Getting Married in St. Petersburg

[jazfunk]

If anyone out there can help!Want to get married to girl living in St. Petersburg.I understand process takes about one month.My time is limited and can only be away in St. Pete for about one week.Does anyone have contacts in St. Pete that can make marriage happen in this amount of time?I understand that with money many things are possible.I would appreciate any help and please excuse if this has been discussed previously.I am infrequent visitor to these boards!

[wsbill]

... in response to Getting Married in St. Petersburg, posted by jazfunk on Jul 18, 2003

Your story and possibly her photo.
---
Why not bring her here for a 90 vacation before you get hitched?

[Richard]

... in response to Re: Before we give you some advice pleas..., posted by wsbill on Jul 18, 2003

It might be nice to hear his story since last year (April 2002) he was going to Kharkov.

http://www.planet-love.com/wwwboard/russian/archives/display.php?archive=000161&id=68808

[Zink]

... in response to Getting Married in St. Petersburg, posted by jazfunk on Jul 18, 2003

Just got married in Vladivostok, so I know exactly what you're up against. 1 week might be possible if your lady makes a lot of arrangements ahead of time, but I doubt it. I did the whirlwind wedding and it took us three weeks to get everything done. 2 weeks for the paperwork and one week to plan the wedding. I haven't had time to write a report yet. I've been inside many of the official departments in Vladivostok.

Here is a short list of what's necessary. I'll try to expand on my adventures later.

Letter of non-impediment or documents declaring a divorce from you. States that you are free to be married. If you've never been married you can have it done by a consul in Russia in about a day. Must be translated into Russian. Then it needs to be taken to the ministry of Foriegn Affairs and approved by them.

Translated copies of your passport and visa. Must be done in Russia as your visa needs to be registered first.

In order to be married in less than 30 days the woman must be pregnant. She can obtain a document for ZAGS from her doctor.

The head office for ZAGS for her city will give her documents to give to the regional office. The regional office will schedule a date approximately 1 month after she applies. Then the head office will expidite the wedding if she has the pregnancy document. Then the regional office will schedule a wedding more quickly. Vladivostok in June was wedding central. I think there were 20 weddings a day when the ZAGS office was working, Friday and Saturday.

The main problem is the fact that you are dealing with Russian bureacracy. It is slow and occassionally unfriendly. We spent days on the streets running from department to department to obtain documents and then get them certified. Sometimes the offices aren't open when they say. Very often they only work short hours. Sometimes nobody wants to be the one that puts their name on the document so you'll get bounced from person to person with long waits in between.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

[Griffin redux]

... in response to Getting Married in St. Petersburg, posted by jazfunk on Jul 18, 2003

Best if your soon-to-be wife does the negotiation.  It will be cheaper.  There is a lot of paperwork involved (translations, consulate certifications, you name it).  To do it in a week you will really need to hit the ground running.  Take the K-3 forms with you as well and get them completed.

The most important question is, "Do you really want to do it?"  There are distinct advantages to marrying in the FSU but they must be weighed against the concern that you may be acting too hastilly.  Only you can make that decision.  All I can do is recommend caution.

[jazfunk]

... in response to The ZAGS person is who needs to be paid...., posted by Griffin redux on Jul 18, 2003

Griffin...would like to call you.My e-mail is jazfunk@aol.com.Name is Marty!

[Griffin redux]

... in response to Re: The ZAGS person is who needs to be p..., posted by jazfunk on Jul 18, 2003