I'm a U.S. citizen making arrangements to have a lady from Zaporozhia meet me in Canada when I'm there on business next month. She can get her passport in Zaporozhia, but says she has to go to Kiev to obtain a travel visa, and that she needs to have a work certificate and her birth certificate translated into English at a cost of $300. Anyone know if these two things are for real? We've corresponded via letters and phone for ten months and she's never asked me for a penny. Any info from either members or moderators would be greatly appreciated.
She didn't ask you for money for 10 months but she has now which only means she is more patient than some. Yes she would need some document translated but the cost would be closer to $30 than $300. You've been patiently set up for the bite which has now come.
Yes she will have to go to kiev in person to get a biometric scan at the embassy (a requirement for visa to all wester countries AFAIK), as for needing translated documents I would have thought that you can check that with the embassy in kiev.
remember though that paying expense momey to someone youve never met in persos is always a risk - remember that modern scammers are quite prepared to invest alot of time to gain to the trust of thier "mark". still, make your own mind up about her.
Yes translation is often required and if it needs to be notarised then this can be expensive. For my marriage documents this process cost over $300. One way to test the scammer is to say you will organise the translation and pay it directly. Same for any travel expenses. If she refuses then it will give you a good understanding of what you are dealing with.
ramusic10,
Some conflicting views here so did you start writing to the lady via an agency, is it/was Global Ladies by any chance, do you know the name of the local agency/translator/owner or whatever in Zap.
The only reason I ask is that I am best friends with an agency owner in Zap and if it might be one of her ladies then I can have the situation checked out.
The other way might be to check with the Canadian embassy in Kiev, if these are their procedure and costs.