Russian girlfriend wants me to send money for her first trip to UK

[CDW]

Thanks for all your information and yes I plan on visiting her in St Petersberg.

If she refuses you to visit her, then you already know she isn't serious

[Patagonie]

Thanks for all your information and yes I plan on visiting her in St Petersberg.

Many problems and headaches solved if you do this.
Don't forget to schedule a backup, which is easy to do St Pete, if your time spent in this city is more than 3 days on the ground.

[Patagonie]

If she refuses you to visit her, then you already know she isn't serious

Correct,
if you take note of a sudden drop of interest....
Increase the number of backups and get the phone number of one or two goods agencies in St Pete.

[BillyB]

Hello,
I am very new to these forums so please be gentle!
Thanks
Neil.

 
 Welcome to the forum Neil! Good news! We are gentle! We use lubrication on our boot before asking newbies to bend over!
 

I have offered to see her but she was insistent on coming to visit me which is why it's gone on for so long now.

The bad news is that I think she isn't "into" you. If she really wanted to see you, she would've accept your offer long ago and not wait 2 years. What are you waiting for? You should have been the "MAN" and make the decision to go in the first few months or say "goodbye". Lots of time wasted me thinks.
 

Simply because of the fact she's did not accept your offer to visit her, I would not accept her request of money. I understand you are under pressure to make something happen with this woman since you invested so much time but more than any, this is the time to think with the big head.
 

[alex330]

We are friends with a RW who had the man she was visiting in the UK deposit funds into her bank account to get a tourist VISA. She went to visit him, things did not work out and she returned the funds. She did this for a tourist VISA into the US as well.

I would agree with the guys to go visit her first though. Would solve a multitude of potential issues.

[naigalina]

It depends on what type of visa she's applying for. Is she going as a tourist or a visitor? Does she have any history of travel to European countries or other place? Does she have a full time job to provide for her living? You need to know all those things before you even consider applying for British visa.

If she is traveling there as a tourist, then she needs to provide hotel reservation for the number of days spent in the UK, proof of means for travel (bank account info for the last 3 months, traveler's checks, etc.), and flight reservation for RT. Even if you send her the money, it will not be enough for the consulate office. She has to show that she has had the money in her account for over three months.

If she's applying for visitor's visa, and stating in her application that she is visiting you, then you will need to send an official invitation, and a letter of sponsorship; and you will need to provide supporting documentation showing that you are capable of providing for her during her stay.
Here is the link to more information. Please read, research before you decide to send even one GBP.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/countries/russian-federation/applying/?langname=UK%20English

But if she already applied for visitor's visa, then she doesn't need any other supporting documents/money/bank accounts, unless the consulate office requests more supporting information.

The main thing to consider would be: does she have extended history of travel, stable well paid job in Russia, and enough reasons for her to come back to Russia. If she has clean or almost clean passport, and no good job reference paper- I give 90% that she will not receive her visa.

My advice: don't send any money until you meet in person, you travel there, and you see who she is, how she lives, etc.

[Shadow]

You live 3 hours of a direct flight away and in 2 years you never managed to take the plane and visit her ? Even if she does not return it, she deserves the money as payment for wasted time. Not even a high rate per hour I would guess...

[jone]

Personally -

If I didn't have the urge to go see someone after the first month, then I just blew her off.  If she didn't want me to visit her after the second or third conversation, I blew her off.  There are a myriad of reasons why a relationship will fail.  You've mentioned at least two of them.  1.) Did not wish for you to meet her in her home country.  2.)  Wants you to send money for whatever reason.

There are SO many women out there in the FSUW pool who would like to meet a good WM that to 'invest' yourself in one without clear signals is foolish.

Have your money ready to buy a ticket.  Find someone new that you've just begun talking to.  And go see her.  This one is a wasted effort.  For you and for her. 

Women NEVER look back.  They also don't respect men that can't make decisions. 

You, sir, are being played for a fool.

[Doll]

Hello,

I am very new to these forums so please be gentle! I have spent hours searching but not being able to find out definite facts I thought I would give this a go. Basically I have known a girl from St Petersberg who wants to come here and visit me. We have known each other for nearly 2y now and she has the money for a flight and visa but says she cannot travel because the UK authorities will require proof of some financial support. She has applied for tourist visa for 30 days to stay here and has said the authorities will need to know she has the necessary 55 Euros per day to stay here which totals altogether at 1650 Euros. She has nearly 700 Euros but has asked me to send the rest which will be returned once she is here. I wasn't aware of this type of rule and wondered if anyone can tell me if this is indeed the case.

Any advice is greatful.

Thanks
Neil.

So, she has not get the visa yet?
Why don't you call http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/contact/
and ask?

[neilh1703]

I have looked on the site but there is no information on there on how to contact them. The Contact Us button keeps bringing up same page and you go around in circles.

[Daveman]

Neil,


How old is the lady?  How often have you spoken at skype?  How many hours per week?  How/where did you meet online?  Long correspondence prior to meeting is rare but a few have done such...


It is on the unusual side of the median that a woman would decline your visit...  Instead of sending money, you may want to opt for the matching set of fake flowers. 

[neilh1703]

She is 29 years old. I have offered to visit here but she has been insistent on coming to me for the first meeting. We speak on Skype 3-4 times per week and send emails on a daily basis 1-2 per day.

[Doll]

I have looked on the site but there is no information on there on how to contact them. The Contact Us button keeps bringing up same page and you go around in circles.

Call! Pick up the phone and call.

[Kunstkammer]

Call! Pick up the phone and call.

Just an aside, have you ever tried to call any of these places?  It is an exercise in futility most if not all of the time.  Regardless all his questions have been answered.

[Doll]

I'd better call the airport people who know the rule they apply to the visitors. They know for sure.

[Doll]

Just an aside, have you ever tried to call any of these places?  It is an exercise in futility most if not all of the time.  Regardless all his questions have been answered.

I did- it is pain the the a$$ but is definitely worth 1600 euro.
Why I know- I was looking for some important infor about crossing the board (airport) and only the officer in the aiport gave me a very clear answer.

[Kunstkammer]

She is 29 years old. I have offered to visit here but she has been insistent on coming to me for the first meeting. We speak on Skype 3-4 times per week and send emails on a daily basis 1-2 per day.

Oh oh oh! Do me next! What district of the city does she live in? What is her ф.и.о.?  What is her opinion on Anti-Ice-cycle lasers? 

[GQBlues]

...You had to ask the internet if you should trust a person.  That in itself gives you your answer.

Perfect!





The message on the video is *Get to a better state*. Fly to St Petersburg and spend time with her. First. For both your sakes. If there's a reason to continue with the relationship - then everything after that should be elementary.

[naigalina]

I have offered to visit here but she has been insistent on coming to me for the first meeting. We speak on Skype 3-4 times per week and send emails on a daily basis 1-2 per day.

I see a red flag right away. If she doesn't want you to visit her in her home country, most likely she is not interested in actually meeting you. And she might be playing some games.

[Kunstkammer]

I did- it is pain the the a$$ but is definitely worth 1600 euro.
Why I know- I was looking for some importanr infor about crossing the board (airport) and only the officer in ths aiport gave me a very clear answer.

Calling directly to the dude on the ground at the airport is different than trying to call to talk to a bureaucrat to say "Hey this girl wants to visit me, do you need this for a visa?"

[CDW]

She is 29 years old. I have offered to visit here but she has been insistent on coming to me for the first meeting. We speak on Skype 3-4 times per week and send emails on a daily basis 1-2 per day.

It is a classic scammer!  Even if she isn't a scammer, the real question is WHY?   Is she hiding something?  She only wants to travel to UK ??!!

[BillyB]

 

We speak on Skype 3-4 times per week and send emails on a daily basis 1-2 per day.

Bottom line is she is NOT your girlfriend, she is NOT your wife. I won't call her a scammer but at best she is at most a cyber friend. You two have not done enough in real life to establish trust to be sending money to someone you never met. Things may turn out well but the odds are against you. There are less riskier ways to find love.
 

I see a red flag right away. If she doesn't want you to visit her in her home country, most likely she is not interested in actually meeting you. And she might be playing some games.

Even if she wasn't playing games, if she really had the HOTS for him, she would want him to come over February, 2011.

[Kunstkammer]

It is a classic scammer!  Even if she isn't a scammer, the real question is WHY?   Is she hiding something?  She only wants to travel to UK ??!!

Or maybe not.  There are a million different reasons for any of that.  It not always negative.  I mean you could be right, but you could just as easily be wrong. 


Obviously don't give her any money, but just don't assume she has negative intentions because somebody on the internet that has less than 3 paragraphs about your individual situation sway your opinion.  Only you know the whole story Neil.

[Kunstkammer]

 
Bottom line is she is NOT your girlfriend, she is NOT your wife. I won't call her a scammer but at best she is at most a cyber friend. You two have not done enough in real life to establish trust to be sending money to someone you never met. Things may turn out well but the odds are against you. There are less riskier ways to find love.
 

Quoted for emphasis

[ML]

I have offered to visit here but she has been insistent on coming to me for the first meeting.

This means she has something to hide . . . like a boyfriend or husband.