funny my girl didnt want a engagement ring she was just happy with white gold wedding rings she said she had enough rings. Its very funny when shes continually trying to save me money on things like one taxi charges 40 cents more than the other so we wait for the cheaper one what a great woman.
getting married today in 3 hours its really scorching out I had to go and pick up some champagne for the registery office! We got a lovely restaraunt in the countryside there should be about 30 of us for the whole wedding it cost like 1200 euros food is caviar with lots of fruit steak and traditional food as well about 28 bottle of vodka and champagne wine etc as well, I didnt pay for dress or flowers though her family covered that!
Yeah again danny - And when 99% of young women from FSU countries can't GET Tourist Visas into the US - it must be because us guys who want to lure these women PAY OFF the immigration people, behind the scenes, to guarantee that no Tourist Visa will be available for them.
I knew a guy who was into conspiracy theories like you are. Do you wear a tin foil hat to keep rays from aliens from influencing your brain like he did too?
danny: Think this through a little. Why would ANYBODY want to go through the expense and waiting period (could be 9 months easily) of a fiance visa - then bring the woman over and commit to MARRYING her, if he wasn't pretty sure.
Do you think we NEED the expense of a divorce (if she ultimately isn't happy)????? It would make a HELL OF A LOT more sense to bring her over on a Tourist Visa (if one could be obtained) so that if she WASN'T happy she could go back and NEITHER party would be commited.
Danny, your girlfriend visited/lived in the states I think you said. That would help no end in getting her a tourist visa if she didn't overstay. You have also spent a lot of time with her in Russia and made a number of trips to see her or another girl before but the embassy didn't know this. I recall you posting this information (all very good ideas and I would do the same). This isn't normal, most girls have never visited a western country and most guys can't stay in the FSU for long periods of time with their gril. I would also guess she is over 27? or over 30? (just a guess). Being older also helps. Point is its not that easy, its not impossible.
NEITHER of you guys are American. And rules are different for any country you are talking about. The rule in the US is to ASSUME that women from economically disadvantaged countries WILL try to stay in the US. It is up to the lady to PROVE beyond doubt that she has compelling reason NOT to stay in the US (such as substantial real estate, a good career, a HUSBAND etc. in her own country) or she doesn't get the visa.
That rule has been in effect since (I think) 1952.
Its exactly the same for NZ, UK and no doubt Australia. Just have to fill out different boxes and answer slightly different questions. At the end of the day the want to see the same proof.
But ben: You are telling me that its not difficult in NZ or Australia (meaning I assume that most people succeed). That ISN'T the case in the US. So regardless of the procedure or the nature of the questions, the acceptance rate isn't the same. Therefore the systems ARE quite different.
(And it won't help you much if you go into the interview arguing that New Zealanders and Australians have it easy so we should too. Just doesn't carry much weight.)
No, I'm saying it is difficult (for the average FSU)! I'm saying that in Danny's case there was some things in his favour and its not a walk in the park.
I would guess that if Danny was American he may not have got her girlfriend a tourist visa if he sponsored her (based on what I have read on this forum). But I have no experience here. While I say all countries are the same, it seems if your sponsoring a girl it appears the US encourages people to use the fiance visa route.
Anyway well done Danny, once you get the tourist visa any others will be easy. Did you sponsor her or did you she it on her own merits? Did you declare she overstayed? Was the fact your living in Russia help. It would be interesting to know how you beat the odds (having said that she applied for a visa to visit australia and return home and thats exactly what she plans to do so they should have always issued it..you just needed to prove it and clearly you did).
Story just today in the New York Times about an Italian guy (who by the way doesn't even NEED a visa) a lawyer by training who had been to the US many times to visit fiance from well connected family. Most recent occasion he was pulled aside at airport and questioned. Immigration CLAIMED that he requested asylum (from ITALY?!?!) in broken English. He denies it of course. They would not allow him to return to Rome, or to see his fiance. Was jailed for 10 days (other asylum seekers are oftern jailed more than a year before a hearing). Best efforts of two attorneys and a SU Senator were not able to get him out. Fianlly was released on Monday and sent back to Rome.
Guy was never even accused of a crime, yet jailed by immigaration and forced to leave.
NOT proud of this aspect of the USA - but immigration can be very difficult to deal with here.
Forget rationality (which seems to be pretty much how danny operates anyway). Immigration here is not like anywhere else.
In WHAT OTHER COUNTRY but the US can immigration just on a whim turn you away at the border - even though you have a perfectly legal visa etc.? They can do it here for any reason or for no reason and they are accountable to nobody.
danny bad move who in right mind want to marry anybody mate not me no way !
live in love only my friend is way of the world now ---------marry is for idiots !