Russian tourist visa for single female

[goalienc 0]

Ok, my question is probably somewhere on this forum. I thought I could get a quick answer this way. I was married to a girl from Ekaterinburg, Russia for 6 years. We are no longer together. I spent 3 months there back in 2002 and enjoyed being there. I have since returned there and met another woman but not through an agency. She has been to the states before on a exchange program. I believe she was here back in 2005 for 3 months and returned when she was suppose to. She is 28 and has no children... But she has worked as a accountant for 5 years and owns her flat, Automobile and has loans there. I was there 4 weeks ago and she has agreed to visit me here in June for 3 weeks. I know from my ex's sister that all we did was write a invitation and filed one form for her to visit.. don't remember for sure on the rest. Do I need to sponsor her visit or does she file herself there in Ekaterinburg and me send a invitation. I realize that most single woman do not get a visitors visa. But I believe her ties to Russia, plus her visit and return in a timely manner should show good intentions. I want to make sure I do this right and have no problems. Thanks

[John24689 0]

We sent an invitation letter to my wife's best friend last year. She was turned down. She may try again later this year. I am not aware of any form that we should have sent. The form was done by my wife's friend. She had to send a lot of information with it to show her ties to Russian and that she would return after her visit.

As a separate note, I am not sure it would be good for you to send an invitation. The US Embassy may look at it and say she is wanting to go to America to meet a man. I think she can just apply for a Visitor's Visa without an invitation. I am not telling you to circumvent anything. It would be better for you to go see her again in Russia, in my opinion. Or, since you have already met, you could continue to communicate and then ask her to get married.

This is just my opinion. Maybe others can share their thoughts. Good luck on this possible journey.

[slim 1,514]

John's correct. You can't invite a "girlfriend" over for a visit. (Or, I guess technically you could but your chances are slimmer than my username.) However, she is free to apply as a tourist. Her chances are probably pretty good if she books a "tour" through a tour operator or something like Disney World or something like that. "Reason for visiting the U.S.?" = Three week trip to Disney World. Visa granted!

Or you could (mods, go ahead and ear ####### it for me) just do a K-1 and go that route. Free three month "trial-period" and if it goes well, you go ahead and get married. If not, she goes back and you reapply some time on down the road if you choose.

Or just meet in the Dominican Republic. It's a nice place and doesn't have any of those pesky bombs that Sharm-el-Sheikh seems to be having lately. Darn Canadian bomb magnets!

[Rob_Lesya 4]

I assume that you've read through the website of the Consulate in Ekaterinburg and seen the little bit of information they have on the process. As has been alluded to in the other posts, having an invitation from you is just going to raise a lot of questions and scrutiny that will simply increase the chances for denial.

Any time a single female applies for a tourist visa from Russia it's a #######-shoot with very long odds. Having her apply as part of a "tour" might increase her chances slightly, but approval is still FAR from guaranteed. While there is a CHANCE that a tourist visa might be approved, more than likely it's going to be time and $$ expended in a futile quest.

In my opinion, using the K-1 as a "trial period" is probably not the best option for you -- beyond the obvious "misuse of visa" issues. You state that you were married to a girl from Ekaterinburg before. I assume you used a K-1 visa to get her here. You apply again now... and what if it doesn't work out? If you DO decide to apply again somehere down the road, the multiple applications will then cause you to have to apply for a waiver. The waiver itself is not that difficult to receive, but you will have established yourself as a "2 time loser" inviting additional scrutiny of your case at every stage of the process.

I would agree with John's advice --- see her again in Russia. It doesn't have to be E-burg. Take a romantic trip to Petersburg or to Sochi. You say that she has been to the US before.... so at least she already has SOME first-hand knowledge of life here. That puts her way ahead of most of the girls who arrive here from Russia.

Good Luck and let us know what you decide.

Edited March 24, 2009 by Rob_Lesya

[mox 298]

In my opinion, using the K-1 as a "trial period" is probably not the best option for you. You state that you were married to a girl from Ekaterinburg before. I assume you used a K-1 visa to get her here. You apply again now... and what if it doesn't work out? If you DO decide to apply again somehere down the road, the multiple applications will then cause you to have to apply for a waiver. The waiver itself is not that difficult to receive, but you will have established yourself as a "2 time loser" inviting additional scrutiny of your case at every stage of the process.

I have no opinion on using the K-1 as a "trial period" argument, unless of course the standard troupes from the UK and/or Canadian forums care to come and lamabast Slim for it, in which case I will defend it with my dying breath.

However, there's no evidence at all to suggest that a second K1 application invites extra scrutiny. I've yet to read anybody on VJ being denied for a second K1. I'm pretty damn sure I've never read anybody being denied for a third K1, but I won't bet the farm. Come to think of it...I'm not sure I've ever read of a waiver request being denied. All of which suggests, in my mind anyway, that USCIS simply wants the waiver request for bookkeeping, not for extra scrutiny. Also, with regards to "additional scrutinty of your case at every stage of the process," this is also untrue. The waiver is for USCIS only, so any scrutiny will happen there. There is no waiver for NVC or the State Department.

Not picking a fight, I just want it to be clear that filing a waiver shouldn't be a big factor in somebody's decision on whether to file or not.

[Blues Fairy 0]

K-1 approval takes anywhere from 6 to 12 months and lots of pain in the *** - and tourist visa takes 30 days. Why even suggest the K-1.

B-1/2 is very feasible if the girl supplies sufficient proof of ties to Russia (career or ongoing study is the best bet). When I was interviewing for my tourist visa I was also asked if I was married - I said not officially but I had a boyfriend (of course I "forgot" to mention that the boyfriend was American - but they did not ask, did they? )

[mendeleev 68]

In my opinion, using the K-1 as a "trial period" is probably not the best option for you. You state that you were married to a girl from Ekaterinburg before. I assume you used a K-1 visa to get her here. You apply again now... and what if it doesn't work out? If you DO decide to apply again somehere down the road, the multiple applications will then cause you to have to apply for a waiver. The waiver itself is not that difficult to receive, but you will have established yourself as a "2 time loser" inviting additional scrutiny of your case at every stage of the process.

I have no opinion on using the K-1 as a "trial period" argument, unless of course the standard troupes from the UK and/or Canadian forums care to come and lamabast Slim for it, in which case I will defend it with my dying breath.

My wife came here on a K1 and she didn't marry me at that time. She's old enough to know caution is a virtue. While I hope to change her mind at the time (I didn't) her intent was to come, see if I was the same guy in the USA that she'd gotten to know over a few years of visits in Russia (I used to have business there) and see what the USA itself was like. Then, she wanted to go home and think. Then we got caught up in the whole IMBRA thing and opted to get married rather than do a second K1.

Although I didn't like it at the time, she definitely did the best thing for her, and for us, by looking carefully before she leapt. Folks from Canada or the UK can do that pretty easily but our spouses cannot.

[mox 298]

Wow novutul, so do you mean that you wound up marrying on your K1, or did you file K3/IR1 later on?

[mendeleev 68]

We did not get married on her K1. We married subsequently and later she obtained a K3 visa.

My timeline gives the chronology of events.

Edited April 7, 2009 by novotul

[mox 298]

Ahhh...shoulda thought to look at the timeline. I'm glad things worked out well for you both!