Just a note on Lifting of conditions in the US. It seems our DHS needs more money. The lifting of conditions now costs $545. Ridiculous, they again gouge you for $80 for biometrics again. Amazing this was done in the change of status. Another ripoff from the same people who want to give drivers licenses to illegal immigrants and amnesty free of charge. Idiotic at best.
Madame Hilliary tried to blame Bush for the immigration amenesty package failing. She better reread her notes, the idiot was on the same side of immigration as you were Ms. Clinton.
Alexandra, my name is Gina--I'm an American living and going to school in Russia (I've been here for 3 years living with my Russian boyfriend) and we are in the midst of the same problem, although we're not married. He went to the consulate today for his interview and they didn't look at his documents--just the invitation letter from my family in America and realized that my boyfriend has an American girlfriend, and he stated that all Russians in relationships with Americans all end up staying in America to get married illegally, and that we should try a fiancee visa. Is that reasonable? We are NOT planning on staying in America, because I have another good 4 years in a university here in St Petersburg.
Did you guys figure anything out? Is my boyfriend EVER going to have the chance to go to America to meet my family, or does the system completely restrict this!?!??! It's unbelievable.
Alexandra, if you have any information, maybe we could be in contact through email.
ginarpapa@yahoo.com
You may have had a wedding ceremony, but if you did not have residency in Russia, the wedding may not have been considered legal. (The last time I looked at this option, residency was required for a legal marriage in Russia and Ukraine.)
If your marriage is not legal, that can cause you problems as well. (If you were legally married in Russia, then you wouldn't need a wedding ceremony in the U.S...)