"My name is Mike Holt. In the early summer of 2001 I
came across a very special lady on the internet, as I looked at
hundreds of profiles and personal descriptions on dating web sites. I
noticed on kiss.com that a very big part of this site was international
dating. Many of my single friends in home town of Austin, Texas told me
that the idea of meeting someone overseas was ludicrous. In fact, they
thought that the idea of falling in love with someone you only met
online was also just as insane. They were wrong. Since I was very young
I was intrigued with Russia. Even as a teenager, I looked with keen
interest every time I saw any images of Russia. When I was in my early
20's I was a state employee and chauffeur. Sometimes I would drive a
lot of VIP's around Austin, including the Governor of Texas. One day
the executive director told me about a recent trip he took to
Russia. This was in the early 1970's and the cold war was ever-present
on anyone's impression of Russia, at least through most of the media
and information we were given at the time. But the director told me
that Russia people were the most beautiful, warm, and friendly he had
ever known. He went on to tell me that he had never been more
comfortable in an international location. I always remembered his
stories, particularly about Russia, because I asked him about Russia
many times when we would drive around.
As I said, I looked at a lot of pictures and profiles on
the internet, but one picture really got my attention-the picture of my
future wife, Elena. Her images, words, her spirit - jumped right out at
me. And I was really pleased when she sent me a simple message, through
kiss email saying: "You are interesting man for me - please write with
your email address". So we moved over to Yahoo mail and quickly
discovered we had a lot in common, including our love for animals. We
also discovered Yahoo instant messaging and, within a few months we
were online, instant messaging each other almost every day. Also,
thanks to the internet, I found that I could buy internet calling
cards for a fraction of the cost calling Russia from my home phone. So,
eventually Elena and I were talking on the phone almost every day.
Finally, a very important day came - it
was time for Elena and me to meet in real life. We had spent hundreds,
if not thousands of hours communicating online and by phone. We had
sent each other dozens of pictures, mostly online, of ourselves and our
lives. But that's when my skeptical friends started telling me
that this was all just a fantasy. It's true that some people,
after knowing each other only from internet and telephone
communication, are very disappointed after seeing each other in real
life. All those hopes and dreams evaporate into a cloud of lost love
and have to take a chance. There is always risk - and love, for both
the Russian woman and the American Man, demands courage, faith, and
nerves of steel. But if it feels right do it! And that's what I said to
my skeptical friends who claimed I was on the verge of insanity. They
are not saying that any more by the way. In fact all my friends and
family love Elena and the guys are quite envious.
When I flew to Russia, in June of 2002,
I contacted Jake and Tatiana. I had seen Jake's web site about
American/Russian marriage and his advice on someone in my position was
right on the money! I was now walking in their shoes. Also I noticed
that Jake's wife, Tatiana, did translation services and offered to
intercede in setting up reasonable and reliable taxi services in
Moscow. She had contacts with a great taxi company that is much more
reasonably priced than some of the others that, if you are not careful,
can cost you a fortune. I told Tatiana in an email that our long
awaited meeting was coming in a few days and I asked that she arrange a
taxi for me and Elena. Elena was coming from her hometown of Tver to
meet me in Moscow, so I needed to arrange for transportation for her,
as well as me at the airport. I also told Tatiana that we were both
really nervous and I will never forget how reassuring Tatiana was;
telling me that this was all perfectly normal (to be so nervous), that
our meeting in Russia would always be one our most treasured memories,
and that all would be fine.
Well, my flight could not have had more
problems. My plane out of Dallas had mechanical problems and I missed
my connecting flight to Moscow in New York. So Delta Airlines flew me
to Milan, Italy where I was to make another connecting flight to
Moscow. The next morning, after so many hours flying, I was walking
around in Italy not knowing if Elena was still in Moscow waiting for me
or what! I thought about trying to call and leave a message for Elena
at our Moscow Hotel but I didn't have a clue how to use the Italian
phones. But eventually I boarded an Aeroflot Airline and a few hours
later I was flying over Moscow! Finally after clearing Russian customs,
I walked out of the customs room and much to my surprise there was
Elena - waiting for me - in real life!
She was even more beautiful than I
imagined and she had tracked me down though the Delta airline managers
computer and knew exactly my situation and what time I would arrive in
Moscow. So we took a Taxi that Elena had waiting for us and the rest is
history. It was the most wonderful time of my life with the most
wonderful woman of my life. After almost a week in Moscow Elena took me
by bus to Tver and we spent some great times with her family, who
openly accepted me and welcomed me as their future family member. By
this time Elena and I definitely knew we were very much in love and
wanted to get married. Finally, the only bad part - having to say
good-bye at Sheremetievo Airport in Moscow.
When I returned I contacted Tatiana and Jake and told
them that I needed their services in preparing our fiancée visa.
I had spent a lot of time on the internet researching the INS
procedures and also reading a log of case histories from couples just
like us. This is what I learned: when preparing your fiancée
visa, mistakes can cost you dearly. Any mistakes are easy to make. If
you have errors in the myriad of required paperwork, or you don't
provide exactly what the IN requires, then you will be looking at extra
months added to your separation from your fiancée while you and
the INS try and straighten it all out. Of course you can hire an
immigration attorney. But their costs are astronomical. I suggest you
rely on Tatiana and Jake, who have the experience and skill to put a
professional K1 fiancée Visa application together for you. After
they had me complete a worksheet, where they had all my and Elena's
basic information they began the process and eventually sent me the
most professional fiancée visa package I could imagine, ready
for me to send to the INS. And by the way, I suggest you contact them
before you go to Russia, because if you and your lady decide to marry,
there are some vital documents of information that you can start to
obtain while you are in Russia. This will speed your process along as
quickly as possible, for you do not want to have to wait weeks for your
fiancée to have to send you needed papers. So contact Tatiana
and Jake and they will help your process along from the very beginning,
before you actually go to Russia. Tatiana also makes contact with your
Russian fiancée, as she did with Elena, and I can tell you that
it is very reassuring for your fiancée to be able to speak
Russian with Tatiana and have all her questions answered in detail.
I was absolutely stunned, when I called
INS one night on their hot-line and the automated message said "This
application (Elena and my K1 Visa application) has been approved!" I
immediately called Elena from another phone and played back the INS
recording on the Speakerphone - we couldn't believe it! Again I
attribute all of this to the professional K1 Visa package that Jake and
Tatiana put together for Elena and Me. After our application was
approved by the INS we went into the next phase of checking the U.S.
Embassy's web site every day - sometimes twice a day, for the next
step: Elena's interview at the Moscow Embassy. Finally, in a few weeks,
the appointment showed up on the web site -
December 19th. Before the interview, Tatiana called Elena again and
gave her own insights and advice for a successful interview, which
Elena greatly appreciated.
When Elena's very important interview date arrived - I
felt her anxiety and excitement as I knew exactly what time she would
be going to the embassy. I stayed up until 3:00am and finally the phone
rang. It was Elena in Moscow calling to tell me that she passed the
interview! I cannot tell you how great that feels - knowing that
finally you and you your fiancée will be together again. I told
Elena many times during our 7 month separation: "I live for the day
when I will see you walking down the airport terminal in Houston." And
a few weeks later Elena came walking down the terminal at Bush
International Airport in Houston, where I met her. She was all smiles
and very excited - and of course so was I. There are no words to tell
you what a great feeling that is to see your true love - finally
walking toward you - after having to say good-bye to them many months
before on the other side of the planet. We got married at the Orthodox
Church in Corpus Christ, on February 15th - a dream come true. And
Elena and I are very happy.
Your dream can come true too, but I
suggest you not leave anything to chance when it comes to the accuracy
and completeness of your INS paperwork. The waiting process can and
will be stressful; not knowing when your K1 petition will be approved,
and waiting for the interview. But Tatiana and Jake can take a lot of
the worry out of the process for you, and for a very reasonable cost.
Trust me, it's worth it. My advice for you right now is to trust your
instincts and get ready for Russia - the experience of a life time. And
call or write Tatiana and Jake the minute you make your decision to buy
that plane ticket. Best wishes for your success!
Mike Holt, Austin, Texas" |