question about eu countries/visa

[Uk guy]

Hi all ,

Im glad to see there is a source of helpful people and info out there

I have been in contact with a girl in russia and it has now come to a stage were we are hopefully to meet for real . Ive done the regular checks ie google scam data bases etc and so far so good nothing sinister has come up yet. She works full time so obviously has her own income and hasnt yet once made any demands financially or even mentioned it in any correspondance.

We intend to meet in europe and I wish to know will she have any problems visa wise just as a tourist to the chosen eu country ???? as she isnt studying or on buisness . And secondly will she have to give an address to the visa office where she will be staying ( we want to make our own arrangements when we meet regarding hotel etc) ???

Any information you can help me with will be gratefully recieved .

Many thanks for taking the time to read

Uk guy

[Elena]

I was refused a tourist visa to Europe for which I applied when I was just a ordinary Russian citizen. My husband and I applied for visas to Germany and France. Both Embassies declined my petitions without comments.

I was 19 at that time, unemployed... maybe your lady will have better luck, who knows.

I would suggesting meeting her in Russia for the first time. This way you will certainly avoid visa-and-tickets scam, plus you will get a feel for Russian culture (if you guys plan serious relationship, getting a sense of what your future family life is going to be is a serious plus before making any further plans. You might find out that hate everything Russian - who knows? Would be nice to figure that out sooner than later.)

[Uk guy]

Thanks for the reply Elena , really appreciate your input

I got a reply today Ill try to be brief and to the point and try not bore anyone senseless .

So far

she is thinking that germany is a good place to meet ( she has told me she's been there before and liked it ) which is so far hinting to me that she is possibly ??? on the level . She lives with the parents and has told me in prevoius mails that she doesnt know me well enough yet to invite me to her place ( My own living arrangements are similar and not ideal so i can sort of see her point in that respect also having a total stranger suddenly turn up on the doorstep) .

In the last 3 mails i have mentioned that i cant accomodate her in london for various genuine reasons and her having to pay for a hotel etc here would be very expensive as i live in "rip off" Britain.

On the plus side though she still hasn't mentioned anything to do with money/ family tragedys /lack of funds AT ALL so far . And i am doing the usual checks to see if theres any cut and paste going on in the mails etc etc.

Ive replied to her stating im fine with germany but will fly to Russia and maybe meet in Moscow or somewhere she thinks is suitable if she wants to.

I am awaiting her reply and will keep you posted

1st sign of a fit up ill happily post details etc

Again many thanks for the help and advice

All the best UK guy 8)

[Elena]

UK guy,

Actually, after being refused a visa to Europe, I applied for a UK visa and got it without any questions asked.

As far as your lady, yes, sounds like she is on the level, I mean if she was in Germany before on her own.

It would be a nice thing of you to do to offer her a reimbursement of her travel expenses once you two meet, at least some big items (flight, etc) - usually, a gentleman will pay for the ladies expenses (or risk being considered a Scrooge). So, mention that to her, I am sure she is wondering.

For now, just go along with the plan, but read the "7 types o dating scams' material on my site to know the warning signs.
http://www.russian-detective.com/scams/ ... cation.htm

[Elena]

Forgot to say. I would still suggest that you suggest to her to meet in Moscow and spend time there. One, you won't need to wonder about her being a vacation hunter. Second, more importantly, you NEED to get to see the real Russians in their day to day activities, and Russian "machine" in action to better understand the mindset if your lady. Only dealing with other Russians (ladies and men) directly will allow you to have any perspective into your lady's personality. At least that would be my advice.

Good luck to you two! keep me updated.

[Uk guy]

Thanks again .

The offer to help with her travel exes is something i would do anyway the only reason i havent yet is because I just want to be sure as i can before I actually tell her . Im hoping we can meet In Moscow its somewhere ive wanted to visit anyway so fingers crossed see what happens


thanks for your input

best wishes UK guy

[Manny]

Elena is of course correct that you should go out and meet her in her country for the first visit. If you meet in a second location, you should be footing the bills of her travel, but in so doing you would be breaking a cardinal rule about sending money to people you have never met.

If you wish to still press for an EU tourist visa, although they technically all have the same criteria, in practice you will see differences.

Germany will not be the easiest, nor will Holland. Former Eastern bloc and FSU countries will be easier: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Czech etc.

France is normally not bad if she submits through a travel agent in Russia and the UK is usually very easy.

You may get more country specific advice in the RUA Visa Room

Also, I trust this lady and you speak on the phone and SMS often? She is not just an e-mail correspondent?

[Uk guy]

cheers for the reply manny . The phone thing is a bitit of a problem at the moment the odd txt gets through and spoke a couple of times very briefely unfortunately , as the problem staying connected or only one of of us can speak ie she can hear me i cant hear her and vice versa . Im reckoning i should try landline number i havent asked for it yet . but she lives with the parents might be a problem ill see what transpires .only up to the last couple days i just getting that kinda weird vibe about it . if it is a scam its pretty good so far because none of the tell tale signs have been there really . Anyway ill keep you informed let you know how it pans out .

thanks for your input and help appreciate it

All the best UK guy

[Manny]

There should be no particular problems with connection and SMS from the UK to Russia. I don't remember when I last lost an SMS to Russia; they all get through. Something is wrong there unless she is in a very remote location.

You have of course verified you are SMSing Russia yes? It would start +7

You should be chatting very often on the phone before even contemplating a visit. If she is unable to facilitate a working telephone line she is not serious about finding a foreign man.

As you are in the UK, try www.call18866.co.uk that's who we use for Russia and Ukraine.

[Soltero]

In fact it is not a big "issue" where you plan your first meeting.

I have encountered different ladies from FSU in countries in places,where she actually didn't reside.

As long as you remain the "gentleman" and know, in many cases traveling for her it's expensive, but compared to you "her" costs are futile. And you should make "in advance" clear deals about this subject.
Give her the freedom of choice. When she's proud and wants to pay for her expenses herself. Let her pay ! Don't force yourself into her wallet. (a mistake many do)

Though know ... many times a woman will tell, the "opposite" of what she means to tell you ... so be careful and don't hurt her feelings. Once she is with you, soon you will find out "if" what she said to you, it was to cover up her pride, or if she really can afford such trips. (no need for imagination here). But be prepared to cover her travel expenses, if she said "the opposite", and when she worth's your "efforts" (off course).

Very good countries for a first meeting (if the girl is from RU, UA or BY) are indeed FSU countries. Also those who recently joined the EU community. (Poland, Czech, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, ....) Its more easy for them to get a travel visa for such a country compared to those "traditional" long term EU countries.
If you both like a more "exotic" destination : try countries which grant easily visa to RU - UA - BY citizens : Egypt, Tunisia, Israel, Turkey...

But be "sure" she is NOT a travel date and nothing else. Unless this is your "final" goal.

( I read she was in Germany before, try to get extensive information on this BEFORE you make arrangements for meeting her !!!)

A meeting on "neutral" grounds is for both beneficial. IF it works out, from there you can proceed. (In both directions of hometown / country).
Besides : you both have the benefit of a relax and "vacation" experience.
And don't take your Mother, sister, children with you on a first meeting !!! This also must count for HER !!

Keep it a face to face encounter. so you have plenty of time for each other and there is no "interference" from others.
Often, this way also, you "avoid" the plague of a "pro dater" with her complete "entourage"
Off course, I can "endorse" a meeting in your home or her home, but as I can read many facets will sometimes make this impossible. And both should respect it.
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About phoning, sms-ing. To reduce your expenses (as it is rather "expensive" to have extensive long dialogues using regular cell phones or landlines for long distance calls.

Try computer programs that let you communicate. Plenty exist and have facilities for "oral" communication (by use of a headset (microphone and headspeakers).)
Simple examples peer to peer : skype, ICQ (well known in RU), MSN, ...
other that can also be used to call a landline or cellphone, at very "low" rates : (just google it) Voice over IP software. (VOIP). Sometimes special deals are to be found ! Free days, or even FREE calls (as long as you want, when it involves a specific country or it is a landline) !
Yes, I once called 3 hours for free and non stop to a girl using a VOIP program. Imagine how much you can tell in 3 hours, and they LUV IT

Good luck with "it"

[rougetor]

For US or Canadian citizens Odessa, UA is good place to meet since for such citizens and Russian women need nothing but their passport. Odessa is a tourist city with an airport!! Note that Russians have internal and external passports. Getting Russian visas is not easy or inexpensive. By the way, getting a US visa for a Russian woman is a Department of State "scam" since the Moscow embassy processes thousands of visa applications every week and they cannot possibly even read them. The "interview" is 30 seconds. The visa application fees raise millions of dollars every month. My girlfriend owned her own apartment, was a state swimming champion, Russian national cross country ski champion, and was a serious student who played the piano like Van Cliburn and sang like Faith Hill. She wanted to study English for one semester, loved Russia (where she had a singing career) and had no desire to leave Russia. I had endorsements of support from all local government officials and a state senator who had worked closely with President Bush when he was governor in Texas. No one at US embassy apparently read her application. I think the US should have been thrilled if she had actually wanted to live in the USA!!! Easier to have a girlfriend who wants to visit the US to enter the US visa "diversity lottery" and get a permanent visa!! I had a young woman client from Morocco who won the visa diversity lottery as did her sister!!! First try!!! I understand that it is relatively easy for women from FSU countries to get visas to Europe as part of travel tour packages.

[waterdragon1867]

i just read all of the story and am disappointed there is no ending good bad or indifferent

[sburkhalter88]

I am from America and I have encountered a female from Russia as well. She also wishes to finally meet in person. She says she has a full time job and a decent amount of income as well. I have reached a pot hole in this adventure. She says her boss is giving her paid vacation and she wishes to spend it in America, with me. She emailed me today saying that for her visa she will need my full address and full name.... I never heard of someone needing someone else's full name and address to apply for a visa. Can someone help me with this? She says her name is Ekaterina. Is that a common name for a Russian woman?

[The Enchantress]

Hi sburkhalter88 and welcome to Romance Scam.

I would suggest that you exersize caution with your personal details when online.

The visa requirement for holidays scam is well documented in this and many other antiscam forums. Whatever convoluted excuses are used the aim is to request money sent by anonymous wire transfer - Western Union or MoneyGram.

The claims about "well paid employment" and "paid vacation" are lies - maybe the request for your personal details is to gauge how compliant you could be, or perhaps a form of identity theft.

Please take this self-test Click here

Visa information here http://travel.state.gov/visa/

If you have any questions or concerns please post - we will help you all we can.

[sburkhalter88]

I understand. I read the information on the other site about romance fraud through the internet and i took the test. The test said 38% out of 100% that she could be a scammer. But none of the information that I read on the other site matched this person. Her photos look like they were taken at the local attraction and from her house. She has not once mentioned anything about being in emotional or financial problems. The only thing I'm worried about is her asking me for my full address and my full name so she can get her visa because I know people can have their identity stolen by just giving out their name and address. I've done just about everything I can to find out if this person is a scammer or not, but I'm still not sure. Could I attempt to give her a fake address and change my name a little bit? Should I offer to visit her instead?