Russian women that are already living in the u.s.? need advice

[Vasilisa]

Makes you wonder why after 7 years she doesn't already have citizenship.

I know plenty who don't have a citizenship after spending long years in the US, I know a Canadian who married an American woman 30 years ago and he doesn't have a citizenship but in his case I think  it has something to do with taxes as he is a successful businessman.

[LiveFromUkraine]

I know plenty who don't have a citizenship after spending long years in the US, I know a Canadian who married an American woman 30 years ago and he doesn't have a citizenship but in his case I think  it has something to do with taxes as he is a successful businessman.

Does the government look favorably to people who wait a long time to apply for citizenship.  For some reason, I was under the impression that it could look like it isn't something of importance and thus be turned down if one were to wait too long.

[Faux Pas]

Makes you wonder why after 7 years she doesn't already have citizenship.

Not really. I'm pretty sure one cannot apply until they have had a permanent GG for 3 years which usually takes at least 3 years to get. The first GG is temporary and expires in two years. The process before and after that temporary can get lengthy

[LiveFromUkraine]

Not really. I'm pretty sure one cannot apply until they have had a permanent GG for 3 years which usually takes at least 3 years to get. The first GG is temporary and expires in two years. The process before and after that temporary can get lengthy

I was assuming she did a direct consular filing and they were married in Ukraine since she said he was working there.  I could be wrong but if I am right the time table should be faster once she gets here.  Then again, maybe I am full of shat.  haha

[Faux Pas]

I was assuming she did a direct consular filing and they were married in Ukraine since she said he was working there.  I could be wrong but if I am right the time table should be faster once she gets here.  Then again, maybe I am full of shat.  haha

Maybe you are  j/k. Too much to guess with this lady and it doesn't matter anyway. My wife has been here almost 5 years and she is at least 3 years from being qualified to apply.

[Turboguy]

Maybe you are  j/k. Too much to guess with this lady and it doesn't matter anyway. My wife has been here almost 5 years and she is at least 3 years from being qualified to apply.

Your post made me a little curious as to why that is?   I guess with very long stays in her home country that could be the case but otherwise it sounds a bit like a mystery.


The requirement for Citizenship is to be a permanent resident for 5 years or to be a permanent resident for 3 years and married for those three years to one spouse.   Achieving citizenship seems to be a rather quick process that takes 4-6 months or less.  My wife has been eligible for a while but hasn't applied yet, that may happen fairly soon.

[Faux Pas]

Your post made me a little curious as to why that is?   I guess with very long stays in her home country that could be the case but otherwise it sounds a bit like a mystery.


The requirement for Citizenship is to be a permanent resident for 5 years or to be a permanent resident for 3 years and married for those three years to one spouse.   Achieving citizenship seems to be a rather quick process that takes 4-6 months or less.  My wife has been eligible for a while but hasn't applied yet, that may happen fairly soon.

You mean concerning my wife? For her, she lost one little seemingly insignificant piece of paper given to her by customs on her first entry on the K-1. IIRC, it was the I-94. I met her in Houston coming out of customs and we had to rush to catch our flight to Arkansas (barely making it) as they kept her 2.5 hours. It took 11 months to get that document replaced. It was the only document USCIS would accept as proof that she arrived when she did. After we finally got that seemingly insignificant document and because of it, I can't even remember all of the hoops we had to jump through just to get her 2 year GG. Losing that one document set her back 2 years in the process.

She is now on an expired 2 year GG albeit with a letter that says her 2-year card isn't expired while her status is in process. Bottom line, we've had nothing but problems, heartache and delay after delay with USCIS. I can see how people can be here 10+ years and not be able to apply for citizenship just because of the bureaucracy. Other than losing that one piece of paper we did everything right. The many delays which started with the K-1 application are on the side of the USCIS

[Ooooops]

  Achieving citizenship seems to be a rather quick process that takes 4-6 months or less. 

It all depends on the processing center.   I waited for 2 years in Texas for my application to go through and would wait even longer if we did not move overseas which made me qualify for the expedited procedure as a "corporate wife".   

[Ooooops]

IIRC, it was the I-94.

I-94 is not an "insignificant document", it is a major one.   

[Anotherkiwi]

Does the government look favorably to people who wait a long time to apply for citizenship.  For some reason, I was under the impression that it could look like it isn't something of importance and thus be turned down if one were to wait too long.

Not just in the USA - my father, who died last year, emigrated from England to New Zealand with his parents in 1951.  He never became a New Zealand citizen, being quite happy to travel on his British passport with a Returning Resident's visa.  However, thanks to him, I have dual citizenship.  This came in very handy when travelling to Ukraine, as New Zealanders and Australians are part of the underclass who still require visas to travel there.  With my British passport I was able to walk straight through the Boryspol immigration circus in about 15 minutes.

[ML]

. . . as New Zealanders and Australians are part of the underclass who still require visas to travel there.  With my British passport I was able to walk straight through the Boryspol immigration circus in about 15 minutes.

I don't understand.  The need or absence of need of visa when entering Ukraine does not affect your movement through Boryspol.

The visa is obtained before you leave your home country.
At Boryspol, they just look at your passport which may or may not have a visa in it, depending on which country you are coming from.

I was in Ukraine many times when USA citizens needed visa to enter, and later many times when we no longer needed visa.

Processing at entry point was the same in either situation.

[Anotherkiwi]

I don't understand.  The need or absence of need of visa when entering Ukraine does not affect your movement through Boryspol.

The visa is obtained before you leave your home country.
At Boryspol, they just look at your passport which may or may not have a visa in it, depending on which country you are coming from.

I was in Ukraine many times when USA citizens needed visa to enter, and later many times when we no longer needed visa.

Processing at entry point was the same in either situation.

What I meant was that there was no need for an immigration official to inspect a visa (and possibly find fault with it  ).  He simply looked at the passport (and me), stamped it and handed it back.

[Faux Pas]

I-94 is not an "insignificant document", it is a major one.

"seemingly" is a key word there Ooooops

[OlgaH]

Achieving citizenship seems to be a rather quick process that takes 4-6 months or less.  My wife has been eligible for a while but hasn't applied yet, that may happen fairly soon.

It was a very easy process for me that took 111 calendar days in total.

[Voyager36]

It was a very easy process for me that took 111 calendar days in total.

And how long after you first arrived in the US before you became a citizen? More than 111 days I suspect? 

[LiveFromUkraine]

Maybe you are  j/k.

Ha!  I thought that was a given.   


Interesting discussion, but as you said, the OP doesn't have to worry about being a mule since she will get her citizenship regardless. 

[LiveFromUkraine]

Not just in the USA - my father, who died last year, emigrated from England to New Zealand with his parents in 1951.  He never became a New Zealand citizen, being quite happy to travel on his British passport with a Returning Resident's visa.  However, thanks to him, I have dual citizenship.  This came in very handy when travelling to Ukraine, as New Zealanders and Australians are part of the underclass who still require visas to travel there.  With my British passport I was able to walk straight through the Boryspol immigration circus in about 15 minutes.

Nice, I would love a second passport myself. 

[OlgaH]

And how long after you first arrived in the US before you became a citizen? More than 111 days I suspect? 

Of course,  by the US law I had to wait at least for 3 years

"For at least 3 years during which time you have been, and continue to be, married to and living in a marriage relationship with your U.S. citizen husband or wife;"

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Resources/B3en.pdf

I came to the US in 2006 and in 2009 an immigration officer told I can apply for my naturalization and gave me all the necessary information, booklets and DVD for the process, but we were so busy with our private, business and social life so I was not really thinking about it until 2011. 

[Ooooops]

"seemingly" is a key word there Ooooops

Oh, I see...   

[Ooooops]

Of course,  by the US law I had to wait at least for 3 years

"For at least 3 years during which time you have been, and continue to be, married to and living in a marriage relationship with your U.S. citizen husband or wife;"

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Resources/B3en.pdf

Actually you can submit your N-400 after 2 years 9 months.   

[OlgaH]

Actually you can submit your N-400 after 2 years 9 months.   

Oh, yes, I recall the officer told me the same.  I could apply in August (after 18th) or better in September  2009. I remember she said "just wait for 30 days"   

[Anotherkiwi]

Nice, I would love a second passport myself.

Sorry to remain a bit  , but getting a Ukrainian visa is a real mission for any New Zealander, as the only diplomatic representative here is an honorary consul (who of course can't issue visas).  We (and Australians) have to send our passports and supporting documentation to Canberra for processing, and I was really not keen on the idea of my New Zealand passport going overseas without me  .  The total cost of the visa, including a special travel courier, is about $300-$350, and this gets you a one-time only visa.
 
For about $340 I was able to get a 10-year British passport, which allows me to enter Ukraine as many times as I like.  It also gets me anywhere in the EU without a problem, either for holiday or for work, so the cost-benefit analysis works out to be about 100 zillion to one in favour of the passport  .  Of course I'm lucky in this regard, as the great majority of people here don't have this option.  So far, however, there is a grand total of two stamps in the passport - in and out of Boryspil!

[Muzh]

Does the government look favorably to people who wait a long time to apply for citizenship.  For some reason, I was under the impression that it could look like it isn't something of importance and thus be turned down if one were to wait too long.

I have no clue.

As a matter of fact, I asked my wife if she wanted to become a US citizen. She said of course and when she could do it.

I told her: Oh, like about 3 years ago.

[2tallbill]

Hello,

I have been researching dating a russian woman for many years. A friend advised me to try and pursue someone who was already living in the U.S.
Recently, I was checking my matches on eharmony and I noticed a cute girl. I am 44, unemployed and kind of starting my life anew, btw.
Anywho, my age range for women that I am looking for is 30 to 44. This girl on eharmony is 33, so I took a chance and messaged her. Eventually, she responded and we have been chatting, emailing, talking on the phone and video skype. It turns out that she is from Ukraine, met an American guy who was working in her country, they married and relocated to the U.S. Well, the marriage didn't last long, but she got a job and an apartment and eventually got divorced. She told me she has a green card and has been living here for 7 years.

I have checked out her phone number, apartment and work situation. It all checks out. She told me that she has already applied for citizenship and a lawyer told her she would be approved. Here is the sticking point. I don't want someone who is only looking for citizenship. A friend of mine who married an Indian girl told me what he went through and he says there is no way that she can be a citizen, that it takes 10 years (she would have had to stay married for 10 consecutive years).
I am planning on driving some distance to meet her in person. I'm concerned that she is only looking for citizenship, even though she denies this. Plus, I am older, unemployed. I'm a decent looking guy.....................any advice?

All of my friends think she is real, but only looking for citizenship

Get a job, get smarter friends, quit testing her. If you like her, keep dating if not
don't. How do you think she managed all these years without you? She can
continue working through USCIS without your involvement stop worrying
about this, worry about getting a job.

[2tallbill]

Well, I'm just wondering why a cute (not hot) young girl would want a relationship. I used to have a great job and a lot of money. I will be starting a new career and should be doing well for myself pretty soon.
I never got any negative vibes from her. I contacted her, she has been aloof and wants to take it slow and easy. She isn't model quality looking, but I like her.
another question, i am staying in a hotel when I visit her. Would it be unusual if she asked me, after a couple of days, to stay with her? Once again, a lot of input from friends and family. I am not wanting sex right now, just hoping that she is real and honest

Why do people want relationships?

How can you not know if she is real?