Going to Russia soon and had some questions

[mies]

(and with a student visa she would have to do a 2 year home stay

true only for some of the J visas. The F student visa doesn't have such requirement.

[BillyB]

I can probably find someone to cosponsor but I was hoping it would be avoidable. I would make around $50k/year if I had worked non-stop but I just graduated college. I drive an 07 Corvette with a highly modified 01 Mustang in the driveway so I wouldn't think I am poverty status...

If I remember right, you must submit a few years worth of tax returns. Getting a cosponsor would be nice so that you have less risk in a k-1 being denied. If you are denied, you don't have to give up on your loved one. You can get a waiver. An immigration attorney can help you or write your congressman for help. They have personnel that deal with immigration issues.


I had a part time truck driver work for me 2-3 days a week. He brought over and married a Philippine woman and they lived in motor home. He basically had no assets since the motor home wasn't his. I don't know how he did it but if he could do it, anybody can.


About dentistry, there are dentists in the FSU that cater to Western people. Western people want good quality work on their teeth at a better price so there are clinics to meet that demand. The dentists are better trained and competent. Google dentist clinics in Tula. Hire a city guide to make some calls for you to find out if any dentist clinics have mostly out of country customers. Do your homework so you can make an educated decision on where you should go to take care of your teeth.

[mies]

Do your homework so you can make an educated decision on where you should go to take care of your teeth.

and how exactly will he make "an educated decision" about the quality of the dentist? The "rate a business/service" isn't very common in Russia. It's mostly word-of-mouth, and off-line.

[BillyB]

and how exactly will he make "an educated decision" about the quality of the dentist?

Some education is better than no education which is exactly what Blondeseeker has now pertaining to Tula's dental clinics. My wife knows about the poor dental work in Ukraine but she goes to a dentist that caters to mostly Western Europeans. Blondeseeker needs to spend some time to locate a person that knows something about Tula's dental clinics or locate a person in that town, hired or not, that sincerely wants to help him find a good clinic. I don't know how much money he has left but I get the feeling he doesn't want to spend another 15k and help his previous dentist retire early.


If I have any doctor doing major medical work on me, I'd want to know his experience and how many years he's been doing it. I'd even Google the clinic or hospital's reputation the doctor works in. Every doctor has a few first patients getting their on the job experience. I'm not going to be that patient.

[BlondeSeeker]

and how exactly will he make "an educated decision" about the quality of the dentist? The "rate a business/service" isn't very common in Russia. It's mostly word-of-mouth, and off-line.

Yeah. I was disappointed there is no Yelp :-( and few dentists are in Google's rating system.

[mies]

Yeah. I was disappointed there is no Yelp :-( and few dentists are in Google's rating system.

You cannot rely on  ads either. There was a huge scandal in Kiev some years ago. The "high-quality," super famous (very promptly due to ads around town and good marketing campaign) dental clinic which catered to westerners and ukrainians who wanted to receive "western-quality treatment" and boasted the "western-educated dentists" after successful first 1-3 years of work started receiving complaints from clients. And not just minor complaints. It turned out that the dentists there not only didn't have western degree in dentistry, they didn't even have reputable local degree, and weren't qualified for work they were doing. Many frustrated clients.

[Brillynt]

Even for spousal visas, it takes upwards of a year according to the timetables. Terrible to not see or hold your new bride for that long.

And that is why you get on a plane and visit her during that time. I can't imagine waiting that time and not seeing the person I was going to marry.

[ML]

And that is why you get on a plane and visit her during that time. I can't imagine waiting that time and not seeing the person I was going to marry.

I think it's spelled something like  M O N E Y.

[Brillynt]

I think it's spelled something like  M O N E Y.

Which it sounds like he does not have enough of.

[BillyB]

Yeah. I was disappointed there is no Yelp :-( and few dentists are in Google's rating system.

Most likely your flight to Tula will pass through Moscow or another major city. There is a market for dental tourism and here are a few clinics that cater to Americans and Europeans.
 
http://www.whatclinic.com/dentists/russia

[facetrock]

  Never used a Russian Dentist. I was in Thailand for a month last November and had eight veneers put on for a quarter of the price it costs here. My dentist here said it was primo work. I think half of Europe has there dental work done there. Many of the dentists there are American trained.

[Brianinaz]

Anyhow, the US immigration system is broken. For those that want to do it legally, it costs a terribly large amount of money, and takes a significant amount of time. Even for spousal visas, it takes upwards of a year according to the timetables. Terrible to not see or hold your new bride for that long.

I'm not sure where you're getting your information from but I would direct the OP to Visa Journey fro more information. It was just under 6 months for my wife (From Ukraine)
To the original poster. No disrespect meant but if you're thinking about making the 125% minimum requirement or getting a co-sponsor how in the world are you going to take care of a woman when you get her here? She won't be able to work for quite a while and you're living in or around "Silicon Valley". Not the cheapest place in the world to live. I imagine people living there making less than 100k are considered poverty stricken. You're young (I wish I was your age when I started) you might consider making some trips, meet some people, learn about the culture and language, just slow down and have some fun. Wait until you're more established before becoming responsible for another person. Just sayin....

[BlondeSeeker]

I'm not sure where you're getting your information from but I would direct the OP to Visa Journey fro more information. It was just under 6 months for my wife (From Ukraine)
To the original poster. No disrespect meant but if you're thinking about making the 125% minimum requirement or getting a co-sponsor how in the world are you going to take care of a woman when you get her here? She won't be able to work for quite a while and you're living in or around "Silicon Valley". Not the cheapest place in the world to live. I imagine people living there making less than 100k are considered poverty stricken. You're young (I wish I was your age when I started) you might consider making some trips, meet some people, learn about the culture and language, just slow down and have some fun. Wait until you're more established before becoming responsible for another person. Just sayin....

Not looking for fun. I think that most don't realize if you're 30 and have a kid then you'll be 51 when they turn 21. Personally, when it comes to having a family and how I see it happening... I'm going to sit there with the kid and be like "see that is why you need to learn your limits"... I will hold my tongue about old people having kids since I understand wanting to but 40+ and there is a good chance you won't see them become an adult. Now, being a frustrated young man that spends around $6-7k/year on dating, $10k at the bar trying to meet women, and any possession that I want, I own...

If I go to Russia and bring back this girl then I will accomplish several goals that are most important to me: I plan to knock her up ASAP and ideally the child is born in Russia so that it has Russian citizenship so it can visit her parents also without hassle/visa BS. It will have US citizenship from me. She will obviously be attractive but also looking to be a mother. (Mention kids to many attractive girls in the US and pull out your stopwatch... she will set a record with how fast she runs)

[BlondeSeeker]

Not looking for fun. I think that most don't realize if you're 30 and have a kid then you'll be 51 when they turn 21. Personally, when it comes to having a family and how I see it happening... I'm going to sit there with the kid and be like "see that is why you need to learn your limits"... I will hold my tongue about old people having kids since I understand wanting to but 40+ and there is a good chance you won't see them become an adult. Now, being a frustrated young man that spends around $6-7k/year on dating, $10k at the bar trying to meet women, and any possession that I want, I own...

If I go to Russia and bring back this girl then I will accomplish several goals that are most important to me: I plan to knock her up ASAP and ideally the child is born in Russia so that it has Russian citizenship so it can visit her parents also without hassle/visa BS. It will have US citizenship from me. She will obviously be attractive but also looking to be a mother. (Mention kids to many attractive girls in the US and pull out your stopwatch... she will set a record with how fast she runs)

Accidentally posted before finished typing... I look bad on paper but my finances are in very good order...

[lonedrake]

I plan to knock her up ASAP

  Well then....no need for condoms or anything on your first trip. Is she aware of this? What if she is on the pill?

[Russian_Bear]

Blondeseeker, Youngbuck, and others who are like both of you.. Can you choose other countries to have some funs? It is a rhetorical question, so don't be in a hurry to reply. After some topics and some males' thoughts and proposals to others, that I had read here, sometimes I feel some relief when reading some yellings like "She has scammed me!!" ( I mean girls who takes advantages of you, bringing you to expensive restaurants, shops etc ). You as well as others who come here just to have some fun. Our women are not Thailand prostitutes and when if you come here just with thoughts about funs, she - she is seeing in you her future partner ( I mean a marriage ), falling in love with you. Don't think, all you guys, that all our women just need some material things from you. Not at all. A lot of them just need your love and want to be loved, to have a happy family etc. It is not their guilt that there are much less of males here, in Ukraine, comparing with women quantity. To find a single good guy of his 40s or 50s age is almost impossible thing. But every normal woman dreams about family ( I don't mean those who you wouldn't need ). And you guys, you come here to have some funs. Some of you come here to different women, choosing the best of some for you. You come and then go back home ( or getting another woman ), leaving this one with her hope that you like her and that you will return. But you.. You just had some fun with her for one trip. Or some of you, having found some nice and pretty women, come to her again and again ( I have read about such cases ) and you can come for monthes, years, not  being in a hurry with a marriage. Why? - some of you think. Why do I have to take some responsibility for her? - you think as it is more convenient just to have such a woman who is as nice as you have never dreamed to find and get there, in the USA. I have read here such funny advices that some of you give to other members - "First you should see her family, her friends, her work etc". That's as funny as silly. Although women do it - they introduce you to their parents, to their friends. You and she visit a lot of places being where she lives. I don't know the way how it works in the USA, but here, when a woman brings his man to her parents for introducing to her parents, it normally means that she introduces her fiance. But you ( an abstract man ) come and come here, for the second time,... for fifth time, for sixth one, spending a nice time with her. Have you ever thought what a woman feels being asked by her parents, friends or even neighbours "Who is he?", "Are you going to marry? When?" etc. You never think about a woman, about how she lives then being " a target" for gossips. I have a daughter and I wouldn't wish her such a man, who just comes here for months or years and then simply disappears or who waits for the time when a woman says "You know, I don't see a future of our relationship and I want to stop it", that would be the best variant for you as it is not you who leave her, it was just her decision. Although then some of you will post here ( or on other forums ) "I spent time, money and she said Good-bye". What were you waiting for? A silly doll who will waits for years? If you meet such a one, you are a lucky guy then Maybe I have lost a line of my thoughts - that's hard to me to think in Russian, translate my thoughts, write them down ( Hard job for me ), but I think some of you have got my idea. If you want to have just some funs - go to Thailand for that. It is a joke, of course. I wanna say, if you come just to have funs, please, don't f..k a brain of nice women, making them fall in love with you as you can find a lot who will be pleased just to spend some funny time with you, giving you something and getting something from you Or if you have found a woman who, as you think, loves you and whom you like as well, don't f..k your brain for long. She will get tired to wait for and then.. "She scammed me!!!"  No! As Faux Pas had said one day - She also have a right to choose

[Russian_Bear]

Blondeseeker, maybe I had realized something wrong. Don't take what I had written before too close Those were just some thoughts after having read some topics and posts on RWD. Just some thoughts that came into my had and it addressed not just to you, but to other males who come here 

[Brillynt]

Blondeseeker, Youngbuck, and others who are like both of you.. Can you choose other countries to have some funs? It is a rhetorical question, so don't be in a hurry to reply. After some topics and some males' thoughts and proposals to others, that I had read here, sometimes I feel some relief when reading some yellings like "She has scammed me!!" ( I mean girls who takes advantages of you, bringing you to expensive restaurants, shops etc ). You as well as others who come here just to have some fun. Our women are not Thailand prostitutes and when if you come here just with thoughts about funs, she - she is seeing in you her future partner ( I mean a marriage ), falling in love with you. Don't think, all you guys, that all our women just need some material things from you. Not at all. A lot of them just need your love and want to be loved, to have a happy family etc. It is not their guilt that there are much less of males here, in Ukraine, comparing with women quantity. To find a single good guy of his 40s or 50s age is almost impossible thing. But every normal woman dreams about family ( I don't mean those who you wouldn't need ). And you guys, you come here to have some funs. Some of you come here to different women, choosing the best of some for you. You come and then go back home ( or getting another woman ), leaving this one with her hope that you like her and that you will return. But you.. You just had some fun with her for one trip. Or some of you, having found some nice and pretty women, come to her again and again ( I have read about such cases ) and you can come for monthes, years, not  being in a hurry with a marriage. Why? - some of you think. Why do I have to take some responsibility for her? - you think as it is more convenient just to have such a woman who is as nice as you have never dreamed to find and get there, in the USA. I have read here such funny advices that some of you give to other members - "First you should see her family, her friends, her work etc". That's as funny as silly. Although women do it - they introduce you to their parents, to their friends. You and she visit a lot of places being where she lives. I don't know the way how it works in the USA, but here, when a woman brings his man to her parents for introducing to her parents, it normally means that she introduces her fiance. But you ( an abstract man ) come and come here, for the second time,... for fifth time, for sixth one, spending a nice time with her. Have you ever thought what a woman feels being asked by her parents, friends or even neighbours "Who is he?", "Are you going to marry? When?" etc. You never think about a woman, about how she lives then being " a target" for gossips. I have a daughter and I wouldn't wish her such a man, who just comes here for months or years and then simply disappears or who waits for the time when a woman says "You know, I don't see a future of our relationship and I want to stop it", that would be the best variant for you as it is not you who leave her, it was just her decision. Although then some of you will post here ( or on other forums ) "I spent time, money and she said Good-bye". What were you waiting for? A silly doll who will waits for years? If you meet such a one, you are a lucky guy then Maybe I have lost a line of my thoughts - that's hard to me to think in Russian, translate my thoughts, write them down ( Hard job for me ), but I think some of you have got my idea. If you want to have just some funs - go to Thailand for that. It is a joke, of course. I wanna say, if you come just to have funs, please, don't f..k a brain of nice women, making them fall in love with you as you can find a lot who will be pleased just to spend some funny time with you, giving you something and getting something from you Or if you have found a woman who, as you think, loves you and whom you like as well, don't f..k your brain for long. She will get tired to wait for and then.. "She scammed me!!!"  No! As Faux Pas had said one day - She also have a right to choose

Russian Bear,

Very good thoughts and words. 
We foreign men should not play with the lives and emotions of good and honorable women.  I agree with you 100 percent.

[Danchik]

Not looking for fun. I think that most don't realize if you're 30 and have a kid then you'll be 51 when they turn 21. Personally, when it comes to having a family and how I see it happening... I'm going to sit there with the kid and be like "see that is why you need to learn your limits"... I will hold my tongue about old people having kids since I understand wanting to but 40+ and there is a good chance you won't see them become an adult. Now, being a frustrated young man that spends around $6-7k/year on dating, $10k at the bar trying to meet women, and any possession that I want, I own...

If I go to Russia and bring back this girl then I will accomplish several goals that are most important to me: I plan to knock her up ASAP and ideally the child is born in Russia so that it has Russian citizenship so it can visit her parents also without hassle/visa BS. It will have US citizenship from me. She will obviously be attractive but also looking to be a mother. (Mention kids to many attractive girls in the US and pull out your stopwatch... she will set a record with how fast she runs)

We have enough idiots in the world. Some people shouldn't procreate!

[Shadow]

I can understand the words of RussianBear when you go to the essence of the plan of BlondeSeeker.
1. Get dental work done cheap so the cost of the trip is covered
2. Knock up the girl so that the child is born before her K1 is approved

And his family is against the potential dangers of foreigners....

As for dental work, it varies. There are very good and cheap dentists, as well as expensive bad ones. Without speaking Russian your best chance is that the girl has connections in the medical world. That will be the best shortcut to find what you want, anything else is like using Vegas to hire a dentist.

[Russian_Bear]

I wonder, are you really so naive as you want to look like? 

A young NYU-educated Russian dentist who practices here gave us some insight to the perils of dentistry there - especially in smaller cities. Save your money. Chances are, any work done there will have to be repaired here.

That's funny! What had you expected him to say - "Yeah! Their dentists are better. Get there and keep us without any job here" Unfortunately, I also had dental problems. Believe me, our doctors are not worse than American ones. To say more, they are even better. I know what I am telling about. The only thing that makes your American doctors "better" are equipment in the clinics there. Keep it away and you will get a doctor who doesn't know even elementary things. I know as I have a friend, who is a doctor and who visited the USA about his work etc ( some conference and some visits to clinics). Give our doctors your equipments and yours will be nervously smoking aside ( such a saying here)  As for dental service and dental clinics here.. Of course, if you want to save money, looking for the cheapest clinic and a less paid dentist, you will need to repair it at home. But! If you visit a good clinic in some big cities ( especially if you are able to get some good advices from your friends there ), you will have no problems and you will save a lot of money.
 As for equipment in such clinics. I was chuckling.. Oh, no! I was laughing as a madman when reading about X-Ray   Mies, please, stop frightening people by your scary tales

....Some do have the Xray machines, but they are so old and outdated that the quality of the image is very poor, so poor that the dentist cannot say with certainty how many root canals a particular tooth has...

Which village have you visited for such an experience?   Although, I suppose I need to stop advertising our dentists as I have no profits from this and I believe that they ( dentists ) regret that other people have only 32 teeth, but not like a sharks. I don't like dentist.

[Shadow]

Which village have you visited for such an experience?  Although, I suppose I need to stop advertising our dentists as I have no profits from this and I believe that they ( dentists ) regret that other people have only 32 teeth, but not like a sharks. I don't like dentist.

I have given up trying to convince people that Russia and Ukraine are not similar to an African Desert where the magic bag of the shaman is considered medical equipment.

As for the dental work I will give my experiences in Belgium with MrsShadow.

During her second pregnancy she developed a cavity so we visited the local dentist. The filling she made fell out on the way home.

When it was safe to do so (and because she was getting a lot of pain) we found another dentist available. He keeps piranha's in his office...and did excellent work.

About 9 month later there was another problem and as the dentist who did a good job was not available for a week we visited another one. He looked at one tooth, prescribed pain killers and said it needed a surgeon.

The next week we decided to go to our 'regular' dentist, who looked and pulled a wisdom tooth, solving the problem.

Out of 3 dentists only 1 is considered capable of doing a good job, the others seem to make things worse instead of better.

[YoungBuck]

Russian bear,

Yesterday I called my Russian pen pal to wish her a Happy Easter. I guess they don't celebrate it as much in Russia and she's not the exception. It is evident that there is a difference in the level of religious observance, she believes in God, but isn't ceremoniously religious. Nevertheless, she wished me a Happy Easter too. She didn't lecture me on how religion is stupid, how it is outdated, or ignore me outright, like I am accustomed to in the US by girls my age. She's a smart and polite girl and I would be lucky to have her one day.

The only way to prevent the emotional abuse you speak of is by coaching all Russian girls to withhold sex; which I know won't be a popular idea among the guys. Anyhow, it is cheaper to get the local bar skanks or just plain old whores, than to fly to Russia to trick a doe-eyed girl into sex by promising marriage. I would worry more about the married men who go to Russia to hide their infidelities.

[Shadow]

Russian bear,

Yesterday I called my Russian pen pal to wish her a Happy Easter. I guess they don't celebrate it as much in Russia and she's not the exception. It is evident that there is a difference in the level of religious observance, she believes in God, but isn't ceremoniously religious. Nevertheless, she wished me a Happy Easter too. She didn't lecture me on how religion is stupid, how it is outdated, or ignore me outright, like I am accustomed to in the US by girls my age. She's a smart and polite girl and I would be lucky to have her one day.

The only way to prevent the emotional abuse you speak of is by coaching all Russian girls to withhold sex; which I know won't be a popular idea among the guys. Anyhow, it is cheaper to get the local bar skanks or just plain old whores, than to fly to Russia to trick a doe-eyed girl into sex by promising marriage. I would worry more about the married men who go to Russia to hide their infidelities.

What has wishing Happy Easter to do with religion ? 

[YoungBuck]

What has wishing Happy Easter to do with religion ? 

Funny guy!