Travel-visas
by Oksana Boichenko
Finding the right person through numerous dating sites is certainly a challenge, but if you think the emotional rollercoaster is over once you find HER – think again. More often than not, the couples that have decided they are right for each other are put to the test planning their initial meeting face to face and overcoming the state boundaries for the two loving hearts. Some men come to dating sites mistakenly thinking that the lady of their choice can easily travel to their home country (this is in particular true for men from the US/Europe and Russian brides), but there are a few things to consider.
First time meeting
Most countries will require foreigners to receive visas to enter the country. The visa application process is a timely and sometimes a costly process, which leaves two options when planning the first meeting with your lady: coming to her country, or selecting a third-country location, many of which offer a simple visa procedure or do not require a visa at all.
Traveling abroad, in particular to the former Soviet Union countries, can appear an intimidating venture at first: language knowledge, not knowing the country, etc. can seem to pose a problem. However, an option of visiting your lady’s country gives you many advantages. You will be able to see her home setting, meet her family and friends, see where she lives, and whether she is all those things she said she is. Being on her own territory, the woman is more likely to act natural, so you have more chances of seeing her true colors. We feel that seeing your lady’s home country can also give you a good understanding of your cultural differences, which can help avoid misunderstandings in future.
Traveling abroad is also a great way to plan a meeting with several ladies, if you have not committed to a particular woman. You will have an option of meeting them all without being “stuck” with any particular person (as could happen if she were coming to your country, or on a third-country tour) and have the flexibility to get to know only those women who are truly of interest to you.
Planning a meeting on a neutral territory offers a different set of options. A third-country location might be easier to travel for both of you – a flight to the Dominican Republic is a lot easier for men from the US, while attending Turkey is easier for those from Europe. A big plus is that most of these countries do not require preliminary visa procedures – some have none, while others simply grant visas at the airport, which means that your lady will be able to come without any obstacles.
Being on a neutral territory will also eliminate any intimidation as to being on someone else’s turf. A convenience of such trips is that there are plenty of activities readily available (excursions, local sites, boating, diving, etc), so neither of you will have to worry about the agenda or running out of things to do. Planning such trips through an agency has added bonuses: you are likely to have a dating expert at your disposal to help smooth out any communication issues, a festive atmosphere helps make both partners more open and unreserved, a group setting will lend a hand for both partners not feel confined to being with just each other, and you will always have company should the meeting not go as well as hoped.
Bringing her over
Starting to plan for your lady’s long-term visit to your home country has different specifications. First, you must be prepared to wait (for example, an average wait for receiving a fiance visa to the US can last up to six months, and even longer for a wife visa). Second, you must be ready to deal with paperwork, and then some more. In general, the procedure requires for both of you to collect a number of papers (proof of income, divorce papers, if applicable, medical records, history of your correspondence, etc). Once the packet with all necessary documents is submitted, your lady will be scheduled an appointment for an interview (at your country’s embassy within her home country). During the interview, the embassy employee will make a decision as to whether the visa will or will not be granted. Some countries have a much lower rate of granting visas (the US, Great Britain, for example), and the requirements for each particular country will also differ (information about them can be provided by the embassies at your lady’s country).
However, coming on a fiance/wife visa has the most probability (although the longest wait) for your sweetheart to travel to your home country. The major requirement for this type of a visa is to convince the interviewer that your intentions are serious and your plans to wed are genuine, and not a fraud. In order to do so, your lady might be asked not only to present some proof of your correspondence, but answer some questions about your relationship, etc. A mandatory condition when applying for such type of a visa is that you must have met in person before. Sometimes, having both partners (you and your fianc?) present at an interview can aid in receiving a positive reply from the embassy.
Another option (a more expensive one) is for your lady to travel on a student visa. While it might require less paperwork, it might present as much challenge as the fiance/wife visa. The student (your lady) must be accepted by the university and receive a special form, stating that she can officially attend the university. You (or your lady) must present the proof of having sufficient funds to pay for the schooling. Once a student arrives to the university, she will HAVE TO ATTEND the university and maintain a certain grade point average. Failure to do so gives a university the right to cancel the student’s permission to attend school, which will mean the student has to leave the country. The immigration services will also be alerted of the university’s decision.
The tourist visa is the least feasible of all options, in particular to the US or to European counties. In order to receive a tourist/visitor’s visa, an applicant has to convince the embassy that she has no reasons to become an illegal immigrant and prove that she has strong ties to her home country. This can be done by showing that she has:
- a large bank account
- real estate investments
- other expensive property
- husband/children left in the country
- high profit job (with proof of income), which she would not be likely to leave.
The final thing to consider is whether to proceed with the visa application independently or through using an immigration expert/lawyer. While the second option is much more costly, it will lend you the help of a professional, capable of alerting you of possible problems, providing guidance, and offering invaluable advice. Our experience shows that couples using immigration lawyer efforts have a much higher rate of having the visa granted.
While this process is timely and might seem extremely complex, do not despair. Our agency is always available for advice or consultation, but the main thing is – there are no boundaries for true love.
About the Author
Oksana Boichenko
OksanaLove, Inc.
http://www.oksanalove.com
The matchmaker with 12 years of experience in the online dating business. You can find your second half – just visit our dating site and meet your Russian bride among the thousands of beautiful Russian women.
