a couple of things

[Deckard]

Hi everyone,

Long time no post for me

I am hoping to hear from anyone who has experienced (or has knowledge of) getting married to a Ukrainian woman .. in Ukraine.

I've already asked the consular section in Ukraine some questions, but I would really like to get some first hand experiences too.

One of my biggest questions is whether or not I must actually be in Ukraine for a certain specified length of time before I am allowed to get married there, to a Ukrainian citizen. I have other questions too.

The other thing I would like to know... are there any of you out there in the vicinity of central Texas? I mean within the greater Austin area, or nearby?

Hoping to get a response or two..

Peace,

-Deckard

P.S. Rags, e-mail sent.

[Del]

... in response to a couple of things, posted by Deckard on Aug 28, 2002

I've some info you are interested in.

[TexasPhil]

... in response to a couple of things, posted by Deckard on Aug 28, 2002

Hey Deckard,

I'm in Austin and planning on getting married early next year to a lady from Novosibirsk. I know of 2 other ladies from Novosibirsk married and living here. One is my Lera's college friend. I know there are other ladies here from Russia and the Ukraine. You can contact me at philip@warner.net

Good Luck!
Phil

[johnnydudeman]

... in response to a couple of things, posted by Deckard on Aug 28, 2002

I went to school in Austin (for my "higher education" ) and I still live in the general area.  What do you need to know?

[Deckard]

... in response to Austintatious, posted by johnnydudeman on Aug 28, 2002

Hi johnnydudeman,

I was hoping to get in touch with people who have done or are doing what Luda and I are doing, and that are in the general vicinity of Austin.

And it would be great for Luda to eventually be able to meet other FSU women who are going through or have gone through something similar as she.

Peace,

-Deckard

[Mark H]

... in response to a couple of things, posted by Deckard on Aug 28, 2002

Deckard,
I'd be interested in knowing what you find out. Are you in Austin? I'm in Abilene, from San Antonio originally. I get down that way quite a bit. It has been a long time since you posted, what's new?

Mark H.

[Deckard]

... in response to Re: a couple of things, posted by Mark H on Aug 28, 2002

Hi Mark,

I'm glad to see someone here remembers me .

As far as what I've found out, it's not much, but I'm starting to get confused, seeing as how I originally thought I was going to file a K-1, than an I-130, and now from the people who have responded to my post so far, I'm thinking of going back to a K-1. But then I'll probably hear about the "K-5" and get confused all over again, hehe .

I'll basically do almost whatever it takes to marry Luda in Ukraine, but still be able to bring her over in about 3-5 months. The K-1 seems to fit that criteria, and I don't mind that I won't be marrying her in the states. We'll just have some kind of party after she arrives to celebrate her arrival, our reunion, and our marriage. That way my friends and relatives wouldn't be completely left out, and it'd give her a chance to meet everyone and vice versa.

I'm originally from Ft. Worth, but I've spent much of my life outside of Texas, only returning in '89. I've been in Austin ever since then.

Not too much new that's exciting. My relationship with my fiancee has grown over the last year, and we've noticed that our relationship is growing stronger as time passes. We e-mail several times everyday, and I call her nearly everyday, sometimes twice a day (yes, my phonebill puts a large damper on my savings). One year has passed since I first met her, and again since we became engaged, and if I don't see her before October 8th, it will have been one year since I've seen her.

It's been *REALLY* hard sometimes for both of us, and I feel it has definitely made us stronger. I know that it will be another major test after she is here one day, but as we grow closer (despite our physical distance right now), I become less worried also.

After some effort, I am able to get a leave of absence from my job. I'm not sure yet how long they'll give me, but I believe I should be able to take at least 7 or more weeks off. I hope to leave with my mother in early October to Ukraine (Crimea), where I will stay for the duration of whatever length of time my job gave me, and where Luda and I shall get married. My mother will probably return after Luda and I are married, as we'll have a honeymoon there in Crimea, somewhere along the coast of the Black Sea.

So that's the latest.

I've watched this board on and off, and I'm sure I've missed a lot. I don't think I've made a post in months, either.

Anything new with you?

Thanks for asking,

Peace,

-Deckard

[Mark H]

... in response to The latest, posted by Deckard on Aug 29, 2002

Deckard,
Sounds like you've come a long way and your almost to the finish line. Abilene is new! And I'm not sure how long I'll be here, we'll see. Let's just say it's not the dating mecca of the world! : )   As for the FSU thing, I write one girl daily, she's in Ukraine. I'm planning a trip hopefully next month, my Anesthesia boards are looming and they keep getting put off.....

Best of luck to you and Luda, sounds great. I bet your mom is just going to love Crimea.

Mark H.

[Marinka]

... in response to a couple of things, posted by Deckard on Aug 28, 2002

Do you know, if you are going to bring this Ukrainian person to the USA, it is much easier to bring a fiancé and marry in USA. But it is even more difficult and takes more time to bring "Ukrainian wife" (husband) to the USA!

[Deckard]

... in response to Re: a couple of things, posted by Marinka on Aug 28, 2002

Hi Marinka,

Thanks for your input .

I wasn't glad to hear it, but the saying "ignorance is bliss" would have come back to bite me in this case

I'm thinking of marrying her in Ukraine, and not telling the states, and instead just filing a K-1.

Peace,

-Deckard

[Griffin]

... in response to a couple of things, posted by Deckard on Aug 28, 2002

No experience with Ukraine.

I married in Uzbekistan at the ZAGS office.  There was a 30 day residency requirement but it was waived due to special circumstances ($).

After returning home I filed an I-130 with the TSC and then applied for K-3 and K-4 visas through the Missouri Service Center.  This process USED to be faster than the K-1 route with typically a 15 to 21 day turnaround.  Now TSC is granting K-1s MUCH faster than MSC is granting K-3s.

Someone below mentions getting a K-3 through the American consul in Warsaw.  I don't think that can be done.  There is an interview with the consul after the K-3 is approved by INS, as there is with a K-1, which may be causing some confusion.  Also there is a special set of circumstances for an American citizen living overseas that involves the consul but that's not your situation.  These were at least the rules that were in place May-June of this year.

Everything keeps changing.  What looked like a good way to go in May, when TSC was dead last in processing time and MSC had 2 - 3 week turnarounds, sucks now with the situation reversed.  I have yet to see a K-3 approval with a NOA(1) date greater than April.

Congressmen are no help.  No one wants to be the one that helps get the next terrorist into the country.  God help us when INS is folded into Homeland Security. (Am I the only one that thinks that has an Orwellian ring to it?  Or maybe Teutonic?  We must guard our lebensraum from attractive Orthodox Catholics and their 2 year-old daughters!)

You might want to consider flying your wife to Mexico on a tourist visa and . . . .

[Deckard]

... in response to Greetings from Splendora!, posted by Griffin on Aug 28, 2002

Hi Griffin,

It's starting to seem that a K-3 route is less reliable than a K-1 route in terms of how soon they will let my fiancee come over. I'd rather resign myself to waiting a more reliable and documented length of time that the K-1 involves, than take the less known K-3 process that in some respects seems to take longer.

This is not something I want to take a chance on.

Thanks for your post,

Peace,

-Deckard

[BFH]

... in response to Greetings from Splendora!, posted by Griffin on Aug 28, 2002

"You might want to consider flying your wife to Mexico on a tourist visa and . . . ."   Believe me, I've really thought long and hard about this sneaky option.

Greeting from Corpus Christi.

My wife and I were married in April, (Moscow ZAGS) honeymooned until late April, and I filed the I-130 with the TSC upon arrival back in the States.  Recieved the 1st NOA from TSC within a week, then sent in the I-129F to MSC.  The 1st NOA from MSC is dated 5-21-02.  Absolutely nothing since then.  The automated answering system at the MSC continues to say that it is taking between 60-90 days to process this kind of case.

I'm beginning to believe there isn't a truthful bone in any of the soup the INS feeds us since I'm now sitting at 99 days since the date on the 1st NOA from MSC.

The Mexican option is looking better all the time.....

[Deckard]

... in response to Re: Greetings from Corpus Christi, posted by BFH on Aug 28, 2002

Hi BFH,

gosh... after reading your situation and hearing what others here have said, I'm thinking of going ahead with filing a K-1 instead, but actually getting married in a church in Ukraine, and just not telling either governments . I hope it won't cause some other problem by doing it that way.

Thanks for your example... I honestly hope to avoid waiting as long as you have (and continue to wait).

Peace,

-Deckard

[BFH]

... in response to Re: Re: Greetings from Corpus Christi, posted by Deckard on Aug 28, 2002

You can have a "Mock" wedding in a church in the Ukraine if that's what you want to do, but to have it recognized by the Orthodox Church you will have to convert to that religion.  In any case, that wedding will not be legally recognized in any sense, in other words, you will not be legally married, there, or here.

So,,, you can do it, just find an Orthodox priest who will accept a "gift" and he might be persuaded to perform a ceremony that will satisfy her friends and family, and then you can still file for the K-1 and marry for real when she gets to the states.

I hope this has been helpful.