Russian K-1 timing and process

[Goombah]

Hi all.  I'm gathering everything together to file my K-1 for my Omsk, Russia, fiancee.

I'll be going through the Nebraska Service Center, which is amazingly only about 2 months behind right now.  I'm comfortable with the K-1 filing process, but am curious about timing and other steps.

For instance: Omsk is a 3 hour flight from Moscow, where she wishes to do her Interview.  Once she completes her Interview, how long will it take her to get her Visa, and will they send it to Omsk or could she pick it up in Moscow?  Note that there are NO Federal Express offices in Omsk.  The only Express mail service we have found in town is EMS (www.russianpost.ru) who has pretty steep prices (1280 rubles, about $47) for a packet of ~20 sheets of paper.

Can someout outline the steps she will need to take after Nebraska is done?  I understand this for Ukraine, but suspect Russia is a little different.

Thanks,

Kevin

[BC]

Wow Goombah.. Congrats!..

Didn't know you proposed.. did I miss something?:?

[ConnerVT]

The US consulate in Moscow only does business with DHL to deliver visas to Russian nationals.  She will be required to prepay for a DHL package, and bring this with her to the interview.

DHL offices in Moscow are quite accustomed to this, and you may make arrangements with DHL (when paying for the shipment) to hold the package at their office in Moscow for her to pick up.

[Turboguy]

DHL may or may not have an office there but I would be about 99.9% certain they will be able to deliver.   I think Conner's suggestion of having it sent to the DHL office in Moscow for you to pick up would be the smart way to go.  That way you can likely have it the day after the intervew.   That is my plan when and if that day arrises.  (I am sure it will just the waiting is frustrating)   You might be able to find more information by visiting DHL's web site.   I have been on it and found the address of their office in N. Novgorod which is what I was looking for.

[Goombah]

Pre-engaged?  She is wearing a pre-engagement ring, we have agreed to file the K-1 paperwork and meet this summer to confirm our feelings.  At least that was the plan prior to meeting.  Now we just want to be with each other as much as possible - there is little doubt about our feelings.

Until she comes to the USA and lives here a little while, I'm not comfortable saying we are really engaged, but the distinction is pretty vague.

Kevin

[BC]

Pre-engaged?  
Until she comes to the USA and lives here a little while, I'm not comfortable saying we are really engaged, but the distinction is pretty vague.

Kevin

And on the other hand you do feel comfortable singning an affidavit for the K1 stating that you are engaged and intend to marry once she arrives?

She's selling her apartment, and packing her bags hopefully for the last time and you are not 'comfortable'... hmm..

That 90 day 'little while' in my experience would have never been enough. The tough part comes long afterwards.

Not jabbing at you for kicks and grins but tinted spectacles don't work here..

[Bruce]

Goombah, sugest you look before you leap ie. slow down partner.  Whats the rush?   

[Goombah]

Absolutely comfortable signing the document.  She already has.  My caution with her is for her benefit - I wanted her to understand that I would support her decission to return to Russia if she felt she could not live in USA.

Kevin

[Goombah]

ps.  Have looked, have tasted, have felt, have lip-locked, and everything else locked - and am very, very, pleased.  Its not a question of "why the rush?" but "why delay?".

Kevin

[BC]

Absolutely comfortable signing the document.  She already has.  My caution with her is for her benefit - I wanted her to understand that I would support her decission to return to Russia if she felt she could not live in USA.

Kevin

Is you love so great that you would be willing to go back to RU with her if she doesn't like the US?

Yes.. a loaded question.

[Goombah]

I don't think I could handle living in Omsk, mostly for political reasons, but I'd consider Ukraine.  

Biggest constraint would be alimony and child support - the courts are not going to look kindly on me abandoning my job and income.  If not for that, I still have enough net worth that if I cashed out, I could live in Ukraine reasonably well for the rest of my life (say at 3X the average income of a Ukrainian).  Thats presuming interest paid offsets inflation.

Hmmm, just ran an estimate presuming I retired at the end of next July (several months after we determined she could NOT live here, presuming a 6 month processing window).  My pension would pay me $1100/month - without having to touch other assets.  Thats enough to live on there if I lived Ukrainian style.  (Pension was double that, but ex got half  - actaully, she has plenty to cover the kids even if I was a bastard and ran and hide in Ukraine and stopped child support/alimony, but I'd be better off getting myself fired, be out of work for awhile, and get the courts to reduce my payments to something realistic).

Yeah, I've thought about it...

Kevin

[jb]

BC wrote:

Is you love so great that you would be willing to go back to RU with her if she doesn't like the US?
Yes.. a loaded question.

Absolutely a loaded question, the trick question a guy must ask is, "what if"... What if you decided to move to her country?  Would she still be as interested in marriage if she HAD to stay in the FSU.  Maybe there is a true test of love in there somewhere.  Men should not discount the allure of the West when it comes to selection time for these women.  They may choose you, but many of you will have to ask the hard question, did she choose me for all the right reasons, or was I simply a ticket to ride?

BC, you do ask hard questions...

[Goombah]

Well... according to her, and her mother, the only reason she is considering moving to the USA is because thats where I live.  I have no reason to believe otherwise.

Kevin

[jb]

Good answer.

[Turboguy]

Is you love so great that you would be willing to go back to RU with her if she doesn't like the US?
Yes.. a loaded question.

Absolutely a loaded question, the trick question a guy must ask is, "what if"... What if you decided to move to her country? Would she still be as interested in marriage if she HAD to stay in the FSU. Maybe there is a true test of love in there somewhere. Men should not discount the allure of the West when it comes to selection time for these women. They may choose you, but many of you will have to ask the hard question, did she choose me for all the right reasons, or was I simply a ticket to ride?

BC, you do ask hard questions...[/quote]
The biggest problem I have with my fiancee is that she really does not want to come to the USA.   She really wishes I would come to Russia and we could be together there.    I have at least a tiny concern that she might sabatoge the interview. 

Fiancee visas have a pretty high approval rate but we have discussed what we would do if she could not get a Visa and the plan is that I will move to Russia.   If it comes to that I would but I have to admit I sure hope the visa gets approved.   Russia is a nice place to visit but ..........................    Of course if it was the only way. 

 

 

[OhioGuyRob]

To ASSUME you can know anyone well enough shy of living with them for an extended period of time is even greater folly.  Rushing into marriage without calculated consideration is the WORST possible move anyone can make

[Goombah]

Received electronic notification that they mailed an RFE yesterday.  Oh well... at least someone has opened the file.

Kevin

[catzenmouse]

Kevin,

 To your original question. It is DHL and they do deliver to Omsk. My Elena is from Omsk and the visa was there in about 4 days after her interview.

 She will miss Omsk and her family A LOT! So don't be surprised by this or if she gets depressed/homesick. It is extremely different here than what she is used to and the first six to eight months or so will be very trying on both of you. Make sure she can call when she wants to and that she has access to internet. Broadband would be best. Elena likes to watch the Russian TV channels online and it is cheaper overall than the dish packages (at least here in VA).

 Best of luck and congradulations! After she arrives she is more than welcome to call if she'd like to talk to a hometown girl.

Ken

[Goombah]

Thanks Ken.

The calling-card number is right by my phone - she will be able to call home anytime she likes - I just have to keep the card full of credits.

Her mother is also active on e-mail, so I suspect she will write many a letter too.

I do have broadband, but she has stated that she really isn't interested in watching things like Russian TV (or going to local Russian events).  She is bringing a few Russian DVDs with her, but her stated intent is to focus on learning English and turning my house into a home.

Kevin (wondering what the RFE will ask for...)

[catzenmouse]

Thanks Ken.

The calling-card number is right by my phone - she will be able to call home anytime she likes - I just have to keep the card full of credits.

Her mother is also active on e-mail, so I suspect she will write many a letter too.

I do have broadband, but she has stated that she really isn't interested in watching things like Russian TV (or going to local Russian events). She is bringing a few Russian DVDs with her, but her stated intent is to focus on learning English and turning my house into a home.

Kevin (wondering what the RFE will ask for...)

Kevin,

 Elena was also focused on the English etc. but did start to miss the language and culture. Is your DVD player multi-format? We've just got a cheap one right now that does not play the Russian format (I think it's PAL) but Elena can watch them on the computer so we haven't worried about upgrading too much. If she (or you) wants me to I'll send you the URL's for the Russian radio and TV channels.

 We'll hear arguments from others on this but I think we both know that Siberian girls are the best!

Ken

 

[Goombah]

Yeah, its multi-function:  Philips DVP642 if memory serves, $59.99 mail order from Circuit City (plus ~$10 taxes and shipping). You can find it for more and have it guarenteed to be unlocked.  I'm told "unlocking" consist of opening the drive door, then typing "7 8 9 OK 0" into the remote (basically setting the region code to "0" which means "unlocked").

Kevin

[Goombah]

Received the paper notification of my RFE today.  Only the US  Government can be this picky...  Under "Previous marriages" for Evia, we mistakenly wrote "N/A" for Spouses Name instead of "None"!!!!

I'll take the corrected form to the post office tomorrow morning.

Kevin *sighing heavily with relief"

[Photo Guy]

Do you simply correct the same form, or do you have to do
an entire new one? Do you mail it back to a specific clerk or department? When was your 1-129f received by them?  Doug

[Goombah]

They sent a "doomsday" cover letter (explaining my options to not respond, how the evidence was insufficent - all heavy and depressing), a non-boilerplate specific letter telling me the error of my ways, and asking me to fill in "None" or names - and specifing that "N/A" or "0" were NOT acceptable answers.  If my answer was not "None", then I needed to include evidence of a legal divorce for her.

They also included a return envelope and highly suggested I use it (it had a bar-coded case number inside).  I did - wrapped in a US Mail Priority package.

Thats basically it:  two sheet shoved back into an envelope they provided (they addressed it) and mailed back.

Kevin

[Bruce]

Bummer - but should not hold you up for long!