Back from Kiev and engaged

[exlabman]

Returned from Kiev on Monday after a wonderful trip that introduced me to exactly the kind of lady I was seeking. The success of my trip was due to the increadable help I received from Jack Bragg in the US and his Kiev manager, Galina, who has to be at the top of anybodys match-maker list.

Just a few short bits of information that may be of interest. Starting in late May or early June the K-1 interviews for Ukraine women will be held in Kiev. This was confirmed to me by the American Citizen Services Office at the US Embassy. Last year the Warsaw Embassy processed 1900 marriage visas for Ukraine.

More to follow in a few days.

Larry
Atlanta

[thesearch]

... in response to Back from Kiev and engaged, posted by exlabman on Apr 30, 2003

congratulations to you both. How young a lady did you end up asking to be your bride if I might ask.

How long had you corresponded with her?

Greg

[exlabman]

... in response to Hey Larry, posted by thesearch on May 2, 2003

that want to know.....Her name is Elena.  She is 46, a school teacher with two degrees, teaches dance( ballroom and folk) and geography, has a 21 yr old son. I had Galina send her a registered letter before my trip after finding her profile on First Dream. I received a wonderful lengthy reply from her when I arrived in Kiev. I invited her to meet me in Kiev and she did. She intended to stay 2 days and stayed 9...need I say more. She is beautiful, caring, down to earth, and will make my life more enjoyable as I will hers. The neat part was that Galina knew this lady and told me from the very first day that this was the right lady for me and was she ever right. Oh yes, I met three other ladies before meeting Elena. they were all wonderful but when I saw Elena( at 5 am in the train station by the way)the energy flew from her heart to mine right through her ice blue eyes.For the skeptics take it for what it is worth....

Larry

[Globetrotter]

... in response to For those inquiring minds......and skept..., posted by exlabman on May 5, 2003

No one doubts your sincerity or your desire to do everything humanly possible to make it a go, and most would applaud your audacity.  It is only your judgement that some
would question.  Still, best of luck.

[LP]

... in response to Hey Larry, posted by thesearch on May 2, 2003

...his post correctly, he was introduced to her during his trip. I guess thats long enough huh? ;-)

[Globetrotter]

... in response to If I read..., posted by LP on May 2, 2003

I guess even lots of silver whiskers doesn't make one a smart person.  She's probably thinking...retiree with a pension, social security check as well, lots of time, and a boat ride...why not.  He's probably thinking...meetum, marryum, and tomorrow never comes.

[Scaught]

... in response to Re: If I read..., posted by Globetrotter on May 3, 2003

I don't want to disparage Exlabman's boldness, although I know neither of us would recommend it. We have to face the fact that for I don't know how large a percentage of people here (it's high, I think), MOB is taken fairly literally-- you pick a girl out of a catalogue (and looking at a thread above, much more attention and logic is spent towards choosing a good dog from the kennel) and there's really not much more than that before the wedding bells. (This is not to say that exlabman himself didn't give this endeavor a great deal of thought, and not to say that a good dog can't add positively to the quality of one's life.) The relationship in many MOB cases, for better or worse, begins after marriage. I wish everyone the best luck as it is true there are no guarantees in any relationship, no matter how well it starts. I feel I have done the right thing for me. Forgive me if I sound like a broken record, but personally I don't see the hurry. If she finds someone else during a courship period, you are better off being without someone like her, and she saved you years of misery down the road. I am afraid of making a big mistake and this is why I have been visiting and talking on the phone with this one lady for over two years. She should be here within several months and I am glad we took our time. After all this, I don't know if we will get married. It depends on how she adjusts and, mainly, how we get along together over just a few more months together (fiancee visa requirements). I would like to say that maybe my odds of having a lasting and successful relationship will be improved because of all this time and effort, but I really don't know. It's just more comfortable at different levels now than when we first met. When Exlabman might be celebrating his 10th wedding anniversary, I might be in divorce court, drained, bitter, and a mere shadow of my former self. (Insert organ music here, heavy on vibrato...)

[Yeahbaby]

... in response to Back from Kiev and engaged, posted by exlabman on Apr 30, 2003

.

[svanos1]

... in response to Back from Kiev and engaged, posted by exlabman on Apr 30, 2003

Larry,

Marry her there and get her here much quicker!  Do a Direct Consular Filing.

[Frank O]

... in response to Back from Kiev and engaged, posted by exlabman on Apr 30, 2003

Congratulations!!! I'll be going over there next month. Early next month. I was supposed to be there last week this month but got hit HARD by the IRS! Galina is wonderful to work with in Kiev. I ran an ad through First Dream & I am OVERWHELMED with responses. Not bad for a long haired, leather wearing, musician!! LOL!!! Who would have thought. Anyways I'm very happy for you. I hope THIS next trip I will returned engaged as well. I have a good feeling about this second trip. Last trip I got sideswiped but I'm a LOT more prepared this time. Was this your first trip? Are you going to poast a trip report?

[NW Jim]

... in response to Back from Kiev and engaged, posted by exlabman on Apr 30, 2003

Larry, I couldn't find any official confirmation of your info, but was able to find the following information from the US Embassy in Moscow which does indicate that the US will be decentralizing immigrant visa processing in the FSU.

Decentralization of immigrant visa processing that was previously done in Moscow:

Immigrant visas for Kazakhstan residents, will be processed at the U.S. Embassy in Almaty as of March 1, 2003. Immigrant visas for residents of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and the Kyrgyz Republic will be processed at the U.S. Embassy in Almaty as of August 1, 2003.

U.S. immigrant visas for residents of Republic of Georgia will be processed at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi as of May 1, 2003 Immigrant visas for residents of Armenia and Azerbaijan will be processed at the U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi as of October 1, 2003.

[exlabman]

... in response to Re: Change in location of Visa Processin..., posted by NW Jim on May 1, 2003

n/t

[tfcrew]

... in response to Back from Kiev and engaged, posted by exlabman on Apr 30, 2003

Previously, visas either way were not required for Warsaw.
Also, I liked Warsaw. Big as it is, things there were simple for me. I never was in Kiev. My wife was born there.
If they would only dispence with the Ukraine visa requirement.....
Karl

[John K]

... in response to Back from Kiev and engaged, posted by exlabman on Apr 30, 2003

About time on the K1 interviews.  I lost valuable months when I told the INS that Marina's interview site was Kiev.  It sat in the Kiev embassy for months, until I found out what happened.  Once I contacted Warsaw about it, it was there in a few weeks.  Still, I was a bit irritated.

Best of luck in the future, Larry.  We're all very happy for you.

[Scaught]

... in response to Back from Kiev and engaged, posted by exlabman on Apr 30, 2003

Thank you for the info about changes in visa processing-- my fiancee's case is now in the hands of the embassy in Warsaw; no interview is yet scheduled. Will her interview be held in Kiev, not Warsaw? Is this info on some official website somewhere.

Please let me know-- Scaught