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"I'd still try not to get your expectations to high though. Look at it as I said, a nice time with a beautiful stranger in a place exotic to you both. Not such a bad deal and if it works out to be more all the better. And be sure to remain in control at all times, if you get my drift. Do nothing until you're back home and the experience has worn off some. Don't let the "fog of MOB" get the best of you, they'll be time enough to make command decisions later"
Posted by LP.

Too many guys travel to the fsu and have the unrealistic expectations of "finding the one" and then proceed to force a relationship to fit.  What is the rush?  If it is true love, then it will hold until at least the next visit.  LOL.  The "fog of MOB" is a real danger too.  I am sure that many guys will succumb to the intoxicating position of being "Hugh Heffner" for a few days.  It is a position that most of us are not used to.  Do not become a "one week wonder", because your actions will turn your life upside down.
KenC

It can be even worse.  There are some men who won't even travel there until they've proposed and a woman has accepted via phone, e-mail, or a letter.  It's not that uncommon.

I don't really understand the one-week-wonders.

But, this is just over the top.  How can you propose to someone that you've never even *met*???

I'm definitely in the meet-many-times-and-live-over-there-for-a-few-months-if-you-can camp.

It's a strange world we live in.

    The way I see it is I am going into the trip knowing what I am looking for and if I see it I am gonna take it.  If I am being hornswoggled by a dame I will find out soon enough or during the 3 month trial period.  Based on what I have heard it seems their will be many good women to choose from so why procrastinate, its not a filibuster.  
If I screw it up and select a shark than I am going to ship her back airmail.  If I choose to marry after the 3 month period than I will protect my assets with a incontestable prenup. If the woman I choose can't understand and agree to a prenup, than I chose the wrong woman for sure.  

In my opinion the risk is worth the reward. It's the woman who takes the majority of the risk.  Traveling to a strange land, alone and dependent.  All I risk is my feelings and a little cash.  I have been broke before and my feelings have been broken as well and I still stand.

In the end the fact is I do not want to be traveling to Ukraine and flirting endlessly over a period of years looking for exact perfection.  I don't need perfection after all whoever gets stuck with me is getting a dinged up old Duster with balding tires.

I anxiously await the fallout!

If you use the K1 visa for invit your lady and that after the periode of three month, you don't go married, she need return to his own country...

Result, she cannot more aplly for a K1 during the next 5 year !!! When she come back in own country, she have no more work...

The K1 is a method for when you are almost sure to be married and not for try several woman.

What kind of feeling have you for allow a woman take so big risk...

Use some month of correspondance for see if you are compatible... meet her... and if all is right, apply for K1... of maybe marry her in her own country and apply for K3... more complex but the procedure is shorter of three month...

Why marry in her country... for respect for family... it will be the last time they are with her daughter...

Don't make to other what you don't wish the other make to you... marry a woman is not like make shopping... no happy, give it back to the shop !!! I think that marry someone is something enough important in life for take is time... and make the good choice...

Bruno Thoumsin
Love from Russia

"I think that marry someone is something enough important in life for take is time... and make the good choice..."

Although marriage is important I believe that it is not  important to pick "The one" It is more important to make your choice and than the woman becomes "The one". I am looking for certain traits to give the lady a chance to be "The one" and I will not set a lady up for failure and bring her across the globe if she has little chance.  

My experience thus far with communicating through mail and over phone has been a waste of time.  I attempted to call one lovely woman but had to have the phone call interpreted at a hefty fee and somehow my email address was not communicated properly although I said it at least 3 times.  I now refuse to use any of the services of the agency until I get to the Ukraine.  

Thank you
Fathertime

- they remove contact information
- they change the text of letter
- they write letter to man without asking the lady
...

It is why i have start my own marriage agency... in reality, i am not a marriage agency but it is my home page... but i need to call this marriage agency for the search engine... who go search after the homepage from Bruno Thoumsin...

When Galina have write via agency, she always propose that i help to pay the expense of the agency... and i have almost stop with her because i have think that she was a scam... but now, i know that she have never write this but the agency ass it...

Now, she use her own e-mail box, her english is far to be perfect but i understand her... and she have propose to send me 200$ for meet her again more early... our next meeting is planned only to May because i need spare money for the trip...

But if you search very good, you can find some agency who are good and honest... but it is very difficult to find them... and if you understand russian language, you can surf on russian page... same woman make her own web page to find a man ... but in russian language...

Five year ban on the lady obtaining another K-1-

I don't believe this to be true.  I know of RW that have come over on two seperate K-1's (her choice) and there wasn't 5 years between.

The idea of using correspondence to determine compatibility-
This is impossible to determine through written words.  The only way to find out how compatible two people are, is for them to live together or at least spend most of their time together over a long period of time.

The concept of marrying and using a K-3 for time savings-
Even though a K-3 may be quicker, this type of action will have more severe complications should the couple not choose to stay married after immigration.

I do agree that the K-1 process should be taken seriously.  The couple should be rather certain that they will be getting married.  But thinkgs can happen to change that goal.  The man should not look at the 90 day window as a "test drive".  That is of course is unless they both consider it a "test drive".
KenC

In Belgium, the procedure is other but they have say me that all will be more fast when i marry in russia... and i have marry in russia but... it was need around two month for ready all paperwork, and i have a lot of chance, i have use the help of someone from the Belgium Ambassy in Moscow ( a old friend from my army time )...

And i think that for America, it can be the same, the K1 is complex but the K3 more complex... and i don't speak when the woman have already one children... the woman need a legal authorization from the real father, no always easy...

More difficult too when the russian woman is birth in other republic who is now independant !!!

Really, marry a russian woman can be a fight ...

I said no text!

And writing can show a lot about the personality from each other... not short e-mail with only some words but real long letter... but this is only the basic and allow to make the first selection...

Meeting are very important step... but expensive... it why selection is needed before... before know Galina, i have write to around 800 woman... after 2 week, have stay 20... after one month, 4 and after 2 month, the one... Galina...

I am not rich enough to meet 800 women ... and 3 month is enough short... i think that a delay of one year is right...

Previously, i was married with a russian woman and the problem have begin after the first year...

About the K3, it is more fast for the paperwork and more complex too... and apply to the K3 only when you are almost sure that you have find the right one...

Be married in Russia allow to make some control too... i have not see the sign during my first marriage but now, i can say that it was enough sign... she have not wish a marriage at the church, she have not present me to her friend and family ( just father and mother )... but in these time, i was blind... she was very young and sexy... a dream... but a nightware after the first year...

As for the K1 versus K3 debate - it is REALLY simple to resolve. Here is my take on it - and I'll give you some links to see for yourself:

K1 (and K2, for dependent children)

The K1 visa (I-129F) is pretty easy to get and most anyone can do all the paperwork themselves. The US government has 4 service centers to process K1 visa applicants depending on where in the country a person resides. Of these 4 service centers (California, Nebraska, Texas and Vermont), Vermont processes K1 visa applications in about 1 month - California and Nebraska process the applications in about 3 months, and Texas is taking 5 months to process the applications. This gets someone to the point of receiving an approval to set the interview at the foreign embassy/consulate.

After the initial NOA (Notice of Action), the processing times for the K1 and K3 should be pretty similar, to the point of getting the lady into the US - and probably averages another 3 months to get appointment scheduled at the embassy and prepare all necessary paperwork.

K3 (and K4, for dependent children)

The K3 visa (also I-129F) is similar in concept and paperwork to the K1 - with the big difference being that the beneficiary (foreign spouse) is already married to the sponsor.

The other HUGE difference is that ALL K3 visa applications are processed by one single location of the USCIS, and they are taking 7 months to process the application - longer than any of the Regional Service Centers.

You can confirm any and all of the above information at this USCIS website -- https://egov.immigration.gov/cris/jsps/ptimes.jsp.

DCF

The *other* option is to marry in the foreign country (similar to K3) - BUT - to file with the US Embassy/Consulate in that country directly - hence, the name DCF - Direct Consular Filing.

This is DIFFERENT in Russia than in Ukraine. In Russia, the US Embassy will ONLY allow DCF if the American citizen has been full-time resident in Russia for more than 6 months.

In Ukraine, the Embassy allows filing of DCF at any time - and while there are a few hurdles to cross, they are fairly simple to navigate.

DCF, in Ukraine, normally results in the WIFE (NOT fiance) having their IMMIGRATION visa for the USA in less than 3 months time. Note: you DID know that a K1 visa results in a Non-Immigrant visa being issued - correct? This is an important distinction.

The primary reason for DCF being faster is the people are ONLY working with the US Department of State (which has responsibility for Embassies and Consulates worldwide), instead of the K1 and K3 which requires BOTH the Department of State and Department of Justice (USCIS). Fewer bureacracies means less time spent in the process.

There are even other options for marriage to a foreign citizen - but the ones above are the ones the vast majority of people need to know about.

As for LP and KenC - they have both been at this game for more than a few years. They both have had lots of experience - though different experiences - and both are extraordinary about sharing what they have learned with anyone willing to listen (and even some who are not --smile--).

You, and others on the board, would be well-advised to listen closely to what they say. I am not advising that you take everything they say as pure truth - you still have to evaluate it against your own circumstances and draw your own conclusions - but it would be foolish, indeed, to turn a deaf ear to those two.

I have more experience with European procedure... and when i have marry in russia, i have direct make all the paperwork at the ambassy... it was easy for certify document with the "apostille"... the more big problem was for find a offical translator for the document...

I say almost the same of you on my site but a little more complex and long... see below the copy... it is not from me but from several people who have help me...

********
* Copy *
********

The K1 fiancee visa is a relatively simple document to obtain. There is really no reason to retain a lawyer because the INS forms are understandable to the average person. Unless you or your lady have some specific or complicated issues standing in the way of immigration, then save your money and do the paperwork yourself. In general, only two requirements must be met for an American citizen to successfully apply for a K1 fiancee visa. First, the petitioner and the fiancee must meet at sometime within a two year period before the application is filed, and second, the petitioner's income must equal or exceed the federal poverty level guidelines for the specified number of family members.

The K1 fiancee visa process takes roughly 2 to 5 months to process depending on which INS Service Center handles applications in the petitioner's area of the United States. Complete forms and an organized file will limit delays in processing. The INS will inform the petitioner of incomplete or missing documents, but this will increase the time needed to approve the application. The INS will now accept forms downloaded via the Internet at www.usdoj.gov

Forms required for the K1 fiancee visa:
I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancee (one form)
G-325A Biographic Information (two forms - his and hers)
I-134 Affidavit of Support (one form)
These documents must be filled out in their entirety. Do not leave blank or empty spaces. If the question does not apply to your situation, indicate "N/A". If the answer is none, write "none". The I-129F and the G-325A's must be mailed along with the necessary supporting documents to the INS Service Center governing the petitioners region. The I-134 is not required until the fiancee's interview at the US Embassy in Moscow. The I-134 should be hand delivered by the petitioner or the fiancee at that time. Copies of forms and documents are acceptable, so it is highly recommended that the petitioner only send copies in the file to the INS.

Petitioner's required support documents:
Birth certificate or US Passport
Divorce or death certificate(s) - not required if never married
Two ADIT style photos - the INS has specific requirements for these photos
Proof of petitioner/fiancee meeting - a snapshot together will suffice
Payment for INS fee - currently $110.00
Fiancee's required support documents:
Birth certificate or copy of international passport
Child or children's birth certificate(s)
Divorce or death certificate(s) - not required if never married
Two ADIT style photos - the INS has specific requirements for these photos
*All fiancee documents must have notarized translations
Mail the completed application to the INS Service Center governing your region. Be sure to keep the originals so you have a complete file for your own records.

Once the INS service center approves the petition for the K1 visa the approved file will be sent to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. The U.S. Embassy will schedule an interview for the fiancee and her children if applicable. The following documents are required for the interview in Moscow.

Document for interview:
A completed form I-134 Affidavit of Support
Petitioner's support documents for I-134 and interview:
Last two year's tax returns or letter of commercial rating
Letter of employment from current employer to include: hire date, salary, and job title
Recent check stubs, bank account statements and average balances
Proof of petitioner/fiancee meeting - snapshot, travel visa, tickets, etc.
Fiancee's support documents for the interview:
Police report under maiden and married names from all cities of residence
Document of immigration medical examination
The I-134 Affidavit of Support must be notarized and delivered to the U.S. Embassy by the petitioner or fiancee on the day of the interview. The Medical examination must be performed by one of the clinics approved by the immigration section of the U.S. Embassy. The current fee for the medical examination is $100. The U.S. Embassy may request additional information at their discretion - follow their instructions.

As the INS guidelines change from time to time, we recommend that you check the INS web site at the time you file the K1 visa.

After a K1 Fiancee Visa is issued, the fiancee has a 6 month window of opportunity to use the visa by making the trip to America. The K1 Fiancee Visa is a single entry visa and allows the fiancee to remain in the United States for 90 days. At the end of 90 days, the fiancee must either be married to the petitioner or return home.

The 90 day visit allows the petitioner and the fiancee some additional time to test the waters and determine if both parties are still compatible in America. As always, my advice is to go slow; use the whole 90 days to your advantage. Even with the best of intensions a Russian woman may not be able to adjust to living in a new country. Keep your eyes open for insurmountable problems or outright Red Flags. Things are not always what they seem.

I understand that both people may have expectations of the situation or each other that do not jive with reality. The best course of action is to proceed with all the plans as if marriage was a certainty. Help your fiancee get an EAD (Employment Authorization Document) at the point of entry. Help your fiancee apply for a social security card. If your fiancee needs help with English, check out the ESL programs at the local colleges and universities. Help prepare your fiancee for a driver's license. Be honest and forthright; demonstrate your competence and ability to provide for your fiancee's needs on your home turf. But, also keep your eyes and ears open. Listen to your gut or the little voice in the back of your head or what have you, because here comes the pill.

If the petitioner and the fiancee marry within the 90 days of the visa, the petitioner must file an I-485 Adjustment of Status with the INS and submit a completed form I-864 Affidavit of Support. The I-864 is the affidavit of support with teeth. Before you sign this document read it carefully. Read it, know it, and understand the nature of the agreement you are entering into. Once you submit the I-864, it becomes the property of your wife. Even though you are the petitioner and your signature is on the form, the INS will not allow you to retract the document. The reason we keep going over and over how important it is to read between the lines, visit the family and friends, look out for the Red Flags, and trust but verify is rapped up in the I-864.

After the Adjustment of Status, it can take up to two years for your wife to receive her temporary Green Card. There will be more forms along the way, interviews and fingerprints as well. A permanent Green Card and finally citizenship are still a couple more years away.

Sure, you can marry in Russia. I can think of two reasons why some men might want to marry in Russia. The first reason is the shorter processing time for a K3 Spousal Visa. In the real world, filing a K3 might shave 0-3 months off the time needed to get your new bride to America. The second reason is the importance of involving the bride's family in the wedding. While marrying in Russia seems like a viable alternative, in reality it carries far too much risk to be recommended.

In my opinion, the K3 visa has too many drawbacks to make the advantages worthwhile, and involving the bride's family in the wedding can be readily accomplished to everyone's satisfaction. Technically, the K3 visa can be processed quicker than the K1 visa, but it does require a bit more work; however, this is not the primary problem with marrying in Russia. The primary problem is being married before the lady has even seen America. I can honestly tell you that most Russian women have a television and movie outlook about life in America. It is possible that your new bride will not like the "real" America or be able to adjust to a new lifestyle. No matter how much you explain the situation, no one can fully understand until they experience for themselves.

The 90 days allotted by the K1 Fiancee Visa will allow both you and your lady a chance to experiment with life together in America. The fact is that things will change between Russia and America. By observing each other's compatibility in a new environment, both parties will be better prepared to assess the situation and make the final decision. One of the most difficult changes occurs when the man has to return to work. Your Russian lady may begin to feel isolated by the language barrier, lonely without her friends, and/or snubbed by the lessening of attention. It can be a difficult adjustment. So do yourself a favor and use all the time you have available with the K1, just to be sure.

Now if involving your fiancee's family in the wedding is important for both of you, there is a loophole. It is possible to have a church wedding in Russia without actually registering the marriage through legal channels. In "the eyes of God" you will be married, the family will be involved, but legally you will still be eligible to file for the K1 Fiancee Visa and get the benefit of the 90 day visit. If you belong to a religion other than Orthodoxy, there could be some small problems with the Russian church, but remember this is Russia. A donation to the priest in the form of a few thousand rubles will smooth things right out.

You can get married in Russia, but it is complicated and requires more documentation. It will also take about 30-45 days to get a date scheduled for your wedding. You will need to go to Moscow twice, first to get verification of your documents in order to apply for a marriage license and again to apply for a visa to get your new bride home. If you have all the correct documentation, it might only take 1-3 months to process a spousal visa, but the paper work has to be perfect. We don't recommend this approach. The Fiancee Visa is simpler and safer!

Why rush it. Bring your fiancee to your home and take some time to get to know each other better before making that final decision.

You claim the K3 is faster than the K1 - but I know for sure it is NOT. How do I know - because the USCIS publishes their backlog on the internet for everyone to read.

Right now, the backlog for K3 visas is 7 months. The backlog for K1 visas ranges from 1 month to 5 months, depending on the SC.

So you see, the information on your site in inaccurate and could easily lead to someone making a bad decision.

On a more subjective topic, I disagree with the position on your site that the 90 days for the K1 is to be used as a trial marriage.

In fact, if one of the girls coming here on K1 were to tell the Customs inspector that they are coming for a "trial marriage", they risk being denied entry. The USCIS considers the K1 to be a Fiance visa - and both parties have ALREADY made the decision to marry - not try it out for a while.

Just a couple of important points you might want to consider in editing the information on your site.

FWIW

- Dan

I have a time problem for update my advice because my site is not my work but more a hobby, a free service... the site herself don't take too much time for the ads but the personal help to visitor take a lot of time... i make each day 8 hours work for my usual work... and 4 to 5 hours more for the help and site...

About FIANCE, i understand very good the meaning, the origin of these word is French... Fiance mean that you have promise to be marry... in old time, in Europa, you have official fiance contract where you promise to marry in the year... it is old tradition and all this have dissappear...

And about the delay for both K1 and K3, they are indicative delay and only for the administrative section... a lot of paremeter can lead to other delay...

And on my site, i advice the K1... K3 is only a alternative... too much thing can go wrong with a K3... and because it is almost impossible for a woman from FSU to have a tourist visa for USA, the K1 allow to see if the woman can adapt to her future new country...

The K1 is the best solution but people need to know that other method exist...

And these week-end, i go change my page about the K1, and update it...

Thank for the information and the help

..."Again some man who speak about something he don't know"...

And i am the webmaster and owner from a little site and i receive some report from man of woman...

I don't know everything but if yourself you know all, please inform us... it is the function of these forum...

...Just pointing out that before you come here and take a swipe at me or anyone else you'd better get your own facts straight.

And if you really have your client's best interests at heart than why are you pointing them at a lawyer in the first place? One that doesn't seem to know his stuff? You're not getting a cut of that are you? Nah, couldn't be, you're just a peasant gardener out to spread joy and happiness throughout the world right? I don't know what kind of operation you run but spare me the altruism, you're in it for the money just like everyone else. I'll let it slide this time but take my advice and cut back on the chocolate.

I see that you ( LP ) and Dan are enough actief on these forum... but Dan make reply who can help other visitor... you make only attack without a lot of explain... maybe you have some kind of complex !!!

And i don't point my visitor to a lawyer... i have receive information from him and other... actually, i have no find a site who give good information and who can help my visitor...

And it is not because i am new on the forum, that i know nothing... my first online marriage agency is from 1997... i have stop after 2 year because it is become to much expensive for me... and now, i have start again because my new internet provider is enough cheap... around 12.5 euro month for all... with the publicity i have earn 72$ for december, enough for pay my site and drink some beer...

I am maybe now a peasant gardener but i have choose these way for a life without stress... i have study informatica at university... and work around 10 year like officier in the Belgium Navy ( Army )...

And i am not in for the money... I am not a American, i am not capitalist... i believe that help people are possible without ask money... like friendship...

I envy your low stress life as a gardener and commend your education and service to your country but try and understand some of us aren't as lucky. We have more stress to deal with and our backgrounds and experiences tend to make us view things in different ways. Each of us are, after all, subject to being products of our life experiences and environments. In our case the two probably couldn't be further apart, especially our current lifestyles. I hope the time comes when I'll be able to live like you (it's not far off) but until then I'm pretty much stuck lying in the bed I've made.

I also wish I could be as eloquent as Dan or as much as a gentleman as Ken. I'm working on it but I'll be the first to admit it's a tough nut to crack. Until then you'll simply have to do as others and accept me as I am, same as I have to do with you. Either that or ignore me (I won't be heartbroken if you do). I'm sure you feel you have something to contribute here in your own way (as do I) so lets just try and coexist. I promise to behave in as civil a manner as I'm capable of if you will. Just remember not to take it personally. I don't and even if you rile me I'll quickly forget about it. I mean come on, it's just the internet.

Why don't you tell us why you got involved in this. I'm curious as to what exactly is "wrong" with Belgium women to the point your on your second FSU one. Although I'm well traveled I've only been to your little corner of the world once, and not for very long.

About earn money with the site, it is not easy... the first month, i have earn around 390$, these month only 72$ and i think that next month it will be nothing...

I don't ask money to somebody but i have publicity for other agency... and i earn some % of what my visitor buy to them...

But since i have more woman, the man have not so much interest in other agency... i understand this, why pay when you can have for free...

When i have begin in 1997, i have make the same but in these time, my expense for internet was around 1000$... modem and phone compagny... not, internet is cheap and i can start again... i use a new compagny in Belgium... via TV cable, only 12.5$ month... for 5 e-mail address, always online, one domain name, 250mb web site, broadband, and 20gb traffic month...

The expense of my site is only 12.5$ and time... same if i earn nothing, 12.5$ is not a lot to pay... more cheap that go to cafe... and i make a lot of friend...

Now, about stress life, it is a choice... Before, in the Navy, i have earn a lot of money but i was alway far of home, where was some war ( Irak, Somalie, Yougoslavia )... with the time, money have become not so much important for me, and i have choice for a other work without any stress... but with more low income... but enough for a normal life...

About ignore you, it is not possible... i like negociation... and i don't ask to ignore me but maybe you can be more "calm" in your writing... and about Dan, yes, it is a great man...

Why i have got involved in this... my first girlfriend in Belgium have use drug, the second was like a hooker ( but for free ), and with the last, i have loose 110.000$... i have begin search woman outside europa ( Africa, asia, and Russia ). I have spend a lot of money in big agency without result. And i have start my first free site... free for attract women and men... and i was the first to receive the ads of woman... more easy to make the choice and be the first to write her when she was interesting
:-)))

And i have married with a russian woman... big error... she was very beautiful, 18 year old, ... and i was almost 30 year old... i have go to fast, i have wish these young beauty and don't take care about compatibility... when she have receive the Belgium nationality, she have ask the divorce... but it was all a time that it was problem between us... and i don't say that she is a bad woman, only that i was not ready and i have make the bad choice...

Now, i have know a woman from Ukraine, Galina... i have contact her because we have the same date for birthday, the 14 May, we have become friend... and slowly, from the friendship have come love... She is not a top model but not bad ( i find myself enough ugly ) and our character are enough compatible... i was only a little surprised when she have say the work of his father... he is cleric in orthodox church... but this explain maybe a lot about her good character...

Now, the only punt that i don't agree... you write :
"come on, it's just internet"

A lot of woman claim again western man because they take this like a game, because they are not serious in the intention of search a wife... some people think that because it is internet, all is allow and they game with feeling of other... be hurt in your heart can lead to a lot of pain... and because internet is expensive for russian woman, this game hurt her money too...

How do you know the above is true.

When a K1 is cancel during the periode of three month, the woman have almost no more the possibility for apply to a K1 during so period...

And it is not always easy to have a K1 for a woman, she need prove that she "know" the man. When you meet your woman in ex-USSR, don't forget to ready the interview with her, to have some proof like photo together...

And about work, it is easy to understand... in ex-ussr, it is difficult to find a work... if she go to America for three month, her job is take by a other... and when she come back, she have very difficult to find a new one...

Myself, i can be only sure for the procedure for Belgium ( my own country ) because i have already married a russian woman before... and these year, i marry a second time but with a ukrainian woman...

For France, and UK, i work with local agency who know enough good the system for own country...

Visit my advice page about the K1 visa at http://www.love-from-russia.be/am6.htm and send me all the correction that you feel is needed... i and people who have help me to make the page have not all the knowledge from the world... all help are welcome...

I do not know your source Mark Hlave but I know if he told you this information he is for sure mistaken. Their is no 5-year penalty on any FSU woman who leaves the country with-in 90 days of her arrival and in accordabce with the provisions of the K-1.

Their are many ladies who have been here, it did not work out, she left within 90 days and was back in America a year later on another K-1.

You just got some bad info Bruno, no big deal. The information shared and learned here is why Planet-Love is so respected and read.

About Galina, we are not married... in May, i meet her for the second time in Nikolaev... the marriage is only planed for end 2005.

About our "agency", i am surprised that you have heard something about us... it is only 2 month that we have start and we are not a big one...

And we are not a real agency... i am a working for administration and i use my free time for these site, a little like a hobby...

We have start these agency because myself and Galina have know a lot of problem with scammer... and with some big real marriage agency... before we know each other...

And i don't like these big agency... some of these agency pay 20$ to each lady who place a ads... for people from ex-USSR, 20$ is a big amount of money...

I agree that agency can make money for service but why pay for address, why give money to woman, ... translation, gift, book, ... can be enough...

Of maybe work like a other little agency i know in France, man pay only in case of marriage... the amount is enough high ( 1000$ ) but they make the matchmaking, the paperwork, and integration course when the woman is in France... and nothing to pay before result... just sign a contract...

And about these forum, he is very good, i can see a lot of meaning... but it will be perfect to have the same for the woman from ex-USSR... for know what they think too... some man can be surprise...

Before begin so "quest", it is need to learn and search information about culture, procedure, expense,...

And sorry, i find the American procedure very complex... in Belgium, i can invit the woman for 3 month without a lot of document, with just a copy of my tax form ( income )... and once in Belgium, she can prolong it...

Generaly, it is not a problem for a russian woman to visit Europa... with a Shengen visa, she can visit each country of Europa.

No need several document for us. In all case, the search of information begore begin something is prioritaire.

Please tell us the EXACT procedure a woman from the FSU can use to ENSURE she receives a Shengen visa? Please describe every small detail - and the costs.

Thanks,

- Dan

Say me your country and the country of the woman and i can try to find more specific information

Bruno

Short visits to Belgium (up to three months)
Short visits to Belgium with a passport and a visa

Nationals of any States other than those referred to above and holders of identity and travel documents other than those mentioned above are allowed to enter Belgium provided they have a valid passport or equivalent travel document plus a visa or an authorisation in place of a visa, valid for Belgium.

The visa

A visa is a sticker affixed to a passport by an Embassy or Consulate or at the border. It authorises the passport holder to remain or move freely within the territory of a country (or several countries) during a specific and limited period of time.

Under the Schengen co-operation arrangements, the Schengen States shall generally issue a visa valid for the entire Schengen territory.
 

The authorisation in place of a visa

The authorisation in place of a visa is drawn up on a separate sheet and may stipulate:

- that the alien's passport, travel document or identity document is not valid for one or more Schengen States or for all the Schengen States; or

- that the alien's passport, travel document or identity document is issued by a State or a Government which is not recognised by any of the Schengen States;

which means:

that such an authorisation, bearing an ordinary visa, constitutes the only way to enter the territory of the countries concerned.

The authorisation in place of a visa is valid only if its beneficiary carries the identity document or travel document referred to in the authorisation.

The laissez-passer

When an alien has legitimate reasons to visit Belgium, but is unable to provide a travel document and is issued a visa, Belgian diplomatic or consular authorities abroad may issue a laissez-passer. This document, to which a visa is appended, is valid solely for a journey to Belgium.
 

The uniform visa or Schengen visa

The uniform visa or Schengen visa was established by the Schengen Agreements. It is valid for the territory of all the Schengen States and entitles the holder to remain for an uninterrupted period of 90 days at most or to make one or more visits over a six-month period in the Schengen territory, starting from the date of first entry. Notwithstanding the general rule, any Schengen partner may reserve the right to restrict the territorial validity of the visa.

Types of Schengen visas

Type A Schengen visa

Airport transit visa. This visa requirement represents an exception to the general rule allowing individuals to remain without a visa within the international transit area. This document authorises transit solely through the international area of the airport.

Type B Schengen visa

Transit visa. This document authorises transit through several countries starting from a third State and with a third State as the destination. The transit period must not exceed five days.

Type C Schengen visa

Short visit visa or travel visa, visa for several entries: a visa allowing aliens to enter the territory of the Schengen States for an uninterrupted maximum stay of 90 days or for one or more successive visits over a period of six months, with the total period not exceeding 90 days. Visas issued by Belgian diplomatic and consular authorities may not be valid for more than one year, the period during which the authorised visit may be made. The visa may be issued for one or more entries.

Type A, B or C collective Schengen visa

Transit visa for a visit of no more than 30 days, that may be affixed to a collective passport and issued to aliens travelling as a group. The group must have been in existence for a certain time and be organised socially and institutionally; it must comprise at least 5 and no more than 50 persons; it must include an individual with responsibility for keeping the passport and must enter the Schengen territory, remain there and leave as a group.

Type D Schengen visa

National visa for a visit of up to 90 days, valid for the territory of the Schengen State that issued the visa but also valid for transit through the territory of other Schengen States for the purpose of reaching the State that issued the visa.

Type D + C Schengen visa

Visa allowing the alien, on arrival in the destination Schengen State in possession of a type D visa, to move freely in the Schengen area for the first three months following his/her arrival, pending the issue of his/her definitive residence document.

Visa application procedure

a) At which Embassy or Consulate?

As a general rule, Schengen visas are issued which are valid for the territory of the 15 countries currently applying the Schengen Agreement. Once such a visa has been obtained, a person thus has the right to enter and stay for a short period (maximum of 90 days in one half-year period) in the territory of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

Aliens subject to the visa requirement must contact the diplomatic or consular authorities competent for their place of residence or the place of residence abroad

A visa application may also be made to an Embassy or a Consulate in a third country in which the applicant is only passing through, although in such cases, the application will need to be submitted for a prior decision by the Federal Public Service of the Interior.

The relevant diplomatic or consular authorities for the Schengen States may be determined by asking the following questions:

- What is the sole or main destination of the trip?

- Which country will the interested party be visiting for the longest period?

- Which country will the interested party visit first?

- in which country will the alien enter the Schengen territory?

In the framework of Schengen co-operation, any diplomatic or consular authorities of one Schengen State may represent another Schengen State which is not represented locally, for the processing of the visa application and issue of the visa.  

b) Obligation of personal appearance

In principle, visa applicants must appear in person before the diplomatic or consular authorities, notably so as to provide or receive orally any requisite explanations.

c) Documents to be provided when applying for a visa

- a valid travel document (a passport, for example) to which a visa may be affixed. The validity of the travel document must be three months longer than that of the visa;

- if need be, any documents substantiating the purpose (for example, invitations from private individuals or companies, a medical certificate and appointments with a Belgian attending physician or in a Belgian hospital, etc) and conditions of the planned visit (hotel reservation, for example). These documents generally have a substantiating effect only if they are the originals;

- any documents proving that the alien (guest) has sufficient means of support to cover the visit and the return, as well as any medical expenses, in the form of an undertaking of responsibility if need be;

- if the alien has no financial credit, he/she must have be able to have access to 38 euro per day of his/her intended visit if he/she is staying with an individual, or 50 euro per day of his/her intended visit if he/she is staying in a hotel.

- The applicant must prove that he/she has taken out valid personal or group travel insurance to cover possible expenditure for repatriation for medical reasons, medical care and/or emergency treatment in a hospital. In principle, the applicant must take out insurance in their country of residence. If the host takes out insurance on the applicant's behalf, this must be done in the host's own place of residence. The visa applicant must contact the Belgian embassy or consulate to find out which insurance policies have been accepted. The insurance in question must be valid throughout the territory of the Schengen member states and cover the full duration of the stay. The minimal cover is 30,000 euro.

To be admissible, any undertaking of responsibility presented to the diplomatic or consular authorities must be accompanied by a document certifying that the guarantor has Belgian nationality or is authorised to reside in Belgium for an indefinite period (for example, a copy of the identity card) and by a pay slip or documents certifying the guarantor's income and solvency.
In case of visa applications related to a family visit, the guarantor's minimum monthly net income must amount to 800 euro. This amount shall be increased by respectively 150 euro for each person already dependent on the guarantor and by an additional 150 euro for each person invited. As for visa applications for tourist purposes, the guarantor's minimum monthly net income must amount to 1000 euro plus 150 euro for each person already dependent on the guarantor and an additional 200 euro for each person invited.  

Business visa

Visa applications are often submitted by business operators and/or representatives of foreign companies invited by companies operating in Belgium to visit them in Belgium.

These business visits generally come under the general regulations; however, documents applying more specifically to the business sector may also be provided to substantiate the purpose of the trip and to prove the existence of sufficient means of support.

The letter prepared by the Belgian company or the Belgium-based company should state the purpose of the visit and its duration, along with the type of business relations between the host company and the foreign business operator or the operator's company.

The business operator must also provide evidence that the application is justified. Hence, it may be worthwhile:

- to be able to prove, if the operator is self-employed, that he/she is listed in the commercial register or to provide an equivalent document in use in the country of origin;

- to be able to provide, if the operator is a paid employee, a certificate or substantiating document drawn up by the company of employment and on whose behalf the operator wishes to visit Belgium.
If the diplomatic or consular authorities competent for the business operator's place of residence or place of destination are unfamiliar with the company, it must make itself known using all appropriate means (activity report, statutes, etc), particularly if it has ongoing relations with a specific company abroad.

Evidence of means of support may be provided on the basis of the following items:

- own resources, which must cover subsistence expenses and the cost of returning to the country of origin or to another country;

- the letter of invitation, which also provides evidence of means of support abroad, if it is intended that some of the subsistence expenses (hotel, restaurants, travelling expenses, etc) of the business operator will be covered by the company operating in Belgium extending the invitation;

- an undertaking of responsibility. This undertaking may be entered into only by a natural person; in other words, a legal person is not entitled to enter into this kind of undertaking. None the less, a person empowered by a company's statutes may enter into one or more undertakings for one or more aliens invited by the company, provided that this kind of undertaking is not inconsistent with the company's business.

All the original documents must be transmitted direct to the business operator invited, who shall make a visa application on the basis of the said documents.

d) Processing of the visa application

When Belgian diplomatic or consular authorities are convinced - and have every reason to be so - of the good faith of the applicant and/or the person/organisation inviting the alien, the visa may be issued. Often, however, the Embassies and Consulates General are unable to determine the reasons for the individual extending the invitation and/or for the visit. In these circumstances, the Belgian diplomatic or consular authorities must present the visa applications they have tentatively accepted on the basis of formal aspects to the Aliens' Office of the Federal Public Service of the Interior (North Gate II, Avenue Émile Jacqmain 152, 1000 Brussels, tel. 02/206.15.99, fax 02/206.14.63) and await the instructions of this Office, with which they must comply.

In addition, Schengen visas are the type generally issued. These are valid for the territory of the 15 countries currently implementing the Schengen Agreement. This means that in certain cases one or more Schengen partners must be consulted.

These additional steps explain why the visa application procedure often lasts a long time and why it is advisable for visa applicants to start making arrangements in due time, potentially up to 3 months before the date they plan to leave for Belgium.

If the application has been submitted to the Aliens' Office, the visa applicant will be notified of the reference number under which the application was forwarded. The applicant may contact the Office and obtain information about the progress of the application by giving this number and his/her name and date of birth.

Applicants may also consult the website of the Aliens' Office of the Federal Public Service of the Interior at the following address: http://www.dofi.fgov.be .  

Decisions taken on visa applications are notified by the Belgian diplomatic and consular authorities in writing, by telephone or orally at the visa window.

Once a decision to issue a visa has been taken, the actual provision of the visa is often conditional upon presentation of a ticket (for example, a non-transferable return air ticket bearing the passenger's name). To prevent any misunderstanding, it is worthwhile to note that this ticket should only be purchased once the Belgian diplomatic or consular authorities have notified the applicant that the visa has been granted.

Pledge of Financial Support for a Short Stay

Description
A foreign national must, upon arrival in Belgium and the Schengen territory, provide proof that he or she has sufficient means of subsistence, both for the duration of the intended stay and for the return trip to the country of origin or for the transit to a third country.  The foreign   national in question must in principle have personal means of subsistence, but it is possible to enter Belgium and Schengen territory by calling on a guarantor who undertakes a pledge of financial support.  Pursuant to Article 3bis of the Act of 15 December 1980, the guarantor undertakes to assume the expenses for healthcare, stay and repatriation of the foreign national in respect of said foreign national, the Belgian State and every competent social welfare agency.  

Who can undertake such a pledge?
A pledge of financial support can be undertaken only by a natural person who has sufficient means and holds Belgian nationality or who is empowered or authorised to stay in Belgium for an unspecified period.    The pledge can be undertaken by one individual who has sufficient means of subsistence.  

Sufficient means of subsistence
This refers to regular income.  In this connection, due account of the composition of the guarantor’s household will be taken.  As proof of sufficient means of subsistence, the guarantor must provide payslips or documents drawn up by a public authority, which shows the monthly or annual net/gross income.  The following will in particular be accepted in this connection:  payslips, pension slips, proof of benefits, tax return from the previous year, etc.  

Procedure: steps to be taken by the guarantor and the role of the municipal authorities and the Belgian representation abroad
If a person wishes to stand guarantee for a foreign national, he or she must go to the municipality where s/he is registered in the population registers to complete the relevant form of a pledge of financial support.  If the requisite conditions are met, the burgomaster or his authorised agent will legalise and date the pledge of financial support.  The original of this document will then be sent back to the guarantor.    The latter must send the (original of the) pledge of financial support to the visa applicant, together with the proof of identity and of sufficient means of subsistence.  For reasons of discretion, the guarantor may also opt to  turn these documents under sealed envelope with a copy of the legalised pledge of financial support directly to the Belgian diplomatic or consular authority abroad where the visa has been applied for.  The foreign national has a period of six months as of the day that the pledge of financial support was legalised by the burgomaster or his authorised agent to go the competent Belgian diplomatic or consular authority in order to submit an application for a visa.  The competent diplomatic or consular authority will, in necessary in cooperation with the Aliens Department, assess the submitted documents and the guarantor’s solvency.  The original pledge of financial support will be returned to the visa applicant upon the issuing of the visa, as this document can serve as proof of solvency upon entering Schengen territory.