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Author Topic: Hi from South Dakota  (Read 4725 times)

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Offline jk43124

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Hi from South Dakota
« on: August 08, 2013, 12:56:46 PM »
Hello.  My name is Joe.  I have been talking with ladies from Russia, Ukraine and other Former Soviet countries.  I speak Russian fairly well so this helps me quite a bit.  The lady that I am talking to now is from Omsk and I want to go visit her.  I can't get away from work for several months now because I have no vacation time so I have invited her to come see me here.  She is planning to try for a visitor visa.  I have read a lot about visas and I feel like she has a good chance of getting one.  She has a good job and a young son at home.  her mother is also terminally ill so this will be a short trip.  Any adivice on how to make the visa go through smoothly?  I read that it can be done within a few weeks if all goes well.   

Offline Larry1

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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #1 on: August 08, 2013, 01:24:19 PM »
Hi Joe. Welcome to the forum. 

Your ability to speak Russian fairly well expands your dating pool considerably.  But as for your question, I've known some FSUW who were able to get tourist visas to come to the US, but I've known far more who were denied tourist visas.  It helps if she has some things that will demonstrate that she will likely return to Russia, such as owning a home in Russia and having a good job there.  One would think that leaving her young son at home would constitute good evidence that she intends to return, but I have a friend whose girlfriend applied for a tourist visa and would have been leaving her very young daughter behind, in the care of her grandmother I think, and her visa application was denied.

One tip is to never let it slip that she will be meeting a guy here (you).  Good luck, and let us know if she gets the visa.

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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #2 on: August 08, 2013, 02:05:21 PM »
Hey Joe, welcome to RWD.

How old is she? Have you checked the criteria and does she meet most of it? Previous travel abroad. It's not slam dunk as it was just a few years ago that she couldn't get a tourist visa but, they are still stringent on the requirements being met

Offline jk43124

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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2013, 02:56:12 PM »
thanks for the responses.  She is 29 and I know she has been to Turkey but I am not sure about other places.  I keep forgetting to ask her.  I will tonight when we talk.  I went to Ukraine a few years ago to meet a 38 yr old woman.  She owned her own nice house and had a real nice car.  I flew into Donetsk in the winter time and with all the delays in other countries, mainly USA I was 12 hours late or more.  It was kind of a disaster from there.  She had her teenage son with her and we stayed in a rented flat for a few hours and then drove to Zaparozhiya.  It took us well over an hour to figure out how to get out of town because of all the road closures.  I was exhausted and tried to sleep a little when I got to my hotel which she helped me pick out after looking at several.  that night I went to dinner at her brothers house and that was all nice but went back to my hotel a lone and ended up going to some clubs that night.  It started going down hill the next day after I went to her house for dinner and met her friend.  I kept slamming her car door too hard and she kept getting upset with me.  I did not do it on purpose nor did I shut the door any harder than I do everytime I shut a door in the us.  anyway it just seemed like she was lecturing me and almost yelling at me.  I cut the deal short with her. 

Offline ML

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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2013, 04:10:22 PM »
If you have no time to get away from your job; then how are you going to accommodate a guest who comes your way?
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Offline tfcrew

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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2013, 07:55:29 PM »
  She is planning to try for a visitor visa.  I have read a lot about visas and I feel like she has a good chance of getting one.   
:welcome: Expect it to take awhile & then have to  try again.
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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #6 on: August 08, 2013, 09:54:12 PM »
:welcome: Expect it to take awhile & then have to  try again.

Indeed. In fact, the prospects are not good. She really needs some Western travel in her passport, owns property and has family ties in Russia for a Yeoman's chance. 29, I assumed she's a looker, it likely won't bode well. It will cost her several hundred to try. There is a possibility but, it is slim. You would be better served to save her expense of trying and go there yourself. I understand you have no TOWP to bank but, maybe go without vacation time. It has happened before, a woman showed up in the U.S. but trust here, it is very rare.

Offline jk43124

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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #7 on: August 08, 2013, 10:28:46 PM »
She just told me that she made some calls and that she was told that she will need an invitation from me. I have read several things that said this is a bad idea and would cause suspicion.

Offline Anotherkiwi

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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2013, 03:40:48 AM »
 :welcome:  to the madhouse!  I'm glad you can speak Russian, because most men on here don't - you will have a head start.  However...
 
...She is 29 and I know she has been to Turkey but I am not sure about other places...I went to Ukraine a few years ago to meet a 38 yr old woman.  She owned her own nice house and had a real nice car.

Let's say "a few" means five or so (can't be too far off), so your first prospect is now at least 42, maybe 45, and your latest target is 13-16 years younger than that.  If you're an "average" Western male in this game, I'm assuming that you are 50+, maybe even 55 or 60, so why on earth are you wasting your time with a 29 year old?  Of course there are exceptions which prove the rule, including a lovely married couple on this forum, but just about everyone (including them!) says that such an age gap is normally a disaster waiting to happen.
 
Whatever the outcome with this woman, I wish you the best of luck in your endeavours.
 

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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #9 on: August 09, 2013, 05:36:37 AM »
 :welcome: Joe


 I think South Dakota is a great place to live. What part of south Dakota are you from?
 
 What is your age? Rather than have endless speculation :wallbash:

Offline jk43124

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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #10 on: August 09, 2013, 06:13:06 AM »
I am 36. I don't think that is too big of an age difference.  I studied Russian intensely for a year many years ago and I have tried to keep it up but it is almost impossible in south Dakota. So I decided to talk to Russian women online and maybe find one for a wife so I can practice the language every day. Obviously I want a Russian wife for other reasons as well.

Offline pokerintherear

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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #11 on: August 09, 2013, 06:29:05 AM »
She just told me that she made some calls and that she was told that she will need an invitation from me.

This is a myth. I don't know where this misinformation comes from? But you hear it all the time with woman who are asked or trying to travel to USA on tourist Visa.

Maybe some of the woman members from Ukraine/Russia can explain this. I think I have heard this from 5 different woman in the past. Where is this coming from? Travel agencies?

The application for a tourist visa is sent electronically. You cannot attach letters or invitations to the application form. Maybe at interview but I highly doubt they ask unless it is something beside tourism.

Offline Wayne

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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #12 on: August 09, 2013, 07:21:18 AM »
No invitation letter. No mention of you at all.

She needs to have: money in bank account
able to pay for her own trip
close family members left behind in Russia
good paying job to return to
external passport good for at least 6 months from time of trip
own property in Russia
etc.

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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #13 on: August 09, 2013, 09:19:07 AM »
This is a myth. I don't know where this misinformation comes from? But you hear it all the time with woman who are asked or trying to travel to USA on tourist Visa.

Maybe some of the woman members from Ukraine/Russia can explain this. I think I have heard this from 5 different woman in the past. Where is this coming from? Travel agencies?

The application for a tourist visa is sent electronically. You cannot attach letters or invitations to the application form. Maybe at interview but I highly doubt they ask unless it is something beside tourism.

FWIW, A couple of years ago, a RW friend of my wife asked me to do an invitation letter. She wanted to come to the US to visit her daughter (who was out of status on an overstay). I researched it and could find not much at all. I didn't think it would help her. This woman had traveled to the West quite often, had been to the US before. I told her I thought she could get one without any problem without an invitation. She was adamant she had to have one so I wrote up and sent it to her. In just a few weeks she got a 3 year tourist visa and has made a couple of trips on it to date. I can't explain it

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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #14 on: August 09, 2013, 09:58:04 AM »
FWIW, A couple of years ago, a RW friend of my wife asked me to do an invitation letter. She wanted to come to the US to visit her daughter (who was out of status on an overstay). I researched it and could find not much at all. I didn't think it would help her. This woman had traveled to the West quite often, had been to the US before. I told her I thought she could get one without any problem without an invitation. She was adamant she had to have one so I wrote up and sent it to her. In just a few weeks she got a 3 year tourist visa and has made a couple of trips on it to date. I can't explain it

Yes, I hear you. Especially the adamant part. I have also did much research as you. The USCIS website on Visa's does not mention any type of invitation letter being required for tourism. Maybe for some type of employment or medical treatment a letter from official agency is required.

I'm very intrigued where the ladies are getting the information. Certainly not from the US embassy's website. They actually have a bullet point list of requirements to apply and not one mentions a invitation letter from US citizen.

Your situation? Did she say they read it at the interview? Maybe a travel agency wants it for some odd reason to help fill out the application? My opinion is a 3rd party is telling they need the invitation? For reasons unknown?



Offline GQBlues

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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #15 on: August 09, 2013, 10:49:27 AM »
The invitation letters are not required 'documents' for issuance of tourist visas to foreigners wishing to visit the US.

I would speculate however that it may assist in the reviewer's determination especially to applicant/s who may be threading that fine line of being granted a visa or not. Certainly it won't hurt to have one.

I sent both the Embassy and my folks a letter of invitation when they all sought for their 'first' tourist visas. Approval rate, 100%. For my folks, it was written in a personal form. While for the Embassy, all pertinent information about the folks, my relationship with them, the purpose of their visit, my personal and contact information, and lastly, the assumption of full responsibility for their welfare during their stay here in the US.

Methinks this had been done numerous times and had likely yielded positive results to many, and thus, word of mouth spread and likely credited its effectiveness (whether or not it was in fact the reason of their approval).

Better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
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Offline Chicagoguy

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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #16 on: August 09, 2013, 11:31:32 AM »
My wife's daughter was about 30 when she first wanted to come here. No invitation letter and no big job. No big money, no car and just a rented flat. She had been to Turkey and Egypt but so had half of Russia. She was and is single. Only story was to see her mother. Wanted 3 mo. visa and they gave her 3 year.
Only embassy has visa's so don't pay anybody for help. Maybe ask around your acquaintances who might have other stories. Or just go and try. They can only say nyet. But have your international passport already in hand first.

Offline jk43124

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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #17 on: August 09, 2013, 11:47:44 AM »
Thanks for a the imput.  I am still very confused and don't know if I should write the letter or not.  I will ask her where she got the information but she said it is from several sources. 

Offline Anotherkiwi

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Re: Hi from South Dakota
« Reply #18 on: August 09, 2013, 10:29:52 PM »
I am 36. I don't think that is too big of an age difference.  I studied Russian intensely for a year many years ago and I have tried to keep it up but it is almost impossible in south Dakota. So I decided to talk to Russian women online and maybe find one for a wife so I can practice the language every day. Obviously I want a Russian wife for other reasons as well.

OK, so I was way wrong!  However, you've created another first...the first person I've seen admit on here that they went on a trip to visit an older woman!  :clapping:
 
The seven-year difference between you and your latest correspondent should be little enough for both of you to ignore it.  And, as I said before, good luck!

 

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