VISA APPROVED

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Outstanding! Another one jumps the hurdle.

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Yeah... I know!

A special "thank you" to all those that have been supporting us these many many months. It was certainly a roller-coaster ride sometimes as we were probably in the bottom 10% in terms of waiting time. Hahahaha.......... Kazan Tiger (Jeffrey & Alla) intentionally postponed their interview a couple of months and they still almost beat us. Oh well..... what's a few extra months of waiting in the big scheme of things when you are talking about a life-time commitment? We are just happy that it is drawing to a close.

We wish you all the best.

Buck & Natalia

[ramzis51 0]

I just received a phone call from a very happy Natalia, exiting the Moscow Consulate, saying that the visa was approved for her and her 17-year-old son Artem. The interview took approximately 5 minutes and consisted of 3 questions. For those that are interested, here are the questions:

Q1. How did you meet? [Answer: Natalia explained how we met.]

Q2. You have a very high position here in Russia. (Natalia is the head of the legal department for a large company). It is unlikely that your work in the USA will be at such a high level. How do you feel about that and what do you plan to do for work after you arrive in America? [Answer: Natalia honestly replied that are already people wishing to interview her in the USA after she arrives given her expertise in Russian trade and tax law. Finding decent work in the USA should not present a problem for her once she is legally authorized to work here.]

Q3. Did your fiancee visit you in Russia? [Answer: I visited her in August which satisfied them.]

That was it......... 5 minutes and out. There were no questions directed to her 17-year-old son. They merely took his fingerprints.

All-in-all it was a little anti-climactic after all the waiting and worry.......... but it sure is good to have that behind us now. I am sure that the euphoria will sink in after a day or 2.

A special "thank you" to all those that have been supporting us these many many months. It was certainly a roller-coaster ride sometimes as we were probably in the bottom 10% in terms of waiting time. Hahahaha.......... Kazan Tiger (Jeffrey & Alla) intentionally postponed their interview a couple of months and they still almost beat us. Oh well..... what's a few extra months of waiting in the big scheme of things when you are talking about a life-time commitment? We are just happy that it is drawing to a close.

We wish you all the best.

Buck & Natalia

A big congrats-----Ramzis' interview is this Friday!

[mnieto 2]

that's super news! Congrats!

[mox 298]

A big congrats-----Ramzis' interview is this Friday!

Congrats, be sure to let us know that he's approved!

[kd4uvc 0]

You are my hero, I want to follow in your footsteps. So, don't leave us because you are successful and I wanna be that too. Congratulations

[KGSodie 0]

Yeah Buck! You two must be ecstatic! When are they planning on coming to the USA?

[Buck and Natalia 0]

Yeah Buck! You two must be ecstatic! When are they planning on coming to the USA?

March 24 is the day......... although I did an American durak thing when I originally scheduled the flight and only allowed them an hour to change planes at Sheremetyevo airport. Natalia very politely told me that I was insane if I thought that they could transfer from Sheremetyevo 1 to Sheremetyevo 2, go through customs, and check their luggage in under an hour. She was right of course but I was able to correct the error and reschedule the first leg of the journey without too much difficulty.

Buck

[Buck and Natalia 0]

You are my hero, I want to follow in your footsteps. So, don't leave us because you are successful and I wanna be that too. Congratulations

Thanks for the compliment (and the congratulations) but, in my opinion, all of us are heros for enduring this Visajourney process. Not only that but all our fiancees should get a special medal for bravery for leaving family, friends, home, country and their native tongue to be with us. For us, it was mostly filling out a bunch of tedious forms and waiting. For them, they had to literally "jump in the deep end of the pool" with only their faith in us to sustain them......... that we would always love them, be faithful and do our best to be good spouses. Someone on this forum said it best earlier: The road is long and difficult but the rewards can be very high indeed for those that endure. Amen to that.

Buck

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Yeah Buck! You two must be ecstatic! When are they planning on coming to the USA?

March 24 is the day......... although I did an American durak thing when I originally scheduled the flight and only allowed them an hour to change planes at Sheremetyevo airport. Natalia very politely told me that I was insane if I thought that they could transfer from Sheremetyevo 1 to Sheremetyevo 2, go through customs, and check their luggage in under an hour. She was right of course but I was able to correct the error and reschedule the first leg of the journey without too much difficulty.

Buck

Sasha is arriving the same day! March 24th. Is Natalia going to JFK as well? I'm flying to JFK to meet her, then we're flying straight to Richmond together. congratulations again! Just 2 more weeks.

[Buck and Natalia 0]

Yeah Buck! You two must be ecstatic! When are they planning on coming to the USA?

March 24 is the day......... although I did an American durak thing when I originally scheduled the flight and only allowed them an hour to change planes at Sheremetyevo airport. Natalia very politely told me that I was insane if I thought that they could transfer from Sheremetyevo 1 to Sheremetyevo 2, go through customs, and check their luggage in under an hour. She was right of course but I was able to correct the error and reschedule the first leg of the journey without too much difficulty.

Buck

Sasha is arriving the same day! March 24th. Is Natalia going to JFK as well? I'm flying to JFK to meet her, then we're flying straight to Richmond together. congratulations again! Just 2 more weeks.

Yep............. JFK via Moscow with a connection in Prague.

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Ah, I see. For a moment I thought maybe they'd even be on the same plane. But I'm pretty sure Sasha's flight is direct from SVO to JFK. Well, its still pretty neat. The same day has great significance for all of us.

[mox 298]

March 24 is the day......... although I did an American durak thing when I originally scheduled the flight and only allowed them an hour to change planes at Sheremetyevo airport. Natalia very politely told me that I was insane if I thought that they could transfer from Sheremetyevo 1 to Sheremetyevo 2, go through customs, and check their luggage in under an hour. She was right of course but I was able to correct the error and reschedule the first leg of the journey without too much difficulty.

Buck

Congrats!!

I had a 2 hour layover and it didn't even begin to cover the time I needed. I'd say a 4 hour layover is the absolute minimum at SVO.

[Bobalouie 0]

March 24 is the day......... although I did an American durak thing when I originally scheduled the flight and only allowed them an hour to change planes at Sheremetyevo airport. Natalia very politely told me that I was insane if I thought that they could transfer from Sheremetyevo 1 to Sheremetyevo 2, go through customs, and check their luggage in under an hour. She was right of course but I was able to correct the error and reschedule the first leg of the journey without too much difficulty.

Buck

Congrats!!

I had a 2 hour layover and it didn't even begin to cover the time I needed. I'd say a 4 hour layover is the absolute minimum at SVO.

I did it in 45 minutes once. But I got very lucky. It was supposed to be an hour and a half, but for whatever reason the bags were delayed at SVO1 by 45 minutes. I got a ride with a good samaritan and made it to the gate and walked on the plane. I felt very lucky that day. I think if you have 2 hours, as a rule, you will be OK, but you are definitely cutting it close and it would not take much of an error anywhere to put you behind the power curve. 3 hours would be perfect, and your 4 hour suggestion is safe But I am a daredevil and like to live on the wild side

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Oh I so envy you all! More good news keeps on flowing! As Kirk said, four hours even three should be enough for a lay-over. SVO can be a big Russian bear!

I would have loved to hear this polite "insane" comment!

March 24 is the day......... although I did an American durak thing when I originally scheduled the flight and only allowed them an hour to change planes at Sheremetyevo airport. Natalia very politely told me that I was insane if I thought that they could transfer from Sheremetyevo 1 to Sheremetyevo 2, go through customs, and check their luggage in under an hour. She was right of course but I was able to correct the error and reschedule the first leg of the journey without too much difficulty.

Buck

Congrats!!

I had a 2 hour layover and it didn't even begin to cover the time I needed. I'd say a 4 hour layover is the absolute minimum at SVO.