Best way to meet a Ukrainian/Russian (and cheapest)

[NavarreMan 10]

My heart bleeds for all those trodden upon by USCIS......sheesh. USCIS is very consitent and we knew what the wait would be and it was and now it is over. We don't even think back to those times; a mere drop in the bucket. And if all your documents are in order and you send in the correct fee, it is almost a slam dunk.

NOW......you want bureaucracy that DOES INTENTIONALLY discourage those.....try being a single woman and try to go through the Russian Adoption process. After all the red tape and hoops, it all came down to one individual's subjective decision (successful only after three continuances).

So I take it they didn't lose your paperwork and the fees didn't double on you 1/2 way through the process, and due to the increase in fees and ensuing rush to file, delays of many months were incurred. You're right, what am I complaining about? Oh and then the S.A.V.E. system wasn't properly documented and stepsons driver's license was suspended. That fiasco only took a Congressman, a Senator and the Bureau Chief of the North Carolina Dept of Motor Vehicles to sort out. Oh heavens forbid, what was I thinking posting here? This thread must be for the precious few that breezed through the process with nary a problem.

Bleeding heart my ####! Nice pedestal you put yourself on buddy. I guess you have been through this process enough times to state that as long as you pay the fees and have your docs in order, a "slam dunk" is virtually assured. Maybe you didn't have any problems but I can guarantee you that the USCIS has dealt out it's share of heartache, even to those who had their docs in order. Don't pretend to know what everyone else here has been through. As I stated I can only speak for my experience, as ridiculous as I felt the OP was, it took your snotty, egotistical and untoward comment to bring me down to this level.

[Jonathan Matthies 1]

Is there some history between you two? Because that is a hell of a reaction for a seemingly innocuous statement from Baron555.

The only thing I have to add is that my USCIS process was easy only because of the wealth of information on this site. If I had to drudge through the USCIS website directly, this process would have sucked. But every form you need is linked to and sometimes even filled out; and if you have a question on a specific field on a form, you ask, and get an answer before sending it in.

This site is a treasure trove of info; both from the guides and from specific forums. and most people posting on this site probably had a smooth VISA process because they used VJ. The one hiccup we had was on the 6 month Green Card interview. We didn't think about brining a translator; despite it being recommended in a guide on this site. The USCIS agent slammed us 2 minutes into the interview. My fault. If I would have followed this site's advice, we would have had a perfect run.

But ###### does happen, and Baron didn't say every single case was perfect and that the USCIS was the bastion of bureaucratic achievement. But, buy in large, if you're on VJ and you did your due diligence; you get exactly what is detailed here in the user-created timelines.

[baron555 934]

So I take it they didn't lose your paperwork and the fees didn't double on you 1/2 way through the process, and due to the increase in fees and ensuing rush to file, delays of many months were incurred.

Yep, breezed right through.....and no fee increase. Guess you just have poor timing. May not be your fault.

You're right, what am I complaining about? Oh and then the S.A.V.E. system wasn't properly documented and stepsons driver's license was suspended. That fiasco only took a Congressman, a Senator and the Bureau Chief of the North Carolina Dept of Motor Vehicles to sort out.

NC DMV and USCIS are two totally different entities. Save your woes for another forum, please?

Oh heavens forbid, what was I thinking posting here? This thread must be for the precious few that breezed through the process with nary a problem.

Most do. You are an exception. Most folks that have problems are usually partially to blame. Not blaming you.

Bleeding heart my ####! Nice pedestal you put yourself on buddy. I guess you have been through this process enough times to state that as long as you pay the fees and have your docs in order, a "slam dunk" is virtually assured. Maybe you didn't have any problems but I can guarantee you that the USCIS has dealt out it's share of heartache, even to those who had their docs in order. Don't pretend to know what everyone else here has been through. As I stated I can only speak for my experience, as ridiculous as I felt the OP was, it took your snotty, egotistical and untoward comment to bring me down to this level.

Well well, the USCIS is my friend. They have provided the mechanism to me to bring my young blond Russian hottie MOB and young adopted son to me so we all can have a happy family together. And....we are very happy. Sri you are not. Maybe it will get better for you?

You see, I understood the system that USCIS presented, worked that system to my benefit, jumped through their hoops and now we are together. Next year, I'll work it again and they'll get their 10 yr GCs. Then my wife can do her citizenship and we'll have to wait for the little one to grow older to do his; but that is not an expected issue.

But if you really want to see a system at work....like I said....go after any Russian system. That will leave you crying. Not for the faint at heart.

[baron555 934]

Is there some history between you two? Because that is a hell of a reaction for a seemingly innocuous statement from Baron555.

One never has a second chance at making a first impression. New poster (at least for the last three years) doesn't know my history. I'm sorry he has had so many problems; I really do hope it gets better for them.

[baron555 934]

A lot of people are talking about imposing a ban on such kind of adoptions in Russia after all those cases of domestic violence some kids have experienced.

I think you folks are not understanding properly... my wife, then a single Russian woman, worked through the Russian Adoption System to adopt an orphaned Russian boy, while they were all in Russia. I was never a part of that process (couldn't be known because the final lawyer woman judge wouldn't have approved of the adoption).

So we are talking about domestic Russian Adoption, not foreign adoption. Very different process.

She had to formally adopt the child so that she could get her name as mother on the BC since the Embassy needed that to allow him to be a K-2.

You want to talk about jumping through hoops? And monetary consideration? And just plain BS? This woman went through all that and in the end, THAT was the critical path to us being together. We had to postpone the interview since she hadn't yet finalized all. Our relationship hinged on one woman's decision (single babushka type) and also after she held it up with three continuances for more "documents".

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

My heart bleeds for all those trodden upon by USCIS......sheesh. USCIS is very consitent and we knew what the wait would be and it was and now it is over. We don't even think back to those times; a mere drop in the bucket. And if all your documents are in order and you send in the correct fee, it is almost a slam dunk.

NOW......you want bureaucracy that DOES INTENTIONALLY discourage those.....try being a single woman and try to go through the Russian Adoption process. After all the red tape and hoops, it all came down to one individual's subjective decision (successful only after three continuances).

i'll beg to differ on that - uscis lost nessa's medical, we had to pay to do another one. then her aos paperwork sat in limbo for over a year. mysteriously, while at the 2nd biometrics i asked the people there to inquire about it and voila, she had an approval and green card in 2 weeks time. i suspect having a branch asking ####### prodded someone to find the file and get to work.

[ptgarner1 8]

I have heard it said..if you dont have $15,000 cash available in the first year...dont even start....I spend far more than that in a year..

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I have heard it said..if you dont have $15,000 cash available in the first year...dont even start....I spend far more than that in a year..

Probably good advice.

I am sure I spent much more than that (didn't count) but it was also for three people. The fees I paid were triple what most people pay and still not a drop in the bucket.

FWIW I never had any issues with USCIS for three people, everything went well. They were extremely cooperative with Sergey's AOS. The RoC took a bit longer than I expected but was done with no interview. I have heard of priblems with USCIS but we did not experience any so far.

Edited April 12, 2011 by Gary and Alla

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

If you prefer LBFM's, then there are cheaper alternatives.

I don't. It is, and was not, a matter of money. Trying to get married to anyone "on the cheap" is a dumb idea. If you cannot afford to bring someone here and have them live at least as well as they did in their former home, do them a favor and don;t even go down that road. The idea that women in the FSU are in some sort of hell-hole and need to be rescued is preposterous.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

My heart bleeds for all those trodden upon by USCIS......sheesh. USCIS is very consitent and we knew what the wait would be and it was and now it is over. We don't even think back to those times; a mere drop in the bucket. And if all your documents are in order and you send in the correct fee, it is almost a slam dunk.

NOW......you want bureaucracy that DOES INTENTIONALLY discourage those.....try being a single woman and try to go through the Russian Adoption process. After all the red tape and hoops, it all came down to one individual's subjective decision (successful only after three continuances).

Our government is notoriusly inefficient. That should come as no surprise but for some it seems to. It can take me longer to get a wastewater permit for a construction permit from one branch of the government to build something for another branch of the government than it does to go through the entirte process...I-129f to citizenship...and it is FAR more complicated and expensive.

You get engaged to a foreign woman and you are submitting yourself to a process you do not contrl and no one (except you) really gives any priority to. If you can't handle it...whatever IT may be...then marry the girl next door and skip it.

I didn't even know there WAS a process when I met Alla (and I WAS just driving in the neighborhood, so to speak and it wasn;t even her neighborhood), it took me several months AFTER being engaged to submit the petition because at the time I did not even know there WAS a petition. But we were ready for whatever it took and now, who even remembers that? While our timeline appears "short" compared to some now, don;t forget we collected a lot of documents before filing, such as the infamous "letter from the father" before ever filing the petition. ANYone that goes down this road with a finacee with children and does not clear that hurdle FIRST is a selfish ####### that should be shot between the eyes. So our timeleine was much longer than one may assume, about one year, but it is because we did nothing until we had everything we needed.

I have no particular complaints about USCIS, it is better than I expected, knowing nothing of the process when I started but having tons of experience with governments in general.

[ONA 133]

I think you folks are not understanding properly... my wife, then a single Russian woman, worked through the Russian Adoption System to adopt an orphaned Russian boy, while they were all in Russia. I was never a part of that process (couldn't be known because the final lawyer woman judge wouldn't have approved of the adoption).

So we are talking about domestic Russian Adoption, not foreign adoption. Very different process.

She had to formally adopt the child so that she could get her name as mother on the BC since the Embassy needed that to allow him to be a K-2.

You want to talk about jumping through hoops? And monetary consideration? And just plain BS? This woman went through all that and in the end, THAT was the critical path to us being together. We had to postpone the interview since she hadn't yet finalized all. Our relationship hinged on one woman's decision (single babushka type) and also after she held it up with three continuances for more "documents".

Wow-wow-wow! Why so emotional? If you want to talk about bureaucracy, I'm familiar with both. Where to start? How long did it take me to get my travel passport in Russia (about 2 months for such an easy thing... while it took only 2 weeks in both of my parents' cases), or how long did it take my friend to get her Social Security Card in the USA (4 months, can you believe it?).

My point is that each individual case can be very different, and I'm sorry for what you had to experience, but you don't have to get so heated and emotional when somebody disagrees with you...

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Wow-wow-wow! Why so emotional? If you want to talk about bureaucracy, I'm familiar with both. Where to start? How long did it take me to get my travel passport in Russia (about 2 months for such an easy thing... while it took only 2 weeks in both of my parents' cases), or how long did it take my friend to get her Social Security Card in the USA (4 months, can you believe it?).

My point is that each individual case can be very different, and I'm sorry for what you had to experience, but you don't have to get so heated and emotional when somebody disagrees with you...

In Phil's defense, he did go through a lot and I will say that throughout the process which took much longer than most people deal with, he was always upbeat and cheerful and suree that everything would be OK. I think the majority of the couples here are young, single with no children and of the "text me back" generation that expect everything to be emailed to them this afternoon at the latest and expect an app on their cell phone to track every movement of their case.

I also know that Phil and Alla made sure that everything was secure for Leonid before they, as responsible adults, made a move themselves and I give them credit for that and predict good things for them. They know how to be responsible. My Alla had the pleasure of meeting his Alla in Moscow while they were waiting and she was back there on a visit. She said "they will be OK, she is just like me" By which she meant "She will do whatever it takes for as long as it takes"

It can be emotional for people that went through a LOT more than the usual "fiancee visa for my 22 year old college student sweetie" (for example...nothing personal )to see the whining about something taking 3 days and 16 hours more than the 5 months they think they were guaranteed. And then whining about a fee increase of $100 or $200. If $100 or $200 upsets you....jump overboard NOW. My utilities went up more than $200 per month. DEAL with it! we have a saying "You made your bed...now sleep in it" None of us have anything we didn't ask for. My parents raised 8 children, I doubt my father ever had $10 to spend for himself and I never heard him complain even once...about ANYthing. My family is my joy in life and it really irks me when people gripe about having to spend money for their loved ones like they are in some sort of competition.

Phil and Alla have my admiration and I wish them and their family the best always. They will MAKE their own dreams come true.

[Brad and Vika 129]

i'll beg to differ on that - uscis lost nessa's medical, we had to pay to do another one. then her aos paperwork sat in limbo for over a year. mysteriously, while at the 2nd biometrics i asked the people there to inquire about it and voila, she had an approval and green card in 2 weeks time. i suspect having a branch asking ####### prodded someone to find the file and get to work.

Vika got GC approval notices, but no GC. When I enquired, I was told that some one forgot to push a button somewhere. So production was ordered, but not carried out.

[ONA 133]

In Phil's defense, he did go through a lot and I will say that throughout the process which took much longer than most people deal with, he was always upbeat and cheerful and suree that everything would be OK. I think the majority of the couples here are young, single with no children and of the "text me back" generation that expect everything to be emailed to them this afternoon at the latest and expect an app on their cell phone to track every movement of their case.

I also know that Phil and Alla made sure that everything was secure for Leonid before they, as responsible adults, made a move themselves and I give them credit for that and predict good things for them. They know how to be responsible. My Alla had the pleasure of meeting his Alla in Moscow while they were waiting and she was back there on a visit. She said "they will be OK, she is just like me" By which she meant "She will do whatever it takes for as long as it takes"

It can be emotional for people that went through a LOT more than the usual "fiancee visa for my 22 year old college student sweetie" (for example...nothing personal )to see the whining about something taking 3 days and 16 hours more than the 5 months they think they were guaranteed. And then whining about a fee increase of $100 or $200. If $100 or $200 upsets you....jump overboard NOW. My utilities went up more than $200 per month. DEAL with it! we have a saying "You made your bed...now sleep in it" None of us have anything we didn't ask for. My parents raised 8 children, I doubt my father ever had $10 to spend for himself and I never heard him complain even once...about ANYthing. My family is my joy in life and it really irks me when people gripe about having to spend money for their loved ones like they are in some sort of competition.

Phil and Alla have my admiration and I wish them and their family the best always. They will MAKE their own dreams come true.

I think for whatever they go through, people can be freaked out about USCIS, crazy old lady, making the decisions etc. - basically yes, they can freak out about something they had not a very pleasant experience with.

But people have to watch themselves talking to somebody, who have nothing to do with it.

I hate people complaining about ANYTHING, no matter how hard it was. But I also realise that different people face different problems, and while somebody suffers from the lack of food, other people's biggest problem will be that their "pearls are too small", but all of those people will treat their problem like the biggest disaster in the world. What are you going to do with that? Life's not fair, right?

And if you managed to go through something like that, be proud of yourself, there's no point in getting all emotional about someone else's words just cause they didn't have the same experience.

[Krikit 1,164]

Then my wife can do her citizenship and we'll have to wait for the little one to grow older to do his; but that is not an expected issue.

Your circumstances may be a little bit different, but I think your son will get derivative US citizenship when your wife naturalizes. See Q-25 on this FAQ.