What can we do now who have Russia fiancé?

[Mike20090622 45]

We can’t goto Russia to meet due to the sanctions, no credit card can be used in Russia.

my fiancé is afraid of moving to America especially with school kids since she is worried about hater to Russia people everywhere 

I can’t send money to Russia anymore due to the sanctions and my fiancé family need my financial support 

it’s hard for Russia to get Schengen visa and where to apply?

where is the best place to meet? My fiancé is also worried about questioning by customs officers asking her too many questions in case flee to overseas 

[Crazy Cat 41,842]

14 minutes ago, Mike20090622 said:

My fiancé is also worried about questioning by customs officers asking her too many questions in case flee to overseas 

What does this mean?

[millefleur 5,046]

A few things:

• Foreigners are not banned from entering Russia (you just need a valid visa.) What is "banned" is that direct flights from US, Canada and (most of) Europe to Russia are no longer flying.
• I heard some banks are still on the SWIFT system in Russia. I don't know for sure but try Sberbank?
• The only countries that have banned Russians from getting Schengen visas are Latvia and Czech Republic. Schengen land borders are still open. This might change, you need to look into the individual countries and check.
• You can meet in a non-Schengen country like Turkey or Serbia because it's simply easier to go there for Russians right now.
• I don't know what you mean about being questioned by customs officers. Lots of Russians are "fleeing" overseas right now (even young men because they fear the draft) and I haven't heard of any stories yet of anyone being prevented from doing so. Russians have not been banned from leaving their country.

Hope that helps clarify the situation a little. There are still plenty of options. You can still meet in either Russia or Europe, it just takes more time figuring out the routes. You can also meet in a 3rd country like Turkey, Serbia, many other places if that seems like a better fit.

 

 

[Boiler 45,478]

You have been sending money to someone you have never met?

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

1 hour ago, Boiler said:

You have been sending money to someone you have never met?

I mean, I don't want to sound insensitive to someone whose partner may be in a difficult position but never send money to someone you haven't met in person, and barring emergencies sending cash directly to your fiancé(e) isn't a great idea in general.

 

Sure, if one of you makes way more than the other and you want to go places or do things together that the other can't afford, you pay for it; I always paid for Anastasia's plane tickets (from Moscow, she got to Moscow on her own) to meet me, covered our other major expenses when we met, and covered all the visa-related expenses. But you can do that directly almost all the time; you don't need to send money for that.

[Mike20090622 45]

3 hours ago, millefleur said:

A few things:

• Foreigners are not banned from entering Russia (you just need a valid visa.) What is "banned" is that direct flights from US, Canada and (most of) Europe to Russia are no longer flying.
• I heard some banks are still on the SWIFT system in Russia. I don't know for sure but try Sberbank?
• The only countries that have banned Russians from getting Schengen visas are Latvia and Czech Republic. Schengen land borders are still open. This might change, you need to look into the individual countries and check.
• You can meet in a non-Schengen country like Turkey or Serbia because it's simply easier to go there for Russians right now.
• I don't know what you mean about being questioned by customs officers. Lots of Russians are "fleeing" overseas right now (even young men because they fear the draft) and I haven't heard of any stories yet of anyone being prevented from doing so. Russians have not been banned from leaving their country.

Hope that helps clarify the situation a little. There are still plenty of options. You can still meet in either Russia or Europe, it just takes more time figuring out the routes. You can also meet in a 3rd country like Turkey, Serbia, many other places if that seems like a better fit.

 

 

Thank you for clarification. I know there are flights from Moscow to Istanbul by Turkish airlines, one concern is I know US embassy is Russia is asking all us citizens leave Russia, I am afraid I got trouble and can’t return to America, another concern is I can’t use my credit card in Russia and 2 weeks stay in Moscow could cost more than 4000$ for 3 people and I also plan to leave my fiancé 4000$ for her living and her mom living since her mom got a surgery and can’t walk, also she need apply for Schengen visas for her and her two kids. That’s altogether 8000$ cash I need carry into Russia and I heard they have 3000$ limit.

we met in Mexican Tijuana for a month last March and I filled K visa in late April, and we spent another two months together with her younger daughter in mexico in last summer, and we also spent two weeks in Moscow for Christmas and New Year with her family. I suppose it will take another 5 months for her to get the K visa, so I want to meet again, it’s planned in Moscow in mid March but the war comes, I am worried the Cold War happen again and she can’t leave Russia, I prefer we live together in mexico for whatever it takes to get the k visa, but her mother is sick in hospital and her kids need goto schools, she quit her job after we met, I am keeping sending her financial support, about 1000$ every month, I just send her 1000$ The day after I heard some Russia banks were kicked out of swift, I thought she still can open account in other banks since her current bank Serbbank is banned and I can send her money, but today I tried to send her using cash pickup and not working and I called WesternUnion and they said I can’t send to any banks in Russia anymore.

we are talking today to meet at Istanbul for two weeks and I will carry 5000$ with me and let her bring to Russia, maybe apply for Schengen visas and leave her mom good money and she will take her kids and fly to Mexico and we live together there until we get the visa, she also suggested we just live in Mexico because she is worried about her kids will be mistreated in America. But I don’t know if her k visa is approved and she still need goto Poland to do the interview and if she can apply Schengen visa from mexico or she and her kids will still need go back to Russia to apply for the Schengen visa and I heard Poland is not issuing Schengen visa to Russia and she need apply for Greece and what excuses she can give to Greece embassy in Moscow to convince them because she has no job and money in Russia?

[millefleur 5,046]

4 hours ago, Mike20090622 said:

we met in Mexican Tijuana for a month last March and I filled K visa in late April, and we spent another two months together with her younger daughter in mexico in last summer, and we also spent two weeks in Moscow for Christmas and New Year with her family. I suppose it will take another 5 months for her to get the K visa, so I want to meet again

OK you can meet again, like I said there's no ban on Russians leaving, if anything I think Russia wants people with America ties to leave, they don't seem keen on stopping people from getting out, hence why flights are selling out every day. You can possibly buy her a ticket on some travel website with your US card and just put it in her name. Look on American travel sites, there are tons out there.

 

I agree going to Russia right now for you could be annoying and unpredictable, probably better to meet in a 3rd country. If you really, really have to travel to Russia though, just be aware, you're still allowed to. Also the US Embassy in Russia has already been completely useless for Americans so when you were in Moscow last time, it was equally useless, nothing has really changed about that.

 

4 hours ago, Mike20090622 said:

she quit her job after we met, I am keeping sending her financial support, about 1000$ every month,

OK if she quit her job, I assume she has time to research, as a Russian in Russia right now, which banks might be accepting SWIFT. I understand she's busy with her kids as well but if she's this level dependent on your money she needs to help you figure out a way to get it. She has all the resources right now, being a Russian in Russia, to find out what banks might still be working with SWIFT, so she should be helping you figure that out. There are also other alternatives to SWIFT and banks, this is being discussed in Russia every day now, surely she knows friends/family who can help her figure this out. It's not like the entire flow of money has stopped in Russia (the only exception I know of is taking USD out of the country, but you can still bring it in), people still figure out a way around things, this is what you and her need to focus on.

 

4 hours ago, Mike20090622 said:

But I don’t know if her k visa is approved and she still need goto Poland to do the interview and if she can apply Schengen visa from mexico or she and her kids will still need go back to Russia to apply for the Schengen visa and I heard Poland is not issuing Schengen visa to Russia

This is pretty far down the road considering how rapidly the situation is changing. You said 5 months possibly, so much can happen in that time. I wouldn't even worry about this until you're closer to like 1-2 months from the interview actually being scheduled. In the meantime, maybe the embassy for Russians will change again, nobody knows nor can predict the future.

 

4 hours ago, Mike20090622 said:

I prefer we live together in mexico for whatever it takes to get the k visa, but her mother is sick in hospital and her kids need goto schools,

Given the children in school and the sick mother, she should stay in Russia with them, it doesn't make sense to just up and abandon them because of some fear of the unknown, especially if she doesn't even have a solid plan B. If some horrible worst case scenario begins to unfold where you fear for their safety, you can request an expedite.

 

P.S. Please fill in your timeline!

 

Edited March 12, 2022 by millefleur

[Crazy Cat 41,842]

12 hours ago, Mike20090622 said:

because she is worried about her kids will be mistreated in America.

Where did she get that idea?  

[millefleur 5,046]

1 hour ago, Crazy Cat said:

Where did she get that idea?  

There has been some russophobia but again, like all things in the media, it's exaggerated. Most people in the US still probably barely know the difference between a Russian and a Ukrainian, the russophobia is happening but it's mostly just for social media (like people throwing red paint on Russian grocery stores....often owned by Ukrainians 🤦‍♀️) I expect a lot of this to die down as the invasion/war itself eventually cools (and it has to, there is no media story or current event that doesn't eventually die down, even wars.)

 

I don't think there's a serious worry that ordinary people or even other kids will bully or hate on Russians. Sometimes kids bully each other over silly things, if that's the case, those kids are just annoying bullies and would find a reason to bully no matter what. Most children probably don't even know this war is even going on right now so I don't see that it's such a deep concern.

[Crazy Cat 41,842]

Just now, millefleur said:

There has been some russophobia but again, like all things in the media, it's exaggerated. Most people in the US still probably barely know the difference between a Russian and a Ukrainian, the russophobia is happening but it's mostly just for social media (like people throwing red paint on Russian grocery stores....often owned by Ukrainians 🤦‍♀️) I expect a lot of this to die down as the invasion/war itself eventually cools (and it has to, there is no media story or current event that doesn't eventually die down, even wars.)

 

I don't think there's a serious worry that ordinary people or even other kids will bully or hate on Russians. Sometimes kids bully each other over silly things, if that's the case, those kids are just annoying bullies and would find a reason to bully no matter what. Most children probably don't even know this war is even going on right now so I don't see that it's such a deep concern.

Thanks.  I purposely don't watch much news.  I have found that my anxiety level is much lower by avoiding the MSM.  

[Boiler 45,478]

I was talking to a guy last weekend who is Serbian, I only knew because he told me

[jft 12]

On 3/11/2022 at 5:37 PM, Mike20090622 said:

we are talking today to meet at Istanbul for two weeks and I will carry 5000$ with me and let her bring to Russia, maybe apply for Schengen visas and leave her mom good money and she will take her kids and fly to Mexico and we live together there until we get the visa,

FYI you can't give her US banknotes, that is now illegal as of 3/11/21. You will need to convert it into either Rubles or some other currency before you give it to her.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2022/03/11/executive-order-on-prohibiting-certain-imports-exports-and-new-investment-with-respect-to-continued-russian-federation-aggression/

[Dashinka 24,491]

On 3/12/2022 at 11:14 AM, millefleur said:

There has been some russophobia but again, like all things in the media, it's exaggerated. Most people in the US still probably barely know the difference between a Russian and a Ukrainian, the russophobia is happening but it's mostly just for social media (like people throwing red paint on Russian grocery stores....often owned by Ukrainians 🤦‍♀️) I expect a lot of this to die down as the invasion/war itself eventually cools (and it has to, there is no media story or current event that doesn't eventually die down, even wars.)

 

I don't think there's a serious worry that ordinary people or even other kids will bully or hate on Russians. Sometimes kids bully each other over silly things, if that's the case, those kids are just annoying bullies and would find a reason to bully no matter what. Most children probably don't even know this war is even going on right now so I don't see that it's such a deep concern.

I am not too worried about it, and I agree, most people cannot distinguish a Ukrainian, Belarusian, or Russian.  I think there is a lot of propaganda against the West being broadcast inside of Russia and I suppose some of it is touting things like what FB/IG did relative to attacking ethnic Russians, etc.

[millefleur 5,046]

11 minutes ago, Dashinka said:

I am not too worried about it, and I agree, most people cannot distinguish a Ukrainian, Belarusian, or Russian.  I think there is a lot of propaganda against the West being broadcast inside of Russia and I suppose some of it is touting things like what FB/IG did relative to attacking ethnic Russians, etc.

I just told my husband to say "I'm from Mordor" if anyone asks him where he's from. That should preempt the judgement call and also make it funny, so just call people out before they have a moment to even judge.

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

On 3/12/2022 at 6:27 AM, Crazy Cat said:

Where did she get that idea?  

It seems like the notion that Russians are being treated poorly in the west in general or the US in particular is being pushed in Russian media.

 

My wife gets asked about this all the time now from family in Russia, and she's like "no, that's ridiculous".