I134 questions

[slim 1,525]

Used to take a bus to school, wasn't bad at all. I actually liked it for the most part.

I used to take public trans to school too and I liked it for the most part. That is, until I got a car and made the trip that normally took me about 90 minutes in a bus, in about 15 minutes.

The public trans system here in Cincinnati is extensive but it's not set up very well. To go from one part of the city to another may take 15 minutes or it may take the better part of two hours depending on the number of transfers one is required to make. Coupled with the cost of $1.75 + $.50 transfers (up to $4.25 depending on how far out you live) each way, it doesn't make a lot of sense to take the bus unless you take it occasionally and/or it's a direct route to work where a parking fee is required.

Additionally, our public trans system is heavily subsidized to keep the costs "low." We've been having a heated debate here in the city on whether or not to get a street car. The proposed route is through the worst neihborhoods in our city and makes a loop through downtown to the ghetto, then back downtown. It's going to be paid for entirely by fares. Seriously? Do they think we're that stupid?

The crazy part about it is we're getting a casino in the next few years. The street car isn't within American walking distance. I think the only way we're going to be able to pay for this thing is if they tax the vendor selling the "I survived the street car ride" T-shirts.

[Martyshk 137]

I used to take public trans to school too and I liked it for the most part. That is, until I got a car and made the trip that normally took me about 90 minutes in a bus, in about 15 minutes.

I still like our regional rail. It takes me about an hour to drive to Center City. Then I have to find parking... and it costs way too much nowadays.

Instead I can hop a train for $5 roundtrip (parking would run me at least $10). I guess the fact that a train station is about 5 minutes away from my house (I'd say that's an American walking distance) helps.

However, if I take a train I am dependent on their schedule to get back home, and that's the part I hate.

As far as buses go.... yeah, I'm probably not going to take one ever again. Haven't done so since I got out of school.

You are right about everything, as far as mass transit is concerned. But I just gotta say. When I was in Kharkov, it was so nice to just walk out of the house and hop a "marshrutka" and then, maybe, a subway. Sometimes I get tired of driving everywhere all the time.

[slim 1,525]

You got it, Mart.

If the train is close, goes where you need it to go (rather quickly) and is cheaper than driving and parking - then people will use it. It becomes advantageous at that point.

What's lost on my city's leaders here is the functionality of public trans. They believe simply if it's there, then it must be good to have. "But we have public trans... why aren't people using it?" We've discussed having a light rail put in to alleviate congestion along the major thoroughfares but even then, they've approached it from an unfunctional angle by proposing it to stop in places folks who would use it (white folks from the burbs) don't need to stop (the ghetto parts immediately outside of downtown.)

The reason systems like this prosper in places like Ukraine and Russia are exactly as you said, the marshrutkas. There has to be a cheap and efficient way to bring people to the public trans and relieve them from going too far out of their way to utilize the routes offered. When someone has to take one bus or train an hour out of their way to catch the one they really want, the system becomes useless. It's silly to transfer all the way downtown to catch the train or bus that's route covers the one immediately adjacent to your home. That's what seems to be missed by planners of public trans here in the States.

Not everyone who rides public trans has all day to waste while they save $2. I'm pretty sure most would rather give their $2 to the marshrutka while simultaneously eliminating two hours from their travel time.

But, since this is America, we'd have to have marshrutkas with printed schedules, fare boxes, restrictions on capacity ("everyone must wear their seatbelt. Sorry, only 12 seatbelts in this van." HA!) and... higher fares. Not to mention new vans every two years.

Brainstorm..... Slim's American Marshrutka Service! Watch out world!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I still like our regional rail. It takes me about an hour to drive to Center City. Then I have to find parking... and it costs way too much nowadays.

Instead I can hop a train for $5 roundtrip (parking would run me at least $10). I guess the fact that a train station is about 5 minutes away from my house (I'd say that's an American walking distance) helps.

However, if I take a train I am dependent on their schedule to get back home, and that's the part I hate.

As far as buses go.... yeah, I'm probably not going to take one ever again. Haven't done so since I got out of school.

You are right about everything, as far as mass transit is concerned. But I just gotta say. When I was in Kharkov, it was so nice to just walk out of the house and hop a "marshrutka" and then, maybe, a subway. Sometimes I get tired of driving everywhere all the time.

I love public transport in big cities. We use it in Montreal where it is so much easier to park for free and take the metro into the city. Kiev has a great system also. In Vermont it doesn't make a lot of sense unless your car is broke and even then it is limited to Burlington and some close "suburbs" (which is playing fast and loose with the term "suburb") And in any case, a bicycle would probably be faster than a bus here.

[Terry&Tigger 4]

We do NOT notarize I-134, do we? I mean, it is written on the form in plain English that it does NOT have to be notarized, but I have seen someone in this thread saying it has to be notarized ...

Emailed the embassy to make sure, got a 'Read FAQ" auto-reply. Hmmm ... there are NO FAQs on the embassy site! Could anyone post a link to some official source outlining the necessity of notarization for Moscow ? Has anyone's fiancee gone thru the interview with a NON-notarized I-134 lately? Thanks a lot in advance.

[baron555 934]

We do NOT notarize I-134, do we? I mean, it is written on the form in plain English that it does NOT have to be notarized, but I have seen someone in this thread saying it has to be notarized ...

Emailed the embassy to make sure, got a 'Read FAQ" auto-reply. Hmmm ... there are NO FAQs on the embassy site! Could anyone post a link to some official source outlining the necessity of notarization for Moscow ? Has anyone's fiancee gone thru the interview with a NON-notarized I-134 lately? Thanks a lot in advance.

On the Moscow Embassy K-1 page, it clearly states that if the I-134 is to be requested, then it should be notarized. Some folks in the past did not and it was accepted. We did and it was accepted too. For me, the $1 cost to have it notarized was a no-brainer decision. For others, do what you feel you should.

[slim 1,525]

If you can get it done, it should be notarized. If he's already sent it to you without a notary and it's too late to do before your interview... go without it. If you have a few weeks, have him send another one. As baron555 said above, it's a pretty simple and cheap process and technically, you are supposed to have it. If you don't, or if it's too late, don't worry too much about it as this isn't one of those "make it or break it" type things.

Did you get your interview date already? It should be coming up soon, right?

Any other questions or anything?

[Terry&Tigger 4]

Did you get your interview date already? It should be coming up soon, right?

Any other questions or anything?

No, I don't have the interview date yet, got the MOS number only so far. Thanks a lot for the support, no other questions Will sure ask if any arise along the way. Thanks again.