Another Approval From Moscow

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

More for more great news!

Great for you,

My fiancee, Natalia, was also approved at the embassy today too. Probable she saw Ira there:) Good luck to the both of you

Bob

[shikarnov 7]

Great for you,

My fiancee, Natalia, was also approved at the embassy today too. Probable she saw Ira there:) Good luck to the both of you

Bob

Congratulations! I guess today was a good day for approvals.

[visaveteran1 33]

Wow...a 2fer day! Congrats!

[Alhan and Delaram 0]

Congrats Bob

[pugsly 0]

congratulations

[shikarnov 7]

Ira just picked up her visa from the DHL... So here's the strange thing that happened.

The document checking and interview process was fairly normal. What's your name? Age? His name? Age? Where does he work? What does he do? Etc... Pretty much a VisaJourney Textbook example of an interview.

Except that the interviewer also felt that Ira was too young to get married. He called her a child, and spent several minutes trying to convince her that getting married would be a mistake. Obviously, since Ira has her visa, he relented, but before yielding he felt it necessary to advise her that returning to Russia before the visa expires would be the "best course of action."

When Ira told me about this, my blood just boiled over. I can understand checking to ensure that Ira isn't a criminal or terrorist. I can understand, although I don't like, why they check my finances. I think determining the legitimacy of our relationship is a bit much - especially calling girls in for a 5 minute interview from thousands of miles away - but what can you do? But, in my mind, judging the decision that two legal adults have made as being wrong, and trying to convince one of those adults to reverse the decision... Well, it's far far far beyond the scope of their duties.

So, that's the scoop.

Z

[ramzis51 0]

Hi All,

I've been waiting up all night for the news, and it's in: Ira's visa is approved. There's some other strange news to go along with it, but I'll wait until the visa is in hand before posting comments on a public forum.

Anyway, I wanted you guys to be the first to know that, theoretically, Step One should finally be done in about two weeks when Ira's visa arrives in the mail.

And on that happy note, I'm going to bed so I can try to get 2 hours of sleep before work tomorrow.

Z

Congratulations

[mox 298]

Except that the interviewer also felt that Ira was too young to get married. He called her a child, and spent several minutes trying to convince her that getting married would be a mistake. Obviously, since Ira has her visa, he relented, but before yielding he felt it necessary to advise her that returning to Russia before the visa expires would be the "best course of action."

When Ira told me about this, my blood just boiled over. I can understand checking to ensure that Ira isn't a criminal or terrorist. I can understand, although I don't like, why they check my finances. I think determining the legitimacy of our relationship is a bit much - especially calling girls in for a 5 minute interview from thousands of miles away - but what can you do? But, in my mind, judging the decision that two legal adults have made as being wrong, and trying to convince one of those adults to reverse the decision... Well, it's far far far beyond the scope of their duties.

Wow. Just wow. That's the biggest load of horseshit I've seen in awhile. No wonder you wanted to hold off until she had the visa in hand.

Are you thinking of filing a complaint with the state department?

[shikarnov 7]

Wow. Just wow. That's the biggest load of horseshit I've seen in awhile. No wonder you wanted to hold off until she had the visa in hand.

Are you thinking of filing a complaint with the state department?

Absolutely I am... But I'll be waiting for her to arrive on US soil and for us to be married before attempting that.

Z

[slim 1,523]

Could it be that perhaps this guy was single and just trying to "show her around Moscow" after her interview?

If you feel like filing a complaint, than do it. But, in all seriousness, it's done and over with, so don't waste your (as my wife would say) "bad energy" on dealing with this stuff. You guys got the visa, so just move on.

If she is pretty young, in all probability, you're going to have to deal with this again from somewhere else. It's their problem, not yours. I know they're overstepping their bounds a little, but in all seriousness..... WHO CARES??? You got the visa, now go enjoy it!!!

[mox 298]

If you feel like filing a complaint, than do it. But, in all seriousness, it's done and over with, so don't waste your (as my wife would say) "bad energy" on dealing with this stuff. You guys got the visa, so just move on.

I disagree. It's over for this couple, but at least dozens and dozens, if not hundreds, of women just like her are going to be exposed to this douchebag. It's harassment pure and simple, and to me the "bad energy" would be to let the guy keep doing it. This is a much different situation than, say, a harassing Doctor at one of the medical clinics, where there is no realistic chance of a complaint making a difference. This is the embassy, our turf, and the State Department needs to know about it.

[shikarnov 7]

Could it be that perhaps this guy was single and just trying to "show her around Moscow" after her interview?

If you feel like filing a complaint, than do it. But, in all seriousness, it's done and over with, so don't waste your (as my wife would say) "bad energy" on dealing with this stuff. You guys got the visa, so just move on.

If she is pretty young, in all probability, you're going to have to deal with this again from somewhere else. It's their problem, not yours. I know they're overstepping their bounds a little, but in all seriousness..... WHO CARES??? You got the visa, now go enjoy it!!!

Ira feels the same way you do and your wife do, Slim.

But, during the years I spent in Russia, I missed a lot of changes the US went through in recent years. Changes for the worse, and changes which went entirely unchallenged. And of my friends and family, nobody saw them until I pointed them out. Probably because I'm looking around through the juxtaposed eyes of a former Russian resident.

Holding your head down and hoping you get through an unfair system unnoticed and unscathed is a very Russian attitude. Wrongs must be identified, and then righted, otherwise things continue to get worse. That's how democracy functions. Letting the government trample all over people - even if it's not you - is just wrong.

Mox is right - how many others will have to deal with this person? How many will be harassed, extorted, or worse by others who follow his example? These aren't just some strangers that we'll never meet (not that that matters a lot morally), these are the women and men who we love -- who are now or soon will be our spouses. These are the people our VJ friends love and to whom have committed their lives.

I just can't... I won't... let that go.

Z

Edited March 24, 2008 by shikarnov

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Crazy! How old is Ira to be "a child and not be getting married?"

Ira just picked up her visa from the DHL... So here's the strange thing that happened.

The document checking and interview process was fairly normal. What's your name? Age? His name? Age? Where does he work? What does he do? Etc... Pretty much a VisaJourney Textbook example of an interview.

Except that the interviewer also felt that Ira was too young to get married. He called her a child, and spent several minutes trying to convince her that getting married would be a mistake. Obviously, since Ira has her visa, he relented, but before yielding he felt it necessary to advise her that returning to Russia before the visa expires would be the "best course of action."

When Ira told me about this, my blood just boiled over. I can understand checking to ensure that Ira isn't a criminal or terrorist. I can understand, although I don't like, why they check my finances. I think determining the legitimacy of our relationship is a bit much - especially calling girls in for a 5 minute interview from thousands of miles away - but what can you do? But, in my mind, judging the decision that two legal adults have made as being wrong, and trying to convince one of those adults to reverse the decision... Well, it's far far far beyond the scope of their duties.

So, that's the scoop.

Z

[shikarnov 7]

Crazy! How old is Ira to be "a child and not be getting married?"

She's 22. I'm 29.

[slim 1,523]

By all means, if you feel a complaint will do something, then file one.

But, one of the things I've noticed about the changing America is that for every complaint filed, there's another douchebag there waiting to take that one's place, and the only thing complaints do is waste your time and add yet another piece of paperwork to your file to be scrutinized. Then the next douchebag who is adjudicating your case who ends up being one that "looks for stuff" searches extra hard to find it. And your easy, albeit hassled, approval case turns into a nightmare.

I'm all for accountability, especially in a govt. setting, but something like this is one of those things that is a system malfunction, not a personnel malfunction. And I realize too the only way to change the system is by changing the personnel, but if you can't change the procedures that allow those personnel to be placed in that position, you're simply wasting your time. (And possibly adding heat to your case.)

Good luck. Keep us posted. I'd like to see if complaints filed actually do something. Maybe that's what happened with Meditsina and maybe that's how it finally got changed. But, I have a feeling it had more to do with everything else that changes government policy... money. Reduced medicals due to the rumors of misconduct equal reduced profits. Reduced profits equal change in personnel. Change in personnel equals new procedures and a nice clinic.

America isn't like that anymore. Never really was, just had the illusion of being that way. Now, even the illusion is starting to slip. Perception no longer sets the acceptable standard. Dollars, cents (not sense) and with this Administration, who knows what else now sets the standard.

America is a new place, that's for sure!