Friend from Russia wanting to come to the US

[dmck 80]

People mention invitation/sponsorship letters frequently because many other countries require these for visa applicants. In the US, the USCIS/CBP do not care about the invitation letter at all for tourist, k1, CR130 type of visas.

[Justinc87 0]

Thanks everyone, this has given me a pretty good idea of what all is involved. It seems as though the best plan would be for me to go there for a week and then try the fiance visa but I'll have to speak with her about what we should do moving forward. I really appreciate all the information, it has been very beneficial!

[odellmar 6]

Best be careful Justin. It's easy to get things mixed up and everything needs to be done precisely.

You wrote: "Is the fiance visa easier to obtain after providing proof of our relationship?" Boiler replied: "Yes."

This is true. But I'm wondering that you might be thinking that if you can get her here as a visitor by having proof of a relationship and that proof of a relationship would be helpful in getting her the visitor visa. If that's the case it's actually sort of "no."

If you two want to marry and you go the K-1 (I-129F) route you must have proof of having met in person within the past two years of the date of filing. People often put great emphasis on "proof of relationship" at this stage but in my opinion nobody at USCIS pays any attention to that. They pay attention to only one thing: Is there proof that the two have met in person during the past two years? If "yes" the I-229 is a "go."

If you flew to Russia for one night this month, proved by boarding passes that you went, and had adequate proof that the two of you actually spent even one night together (sort of hard, but not impossible--photos at Russian landmarks, hopefully a photo of you and her with some of her family) this in my opinion would be a "go" to start the I-129 (K-1) process. This is so because you have met the requirement of having physically met in person--but this does not offer the proof that she will need at her interview a year or so later.

But, and this is a big but: A one night stand is adequate to initiate an I-129F, but then "proof of relationship" must be adequate to show without a doubt that you have a true relationship. Russia is considered a high risk country and I would advise that if you tried the short stay initially and that you have adequate proof of relationship (emails, cards, phone/skype logs showing that you talk every day, gifts) to go and visit a second time and stay at least a week or two after the I-129 was filed but before the interview where "proof of relationship" (note: not mere proof of having met in person over the past two years) is scrutinized. And it will be scrutinized--if there is any doubt by the adjudicator that there is a bona fide (real) relationship--you will be denied. But a one or two week secondary visit would allow you lots of time to get some choice photos of you and her together with family/friends and/or just the two of you.

My fiancee is from the Philippines. She built and owns her own house and land. She has adequate income. But in my opinion there is zero way that a visitor visa could ever be approved short of my sending her $200,000 US and having her buy very valuable property. We didn't even bother to try. Even owning her own two story house with no mortgage is not enough. They need very strong ties, economic or family (children) and being a teacher is admirable but is not enough--not for the Philippines (pay ~$140-$220/month) and probably not for Russia. It's discriminatory plain and simple and it's not going to change.

If you are serious about this woman I really suggest that you consider that it's more than likely that you will have to make two visits to Russia to substantiate proof of relationship especially if the first visit is short (others here, please correct me if you have different views). The bottom line is that the process is expensive, two trips alone can run up a minimum tab of $4000. And remember that you must meet the required income levels to support her--if not you will be denied.

Can you take a short (maybe a week) trip to Russia to make sure she is for you and then move ahead and do a longer (two week) trip after the I-129 is filed?

Remember that the entire process will cost a minimum of $6,000 to get her here (one way tickets cost almost as much as round-trip tickets, and there are plenty of fees) and that's just a minimum.

And by the way, consider putting some photos up...it won't help you with USCIS but we'll all be happier ;-)

I think many of us would add photos here. I would but all my photos are to big in size to upload. I was luck to get this profile photo here. If someone knows an easy way of doing so, please do help. Most all my photos are 4MB and bigger.

Ollie

[Boiler 45,525]

Thanks everyone, this has given me a pretty good idea of what all is involved. It seems as though the best plan would be for me to go there for a week and then try the fiance visa but I'll have to speak with her about what we should do moving forward. I really appreciate all the information, it has been very beneficial!

I think you are getting way ahead. Visit first, take it from there.

[Justinc87 0]

I think you are getting way ahead. Visit first, take it from there.

Thanks, I'll take that into consideration. The post was simply to gain information, I do appreciate your opinion though.

[Juliet and Steve 93]

I think many of us would add photos here. I would but all my photos are to big in size to upload. I was luck to get this profile photo here. If someone knows an easy way of doing so, please do help. Most all my photos are 4MB and bigger.

Ollie

That's easy Ollie, I suggest: http://www.picresize.com/#

It's about as easy as one could imagine. I have two programs that resize and I'm apt to use this instead, it's that easy. No virus and since I run Firefox with Adblock Plus I don't even have to look at the ads.

You can resize one or a hundred photos as a batch. All free.

There are dozens of websites that resize free, they make money via the ads on the website.

This review gives an overview of ten free online image resizers, some are simple, some offer more complexity like cropping:

http://photosoftwareblog.com/top-10-online-image-resizers/

[Justinc87 0]

That's easy Ollie, I suggest: http://www.picresize.com/#

It's about as easy as one could imagine. I have two programs that resize and I'm apt to use this instead, it's that easy. No virus and since I run Firefox with Adblock Plus I don't even have to look at the ads.

You can resize one or a hundred photos as a batch. All free.

There are dozens of websites that resize free, they make money via the ads on the website.

This review gives an overview of ten free online image resizers, some are simple, some offer more complexity like cropping:

http://photosoftwareblog.com/top-10-online-image-resizers/

Steve, thanks for your response earlier. You gave me quite a bit of information. Unfortunately, as you know, I have no photos of us together. I'll try to post one of the each of us soon.

[AJG & ESD 6]

My x-wife is from Russia. I only went once, but I'm also military, and had help with the first packet. It's a big decision to marry someone that you don't actually get to live with first. They uproot their entire life for you. I wish I had known 10 years ago what better questions to ask in getting to know my wife for the year that I knew her before she was able to come over and marry me. But I'm older and wiser(or so I think), and I can ask my fiancee better questions, and know better what it is I am looking for in a mate. This time, I've found the woman I wish I knew of 10 years ago...oh wait...that would make her younger too...ewww... Hahaha Anyways...they say everything happens for a reason. Don't go with the intention that you will marry this woman. Just enjoy the trip, and enjoy the country. I also HIGHLY suggest knowing Russian before you go because if something bad happens(I'm really an optimist), at least you know you won't be totally lost trying to do simple things like asking for a menu in English, or asking where the toilet is. I got lucky...when I met my x-wife to be, she took GREAT care of me, and I had an awesome trip seeing Moscow. And I got even luckier in finding my Elena, she is simply THE BEST!!! Good luck to you...