Interview and medical report

[mendeleev 68]

Today my wife had her interview here in Moscow. We arrived early, a little before 7. Her invitation indicated she could enter at 8 am. One man arrived for his interview before us. When she interviewed for her K1 two years ago, a lot of people were present when she arrived at 7 am. Today was different.

There appears to be no correlation between arrival time and the time the interview occurs. It seems nothing like first arrived, first served. So, for those whose interviews are coming up, there probably is not any advantage to arriving much before 7:30 or 7:45, save the likelihood of standing outside in line longer rather than sitting inside waiting in queue longer. When winter comes, it isn't clear to me how to minimize time waiting out in the cold. Either you get to be one of the first to enter at 8, or you wait for those ahead of you in line to enter.

After an initial inspection of her invitation and ID documents, and inspection of her personal effects and wanding of her body, presumably for some sort of contraband, she was admitted into the embassy. Perhaps as befits the end of the Bush administration, visa applicants now must enter the embassy building from the far right side of it. (My wife remembers entering from an entrance somewhat to the left, but still distinctly on the right hand side two years ago. I was amused at the symbolism, and its right-ward movement in the past two years, all presumably unintended.) Once inside, some Russian person took her documents. He would come out from time to time and say, this person or that person appears to have inadequate documents and may be wasting their time waiting. My wife had far more documentary evidence than needed, so this guy did not bother her. (For instance, they were completely uninterested in my divorce decree. I guess we satisfied USCIS on that score at the petition stage. She had, but referred to, full copies of the I-130 and I-129F packets, together with the required evidence of post-nuptial meeting that is required for those who, like us, were married by proxy. Nor did she need to invoke other supporting evidence of a bona-fide marriage that she went in with -- like her medical insurance card (I got my company to start carrying her on their insurance in March so that pre-existing conditions would not be an issue, since the 6-month exclusion would time out prior to her entry) or the apartment lease (she is named on it) or other things. Then she sat and waiting for over 90 minutes.

Her interview lasted less than two minutes. The interviewer had only one question -- how had she gotten to know me -- by letters, emails. Maybe it was a bit of trick; the USCIS and presumably DOS knows that I travelled to her Institute frequently as a visiting industrial scientist and met my wife in the course of work there. Anyway, after correcting the interviewer on this point, there were no questions. The interviewer commented that I look young for my 50 years -- and she had the audacity not to say the same about my wife, who is the prettier one for sure! We laughed at this mild insult later. The interviewer told my wife that she had gone to the US on a K1, needed more time to think, and subsequently married by proxy -- exactly as I explained in my petitions. So, there were no questions on that point. My wife is convinced that her visa application was adjudicated as approved even prior to the interview. So all went well there. We went and had a very nice early lunch to celebrate. (If anyone needs a wonderful care, if somewhat expensive, by Moscow standards, PM me and I'll send you a recommendation.)

As some of you know, my wife had a very horrible, demeaning experience two years ago at her medical at MOM. (A group of male doctors and male nurses seemed more interested in assessing pleasant aspects of her naked feminity than in conducting whatever medical work was appropriate for them.) AO Medisina is a Swiss-owned clinic that we used this time. They were at all times completely professional. We had a bit of a wait at X-ray because the X-ray techs were apparently called to an emergency room. (And my wife hates waiting in line, so it got to be a bit of a kerfluffle, although she completely restrained the clinic staff from the churning emotions.) The only issue I have with them is that they insisted on giving her a MMR vaccination. (And my wife didn't know enough about the details of the process to even try to resist it.) Both on principle and on medical grounds, I am opposed to unnecessary vaccinations. MMR is required only for individuals born *after* 1956 and the document she got from the clinic also acknowledged fact this in writing together with my wife's birthday. She was born at the beginning of 1956, so was not required to get this vaccine in order to proceed to AOS. Further, K3 applicants are allowed to defer vaccinations until after US entry. Perhaps the clinic thought she was a CR-1 applicant -- I can't rule it out. So I'm not sure if I have one or two valid grounds for complaint, but one is enough. On balance, we heartily recommend AO Medisina over MOM, especially if the visa applicant is a pretty woman. Perhaps MOM has trained their male doctors to stop acting like disgusting, leering lechers. A couple years ago, there were complaints on this board about this issue and a TB scan that MOM doctors seemed to be running. More recently, there was a post by a woman who went to MOM, relating a request by MOM that complaints about their behavior cease on the internet. In the past, though, their male staff have behaved in terrible, unprofessional fashions on different days with different female K1/K3 applicants. Why take the risk to submit your beloved to the risk of a repetition of one sort of another or demeaning experience!? For $15 more, AO Medisina was quite a bit more pleasant, if not completely perfect.

On the whole, this has been a very successful week. We are glad that, for now, all this appears over. I will be very happy when the visa arrives in Novosibirsk. Then we'll start planning the next step -- my next visit to the Russian half of the family that will immediately precede her entry into the USA.

[Nagishkaw 510]

That is wonderful news, and I am so happy for you both . Congratulations on the approval, and glad to know this time at the Consulate no headaches or delays were involved.

[slim 1,530]

Perhaps as befits the end of the Bush administration, visa applicants now must enter the embassy building from the far right side of it. (My wife remembers entering from an entrance somewhat to the left, but still distinctly on the right hand side two years ago. I was amused at the symbolism, and its right-ward movement in the past two years, all presumably unintended.)

I almost fell out of my chair reading that! Very funny stuff.

Thanks for posting the interview and medical experience here. It goes a long way for folks coming up soon. Glad to hear you guys are almost done. Good luck in the future.

[Jasman0717 9]

Nice post, thanks for sharing

[Turboguy 6]

Congratulations on the successful interview and best wishes for the future. When I was there two years ago with my first fiancee the interviews were done at what sounds like the same place as now. To the far right where there is a metal picket fence and a small guard house. The gals came out the doors to the left of that that looked like the exit for a restaurant to me. That was I believe July 27th 05

Anyway, congratulations and best wishes for a happy life together.

[Kotenochek 0]

Great news congratulations:)

They undressed me too at MOM and i thought kind of weird but nothing rude.

I just did not know about VJ before so choosed adress I knew where it is located near my office and it was MOM:)))well its in the past now but maybe others will be smarter to use AO medicina:)

[Satellite 1]

For $15 more, AO Medisina was quite a bit more pleasant, if not completely perfect.

It's not about the $15. If your goal is too limit the EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE stay in Moscow, getting medical results the same day and having the interview the following, and leaving that second day is a huge savings. If well planned one can come on early Monday morning, have the medical by Monday afternoon, pay for DHL while you wait for the results or in the late Monday afternoon after you have them, camp at the train station on Monday night, have the interview on Tuesday morning, and be on a train Tuesday night going home, wherever that is.

But as far as the experiences, they seem to vary. My wife did MOM exactly three years ago, and she had nothing out of the ordinary to report. And she was young and pretty as she is now

[Kotenochek 0]

For $15 more, AO Medisina was quite a bit more pleasant, if not completely perfect.

It's not about the $15. If your goal is too limit the EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE stay in Moscow, getting medical results the same day and having the interview the following, and leaving that second day is a huge savings. If well planned one can come on early Monday morning, have the medical by Monday afternoon, pay for DHL while you wait for the results or in the late Monday afternoon after you have them, camp at the train station on Monday night, have the interview on Tuesday morning, and be on a train Tuesday night going home, wherever that is.

But as far as the experiences, they seem to vary. My wife did MOM exactly three years ago, and she had nothing out of the ordinary to report. And she was young and pretty as she is now

Camp at the train station?thats horrible.If man does this to the women he loves he does not deserve her.

Would You stay yourself at vokzal?you just never been there at night,Its simply dengerous.

[Turboguy 6]

I would hate to see my fiancee camping at the train station (she has needed to camp out at SVO a few times) but using MOM can save a lot of time. Our interview was Tuesay. With AOM she would have had to have the physical on Saturday at the latest which means she would have had to come in on Friday, exam on Saturday, pick up results Monday, Interview Tue, go home tue night. As it was she came in on Sunday, exam on Monday, start home on Tusday night. She had two nights in the apartment vs. 4 nights.

[Satellite 1]

Camp at the train station? That’s horrible. If man does this to the women he loves he does not deserve her. Would You stay yourself at vokzal? You just never been there at night, its simply dangerous.

What rich part of Russia are you from honey? Not only have I have personally camped out at a train station, but the two of us have done it at least three times together and she has done it numerous times with her parents and friends when they traveled.

What man you ask? The poor man. We got lucky in Moscow, because we stayed at relatives home in Korolev. It is not one bit dangerous. Go and see just how many Russians camp out at train stations and airports. Open your eyes, the average Russian makes only several hundred dollars a month. They can't down 3 months salary on a 4 night stay in a hotel. And living just above the poverty line with US expenses, doesn't make me any better.

[Kotenochek 0]

I am from Moscow and thats not her part to pay for the hotel but Man:s that invites her to the Us.Otherwise If You can not afford women why have her?Man should provide and take care of women and women should love back and be good mum to the kids and good wife.But hey what about caring?

[Turboguy 6]

I don't think it is a matter of caring. We all care. I also don't think it is a matter of affording her. My fiancee has camped out a few nights at SVO and I believe one night at Charles DeGaule. I have camped out at SVO myself and in the airport at Bangkok waiting for her.

My fiancee is smart enough to know if she stayed at an airport hotel at a cost of a months income for her (even though I would be paying) that she is not spending my money, she is spending our money. I offered to have her stay in a hotel she did not want to waste the money and refused. I admire that she cares about not wasting our money.

I don't see anything wrong with feeling your man should take care of you and make sure you are comfortable. My philosophy is a little different. I think you have x amount of money to work with. If you use it wisely you can do much more with it. My fiancee and I have spent about 25% of the time we have known each other together. We have been places like Thailand, Egypt and Sochi and we spent the biggest part of the summer together in the Caribbean. If she were the type who felt she needed to stay at expensive airport hotels, to fly first class to our meetings to stay in 5 star hotels everywhere we went, to eat only at the finest restaurants and drink the most expensive wines then we would have been able to spend far less time together. We had wonderful trips that would have been impossible if she thought not going first class was not affording her.

[Kotenochek 0]

I am not saying she must be wasting money and using man.Of course she has to think of future together too.But there is a huge difference between staying night at airport and railway station and the other thing is if she is pretty because if so it is dengerous people!I lived in Moscow I know it is bloody dengerous for women stay there alone!At the end i worked in a court and listened cases that happened there...and people its not fun!

I am not posh either but I know my man would never make me stay at railways alone..

[Satellite 1]

I am from Moscow and thats not her part to pay for the hotel but Man:s that invites her to the Us.Otherwise If You can not afford women why have her?Man should provide and take care of women and women should love back and be good mum to the kids and good wife.But hey what about caring?

Good old 19th century philosophy. Guess what happened back then? Women were men's property. They had no separate identity. They could not sue or be sued. All of the woman's property automatically became the man's upon marriage, etc.

I am from a generation that thinks of equality. I am not buying anyone. Both spouses must work and share the household responsibilities. Both spouses should contribute the income and both spouses should love each other and take care of the kids. We never have and never will live the one sided taditional way. Women should be educated, have careers and join men in the work place as equals.

I figured you were from Moscow. The country within the country as I prefer to call it.

If neither party can pay for the hotel and both parties make scarfices and understand each others economic abilities, then they will be much more succesful as a couple. Rather than some of the crazy stuff you hear on here, how the wife gets an allowance and gets to piss away so many dollars each month. Talk to AK if you want to get some more insight on this subject.

[Turboguy 6]

I spent the better part of a night in the train station in Kiev in the winter and will say it was one of the more miserable nights of my life. SVO though is quite comfortable and safe. Lots of police, lots of fellow travelers, restaurants and stores open all night and benches that are fairly comfortable. The lights get a little bright but otherwise it is not a bad place to spend the night.

The other thing too is the the railway stations are in town and there are somewhat affordable hotels nearby. The airport is out in the sticks with few affordable hotels in the area. I would not like to see my fiancee staying in the train station but the airport does not bother me as long as she is content and willing.