She has a Visa?

[jdaco70]

Hello Everybody,

So, I have been talking with this lady, about a month now maybe. We talk on skype / web cam. Get along pretty well, and we finally come to discussing meeting for real. Well, I was originally going to visit her in Kiev, but due to my not being able to get there for another month or so, she suggested coming to visit me. Well, she sent me a copy of her Visa, has a business Visa issued back in Feb of this year, for 5 years.

Does this seem odd? Or anything I should be aware of with this? I know, silly question probably. But my friend is native Russian, and basically said someone with deep pockets must have had to sponsor her to get that. Which, could in turn, relate to the type of person she is. I am not sure, but am just looking for 2nd opinions if possible.

I have asked her about her getting this visa, which she has had for 10 years now. She is 34 now, but said she worked from the age of 14, 3 jobs, at 24 got a high level position...She has a son, flat, said she needed like 5k in the bank, car, to even get this...HOwever, having a business visa would have different requirements, wouldnt it? Maybe I am reading into this, dont know, but a multi-entry visa seems like an almost impossible feat to accomplish, is it not? Without some help at least?

[Blues Fairy]

What is your country and what is her job?

Nothing is impossible.  I used to get multi-entry business visas to various countries during my career days.  No "sponsors with deep pockets" were involved, apart from my employers' branches overseas.   

[Gylden]

A 5 year multiple entry B-1 visa is very common. Don't let the bussiness terminology throw you off. This is the same visa which my wife recieved.

[jdaco70]

So getting a B1/B2 visa to the US is not that difficult? My friend is making it sound like it is an almost impossible task to accomplish. Just wondering if anything is shady going on with her.

[Steamer]

So, I have been talking with this lady, about a month now maybe.

Just do not send her money for ANY reason and you'll be fine.

[ML]

For those in FSU with right connections (not necessarily anything illegal or shady), a business visa is easier to come by than a tourist visa.

I have met (not romantically) with a few FSU women in USA who were here on business visas, as well as FSU men of course.

[jdaco70]

interesting. Ok, well, I do have to buy her tickets of course. But will NOT send her any money to do so. I will just make the purchase here myself. Any hang ups with doing it this way? Flying her into NYC and will pick her up there.

[Daveman]

Perhaps it was difficult for her to receive. For example, perhaps she was not actually employed by the company... (similar to how many USA guys get business visas to Russia).  the requirement to have 5k in the bank, a car, etc., to get a business visa seems strange to me, though I have no experience personal experience with that.

it sounds "strange" to me... not enough info to determine "shady".  If you decide to bringher over to visit you, do not send cash for the tickets.. if she has 5k in the bank, then let her buy her ticket and reimburse her when she arrives.. otherwise buy a refundable e-ticket so no money actually changes hands between you and her.  There should be no reason for her to need cash from you in any way to travel here on such a visa.  

There are other men who have been visited here, so everything could be just fine.  Just sounds a little strange to me for a business visa...

edit: others beat me to that but I was way too lazy to edit that out..  :evil:

[Steamer]

interesting. Ok, well, I do have to buy her tickets of course.

NO YOU DO NOT!!
You are going to be ripped off!
Visit her there.

[jdaco70]

ok, so I am confused, cant I be safe and buy her tickets myself Online? And then email her the tickets or something? I am not planning on giving her any money at all.

[Steamer]

ok, so I am confused, cant I be safe and buy her tickets myself Online? And then email her the tickets or something? I am not planning on giving her any money at all.

Tell her that you will reimburse her WHEN YOU SEE HER.

[Daveman]

ok, so I am confused, cant I be safe and buy her tickets myself Online? And then email her the tickets or something? I am not planning on giving her any money at all.

I think so, if purchased on credit card it would be refundable only back to the card I think... her reaction when you mention buying them online could be an indicator.. anyway, this is someone you do not know and she doesn't know you... let common sense prevail before, during, and after the visit...

[jdaco70]

yes, I guess that was my next question...Can she actually turn the ticket in for a refund on her side? If I purchased it thru my visa? She doesnt have the money to cover the ticket expense, but she has never asked me for money at all, and knows I am pre-paying for the tickets in advance...She did also send me a copy of her passport, and visa. 

[facetrock]

  If your not sure you can trust her I think you should wait a month and go see her. Its the simple soulution. Hassle free and you wont lay awake at night wondering if you've been scammed.

[Steamer]

yes, I guess that was my next question...Can she actually turn the ticket in for a refund on her side? If I purchased it thru my visa? She doesnt have the money to cover the ticket expense, but she has never asked me for money at all, and knows I am pre-paying for the tickets in advance...She did also send me a copy of her passport, and visa. 

Excuse me for getting excited. I tend to see scams under every rock.
Please keep your eyes and ears open.

[OlgaH]

  If your not sure you can trust her I think you should wait a month and go see her.

I agree.

[ECOCKS]

1. No deep pockets or payoffs. I also dated a legitimate Russian gal with 19 pages of stamps in her passport, a business visa, car, 3 apartments, yada, yada, yada.....

2. If you are inviting her to come to visit you then you should pay for the ticket. I'd buy the e-ticket online with a credit card. You're the only person who can judge whether she's worth the risk, none of us can.

3. Study and apply the 10 Commandments along with your informed judgment.

Good Luck to you.

[OlgaH]

I have asked her about her getting this visa, which she has had for 10 years now. She is 34 now, but said she worked from the age of 14, 3 jobs, at 24 got a high level position...She has a son, flat, said she needed like 5k in the bank, car, to even get this...HOwever, having a business visa would have different requirements, wouldnt it? Maybe I am reading into this, dont know, but a multi-entry visa seems like an almost impossible feat to accomplish, is it not? Without some help at least?

You also can look for information on business visa on the gov. website. Actually requirements the same

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1262.html

The "visitor" visa is a nonimmigrant visa for persons desiring to enter the United States temporarily for business (B-1), for pleasure or medical treatment (B-2), or combination of both (B-1/B-2) purposes.

The presumption in the law is that every visitor visa applicant is an intending immigrant. Therefore, applicants for visitor visas must overcome this presumption by demonstrating that:

    * The purpose of their trip is to enter the U.S. for business, pleasure, or medical treatment;
    * That they plan to remain for a specific, limited period;
    * Evidence of funds to cover expenses in the United States;
    * Evidence of compelling social and economic ties abroad; and
    * That they have a residence outside the U.S. as well as other binding ties that will insure their return abroad at the end of the visit.

If she has a good job, evidence of funds, social and economic ties in her country and property she has all chances for visa.

[Sculpto]

Wait a minute..

Did she ask you to buy the ticket or did you offer?  Or, have you offered yet?

Why assume she can't buy her own ticket?  You might really offend her if you offer!!!

BTW.. there is a Russian travel agency in San Francisco that specializes in getting business visas.  They also get a lot of business visas for Russian women who are coming to visit Russian men for romantic purposes.

Did you guys know.. there are marriage agencies Russian to Russian that are located in the USA that only serve the Russian speaking market?  They advertise in US Russian language newspapers.

[jdaco70]

I could just as easily go visit her, but it seems to me, less risk with her coming here. Not much she could do while she is here visiting me that I can think of. Am I missing something? Put all the jewlery in the safe? LOL

[Jumper]

board paranoia will destryoia.. lol

Toss up to her the idea of the e-ticket ,her reaction will guide you.

you spoke this long and nothing unusual, and it's assumed she is leaving her child (school time now) behind with babushka?

there is'nt that much to this:

1.it's either a classic travel scam ,easily revealed
(but doesnt appear to be from her and your communication background)

or
2. she's a sincere RW that has traveled here before snd has a  visa ,
i live in the chicago are ad it certainly isn't THAT uncommon.
there has to be hundreds here simply working as nannies ,not sure what connections they had ,or the families hiring them had ,but it wouldn't be relevant.
anyway you spoke about it with her?
is her english indicative of working and traveling here before? what did she do?
these are things you know ,we are only speculating on minimum information.
 


 I do not understand the boards general paranoia.
at this point in time she hasn't done anything that a interested  RW with a current valid visa wouldn't do.

There is simply no reason to be paranoid ,at this time,
when you can offer an e-ticket and see what transpires..

You CERTAINLY do not need to give the credit card information the ticket was bought with ,
so how on earth could she get a refund on her end?


you will get  a lot of varied advice lol

mine?
 don't send money.
offer the e-ticket and see how she reacts , she'll be happy/excited.. or she won't and offersome weird alternative or excuse.

you'll have your answer without coming off as distrusting.

mostly,just  use common sense.

[jdaco70]

No, she did not ask me to buy the tickets, she said if it was easier for me, she could come to me instead. Of which, I asked if she could cover the expense of the ticket to get here. She said that she couldnt, so I explained to her that maybe I can pre-purchase a ticket online for her, instead of me flying to Kiev. Of course, she had no issues with this. Personally, it seems less risk for me to do this, than to actually fly out to kiev myself.

[Sculpto]

you should be able to buy a non-refundable eticket for her.  Just verify that you can buy her ticket and not travel with her. 

Is she going to stay in your house?

[Jumper]

i should add , i do find it odd  that she sent you copies of her passport and visa.

unless requested by you , for the process of buying the tickets ,,that's a strange one.
and normally not a good sign..
(and thinking about that bit makes me think the e-ticket idea will be balked at or turned down by her ,,but its no harm to toss it up there)

as far as less risk *here*?
in what way?
it isn't likely at all, that she would mug you in kiev? lol!!!
 

the biggest risk is falling for and marrying someone insincere , or simply not compatible ,
location you first meet isnt going to play much of a factor in that part.. ?

good luck

[jdaco70]

Yes, she will be staying with me in my house...but dont see much of what she can make way with....jewelry and whatnot can be put away safely. haha. I see tickets on expedia for $690 bucks, which is not a bad price and thinking of jumping on them. Non-Refundable.