Hello!

[purpletib]

Well, I suppose I should introduce myself since I haven't yet.  My name is Zack, and I am of Lithuanian Heritage, but was born and raised in West Michigan.  My great grandfather moved here i believe in 1919 (can't remember off the top of my head).  Anyway, I've been interested in the FSU for a long time and have always been allured by the women (my first experience was right out of boot camp 11 years ago). 

I'm 28, so I'm rather young in this venture.  Considering I was 23 when I first started contemplating this, I guess it isn't so bad.  I am by no means wealthy, but currently run my own business and will be finishing a degree soon after going back to school from a layoff a few years ago from a good paying job back when I planned on starting this process.  I plan on following the WMVM method, and hope that I can pull off my first trip around Thanksgiving, but most likely it will be Spring.  I'd rather not travel there in the Winter.  I have a friend in Kiev that I'll be meeting up with, so hopefully he can help me out on my first trip.  Also, if I wait until Spring it will give me a chance to attempt at learning basic Russian.

I've already gained a wealth of info from this site, it has been a great help.  I'm still a little lost on all the paperwork and what steps follow what, and also a little amazed that this could be a 4-5 year venture.  At least it helps to take a little of the 25k+ sticker shock off of this venture by spreading it over multiple years.  If all goes well, by the time I'm ready for the K-1 step my income should be fine for supporting a RW/UW between my business and career.  I have lots of big plans for my life, and I feel that this would be the adventure and challenge of a lifetime.  I'm looking forward to following some of my dreams! 

[Bruno]

... and also a little amazed that this could be a 4-5 year venture.  At least it helps to take a little of the 25k+ sticker shock off of this venture by spreading it over multiple years.

hey... the 25k+ sticker is not a buy price... like in old USSR, it is the renting price for 5 year  :hairraising:

You need to realise that expense will not stop once you are married... when i have married my ex-RW, the two year AFTER the marriage was the more expensive.... only the divorce after 5 year was something really cheap : 52 euro...

Let count cloth expense, school expense, maybe a car.... add a yearly trip for visit family... etc... it never stop... but who care about how much it cost when the "product" is first quality... 

[purpletib]

^^^ Ha ha I guess that is a better way of interpreting it.  Yes, I can imagine that after the wedding is when the cost becomes higher.  But it wouldn't seem to me to be a lot different than all the money we can spend on an AW.  Plus, what's wrong with taking a vacation to the FSU every year?  I'd be interested in hearing a little about why you divorced.  I'd like to hear some personal stories of both failure and success, and maybe I can avoid some of the dangers than can lead to failure.  Anyone that would like to share please send me a message.  Thanks!

[Bruno]

Yes, I can imagine that after the wedding is when the cost becomes higher.  But it wouldn't seem to me to be a lot different than all the money we can spend on an AW.

Hmmm... a AW don't need to go back to school for learn language and new job... A AW can hire a truck for transport at low price her clothes, book, video, home furniture, etc... a RW have only the bagage that she take on the plane... A AW eat local food, a RW will seek some food from home ( begin write down local address of shop with Russian food )... and you can add more difference....

Plus, what's wrong with taking a vacation to the FSU every year?

Nothing wrong, specially for me since it is next door... but imagine the price tag of so trip in 5 year... you, your wife and your 3 child ...

I'd be interested in hearing a little about why you divorced.

She have ask the divorce.... around 1/2 after she have receive her green card.... some of the thing was already planned by her before the marriage !!!

[MaxxumUSA]

Purple...

I would say the cost of $25k is an optional way to go about this.  I would say that I personally am spending a fair amount of money on this venture but I did not need to spend so much.  Three round trip flights to see her is about $6K.  Cost of living there is about the same as where I live - so I do not add the expense money but if I did it would be about 1K per visit.

I met my fiancee this year and I have visited her 3 times already.  Our K-1 is approved and her Interview to get her visa is soon.  I hired a lawyer for the K-1 so that was a bit of cash but you certainly don't need one unless you have certain criteria that I had.

So - other expenses coming that are NECESSARY are her flight and the cost of our marriage.  So - maybe another $6k if we are conservative.  Personally I will be flying over to escort her back to the USA with me - but this is not necessary for the process.

So - to get her over here I would say you can do that for much less than $25K.  Having said that - it is a good idea to have extra money in this venture - in fact it is good to have extra with any woman.

Good luck in your search.

[Lily]

a little amazed that this could be a 4-5 year venture.  

Do you mean 4-5 years long or only some 4-5 years?  It may take you 1,5 years but it may well take you 15-20 + years. 

A AW eat local food, a RW will seek some food from home ( begin write down local address of shop with Russian food )...

I am surprized to hear this. Believe that an ordinary RW will use the food that is available at her new place  and may even not want to hear about kvas or buckweat.

[Voyageur]

The biggest cost is after your woman gets to the West. This has been confirmed many times by those who have gone through the process. I very much understand the attempt at budgeting.  But I don't even know how I could begin to propose a budget outline for your life after her arrival in the US. Each situation is different. But - IMHO - this process shouldn't be attempted by those on a shoestring.

[Turboguy]

I think every case is so unique that there are no guidelines.   I do agree the biggest costs are likely to be after she arrives.   I can think of cases like SOC's where his beautiful lady went out and spent $ 800.00 on linens immediately on her arrival and that was just the tip of the iceburg.    Others can be happy with a few new clothes but those are rare.   

I see people who get a civil ceremony and spend a hundred or two.   The last wedding I attended probably cost at least a quarter million, maybe lots more.   I see some people who spend a fortune on a first class honeymoon.   I still can't get over the fact that my son for his honeymoon on his last wedding (AW) went to the firehall and played bingo.

Voyager is right.  It is not something for someone operating on a shoestring.

[purpletib]

Well, considering I spent the past five years supporting my ex-girlfriend, who got pregnant by another guy, I am prepared to support a girl from the FSU.  I don't feel a need to spend a lot of money on a wedding, I'd be comfortable with a small one considering my first marriage that I went all out on lasted three years, of which she had an affair on our five month anniversary.  Both of us were young an foolish out of high school, oh well.

MaxxumUSA, that is amazing that the process has moved so quickly for you.  It just seems that most here seem to go at this for 3-5 years before she is here in the US with a greencard in hand.  Congrats on doing this so cost effectively.  If I can, I will 

[Bruno]

I am surprized to hear this. Believe that an ordinary RW will use the food that is available at her new place  and may even not want to hear about kvas or buckweat.

Not always... mine have seek about her "kefir"... some type of bad milk ... but once find it, she have always keep a little part for start herself a new "culture"...

About a other type of "culture"... i was lucky to have find a russian store with russian book, russian video, russian newspaper... and since she was believer, russian icone...

About believer, i have find a orthodox church... and i was very welcome there with my own idea... standing up several hour the Sunday is not something i was liking... so i was usualy too late... but the "speak and thee" after the office was great...

About expense BEFORE marriage... seem that MaxxumUSA make good... in my ase, a round trip is around 400 euro... go to 700 euro now in the high season !!!... but for the stay, i use only 4 time the medium income... i mean around 1000$ month... housing included... of course, i have never use a agency, never use a interpreter, etc... always make all by myself... it make the process cheap but ask a lot of time for the organisation... and if i good remember, you lack of time !!!

For the K1.... you are not lucky... just see that the fee for all paperwork in US have rise... Again one question... lawer or not...

My advice... know yourself.... what you can and not what you wish... at the level of money and time ( the two main factor )... only once you know your limit, you can draw your plan and put a budget on it...

Turbo who have post in these topic have seek during 10 year the perfect bride... in these time periode, several trip, a unlucky K1... sure that he have spend a lot of money and time... but ask him if the final reward compensate the time and money ! In any case, don't hurry.... take you time to find the right partner for YOU... i think that now, you wish a lifetime partner who is able to make you happy and not like previously, a few year of hell... hurry and cheap is only matching hapiness in a very few case !!!

[SANDRO43]

Not always... mine have seek about her "kefir"... some type of bad milk ... but once find it, she have always keep a little part for start herself a new "culture"...

Sounds like yoghurt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kefir). Or is it stronger ?

[Wayne B]

Zack, welcome! No need to hurry your life along....do your home work, do your first trip as a Zack trip...lady or not....A vacation for you....learning about a new country and the people there......eat, drink and make new friends.....but, don't forget to look around....all countries have sites to see...I will leave it at that 

[purpletib]

That is more or less my plans.  I will write a few ladies, then if all goes well in November I will fly to Ukraine and meet up with a friend from my car forum, and meet a few of the ladies I'll be writing to.  From there, we will see how it goes.  Hopefully my second trip can be in the spring.  After a couple trips, hopefully I'll be able to take a trip with one of my new "friends" to Lithuania and visit the capital that my ancestor founded.

[ScottinCrimea]

Sandro, kefir is more like a sweet buttermilk than yogurt.

[Lily]

Kefir is not sweet as no sugar is put in there. A yoghurt is similar but mostly sugared, and as a rule it is more expensive than kefir, especially if it is put in some fancy packages.

I drink local kefir because it is healthy and unexpensive 

[DKMM]

Purple,
I was 28 when I started this last year, so I know how you feel.  Some of the things you read here don't apply to guys our age so take some of what you read with a grain of salt.  You'll be able to find a girl on a budget no problem.  A girl that wants a guy under 30 isn't the type looking for money.  I went on 5 trips and if everything goes well I will cross the 25k mark right about when we say "I do" this winter.  There is no need to act rich there, if you are smart and gainfully employed you already have a leg up on her other options and you are young enough to work at building a family.

Do you want a family sometime soon?  That will be a very important thing to discuss with potential wives.  If you do talk a lot about wanting kids you will be chased down like you've never known.

Also, you can go for ladies 19 to 27 no problem.  You will find the most response from girls about to graduate Uni, which ranges from 21-23.

Good luck!

[ScottinCrimea]

I'm quite a bit beyond your age and if I knew then what I know now I would be doing the same as you, searching for a woman in the FSU.  DKMM is right, most of us are a lot older and maybe wiser in dating AW but RW are a whole different ball game.  We are all rookies at this game.  You have a lot of advantages over many of us.  The key is to use those advantages while listening very carefully to the advice of those who have gone before you, no matter what age.  Most important is to choose a woman, not because she fits into your age range, but because she fits into the stage in life where you currently find yourself.  If you want a sex partner, ignore everything and go for the pretty face. There are plenty out there.  If you want a wife for life, look at all the variables and pay attention to what those who have "been there, done that" have to say.

[purpletib]

I kind of plan on writing girls that I find quite attractive, but haven't had much response from other guys.  I don't like the super model type.  I'm more of the cute adorable girl next door type.  I'm also a huge sucker for red-heads and curly hair, so most of the girls I will write to in the beginning here fit that criteria, lol.  I'm glad I'm getting an "early start" on this, and yes I do love kids and want to start a family soon.  For a while I even considered raising my ex's kid with her (I got really atached to her, hell I gave her her name.  Thought she was mine, until she came out black, lol).  In the end I decided she just put me through too much crap and ended it for good.  I'm not one to move on easily.  I'd rather try and make things work.  Too bad my wife and ex weren't on the same level.  And as I've read in other posts, topics, and dealt with in personal experience, I'm sick of all the over feminized sexualized AM that don't think twice about cheating on a man, and the bar is no good place to find a quality girl.  Most of those have been taken up and are married right out of HS/college it seems.

[DKMM]

Yeah stay away from the 10's bro.  Leave them for the rich russians to waste their money on.

Wise to move on from the ex situation as your RW will want you to.  You are right, the decent girls here are gone over 25.  Even younger than that all the good ones over 20 are in a relationship so unless you have good timing or are willing to drop your standards it just won't work here.  I say forget AW, they are a complete waste of time.  Although I do admit they were a lot of fun...

[Voyageur]

purpletib,

One thing that you may want to be aware of, is that some men look in the FSU for wives have  a "white knight" syndrome. We have seen this a few times on this board and on other boards.  This man seems to want to "protect and save" a woman from the "hardships" of life in her country. Some men are programmed to be protectors of the women - especially wives - in their life, to provide security and reliability.  And you may find yourself forgiving allot of questionable behavior, that normally - in more familiar circumstances you would never allow.  I mention this only in passing because of your relationship with your ex and her child. And in your age group, women in their 20s will be available to you and this age group - in my opinion - is still rather immature and can play games that older women have outgrown.

You must harden yourself and look for someone who really wants you for you. If you are too much of the "white knight", you can be taken advantage of quite easily over there.  Don't ignore that "little" voice inside of you.  Believe me, I only give you this advise as a result of my own failed, ('way) past experiences.  Good luck!

[SANDRO43]

Kefir is not sweet as no sugar is put in there. A yoghurt is similar but mostly sugared, and as a rule it is more expensive than kefir, especially if it is put in some fancy packages.

Sandro, kefir is more like a sweet buttermilk than yogurt.

Thank you both. However Lily, IIRC yoghurt can also be home-made following a similar procedure, therefore the quantity of sugar in the non-commercial product can be tailored to personal taste. I had always shunned yoghurt until I had the opportunity of tasting it fresh in Turkey: slightly acidic, and I HAD to add some sugar, but it got me addicted .

[purpletib]

Purple,
I was 28 when I started this last year, so I know how you feel.  Some of the things you read here don't apply to guys our age so take some of what you read with a grain of salt.  You'll be able to find a girl on a budget no problem.  A girl that wants a guy under 30 isn't the type looking for money.  I went on 5 trips and if everything goes well I will cross the 25k mark right about when we say "I do" this winter.  There is no need to act rich there, if you are smart and gainfully employed you already have a leg up on her other options and you are young enough to work at building a family.

Do you want a family sometime soon?  That will be a very important thing to discuss with potential wives.  If you do talk a lot about wanting kids you will be chased down like you've never known.

Also, you can go for ladies 19 to 27 no problem.  You will find the most response from girls about to graduate Uni, which ranges from 21-23.

Good luck!

So you went on 5 trips in a little over a year?  Wow.  Arew yo getting married over there?  Doesn't it take two years before you can apply for a K-1 and have her come here to get married?  Just curious how you got things rolling so fast.

[catzenmouse]

Doesn't it take two years before you can apply for a K-1 and have her come here to get married?

If it is your first K1, you can be in the FSU for 1 hour, meet the woman in person, fly home, start the K1.

Ain't what I would call smart but it can be done.

[purpletib]

Crazy.  I guess I have more reading to do on all the legalities.

[MaxxumUSA]

Doesn't it take two years before you can apply for a K-1 and have her come here to get married?

Purple -

For the K-1 fiancee visa procedure - You need to prove that you have met in person WITHIN two years.  Not for 2 full years since you met.

My Elena thought the same thing for some reason.

- Dave