Any russian(american)- russian couples here?

[baklan 0]

I wonder how many Russian(American) - Russian couples out there and if our processing time diferent from American-Russian couples?

[Satellite 1]

I think it is me and one more fellow, Eva Malahova, but I came to the US when I was 6, so I am just as Americanized as everyone else except that I can speak fluent Russian with 1st grade abilities on reading and writing.

The process and processing times are exactly the same as for everyone else. Perhaps we get it easier at the interview, because langauge and cultural issues are not a concern to the interviewer.

Edited August 24, 2006 by Satellite

[baklan 0]

I think it is me and one more fellow, Eva Malahova, but I came to the US when I was 6, so I am just as Americanized as everyone else except that I can speak fluent Russian with 1st grade abilities on reading and writing.

The process and processing times are exactly the same as for everyone else. Perhaps we get it easier at the interview, because langauge and cultural issues are not a concern to the interviewer.

Thanks, I actually was anticipating something like no cultural differences on interview .

[slim 1,525]

I think it is me and one more fellow, Eva Malahova, but I came to the US when I was 6, so I am just as Americanized as everyone else except that I can speak fluent Russian with 1st grade abilities on reading and writing.

The process and processing times are exactly the same as for everyone else. Perhaps we get it easier at the interview, because langauge and cultural issues are not a concern to the interviewer.

And you get it a little easier at the "met within past two years" stage as well with being able to navigate Russia at a fraction of the cost.

All of us non-fluent folks are too scared (or just to ignorant) to "live like Russians" when we go to Moscow for our "meeting" that we end up spending $100,000 on our trips. Exaggerating of course, but we do get hosed... or at least "let ourselves get hosed" by renting $150+ per night hotels/flats, then paying the "foreigner" prices everywhere. If we'd just shut up and let our girls do all the talking... well, wait a minute....

Time and again Satellite tells us that we need to "let" our girls do more of the reservations and stuff, but do we listen? No. At least you'll have a leg up when dealing with accomodations and the like.

[baklan 0]

I think it is me and one more fellow, Eva Malahova, but I came to the US when I was 6, so I am just as Americanized as everyone else except that I can speak fluent Russian with 1st grade abilities on reading and writing.

The process and processing times are exactly the same as for everyone else. Perhaps we get it easier at the interview, because langauge and cultural issues are not a concern to the interviewer.

And you get it a little easier at the "met within past two years" stage as well with being able to navigate Russia at a fraction of the cost.

All of us non-fluent folks are too scared (or just to ignorant) to "live like Russians" when we go to Moscow for our "meeting" that we end up spending $100,000 on our trips. Exaggerating of course, but we do get hosed... or at least "let ourselves get hosed" by renting $150+ per night hotels/flats, then paying the "foreigner" prices everywhere. If we'd just shut up and let our girls do all the talking... well, wait a minute....

Time and again Satellite tells us that we need to "let" our girls do more of the reservations and stuff, but do we listen? No. At least you'll have a leg up when dealing with accomodations and the like.

Well Russia recently kind of not cheap, I been to Omsk and Moscow in summer now getting ready to go back again...:)Old Soviet times $100 was a fortune. This summer air alogne cost 1800....

[BPM-MVS 0]

While at the Moscow Airport, A taxi driver offered to drive me from the International to Domestic for $14.00 I thought $10.00 was more appropriate as it is only a mile away. I agreed. Just before getting to the Moscow Domestic airport, the driver asked for his money. I handed him the $14.00 and a shocked and unsatified taxi driver stated again$14.00 ??? I finaly said, Did you mean $40.00??? He stated yes and offered me a receipt for the $40.00. A lesson learned as when I returned to Moscow from Domestic, I bartered my taxi BEFORE the ride to $20.00 and nothing more.

[baklan 0]

While at the Moscow Airport, A taxi driver offered to drive me from the International to Domestic for $14.00 I thought $10.00 was more appropriate as it is only a mile away. I agreed. Just before getting to the Moscow Domestic airport, the driver asked for his money. I handed him the $14.00 and a shocked and unsatified taxi driver stated again$14.00 ??? I finaly said, Did you mean $40.00??? He stated yes and offered me a receipt for the $40.00. A lesson learned as when I returned to Moscow from Domestic, I bartered my taxi BEFORE the ride to $20.00 and nothing more.

I have same problem every time I get taxi from airoport in Phoenix:) Few times taxi cab drivers asked me to pay extra if I wanted to use card, or asked $20 there trip cost only $12... Rip off big time. Russians more advanced...In Russia only in small cities taxi cheap therefore no big deal to pay few more rubles....

In Moscow very easy to overpay taxi at airport.... So let your girl negotiate with "right" cab driver, do not hire people hinting for money....

[slim 1,525]

While at the Moscow Airport, A taxi driver offered to drive me from the International to Domestic for $14.00 I thought $10.00 was more appropriate as it is only a mile away. I agreed. Just before getting to the Moscow Domestic airport, the driver asked for his money. I handed him the $14.00 and a shocked and unsatified taxi driver stated again$14.00 ??? I finaly said, Did you mean $40.00??? He stated yes and offered me a receipt for the $40.00. A lesson learned as when I returned to Moscow from Domestic, I bartered my taxi BEFORE the ride to $20.00 and nothing more.

I have same problem every time I get taxi from airoport in Phoenix:) Few times taxi cab drivers asked me to pay extra if I wanted to use card, or asked $20 there trip cost only $12... Rip off big time. Russians more advanced...In Russia only in small cities taxi cheap therefore no big deal to pay few more rubles....

In Moscow very easy to overpay taxi at airport.... So let your girl negotiate with "right" cab driver, do not hire people hinting for money....

Or next time, just take the bus for 10 Roubles! (or $1.50 here in the U.S.)

When dealing with taxis, especially in foreign places, it's very important to negotiate up-front, and let them know, IN THEIR LANGUAGE, what you're willing to pay. Learn some numbers! It will pay!

Edited August 30, 2006 by slim

[obender 0]

Hey baklan,

pseudorussian-russian couples indeed seems to have timelines not much different from others... although i must admit uscis was extremely gentle to us (we are the species mentioned above) 4.5 months fiance visa processing and then 2.5 months green card process without interview.

i understand i'm not adding here much of information for you but it gives you some statistics.

quick question to those who left motherland: anybody ever got a visa to Russia with american passport without oficially surrendering russian citizenship (which is a lengthly, nasty, and expensive procedure)?

... probably not anyways... but doesn't hurt to ask

obender

[Satellite 1]

quick question to those who left motherland: anybody ever got a visa to Russia with american passport without oficially surrendering russian citizenship (which is a lengthly, nasty, and expensive procedure)?

... probably not anyways... but doesn't hurt to ask

I was born in Latvia and stripped of Soviet Citizenship in 1988 for leaving as a refugee. But when I applied for my Russian visa with my US passport, because my birth place was the former USSR I had to bring in the old exit visa which allowed me to exist the country over 18 years ago! Because otherwise I didn't have any proof of absence of Russian citizenship, let alone surrendering it. So they can get pretty strict on this.

[baklan 0]

Hey baklan,

pseudorussian-russian couples indeed seems to have timelines not much different from others... although i must admit uscis was extremely gentle to us (we are the species mentioned above) 4.5 months fiance visa processing and then 2.5 months green card process without interview.

i understand i'm not adding here much of information for you but it gives you some statistics.

quick question to those who left motherland: anybody ever got a visa to Russia with american passport without oficially surrendering russian citizenship (which is a lengthly, nasty, and expensive procedure)?

... probably not anyways... but doesn't hurt to ask

obender

Hi Obender. Sorry do not know about russian passport thing. I threw my old soviet passport into trash can night I came here... and I had probably Ukrainian citizenship....

[Eva Malahova 0]

I wonder how many Russian(American) - Russian couples out there and if our processing time diferent from American-Russian couples?

I hope it is not different, by looking at other cases and comparing - it seems to be about the same timeline overall. Mine is listed in my signature. We are waiting for an interview date to be set.

Good luck!

Eva