Coming Home

[Jimmy]

I just want to pass on the news that my wife Elena was issued her K3 visa in Kiev on Dec 30. It took from June 20 1st NOA to get the visa in her passport.  I am now in our home in Slavutich getting her ready to come home to US.  We plan to come back here to live in a year or so if things work out.  Buying an apartment here is getting more and more expensive.  In two years I have seen it rise nearly 400%.

Hello and thanks to all that know me.  Thanks to Dan for all the advise and encouragement.  Hope things are well with Griff and all the others that know me.  Hello to Sean in Hungary.  Hope you and your Elena are doing well.  I will post more of my experiences later.  Those that don't know me I am Jimmy who worked in Ukraine for nearly 18 months and married a nice lady who I met here.

Best Regards,

Jimmy
Ukraine

[Dan]

... in response to Coming Home, posted by Jimmy on Jan 20, 2003

Heaven knows - you (and your bride) deserve it!

Keep in contact.

- Dan

[Griffin]

... in response to Coming Home, posted by Jimmy on Jan 20, 2003

You have had to endure a lot.

I'm right behind you.  If everything goes as planned Olga and Sabina will be here next week.

[thesearch]

... in response to Coming Home, posted by Jimmy on Jan 20, 2003

I remember there was a time where you were not sure that you were going to get married, just come home on your own but, you never really fully explained at that time in a way that I understood. Then, you found you missed her too much when you were apart (in so many words) if I remember correctly.

Glad to hear it is all working out.

Why do you think housing went up so much? This usually means that there is someone with money to pay, otherwise the prices couldn't  go up from a practical standpoint?  

[MarkInTx]

... in response to Coming Home, posted by Jimmy on Jan 20, 2003

Congratulations Jimmy!

That's wonderful news! SO... are you happy to be coming here.. Or kind of sad to be leaving Slavutich?

If I remember correctly, last time you came home, you kind of missed Ukraine...?

But I am sure it will be different this time, now that you have your K-3!

Congrats again!

[tim360z]

... in response to Coming Home, posted by Jimmy on Jan 20, 2003

..nice to hear that all has finally worked out for you.  Tim

[Deckard]

... in response to Coming Home, posted by Jimmy on Jan 20, 2003

Good to hear from you Jimmy, hope things go well with you, and that you keep us updated.

-Deckard

[Cold Warrior]

... in response to Coming Home, posted by Jimmy on Jan 20, 2003

i thought you were in the US ages ago. Welcome back anyway.
What's up with Chernobly? is it closed definitely or is there some cleaning up going on?

BTW what's the average price for an apartment in Slavutich. I heard 2 years ago it was possible to get one for $15K.

[Jimmy]

... in response to good Luck, posted by Cold Warrior on Jan 20, 2003

Thanks to all of you for the kind words.  I returned to the US without Elena in Feb 2002 with my work finished in Chernobyl.  I then returned in April and married her in Kiev at ZAGS and promptly went back to US and my job. I filed the I-130 and then the I-129F/K3.  My first NOA was June 20 for the I-129F and then the second on Nov. 25.  The K3 of course as you know was issued Dec. 30.  In the interim I went back to Ukraine in July 2002 and spent six weeks there with Elena coming back to US and my job in Sep.  So in nearly 11 months I said a tearful goodbye three separate times making each successive time more difficult.  Now I am here to take her home never to be separated again God willing.

Housing is going up here in Ukraine and I don't know why.  It appears that Kiev is getting a good reputation for foreigners and of course of having many beautiful willing women that are interested in meeting men for marriage.  Ukrainian woman make very good wives as you all know.  Apartments in Kiev are running anywhere from 30k to 50k.  These apartments need remodeling and major work so don't think you are getting anything like US standards.  I have spent most of Sunday last week looking at apartments in Kiev and I dare to say that I have rented more apartments in Kiev for weekend stays than anyone else.  I find them terribly inflated in price and not worth buying at these new prices.  I would only consider living in Ukraine for financial reasons.  There is not many other reasons to stay here taking all in consideration.  If you are married looking or seaching for beautiful women is certainly not a good reason to stay here.

In Slavutich apartments are cheaper anywhere around 7k to 10k.  In this town most work at Chernobyl and it houses all the displaced workers from Chernobyl and surrounding cities.  It has a high incidence of radiation related health problems so it is not an attractive place to settle a young family.

Whenever I go back to US I get somewhat depressed and disgusted with the way we have become.  I have changed in the last two years living here and see things differently than I used to.  Reality slaps you in the face when you see how these people struggle everyday just to live. Comparing the way we Westerners live and how these people struggle opens your eyes wide.

Well I could go on and on with my observations and experiences.  I will post more later.  Thanks to all and hope you well and good health.

Best Regards,

Jimmy
Ukraine