Turboguy's K1 Ordeal

[Bruce]

Any updates on the difficulties Turboguy is / was having with his girls K-1 visa interview in Moscow?

[Bruno]

Any updates on the difficulties Turboguy is / was having with his girls K-1 visa interview in Moscow?

Nothing... normally, he is now in the city of his "fiance" to ready the baggage for her coming USA... We are in the black hole... i hope that all wil be right for him... it is not a refusal, only a supllement of information... hope is always possible...

Seriously guys, you need to push your gouverment to make more easy procedure, allow personal visa ( 3 month, maximum 6 ) for russian people... it is long time that the cold war is finish...

Ukraine allow US people to visit without visa... why not a little move and make tourist visa or personel visa more easy... really, in so case, i am happy to be European...

 

[Shadow]

Reading the other forum I have reason to fear something may be wrong. But as far as real news is concerned it seems to be all quiet.

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. 

 

 
[/quote]

I have been following Turbos delima over on VJ and I wish him all the best. But was shocking to me was to read that he has a thought that she might actually sabatage the interview so he would have to move over there, WOW! That sure is a revelation. That coupled with what Iveta reported sure does seem fishy. Now I still hope things work out for them, really I do, but this has given me a little more hope because if she did do this on purpose I won't feel so worried about my girl passing the interview.

Oh I sure hope Turbos girl did not do what he himself suggested and blew it on purpose. I mean her reasoning may be sound, blow the interview then he will have to come live in Russia, but this kind of thing usually does not stay a secret for ever. And as for myself I would never be able to commit myself wholly to some one that would ever put into motion such a deceptive maneuver. Basically it would be over. "

Once you start down the path of the dark side forever will it control your destiny, young Turbo!" Be carful my friend and God I hope you are wrong about this.

Doug

[BC]

Doug,

where is this VJ list/forum?

[edit] never mind.. figured it out.

[Goombah]

http://www.visajourney.com

[Photo Guy]

What is the latest news from TG? I guess he's waiting in her home town now?

[BC]

nee nee nee ner nee nee nee ner..

twilight zone.

[Son of Clyde]

This situation is awful.

I wish Turbo the best, we both filed at the same time.

Turbo was one or two weeks ahead of me.

I have had contact with him and can attest he is an extremely nice guy who does not deserve this bs. 

 

[Turboguy]

Hi Everyone,

I just got back to the usa an hour ago and have not been to bed for 48 or more (a real bed anyway.    I think voyager did a great job of reporting things.   I will do an overview here but I am very tired so I may miss something.  I will fill in anything I can.

I went to Moscow to be with her.  You can not attend the interview with them but I waited ouside.   As near as I can tell out of the dozen or so fiancee visas, I was the only one there with his gal.   If there were any other fiancees there they were either under the age of 12 or over the age of 80. 

Luda had been worried about the interview.  I tought her a new phrase in American slang in the few days I spent with her prior to the interview.  "Piece of Cake"   I was trying to reassure her.   Well, it did not turn out to be a piece of cake.  That is for sure.

I will mention this for the benefit of anyone who has an interview coming up.   The worst advice I got, the advice that may have cost us the visa, and I don't remember if it was here or visajourney but I had been talking about questions that may get asked in an interview and someone said "whatever you do don't grill your gal with all the possible questions and get her so nervous that she is not relaxed.   Just let her answer on her own".     Well, I had printed out a list of possible questions and gave them to her on my previous visit and counted on her asking me anything she did not know.   She never did ask me anything about them.

Luda was number 6 on July 26th.   There were a couple of gals who were very nice and one guy who was very nasty.   She was the only one that got the guy.   He asked her if she spoke English.  She responded in English that she knew a little but was very nervous and would like to speak in Russian.  He said that would be fine.  They could speak in Russian if she wanted however if she did want to speak in Russian he would not give her the visa.    As far as his nationality she took him to be Indian however someone at VJ commented that if you look back over all the people from Russia who had problems they were all with that guy who may be Mexican or Indian. 

They asked how many times I was married.  She responed correctly one.  They asked how many kids I had and she responed correctly two.   He asked their names and she did not know.   I had shown her photos of them but we never talked about their names.    He asked where I live in the USA and she told him the name of my town.  He said no, that is not what I want.  I want his full mailing address with the street and with the zip code.   She did not know.   She had never written to me anyway.

I thought I had the relationship issue covered pretty good.  I had visited her in January.  I had visited her in March and April.  I had visited her in May.  I had visited her in July/August.   I had the origional tickets and boarding passes of my visit to her.   He said they ment nothing.   Just because I went to N. Novgorod 4 times did not mean I went to see her.  I could have been going there for anything.   I also had 4 photos of us together from each trip except the one I had just arrived on.   Some were obviously winter and some were obviously warm weather.   They were both in Moscow and N. Novgorod.    I had a reciept for flowers I sent to her for Valentines Day and another for Womans day.   Most of our communication is with her sending me text messages on her cell phone and me answering her on the internet.   We have sent 2650 of these messages and many days we are communicating hourly.    I sent enough of these and copies of the index pages to show the frequecy of our communicaton and the total of the messages we had sent.   I had everything nicley prepaired and orgainzed.   I could not see how anyone could look at all that and not see a realtionship.

He gave her a blue slip which is basically a reqest for additional proof.   They wanted things that proved a relationship.  phone bills, letters, e-mails.    I went to an internet cafe and printed out 80 more of our e-mail/text messages.  I had 12-15 with her at the interview.   Luda had some post cards I had sent from Vegas and from Pittsburgh with her.   I thought they were good becuase they were postmarked and definately came through the mail.  We took the e-mails and the post cards back to the embassy that afternoon.   The blue slip they gave was 100% in Russian.   Therefore I had no idea what it said.    Luda said it said to take it to the north side of the embassy.   We asked about 6 different Embassy guards who kept sending us down the hill a block or two from where the interview was.   I gave them about 2 days to look at it and called.   They said we had failed to respond and were in a .221 denial for failure to respond.    Here what happed was that the embassy guards sent us to the wrong place.   Of course the info never got to where it was supposed to go.  Supposidly they finally found it and said we were denied.   That the new information was the excact same info we had at the interview.  (There was nothing that was the same)

They are allowing me one more shot to submit more information or at least that is my undersanding.   I am then to call back in 72 hours after I submit the other info and they will have a final answer for us. 

The one gal made the comment about Luda's answer to the quesion of did she love me having hesitation.  Luda says she was never asked that question.   Luda can get an attitude at times and probably did not handle the interview as well as she could have.   I do not think she was trying to deliberatly sabotoge it. 

I am not getting into this relationship with Luda expecting a Stepford wife.   Luda can be a real handful.   She gets her share of strange thoughts and she has a head harder than any rock you will ever find.   I think there are a lot of guys who could not handle being in a relationship with her.   I am extreamly patient and it does not phase me at all.   I sorta like the challenge.  

Our relationship was rocky after the interview.   We broke up a few times, got back together than towards the end we broke up for good.   It was over.  We were going our seperate ways, no ifs ands or buts.   She slept on the couch in the other room and we did not speak for about 18 hours.   When we did speak we were back together in minutes. 

[Bruno]

Administration can be a hell... for my first marriage, i have try to know everything before the marriage in Russia... 3 times, i have visit the foreign office in Brussels... 3 time, i have receive different information... result, when i have go in Russia, for the marriage, i was with almost 2 kg of document... after marriage, several of these document was not needed but i have know problem with her birth certificate... Administration have not understand why she have a russian birth certificat because she was birth in Ukraine... they have not understand that in these time, Ukraine was russia...

See the example from Gombad for the RFE... was different between "0", or "nihil", or "none"... but some of the people working in administration are real a**hole... if you have two field for write a number, "3" is not valid, you need write "03"... sometime, they seem to be more stupid that a computer...

Now, i don't good understandt the end of your post... are you and Luda always together ??? Don't you have the possibility to contest a refusal with help of lawyer... i have know a similar problem when my ex-wife have receive a refusal for her Belgium nationality... one administration was sending a document too late to the other administration... a law procedure have allow us to win... they have make some mistake in the procedure itself and this have help us...

What are your plan now...

[Turboguy]

Hi Bruno,

Thanks for your good comments.   Luda and I are fine now. We are back together.   I think sometimes it is a test.   They break up with you to find out if you love them.    I think the we have enough of a bond together that we can stand a little adversity. 

Right now I have to put more proof together for the embassy.  I am not sure I have much more that I have already given them but I will try the best I can.    I do have some.   I really had things documented so well there should not have been a problem.  I will assemble what I have and fax it to them tonight or tomorrow if need be.

[Michelangelo]

Good luck, Turbo!  We have all been following your progess and "rooting" for you!

And I do know that we are learning from your experience...so thanks for that

[BC]

Turbo,

I believe I was the one that brought up not making her overly nervous by cramming for an exam. The intent of my post was that she should be able to come across as natural as possible and not with robotic drilled in responses.

Of course that doesn't mean she does not need to know the basics.. ok not knowing your zip code or SSAN is one thing but not knowing your childrens names? That's a no brainer.

I can imagine the communications issue was the main rubbing point though and maybe why the guy maybe said something about his difficulty justifying the visa if you can't communicate one on one with your gal. Sort of a prodding remark before the interview.

Russian was probably his second language so there may have been some misunderstandings between your gal and him anyway.

Obviously all this put together gave the impression that you indeed cannot communicate well enough to discuss your kids names, ages, school, interests etc etc which would be quite normal and important to discuss before marriage.

Was the guy aware you were on-site or did he ask her if you spoke Russian?

I admit that I know nothing about your true relationship and neither did the CO. He may be a tough SOB but even still his yardstick did not seem too extreme.

I would be more concerned about the reaction after the fact. Certainly a healthy relationship should withstand such setbacks and work constructively towards resolving the issues at hand.

BTW.. just curious.. How did you formally propose to her?  That might be another question asked by some CO, especially if no ring was present.

No one wishes ill will, maybe not even the CO.

[Turboguy]

I am sure he was just doing his job.   Well America is safe from Luda for a while anyway. 

[Bruno]

Right now I have to put more proof together for the embassy.  I am not sure I have much more that I have already given them but I will try the best I can. 

Send a fax for each e-mail your have... i think that after 1000, they will say that it is enough... :D:D;)

Have you photo from yourself, her and his family... have you some hot photo from you and her... kissing by example... engagment ring ( the reason of K1 )...

Like say BC, the name of your own children was something that it was normal to know...

Some people say that it is a long and difficult work for a russian woman to send you a invitation for visit her the first time ( private visa )... but in your case, it have help a lot... the CO was not able to say that you have not visit her during your stay in Russia, you was with official proof... ok, a privat visa ask her some work but it is a great evidence for the administration...

So little detail need to be think at the very beginning... other example, i phone always from mobile to mobile with pre-paid card... not real evidence... but i phone one time week, from a call shop and keep the ticket where is number is writen...

Now, i hope for you that all will be right... but you have not a lot of new evidence for help you...

Maybe make a baby, it will be a evidence ( with genetic test )...  kidding :D:D 

These solution can be valid in Belgium because the nationality of the child is from the father ( blood law )... but i think that USA is like France, the place of birth count ( ground law )... and since our law say that a mother can stay with child until his majority... this give time for regulate the situation... so, my problem is not to marry of make comming the woman... it is to find the right one... be lucky, you have already one...

 

[Bruno]

My original plans were to take the paperwork along and if the visit went well propose.   Our e-mails after the first visit were so full of mutual mush and goo that I decided to ask her by e-mail with the thought that if the second visit did not go well I could always cancel the applicaton.

[/quote]
What ! A proposal via e-mail !!! Turbo, you surprise me, it is the first time that i listen something like this... usually, it is eyes in eyes, with the given of fiance ring... if she have explain it to the CO, i understand the problem... really, it is not the usual situation... same a proposal by phone or usual letter is something that i cannot imagine, it is a so important question, so personal... and this by e-mail...

[Son of Clyde]

Turboguy, best of luck.

I have very little time online lately but have read enough of this thread to know of your situation. I think Ukraine is practically giving away visa's these days and Russia is doing just the opposite. My lady speaks 50 words of English or less. Can you file a complaint? What of all the aliens who settled here knowing no English? At least you are there to help her through the adjustment.

Things are going well with me but there has been a crisis or two.

The lady is upset she can't read menu's and the boy keeps asking for a bicycle.

[Shadow]

[user=130]Son of Clyde[/user] wrote:

The lady is upset she can't read menu's and the boy keeps asking for a bicycle.

Clyde !:shock:!  Are you going to continue eating restaurant food or takeout ? Come on, get her over to the shops and prepare for some home cookin'  

Unless you are afraid of exploding microwaves:P

 

Turboguy, I hope you will be able to survive this crisis. If you manage it will improve the bond. Hey should we really blame the CO ? Romantic proposal by e-mail, name of kids are not important... but the request for more evidence is also a test to see if you really care or give up easily. Hang in there.

[Turboguy]

I know what she feels like.   I have had some experiences in Russian, italian and french restaurants knowing what you were getting.    Soon you will know what she likes and can just order for her.

I am sure a kid without a bike is like a duck out of water.   Not sure how safe biking is in your area.   You will do fine son of Clyde.   It won't be the last crisis, but you two will be fine once the dust settles.

Thanks for the good wishes.

 

[Goombah]

Turbo -

Our thoughts and prayers are with you...

I wonder what the CO will think about me giving her a pre-engagement ring (decorative band, no stone)?  Suppose I have "pre-proposed"...  Might have to make that more formal before the Interview!

Kevin

[Turboguy]

I think rings are a postive thing.  Any ring is good.  Luda was never asked.  I told her if he did ask to just say I wanted us to buy it together in America where I know the stores and when we can choose it together.   There is some truth to that.  I don't trust the stores in Russia very much.

[Son of Clyde]

Bruno, she does cook at home but I like to give her a break sometime.

I spent $199.00 on day 1, $117.00 day 2 and $92.00 yesterday on food, a microwave, hair drier etc.

Turbo, the bicycle could cost $150.00 - $200.00, and is not a necessity. Right now I want to purchase important things that are needed now. I am responsible for her son and until he knows the neighborhood, owning a bicycle may not be the safest thing. I can't have him wandering far from home or run the risk of him having a serious injury. When I marry his mother they will be added to my insurance policy.

[andrewfi]

How old is the kid?

Why not insure them now, the time when things are the most likely to go wrong?

[Goombah]

Insurance:  Check with your plan.  I was surprised to discovered I could insure Evia and Nastya the day they arrived as my Domestic Partner.  Whats even better is that its free, since I already pay for "Self + 2 others" (my daughters).

Apparently "Domestic Partner" requires:
   1) She is living with you
   2) You provide over 50% of her support
   3) You have been in an exclusive relationship for at least 6 months.

Kids tag along with their Mom for insurance purposes.

Kevin