Russia Forum

[golfnut63 0]

Hello,

Natalia's interview is Next Thursday (Feb 16) and she is extremely nervous, I tried to calm her but she goes to Russian forums similar to this but mainly populated with other women applying for K-Visas. But in these forums they are mostly negative from women who were denied a Visa. And in this forum she says the questions the women were asked during were sometimes personal in nature for example....

How do you know you are in love with him?

How do you know you are the correct woman for him?

How do you know he is correct for you?

Why was he divorced before?

etc, etc

I told here to answer correctly and how she feels and that the interviewers only want to determine if you know the person you are marrying and you have a true relationship. I told her we have tons of photos from three separate meetings, phone records of calling 2 times each day for the past 15 months, and about 400 e-mails each to chose from. And of course the required documents (I hope).

I also told her the people that are usually denied a Visa are the ones that do not have the proper documents asked for in the instructions and checklist. For example, in all the places (during driving school in her small city) she met a girl that was also appying for a K-1 and has an interview in February, so Natalia thought what a great opportunity to compare notes to make sure they were preparing the same, etc. etc. But she soon found out that her new friend was far from ready. Her friend had not applied for her police report nor did she really understand the medical exam process. And she learned her new friend's fiance' was using lawyers to assit them through this process. Natalia was shocked to learn this and helped her and now she believes her friend will be ready for her Feb 15 interview.

I told Natalia these are the exact people who you read the sad stories about, they are denied because the they were not ready for some reason. The did not follow directions or their high paid lawyers did not set them up for success. I told there is always a chance we will not receive our K-1 Visa but I think we have prepared very well and I believe it from reading helpful e-mails from positive people on VJ and VJ's guides.

I told her to be organized, answer correctly and honestly and that is the best I can ask from her. I told her it is 6 months on pain for a 10-15 minute interview (no pressure). I told her she will be successful and celebrating that afternoon with her new favorite drink a "Margarita".

I want to thank everyone who has posted their experiences on VJ, I know we would not have gotten this far without it. I will post our interview experiences and questions asked during the interviw.

Good luck to all, Warren

[Cliff_Ksenia 0]

I’m nervous too! LOL. Ksenia is in Moscow now for her medical in the morning 2/13, then interview on the 15th. I keep going over it in my mind; what did I forget, I wonder if they will ask about this, I wonder if this will be a problem…. I think I’m more nervous than Ksenia. Good luck Warren and hopefully in a few days we both will have big grins on. Ksenia will only stay in Moscow till early Friday morning when she will fly back to Krasnoyarsk, is this enough time to get the visa from DHL? Current plans have her flying to US on the 26th so hopefully if she doesn’t get the visa when she is in Moscow it can make it to Krasnoyarsk before the 26th. Wedding planned for March 4th.

[golfnut63 0]

Cliff,

I am not sure if she will receive her Visa through DHL that quickly but it possible based on some VJ experiences I have read.

Natalia is going to tell DHL to hold her Visa until she returns to Moscow Friday Feb 24. This gives them 8 days to receive it. Then she will depart to Atlanta on the following day.

Does Ksenia plan to fly through Moscow again prior to her flight to US? If so, does she have time to go to DHL if she asks them to hold it. But if you plan to have it sent to her city by the 26th I think it will make it but I do not know if you can intercept it at the Moscow DHL office unless you ask them the possibilty when you pay the fee.

Medical was very easy, I am not sure which hospital Natalia went to but I was with her and I remember we walked by the Moscow Zoo and then later by a DHL office. The hospital was very nice, clean, and modern. She had no problems receiving her results the next day about 2 p.m. Her fee was 100 dollars. She did not feel degraded in any way. Natalia is also a doctor and felt very comfortable. I have read of other women having a problem at some exams.

I believe there are 2 DHL offices (maybe more) but this particular one had great hours (late) and was also open on Saturday.

We have not planned our wedding date yet, we know it will most likely be in April and in Las Vegas. We decided to do it this way because she would not have family here and she wants to eventually visit famous american cities, so might as well start now. We also have plan to visit Universal Studios Orlando March 1st. She said she likes roller coasters, we will see.

I hope I did not forget something too, the only thing I worry about is that the embassy will want something in original that I do not have in original (divorce paper, only certified copy). I provided the I-134, letter from my work on letterhead, bank history on letterhead, 2004 taxes, last 3 years of W-2's, phone records, etc, etc. (Also a full copy of I what I sent to CSC and I even updated my letter of intent to marry). But luckily it is not a Monday interview date so maybe the interviewer will be in a pleasant mood.

Natalia is also worried about her English, she asked me what language to use at the interview. I told her she speaks English very well (about 7 out of 10) but if she feels more comfortable ask to speak in Russian but I am sure she will use both languages.

Good luck, I know you will do fine, keep in touch, Warren

[Cliff_Ksenia 0]

Vegas is our back-up plan if something goes wrong but atm we are getting married in Corpus Christi Texas (hometown) and then having the honeymoon in Vegas (secret ) March 9-13 so we can see the NASCAR race, Americana at its finest! We talked about getting married in Vegas but Ksenia really wanted a church wedding with my relatives there rather than getting hitched by Elvis in the drive thru, hehe. My second marriage was done in Vegas and it was very convenient and easy.

I never even thought about her picking up the visa when she came back through Moscow for the trip to US on the 26th, it will be at night so this may not be an option but I’ll look into it, thanks for the tip.

[Voyageur27 0]

I do not know whether this will help you, but my wife told me that you really have nothing to fear at the US Consulate at Moscow interview if you are reasonably prepared and have a real relationship. Of course, I was also very worried during our time "at bat" also. Good luck.

[golfnut63 0]

Hi,

I was wondering if someone can tell me what Natalia can expect at the airport when she arrives. I know she will have a sealed packet to give to the customs officer. I wanted to prepare her as much as possible. Her POE will be Atlanta.

Thanks, Warren

[kevnads 0]

Thank you Wildcat! Yes , me and Janna were together 10th of february. she is great person, you are lucky man Roger. Congrats on your Visa!!!! We are so happy too, tomorrow i'm going to buy a fly ticket to Texas. Can't wait to see love of my life!

Good luck to everybody!

Nadia

[Wildcat 0]

Thanks for the compliment, Nadia. So when are you going to Texas? I lived in San Antonio for 4 years, it's a nice state to live in. But, it might get a little warm for you during the summer.

Good Luck to you too.

[kevnads 0]

hello Roger. I'm planing to go on 6th of march.Me and my fiance Kevin going to live in Abilene for next few years. I know it's hot in Texas B) , but as you know, love is cruel lol, in the summer i would have to buy lots of ice...just kidding.

Some people from U.K asked me "Is is true that in Russia so cold that Russians are drinks vodka to keep themself warm?" . I answered: " Yup! very cold and polar bears walking around!"

Take care!

Nadia

[skinsfan 0]

congrats to all that have been successful in their interviews !! i also have been MIA since my wife has arrived 3 months ago....life has been great for our family since their arrival, and their adjustment has been easier than i expected.....again, good luck to all.....Larry

[golfnut63 0]

Hello,

I just received phone call from Natalia, she was successful at her interview!!!!!!!!

She called me at 2:30 a.m. (10:30 a.m. Moscow time) and I could tell by her voice she was very happy.

She said she was first in line this morning. When they let her in the embassy she went through security similar to an airport process but they kept some of her items especially cell phone until her departure.

Then she took a number (number 1) and waited. When she was called she went to a window and gave a man documents (her DS-156, medical etc, my I-134 with 2004 taxes and 3 previous W-2's, bank and work statements, and he asked for only one photo of us together). Then she sat again.

She was called again and begain her interview, she said she had a nice younger woman that was very pleasant. Natalia said she had the interview primarily in English but sometimes in Russian when the ConOff needed to explain something precisely. She was asked:

Are you married?

Do you have children?

Tell me about your fiance' (Natalia said this led to a few other general questions as if two qirlfriends were talking together so I suppose as Natalia explained our past, present and future she answered the standard questions about how we met and trips together and our future, but it was not so formal and ridgid.

She said they also discussed my divorce, my child, my job, when she plans to travel to America and when and where we plan to marry. She said they never asked for phone records, ticket stubs, more photos, or anything out of the ordinary.

Natalia said it was very easy and she felt at ease after if began. She said the ConOff told her she would have the Visa by February 22 and DHL Moscow. She said the woman was very, very nice. She asked me if American people were always this friendly and helpful, I smiled and said no unfortunately not always.

She also said she did not notice if any other women were successful or not since she was first. But when she was finished and walked back to the waiting area she said the other women were very interested in her experience with the ConOff.

In all I think she was in the embassy about 2 hours. She said now she needs to sit and relax over a coffee.

Looking back this seems very easy and anti-climatic but I know it is because of this website and all of you helping each of us with your experiences. I doubt I could have done this as quickly or error free. I think if I had to just read the directions on the USCIS forms we would have made some mistakes and forgot something. And as we begin the next phase of the paperwork I will continue to read the forum postings.

I smile now because I remember when I started this process I would be in the K-1 forum every few hours to analyze other's timelines (from CA Service Center via TSC) to try and predict when I would receive the NOA2. And I am sure if I returned I would see the typical e-mails of people complaining about the slow processing time of CSC. It was only a few months ago but seems like forever.

Thanks to all of you for your help,

Warren and Natalia

[Nick'n'Nat 0]

Great news!!!!

[OKflyboy 35]

And the ball keeps rolling...

Congratulations!!!

[Chuckles 0]

Congrats !

[Cliff_Ksenia 0]

Congrats!