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Apart from the medical exam what other expenses are there when we go pick up our wives for the interview? I'm assuming a fee for HER visa? Any other fees? Any other "documentation" fees for the USA? What about exit fees from the Ukes?

... in response to What other expenses are there?!, posted by Frank O on Jul 7, 2004

Hi Frank,

I think the question depends on if you are doing a DCF as apposed to a K3.

By the way, pay no attention to the crimudgeon behind the Dan sign on. Sometimes people are not in a good mood and may make poor decisions.  Myself included.

Good luck.

... in response to Re: What other expenses are there?!, posted by AllenB on Jul 9, 2004

We are married so that would be a K3 right? What is a DCF? I keep seeing this occasionally pop up. Like I've said my attorney did everything so all I"ve had to do is sign forms & provide whatever papers she asks for. Very easy.

... in response to Re: Re: What other expenses are there?!, posted by Frank O on Jul 9, 2004

I'm sorry you didn't know about this.  In my opinion the K3 should be done away with and only the DCF should be available in those countries that permit it.

Frank, like most attorney's yours was one of two things, uninformed or dishonest.  They really only come in those two packages for the most part.  She probably never recommended a DCF because she would be out of most of the process and therefore could not charge as much.  The only other explaination was that your wife is from a non-DCF country and therefore you had to go the K3 route.  DCF or K3 is up to the Counselor office in the country which she resides in.

Best of luck to you and your sweetheart.

Allen

... in response to DCF Filing, posted by AllenB on Jul 10, 2004

Well all I know is spent $1,600 to get the paperwork done. OUCH!!!

... in response to Re: DCF Filing, posted by Frank O on Jul 10, 2004

Thats a nice chunk for pushing around some papers for a few hours....at a nice hourly rate.  And for not the most effective job for the client.  You.  Does not seem the lawyer worked in your best interest.  Most of the immigration stuff is DIY,  especially if you ask questions on this board.  You will usually get better advice than any $500 per hour lawyer can give you.

I have a couple friends,  nice guys who are lawyers,  but they sure do know how to charge their clients.

Another friend just graduated law school and passed the bar and he told me about one of his final classes.  In this class charging fees etc was the subject.  The gist of the class was,  when in doubt...charge more and always keep the meter running.

Many states have a board of overseers to take action if a lawyer overcharges or fails to work in the clients best interest.  A lawyers ignorance is no excuse.

... in response to $1600???, posted by tim360z on Jul 11, 2004

I only realized this recently. I feel like I was given the Peter North/Ron Jeremy combo with no vasoline. Not good. Having said that if Diana is here by Sept it will all have been worth it.

... in response to Re: $1600???, posted by Frank O on Jul 13, 2004

I too didn't research enough apparently.  I got some attourneys helping my wife and I out for our K3 Visa process.  They say its going to take ballpark about 5 months until she can come... Isn't there more benefits to K3 visa over DCF though?  I still havn't filed the petition w/ the lawyers, already paid 1000 dollars though.  Is it too late?

... in response to Re: Re: What other expenses are there?!, posted by Frank O on Jul 9, 2004

At least from Russia.  Two guys I know married in Russia, stuck around for about a 3 to 4 weeks to file the DCF, and came home with their brides (total time was about 30 days or so versus as much as a year for K1 or K3).

I'm surprised you didn't go this route...unless you couldn't be in-country for the requisite amount of time.

... in response to Usually, a DCF (direct consular filing) ..., posted by Stevo on Jul 9, 2004

I DIDn't but that's not to say I COULDn't. If I had KNOWN I WOULD have gone that route. HOwever I didn't so here I am. My wife should be here within 8 weeks so I can live with that. Things are proceeding smoothly.

... in response to Re: Usually, a DCF (direct consular fili..., posted by Frank O on Jul 9, 2004

[This message has been edited by LP]

There are lots of things you could've done and should be doing but don't cuz near as I can tell you did squat for research before you jumped into this. Not too smart. And for a guy who confesses to making peanuts you sure like to piss it away. Btw, a DCF in Ukraine is a different story. Proceeding smoothly? Just wait, watching what comes next is gonna be so good it'll be fattening...

... in response to What other expenses are there?!, posted by Frank O on Jul 7, 2004

Didja ever think about maybe looking at a site that definitively spells it all out for you? Maybe a site like - oh let me think now - oh, maybe the US Embassy in Kyiv's website? You know - that same bureaucratic organization that you've been told where the interview will be held. Do you suppose they might have some information that might prove useful?

Naw - let's not take the time to go there and look for ourselves. We'll just continue to post here and see if someone else will do our legwork for us. Never mind the fact that maybe it is dated information.

Hell, my Ma never raised no fool, now did she.

... in response to Gee, I Don't Know . . ., posted by Dan on Jul 7, 2004

Over the years you have been the most reliable source for information and helped many of us, without an ulterior motive. Sure, there are many lame post's here but it's the nature of the beast.
I hope things are going O.K. at home with you and your new family.

... in response to Gee, I Don't Know . . ., posted by Dan on Jul 7, 2004

e@+ $H!+ ;-))

... in response to no but she did raise an @$$hole. NT, posted by Frank O on Jul 7, 2004

[This message has been edited by Dan]

Just because you're a lazy horse's a$s doesn't mean you should come here and poke fun at people.

... in response to Now Now Frankie-Poo . . ., posted by Dan on Jul 7, 2004


Laziness is the least of his worries. Frank is one of the few reasons I still read this board...

... in response to What other expenses are there?!, posted by Frank O on Jul 7, 2004

I'm not sure where you are in the process, so I don't know what you have paid so far...

Yes, you will have a Visa fee for her.
Plane tickets, of course.
As far as actually getting out of the country, that's it.

You're lucky because you are doing the exit Visa in Ukraine... Viktoriya had to have $50 per day for Warsaw, or they wouldn't let her in the country...

Now, once you get here, the fees start up again...

Marriage license... Wedding...
You pay for the adjustment of status...
You will pay for the Employment card...
Social Security number... etc, etc... though some of this will be offset by the tax benefit you get by having a new dependant. (I got a $4000 bonus fromt he IRS when I married Viktoriya :-)

... in response to Re: What other expenses are there?!, posted by MarkInTx on Jul 7, 2004

We're already married. I've paid quite a bit already just haven't heard much from my immigration atty other than she'll let me know when I get the other papers in. So far so good. Just trying to get a ballpark figure so I can shoot for.

... in response to Re: Re: What other expenses are there?!, posted by Frank O on Jul 7, 2004

You're married already???

Then you're filing the K-3?

I really don't know what you can expect then... But why'd you hire an attorney? Unless there are special circumstances... I mean, I am about as bad at filing forms as a guy can get, and I got Viktoriya here with no problem.

It's tedious... but not hard...

(BTW, sorry about the crap you're getting from some posters... Time was that guys could come on here and post simple questions and get simple answers instead of Condescending "Smarter than Thou" flames...

A shame, really...

The fact is that ANY post on here could be answered by doing research... (as if that is any guarantee of correct answers... sheesh, even Mapquest gives you wrong directions sometimes...) I always though that one of the purposes for forums like this was the ability to seek answers from a collective body of people who have had experience... I guess some people forgot that...)

... in response to Re: Re: Re: What other expenses are ther..., posted by MarkInTx on Jul 8, 2004

Yes, the main purpose many of us have joined this board is to learn from others' experience and help others too.
Unfortunately, there are some members whose objective is to put down others. Of course, much of information may be  available somewhere else but this board saves enormous amount of time. Also some official info is not very clear whereas the board member's experience clarifies it. For example, instruction for a multiple entry visa to Ukraine as given by Chicago Consulate is confusing. Two board members showed how to do it. I couldn't believe that it was so simple and I got a 5 year-multiple entry visa(my passport expires in five years). Previously I got only a single or double entry. I don't know how much I benefitted from this board. Every little thing counts because it is backed by precious hands-on experience. As far as those #@$%!?&% are concerned, just ignore them because they love attention and hate to be ignored. I thank all of those who have been posting valuable info and I am more than happy to do the same.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: What other expenses are ..., posted by romachko on Jul 8, 2004

Thanks for the feedback. You know I just had someone who recently got back from Ukraine & the guy asked a TON of questions &  never got irritated about helping the guy. I'd been there & done that & he was very glad for my help. I even had my wife be his translator & help him aroud, my father in law picked him up at the airport etc. Amazing how some people get all bent out of shape. Usually when I'm of no help (which is most of the time) I simply DON"T respond rather than be an arse & respond negatively.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: What other expenses are ther..., posted by MarkInTx on Jul 8, 2004

[This message has been edited by Frank O]

That's what I thought as well. Honestly all the flaming is part of the reason I hardly come here at all now. I'm a musician & part of the reason I hired an atty was due to a divorce I went through back in 01 & 02 so I had to "work" my taxes...anyways I figured I'd hire an atty to play it really safe. I'm not an affluent atty or dr. so I can't afford to be making trips every 6 months over there. I simply wanted to know about what expenses to expect not really questions about the paperwork. You know how sometimes you cover "everything" then show up & they tell "well there is this other thing you need to do..." then spend another round of $$ for something you didn't expect. I encountered a LOT of that in Ukraine getting married. That & a heck of a lot of bribes so that's what I'm having trouble projecting. Of course you always have @$$holes from colorado rearing their ugly head. By the way my atty says everything is fine & we should be having our interview in either late Aug or Sept. She did ALL My paperwork. All I had to do was sign. She just doesn't tell me much about any fee's other than her own. Go figure eh? She was pretty cool. Did everyting all I had to do was sign. I love having other people do all the work for me ;-)

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: What other expenses are ..., posted by Frank O on Jul 8, 2004

Frank, watch out for those who say "the facts are the facts", especially one who always quotes facts and "statistics that are not often spoken of",  who seems to never be able to back-up such statistics or facts when asked. A good example would be a recent statement one made about traffic being up on a certain discussion board when it's just the opposite, traffic, hit's, are down!!!!!!!!!!!   Wonder where he get's his facts?  (How many times have we asked that?)

You couldn't ask for a more fair, un-censored, un-moderated Russian discussion board than Planet Love. A discussion board where things, agencies, methods are freely discussed. Where all agencies can be discussed equally and not by who was advertising that month. I guess P-L could generate more traffic if it had 10-12 monthly advertisors and 20-30 moderators, moderators who make one, two, ten post's a day. Frank, take a look at some of the discussion boards that have moderators. Look at ALL the post's made by the moderators. Now look at all the post's made by non-moderators. Ahhhh,  what do you see? You might be surprised.

Planet-Love certainly did have it's problems with certain individuals who were notorious for passing out questionable information and recommendations. I guess the recommendations wouldn't be so bad if those  person's would stand by their opinions and recommendations, such as "I recommend all men to use all the time they can on their K-1 visa, use those 90 days to make sure of everything. It's the safe, smart thing to do". Well, new guys on Planet Love, they read this, believe this individual and what does that individual do? Marries in the first week! What happened to that good advice and opinions? Hell, such advice and opinion wouldn't apply to him, just everyone else. See Frank, this type of dis-information, wishy-washy advice and opinions I am sure turned off many people. These people were not HERE for the dis-information.

Your going to have your ocassianal flame wars here Frank but you do not see Patrick having to everyday remind guys to stay on topic or deleting threads.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: What other expenses are ..., posted by Frank O on Jul 8, 2004

Well, glad to hear everything is working out for you...

I haven't had a lot of good experiences with attorneys, so maybe I'm jaded there...

You're right about this board, though... it is nothing like what it once was, that's for sure... Despite some people's attempts to prop it up... the facts are the facts... a LOT of good posters left... It's a little sad, because this used to be THE place for information...

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: What other expenses are ..., posted by Frank O on Jul 8, 2004

Frank, and romachko as well as you made some good points, their is a lot of good experience and advise that can be taken from the Planet-Love Russian board. As well one can get varying degree's of opinions and advice. Experience is a wonderful teacher but also keep in mind that things, conditions, regulations have a way of changing over time, good example being the current questions regarding changes in registering one's visa in Russia. I am trying to get some definitive answers now. I have not see any new "official" regulations at this time and am more inclined to believe that Russian officials have decided to clamp down on a loop hole that has been exploited for some time.

Frank sometimes individuals will get a little testy around here but if you compare P-L to some other sites, this site is by far the best. You don't have 20 different moderators here that you have to worry about offending (or making false accusations). It's possible on some of the heavily moderated discussion boards if you offend one of twenty moderators your post, your question, your recommendation is deleted. Do you see Patrick censoring individuals or thoughts or recommendations here?  I can tell you from first hand experience their are Russian discussion boards who do censor individuals and agencies and this is not one of them. Here (and on the RWD, St. John's RWL, RW-X2 to name a few) the truth can be spoken.

So Frank, this site and the many individuals who participate here may not be perfect, but it's the best their is.

I hope after your bride get's here you will share what you have learned. Maybe your experience and discussing of such will be all that is needed for someone else to try it (or not). K-3's, DCF are one area that it seems their are never enough experts who can share their knowledge.

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What other expenses ..., posted by Jack on Jul 8, 2004

Hi Jack,

RW-X2?  Is that a sony disc drive? :)  If you can offer this address I would appreciate it.

Thanks,
Allen (aka Chuda on RWD)

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What other expen..., posted by AllenB on Jul 9, 2004

Chuda, look here  http://groups dot yahoo dot com/group/RW-X2/

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: What other expenses ..., posted by Jack on Jul 8, 2004

Jack, you are right. I visit this board and RWD but not because I need advice about meeting a girl or the visa process, but because I have gone through all of it with a DCF and I didn't have anybody to help me.  I had to learn it all on my own and I don't think it is a big deal to try to help others.

I'd love to see this board and RWD ad a group specifically for these questions as well as I would like to have a board for guys like me that have completed bringing their wives here but now have new issues such as AOS or citizenship, PZHm stamps, etc.

I am happy to help anybody with thier questions that I can answer and if anybody knows of boards that can help me and my wife I would very much appreciate hearing of those as well.

Best of luck to all.
Allen