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= MEMBERSHIP =
Questions on how our website operates
== Do I have to pay for any of your services? ==
= Next step. Travelling to Russia =
Questions on travelling to Russia and other CIS countries
== How long does it take to get a visa to Russia or Ukraine? ==
Russia is a vast country and it's impossible to describe its climate in a few sentences. In fact we have written a whole article about it. But generally speaking, the climate of the central parts of Russia where the majority of our clients travel is not as bad as portrayed in movies, and somewhat resembles the American Midwest, only a bit colder but less windy. For other parts of CIS read on.
= Visas and Immigration =
== Do I need a visa to go to Russia, and can you help me get one? ==
Normally, you do need a visa in order to enter the Russian Federation. If you are a US citizen, you definitely need one. You will need separate visas for other CIS countries, such as Ukraine or Belarus. We can send you the official invitation that you need in order to be issued a visa to Russia. We do not currently provide invitations to other countires. You will then send this invitation, along with your passport, consulate fee, and 2 passport-sized photos to the Russian Consulate in your country which has jurisdiction over your region.
== Can you help me with bringing my bride-to-be to my home country? ==
If you are in the US and are our customer, we can help you with some general advice on visas, procedures, forms, etc. Feel free to contact us and we will point you in the right direction. Note that we don't have an attorney on staff, and your particular situation may require one. If you need an attorney, we will refer you to a good one who specializes in Immigration Law and has been working with us for a long time.
== What is the process and how much will it cost to bring a woman here? ==
Note. The price estimates and visa kits are for the US only. The immigration laws are similar in other Western countries, so if you live outside the US, you can use this information as a guideline.
IMPORTANT: Never send money to people you have never met in person, and even if you have met them, exercise common sense before you trust them with significant funds. Internet scams are common these days, including various visa and ticket scenarios. A lady may claim that she can get her visa and / or plane ticket and be on her way to you if you only send her or some intermediary (like her agency, or a travel company) a certain amount (usually 2-4 thousand dollars). 99.9% of such claims are fake. Read more here. If you are asked for money under any excuse, please contact us for advice before you send it.
Generally you won't be able to bring a woman here until you have met her in person. Her chances of getting a "tourist" or "guest" visa to the US are very slim. The best way to proceed is to apply for her "K" (fiancée) visa. Note that in order to apply for this type of visa, the immigration law requires that you have met your lady in person. You have to have proof of that (pcitures of the two of you together, tickets, etc). The best place to meet her in person would be her home country. Some of our clients choose to meet in a third country, like Cyprus, or the Dominican Republic, where Russian citizens do not need a visa. It is acceptable from the Immigration law standpoint, but it makes you vulnerable to possible scams, as you will most likely be expected to pay for her ticket (or send her money) in advance.
After you have met her in person, you need to file a petition with the USCIS, known as form I-129F. The petition can be filled out by yourself. You need to file the petition with the USCIS office having jurisdiction over your state. Processing times vary from state to state, but on average it takes about 6 months for the USCIS to approve it. The fee as of this writing is $455. After you get it approved, you send it to your lady and she takes it to the US Consulate in her home country and applies for the visa. Add the USCIS fee, postage, visa processing fee and you get about $650 for that step. Contrary to tourist visas to the US, which are notoriously difficult to get, "K" visas are usually granted without a problem, provided that the documents are filed properly, she does not have a police record, and neither one of you has violated any Immigration law provisions in the past (i.e. overstayed a prior "K" visa). If one of you has applied for a "K" visa in the past, it may also be a reason for a denial of the current application.
'''Most likely she will not have the funds needed to buy her plane ticket to the US, so you will need to pay for that. You do not have to travel to her country again to accompany her, but it would be a nice gesture if you can afford it. A one way ticket will cost around $600-$900. If you decide to accompany her, your two-way airfare could be anywhere between $1000 and $1800, depending on the season and how early in advance you buy your ticket.'''
'''Once she arrives, she can stay in the US for 90 days in the "fiancée" status. By the end of that time you either get legally married, or she has to go back to her home country. Neither you nor her are obligated to get married, but you may be financially responsible for her return ticket if things don't work out.'''
'''When you do get married, you will need to apply for a permanent resident status for her. There is a special form for that, and an application fee. When you get to that point, you can give us a call. This is going to set you back about $1000 in fees and required medical tests, if you fill out the forms by yourself.'''
You should not have any problems with most of the immigration forms, but in certain matters you may require the assistance of an immigration attorney. While our company does not have its own immigration attorney, we can recommend one who is very competent and consults us on a regular basis. His name is '''Gary Bala''', his phone number is '''(610) 446-VISA'''. You can email him at '''garybala@40Visa-Attorney.com'''