am i about to be scammed or just paranoid ??

[mark H]

hi all , i`m new but have been reading for a long time now as aguest but thought now is the time to join.
your thoughts are welcome to this post please..
i`m 42 from Uk , my G/F is 36 from rostov , with a 6yo child . i have been over to hers , stayed at her flat , met her whole family , etc etc .. I have been talking / emails chatting for 7 months , she has never asked for any thing from me , when i stayed with her i offered  to buy her stuff but she refused everything other than everyday things ie food , etc etc .Now the relationship is at the point where we want to be together long term and planning to move her and her child here to the UK , for that she needs a fiancee visa and a settlement visa for her son , appox .. $1300 , .. ok i now she would never have that type of money so i said i would pay ( which is only right), then today she asks me if i could pay for a medical for her ($200) to make sure she is ok before living in a forgein country ( she has heard how bad the NHS is )
I have had all the usual scamming crap from young RW , and have read every scam web site going , and i have no reason what so ever to thing she would scam me ... but something is ringing alarm bells in my head or i am just worying over nothing and this is just a normal feeling and all you people have been through the same thing ?

I mean after 7 months , meeting her parents ,living with her in her own home etc etc speaking twice a day on the phone , i think she would have asked for money by now .... or is all just a long term scam .

mark

[BC]

markH,

You may be suffering from paranoia brought about from your presence here.

I got hit (albeit subtely) with contributing a headstone for the recently deceased grandma.  Having joined up with a RW related forum at pretty much the same instant it made me shake my head a bit..  4 years later I don't regret it.

I guess somewhere along the line you reach the point of 'in for a penny, in for a pound' but it's up to you to decide if that point has been reached based on your visits and interaction.

Planning on another visit anytime soon?  Rostov is a pretty nice city, my wife is from that area.  Maybe the medical can wait until then?

[Bruno]

Since you are making a fiancee visa, i think that you are already engaged... ready to marry her...

If 200$ for medical is too much, maybe you don't need to marry... real expense only begin now... and this for several years...

Few scammer allow a face to face meeting... very few scammer, i mean almost none, will allow you to meet her parents... it is good to be careful but don't become parano...

In your case, i will send 400$... ask a medical for her child too... When i have marry my first Russian wife, she was with a young daughter... During the coming in Belgium, her daughter have become very ill... result was 2 week of intensive care in hospital... since they was not yet register to the social security system, the hospital bill for the two week was around 7500 euro !!!

[Gator]

Mark,

Yes, you may have a scam taking place.  Why else would she put up with a such a tightass attitude (tightass in American English means cheap, reluctant to spend money).



Seriously, you either trust this woman or not.  If you do not trust her, then say goodbye, and stay with UK women.  Based on what you have written, your Rostov woman seems very sincere and I doubt you will find a less demanding Russian woman.

I do not know about the UK, but a fiancee visa to America requires an expensive medical exam.  And I have never known of a case in which the man did not pay all visa expenses.

I concur with Bruno.  Are you ready to assume the responsibility of caring for this woman and her little child?  She is giving up the psychological comfort of her known world and family and friends to come to a strange land and to depend entirely upon you. The amount of money you have spent so far is small compared to the cost of taking care of a family.

[mark H]

thanks for those replies ... yes we are ready to marry .. no medical is needed for the UK , and the money is no problem , its maybe the way it was asked for was lost in transalation ie send me money , not if you would mind !

[Leslie]

MarkH

You are from UK Correct? 

There is no medical requirement for a fiance visa to UK.  PERIOD.

You CANNOT just send you girlfriend money to get a fiance visa.  You need to sponsor the application.

Go to this website -

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1018721067257

You need to get a whole lot of documentary evidence to support the application and my personal advice is you need to be present for the interview at Moscow.

Under chairman Blair getting a fiance visa is not straightforward.  Unless the application is 100% correct it will be declined.  99% will not do! 

I would not send your girlfriend that sort of money.  You need to sort the visa application out yourself.

Oh and unless your girlfriend is RICH the NHS is way, way, better than the health services she could afford....

[BC]

thanks for those replies ... yes we are ready to marry .. no medical is needed for the UK , and the money is no problem , its maybe the way it was asked for was lost in transalation ie send me money , not if you would mind !

Under these circumstances, I could imagine your fiancee may have heard something about a requirement for medical exams for those going to th US (the amount she requested seems to 'jive').

I was surprised when my wife sent me the pictures for her visa application for Italy..  they included the 2/3 view?? pictures that would have been valid at that time for US immigration.

Maybe a little followup will clarify the issue.

If this is the case and you currently need to communicate via an interpreter, I think you should be made aware that you will likely have a difficult time ahead.  This incident is likely only the beginning....

[Albert]

Communicate more with Leslie and others from UK about this.  Each country is somewhat different.  But you need to take the lead about how to do it and not rely on her to figure it out from her end.  FSU women are notorious for listening to their girlfriends about most things rather than follow official procedures.  And girlfriends get many things mixed up, like mixing requirements for different countries, etc.

I doubt a scammer would invite you to spend time with her family, but I have never had any experiences with scammers despite having met with over 150 women from FSU.  It seems like Michelangelo did perhaps meet with relatives of a scammer, so check with him.  Maybe I am getting someone else's story confused here.

Is there an old saying that "you can't scam an honest man?"  Or is it, "you can't cheat an honest man?"  Anyway, I am always feeling bad that I haven't been involved with a scammer.  Would like to match wits, play some games, and maybe I could come away with something.

[Turboguy]

Being the person on RWD who has probably been scammed the most I can0say for sure you can be scammed by someone you have met and have met their family. I don't think she is scamming you though. Another thought is that she needs the money for something else, likely medical related, but does not want to talk abouy the real reason. I ran into a situation like that but dental with my former fiancee. I would send the money and think no more about it.

[Jet]

Sounds much more like she is getting bad information from her local friends than a scam. $200 is the EXACT amount she'd need for the medical exams for herself and her son if she were emigrating to the US. I went through this with my wife when she was still a fiancee living in Russia. She was getting all sorts of helpful advice from other local people that had no friggin' idea what they were talking about. I suggest that you read up on the complete process from Leslie's link, and talk with her about it, in plain terms.

[wiz]

MarkH

You are from UK Correct? 

There is no medical requirement for a fiance visa to UK.  PERIOD.

You CANNOT just send you girlfriend money to get a fiance visa.  You need to sponsor the application.

Go to this website -

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1018721067257

You need to get a whole lot of documentary evidence to support the application and my personal advice is you need to be present for the interview at Moscow.

Under chairman Blair getting a fiance visa is not straightforward.  Unless the application is 100% correct it will be declined.  99% will not do! 

I would not send your girlfriend that sort of money.  You need to sort the visa application out yourself.

Oh and unless your girlfriend is RICH the NHS is way, way, better than the health services she could afford....

I tottally agree with Lesley

I only have to add one thing to stop you getting paranoid.

Send her the $200 dollars...... it is only 100 pounds forGod sake........test her and it may save you much more or you get change when she arrived in UK.!
Russians think they have the best health care in the world...... keep her happy.

Our NHS is alot better, as you know.


Good luck mate
Yannis

I know a good travel agency in Moscow which can deliver all her tickets etc so you do not have to give cash money to her.

[wiz]

FSU women are notorious for listening to their girlfriends about most things rather than follow official procedures.  And girlfriends get many things mixed up, like mixing requirements for different countries, etc.

Albert

Absolutely right.......and I had a battle to convince Sofia to follow the rules.......you see the sister knew better than me but then finally she accepted and advised Sofia to follow my own advise!

Very difficult Job to make them follow the correct procedures.

[PeeWee]

$200.00 is not a lot of money, is it? I can spend $200.00 on a cigar and a day betting the ponies and have nothing to show for it by the end of the day. A total waste of money to be sure but I never thought that the owners of the race track tried to scam me. Send the money because the downside to it is that if you do not then you come off as being the tightwad of the century. Not good.

Peewee

[Bruno]

There is no medical requirement for a fiance visa to UK.  PERIOD.

http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/lawandpolicy/immigrationrules/part1

Medical
36. A person who intends to remain in the United Kingdom for more than 6 months should normally be referred to the Medical Inspector for examination. If he produces a medical certificate he should be advised to hand it to the Medical Inspector. Any person seeking entry who mentions health or medical treatment as a reason for his visit, or who appears not to be in good mental or physical health, should also be referred to the Medical Inspector; and the Immigration Officer has discretion, which should be exercised sparingly, to refer for examination in any other case.
37. Where the Medical Inspector advises that a person seeking entry is suffering from a specified disease or condition which may interfere with his ability to support himself or his dependants, the Immigration Officer should take account of this, in conjunction with other factors, in deciding whether to admit that person. The Immigration Officer should also take account of the Medical Inspector's assessment of the likely course of treatment in deciding whether a person seeking entry for private medical treatment has sufficient means at his disposal.
38. A returning resident should not be refused leave to enter or have existing leave to enter or remain cancelled on medical grounds. But where a person would be refused leave to enter or have existing leave to enter or remain cancelled on medical grounds if he were not a returning resident or in any case where it is decided on compassionate grounds not to exercise the power to refuse leave to enter or to cancel existing leave to enter or remain, or in any other case where the Medical Inspector so recommends, the Immigration Officer should give the person concerned a notice requiring him to report to the Medical Officer of Environmental Health designated by the Medical Inspector with a view to further examination and any necessary treatment.
39. The Entry Clearance Officer has the same discretion as an Immigration Officer to refer applicants for entry clearance for medical examination and the same principles will apply to the decision whether or not to issue an entry clearance.

From the Mark post, i have understand that the lady wish check if she is in good health...

You CANNOT just send you girlfriend money to get a fiance visa.  You need to sponsor the application.

Maybe the $1300 are not only for the visa ( since it is a enough low fee )... but airfare to UK for two Russian ( mother and child ) can be too much high for the women... Several women are not able to pay the trip to UK... Specialy mother alone with child...

I simply think that Mark need to give more information first... for what is the 1300$ ? Difficult to say if she is a scammer with so little info...

[mark H]

thanks for your thoughts etc ..to try and answer some of your coments .. translation is hers not by anyone else .. her english is good but sometimes uses the wrong words , nd she said she wanted to make sure she was well before leaving her home country , her friend went to USA and she is always comparing the UK visa requirements to that one for the US , so like some said .. trust is needed by me I know money is not going to buy a visa we have got to gether all the documents required and only have ben waiting for the letter from her ex by allow her son to leave russia
The money is for the 2 visa`s appox $600 each (£285 plus £20 checking fee)and $200 for medial ..so  with what i`ve read and thought about its a case of what the heck in for a penny in for a pound ....

[William3rd]

I think the question is not one of medical examinations for entry to the country but her desire to have a physical for her and her son performed prior to leaving just to see if there are any medical conditions. Am I right?

If that is the case, then what is the going rate for a physical over there?

THE US required medical exam only checks for a few items as controlled by stature.

[Bruno]

The money is for the 2 visa`s appox $600 each (£285 plus £20 checking fee)....

Tarif at http://www.britishembassy.gov.uk/servlet/Front?pagename=OpenMarket/Xcelerate/ShowPage&c=Page&cid=1089124811993

Marriage/Fiancé(e)/Civil Partnership : 260.00£ - 13520 Rubble
Child for Settlement : 260.00£ - 13520 Rubble
Charges are non-refundable and may only be paid in cash Roubles only.  Credit cards and other forms of payment are not accepted.

UK Visa Application Centres will charge a handling fee for each application.  The fee will be Rbl 900.

The near visa center for your lady is located at :
Rostov-on-Don UK VAC
Office 91
Pushkinskaya Street, 104/32
Rostov-on-Don

[Leslie]

Bruno,

There are times when your internet scans are useful.  THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THEY ARE NOT.

The fiance visa is issued for a maximum stay of 6 months.  There is no requirement for a medical.  I know this because I have been through the whole process myself.

A medical may be required for issue of a spouse visa.  However if you have arrived in UK on a fiance visa and registered with a general practitioner after marriage You will get a complete medical for free...

MarkH,

You have to get your sponsorship evidence together.  Read the evidence requirements on the UK VISA web site very carefully. The actual rules change on a regular basis.  You will need a letter from your employer. At least 3 months bank statements.  Proof that you own (or long term rent) a home with sufficient space/rooms to
accomodate your girlfriend and child etc.  The basic rule is there must be no liklehood of claim on public funds.
Of course you must PROVE that you have a real relationship.  How many trips have you made to see your girlfriend?  Total number of days together etc.  I know of a couple of cases (IN REAL LIFE!)  where a guy who had only met his girlfriend on a single trip was turned down for a fiance visa on the grounds of insufficient evidence of an existing relationship..


You must involve yourself in the visa application process.  Do not rush into this.  The sums of money involved now are trifling.  When they arrive the hard work starts and the costs escalate very rapidly.

[Gator]

Hi Mark,

You are getting some good advice here, especially from Leslie, a smart man who has taken this route before you.

Leslie picked up on a point that I missed.  I assumed that you were managing the visa process.  It now appears that you sent your fiancée the money and she is obtaining the visa.  This is confusing to me because in America the man would initiate the paperwork. 

Is your woman using an agency?  She may be the most honest person in the world; however, she may unknowingly choose a bad agency (and there are plenty of those in Russia).  How are you monitoring if not managing the process?  A bad agency does not mean that they would commit fraud, but they could botch some paper.

[mark H]

we have all the required  documents , she is presenting the apllication in rostov and paying the extra 900 rouble to have all the documents checked, before it is sent up to moscow .

[mark H]

well i sent the $1500, yesterday by good old western union , and she texted to say she got it and is putting visa application in at rostov , later this week

[GregfromGa]

Just curious how many times you have been to see this woman? I'll never understand why guys on that side of the Atlantic doesnt spend more time with there girlfriends. If you have visited her less than 5 times then you deerved to get scammed.

[Bruno]

If you have visited her less than 5 times then you deerved to get scammed.

Why ? Not everybody is a old retired men who can allow himself to stay several month in FSU country... and some of the RW need to work for earn money, they have not at disposal several months of free time to share with guys who visit...

For my first wife ( RW ), i have visit her two time ( one time 4 week, one time 6 week )... and she have visit me two time ( each time 2 week )... it make a total of 3.5 month together on one year... but only 4 visit... Are you sure that one visit more have spare me to be scammed by a GCG?

The only method for not be scammed is education... and same so, it is never sure at 100%...

[Michelangelo]

well i sent the $1500, yesterday by good old western union , and she texted to say she got it and is putting visa application in at rostov , later this week

Yikes--you have broken a golden rule by sending her this money.  Several guys here at RWD have done what you did, only to crash and burn.  The girls did not "get" the visa or never showed up. One poor guy went to Paris to meet the girl and simply sat in a hotel room for a week when she did not show.

I wish you the best, but I'm not optimistic you'll ever see her.

Please keep us posted on your situation.

[Bruno]

Yikes--you have broken a golden rule by sending her this money.  Several guys here at RWD have done what you did, only to crash and burn.  The girls did not "get" the visa or never showed up. One poor guy went to Paris to meet the girl and simply sat in a hotel room for a week when she did not show.

I wish you the best, but I'm not optimistic you'll ever see her.

Please keep us posted on your situation.

I really don't understand the problem... Mark is busy with the fiance visa... The RW need to pay 13520 rbl for herself and the same amount for her child... add 900 rbl for the processing fee...

Now, Mark have only two choice since the Embassy ( in these case, a visa center ) ask the money in rbl, in cash ( no credit card accepted or other form of payment accepted ) :
- of he trust his fiancee and send her the needed money
- he don't trust her, organise a trip to Rostov ( expense for the round trip, expense for the hotel stay if the RW is not able to host him ( by example life with parents ), if he can organize this during one week-end then he don't loose some work days )... and of course he pay himself the price of visa+fee in Rouble in the visa center... good way for double the expense...

When someone start a fiancee visa, it is to late for become parano and think scammer... the homework need to be make BEFORE any engagment... If Mark have not make his homework and he is scammed, it is only the just reward...