of them were young Russian professionals with their wives. Apparently, some wives have left their husbands when they found richer, smarter American guys with mansions.

[GQBlues]

I read that the US government issues about 1,000 K1 visas each year to Russian and Ukrainian citizens.

My 4,000 also includes overstayed female tourists, students, etc...

Not sure which and what governmental estimate report it was I read not too long ago regarding the makeshift of the current 'illegal aliens' number, but IIRC, aside from South Americans (Mexicans, El Savadorian, Guatemalans, etc..), which was estimated to represent about 60% of the total, the other 40% comprised of Asians (mainly Chinese), Indians, and Eastern Europeans. The total illegal aliens estimate was 18 million.

You can compare this number to the total number of people from Russia who got Green Cards in 2008: 45,092. Most of them were young Russian professionals with their wives. Apparently, some wives have left their husbands when they found richer, smarter American guys with mansions.

Considering the present state of the economy and that of the real estate market, 'Richer/Smarter AMs with mansions' is wholly subjective these days. Those delicious aspiring wives hopefully are smart enough to exercise diligence before changing bedsheet swimming partners. Life these days just ain't what it used to be, you know.
 
We all live in challenging times these days. Even some of the more opportunistics within us need to watch their 6s.

[mies]

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