Question about Work VISA's and Travel options.?

You are being scammed. This scam has been around for several years, and I can provide you with many emails my wife's and my firm have from such "girls" that are exactly the same story.

I will bet the plane ticket money on the fact that the passport scan you got was fake, and I guarantee that the "work visa" she obtained through a "visa agency" is fake too.

Most people do not realize that the ONLY way a work visa to the USA can be obtained is by the US based business for an employee. The US company has to apply to USCIS and the State Department, and it takes 6-12 months (if lucky). Expedited processing of 15 days is available for a fee of $1000. There are a limited number of these visa's available each year, and they are usually given out before May of each year. (Look up H1-B visa on the state department website).

Some young people get "work-exchange" visa's to come to the US for a summer, but they can only be obtained through the student's university, and that university must have an exchange program in place with a US university. Again, no "agent" can get them for a girl.

No "real" Russian or Ukrainian woman will ever ask for monetary help to come to the US. They have pride. The "girl" you have pictures of does not know you exist, and the email's you get are either form email's, or are written by a guy named "Igor".

These guys solicit young women, and pay them a pittance for pictures to send to men. The girls do not know what they are for, and gladly take the money (it is good money for them). If a man does Western Union money to this girl's name, the scammer will pay her $10-$15 to go collect the money from WU, claiming that they have a "business associate" who had to send money, and since the scammer's passport has been ___ (lost, stolen, misplaced), they had it sent to this girl's name. The small "fee" that the girl is paid is good money, and again, they do not know the real reason.

Tell her "sorry, I can't afford to send you any money", and you will get about 3 more begs to help her, and then never hear from "her" again.

If you doubt my word, ask for the "agency" name and phone number, and tell them you will have a friend in Moscow call them and arrange the financial transfer directly with the agency. Then call the number (or pass it on, and I will call - I speak Russian).

Talk to the airlines, and even the discount ticket sources online like, Hotwire, Cheapticket, Yahoo, travelocity, etc. I do believe they have a way for you to purchase the ticket in YOUR name for HER use. If she doesn't use the ticket, then only YOU can recoupe the funds. She will not be able to cash the tickets in at all. Check with them to verify this to make sure it still hold true. If so, then this should put you more at ease. Also, ask her to send you the money she has for a ticket to help with the cost.

To be honest, this all sounds cheesy. I would try to contact the US Embassy in Russia and ask about the requirements of getting and utilizing a work Visa. If the info matches up, then you know she may not be trying to rip you off. If the info doesn't match up, then tell her what you think she should do....without revealing you have made contact with any officials in Russia about the situation. If she stalls, comes up with excuses, etc. I would suggest cutting contact and finding a new friend.

Oh, you mentioned Visa, but I didn't read anything about a passport. Does she have a passport? If I am not mistaken, she will also need a passport. I have traveled to other countries to do work for an extended time representing the military to do humanitarian efforts and I had to have a passport, and had to apply for a Visa within the first week of arrival.

I hope this helps, and all the pieces fall into place. If they don't, then the word SCAM should echo in your head.

Good luck!!

Listen to Mom, she has your best interests at heart. The probability that you aren't being scammed is astonishingly low. If your krasivitsa (beauty) really had a work visa, she'd be staying in the States for an extended period, maybe years. There is no requirement for people on most work visas to show an intention to go back, or have a return ticket. The visa is all she needs to show she won't be staying illegally. So, what you're being told makes no real sense to anyone experienced in these matters. Which is why Mom, et al think this is not going to have a happy ending. Beware and take care.

you're unlawfully present day interior the U.S. for some years. the 2nd you bypass away, you will set off a 10-year bar for unlawful presence of a million year or longer. yet even after the bar has been served, you heavily isn't waiting to acquire a non-immigrant visa to the U.S. back as long as you reside, based on the belief of immigration motive. the only attainable selection you have is Adjustment of status based on the marriage to a U.S. citizen. i'm hoping you have by no potential claimed to be a U.S. citizen, i.e., on a college admission or artwork utility type. if so, that would make you a character non grata and inadmissible for immigration to the U.S. for existence.

Honey, please don't take this the wrong way, but you are being scammed. In fact, there is probably no young woman by that name or identity alive at all; this is a very common and well-known scam, probably perpetrated by an ordinary Russian criminal, probably male, to get money from you.

The fact that this young woman sent you a copy of what she claims is her visa documentation clinches it. If she had a legitimate "work visa" her employer would be providing all the funds she needs.

If she emailed a visa copy to you, or the "work visa"approval, I would be happy to glance at it and tell you immediately if it is real or not. My money is on "not."