Hey guys. I'm not sure what to make of this. I'm prob just being a bit paranoid but want to see what you guys think. Back in Dec a Russian girl (Tatiana) emailed me in responce to one of my profiles. I was going to politely decline her request to communicate with me until I noticed she said she was here in the US. So I replied. She gave me her cell number after 3 emails. She and I talked every day. She shared her bad luck with men in the past and I let her know I recently ended a 5 year relationship. I made sure she understood I was in no hurry to get into another serious committed relationship. She was ok and understood my desire to get to know someone well before getting deeply involved. So we continued as friends. We called each other literally every day. On her days off from work she'd call me while out with her friends to say hi. She sent me gifts for my birthday and Valentine's day. I sent her flowers. In an attempt to keep from sending the wrong message I sent her tulips. Turned out to be her favorite flower. We made plans for her to fly here to california for a week and her birthday. Until then I thought she and I were only good friends. My feelings for her had grown beyond friendship by then but I kept it to myself. I thought to her I was just a good friend. She stayed with me at my home. The first night she was here she let me know in no uncertain terms that she wanted to be more than just friends. The whole week was heaven. When she had to go back home it was hard for both of us. She recently let me know she's here in the US illegally and was afraid of hurting me. The reason being she was unsure if she was gonna stay here in the US or go back home to Russia. Her mother has been pressing her to come back home. She's been here for almost 2 years now. She said untill the week with me here she had no reason to stay. Now she's talking about getting a green card. She also refused to involve me with the green card thing. She told me she wants a real relationship with me and does not want me to ever wonder if she got involved with me only to get a green card.
So...
What's the problem, you lucky dog?
If you're both serious about it talk to a migra attorney before she goes back and see if something can be done to keep her here until she can legally go back to visit her mother and not lose whatever visa may be obtained for her.
Ditto
Sounds like you won Lotto to me. You haven't had to leave home to find her.
I know where you are coming from.
Only you can decide and you have to act on your gut feelings. You obviously have suspicions or you would not be telling us, this bloody marvellous situation you have found yourself in.
I am probably not the one to give best advice because USA immigration etc is a lot different than little old NZ.
Good luck, and the way I see it, what do you have to loose, perhaps a broken heart, but any one of us could get the same from our ladies, nothing or nobody is a certainty.
Ditto, sounds like you found your girl. Unfortunatly shes here illegally. You had better check with an attorney quick because her behind is most likely gonna gat deported. Maybe I'm wrong, but maybe i'm not. If they deport her then probably shes not coming back. Immigration sucks and they look for any reason to make life difficult. Good luck whatever decision you make.
Groon,
Wow, that's great!
Just curious though, when she flew to Cali, didn't they check her passport and see that her visa was out of date or somehow detect that she was illegal?
Groon,
Please be careful. This one subject that I have personal experience of. 2 women attorneys screwed me up big time. They took thousands of dollars from me in a hopeless attempt to become legal in the US based on employer sponsorship. I snuck back in and got married to get legal. It worked and I stayed married for 12 years. However they have changed tactics and being here on a tourist visa and getting married does not automatically entitle you to be able to stay as it used to. It is a 50/50 thing. Be careful. Find an attorney who has experience and will be straight with you. No matter how smartly they dress they are not to be trusted one inch. Make sure you personally educate yourself using the web and publications by INS or whatever their latest name is. Trust yourself #1 the attorney #2.
It used to be that marrying an American citizen granted immediate immunity until the 1st hearing could take place, about 6 months is usual. Don't rely on this anymore. Dealing with immigration is like a football game. They are the goal keeper trying to keep the ball out of the net by any means possible. It is constantly changing that is where the attorney comes in. A K1 is relatively straight forward compared to your situation. To start with if she came on a tourist visa and outstayed it she has commited an offence. It isn't serious it is equal to stealing a candy bar from a supermarket but she will need to have that dismissed before you can proceed. If she snuck across the border, same thing. If she has been here 2 years it is obvious she has been working, same thing. Find a good attorney and READ LIKE CRAZY.
If you want my opinion the best thing to do would be for her to return to Russia. Then you go and visit her, document everything and start a K1 visa app. They don't give a shit when you leave it is entering they get excited about or if their noses are rubbed in it. By marrying and her coming out of the woodwork you are really rubbing their noses right in it. Once again consult a GOOD attorney. Try the office of Jeffery Brauerman in Miami. At the time I used him he had been a immigration judge for 12 years and switched to the other team. His office will not care where you live that is why God invented FAX machines :))
Good luck Groon
I hate to say it but I think you are screwed on this one. You must remember that Russia snubbed us over Iraq and that US immigration maybe more spiteful of people here illegally from Russia. Now if she had come across the boarder from Mexico there probably wouldn’t be a problem since Bush and Fox are in bed together.
Can groon not "sponsor" this girl if she is already here? I know it worked for my Ukraine friends` sister to stay here. She was sponsored by a man so she could attend school. Sounds like lotsa investigating of immigration/visa laws.
When you marry the American citizen IS the sponsor. For the period until you get the 1st interview and then for a further 2 years until the 2nd interview when she will have the restrictions lifted from the 1st social security card. At that point she is a fully functioning babealicious resident alien. She doesn't need a sponsor. She has the same rights as a citizen except the right to vote or serve on a jury and a bunch of other stuff that at this point Groon doesn't need to worry about.
Spirit,
I didn't say it is impossible. Timing is crucial and also an attorney who is plugged in. He needs one that knows what is going on, the very latest scoop. They are constantly changing tactics. My ex wife had to take a psychiatric test. That was their latest twist in 1992. She had to show that it would be psychologically stressful for her to lose me or leave the USA and go and live in England. We worked out a story, she cries some crocodile tears and bingo! It is a huge dangerous game. You don't just slip the wedding ring on and hey presto you are in. Nope, they are bastards and you shouldn't trust them an inch. When Ana and I had our first interview they made an excuse and left the room. We both knew we were on both camera and microphone. So even though we were faking I slipped my hand into hers kissed her on the cheek and said don't worry it will be ok. 1 minute later they came back in and said everything was ok. You have to play their stupid game.