I have been adding to this
blog every few hours as the day progressed …
Sasha's interview at the
Embassy is 9 a.m. Moscow time which meant it was actually 10 p.m. last night
(Pacific Time). I figured we would hear from him maybe after
midnight? I have been checking
every 5 minutes as have some of you.
It is now 3:30 a.m. I have washed dishes, scrubbed floors, repaired
things, sorted and paced around the house while waiting ....
It is now 7 a.m. L.A. time
(6 p.m. Moscow time) and still we are waiting to hear from Sasha. I do
not know what time his return flight to Krasnodar is/was.
It is now 8:20 a.m. L.A.
time. Incoming email from Sasha: "Have just off the plane and am in the bus through
Krasnodar. Was able to get your messages only here...Don't worry I am
okay".
***********
At 11:49 a.m. this email
arrived: “I have just come home. Yes, emotionally I have been drained
off completely... You know, the interview was going so smoothly at first,
and in accordance with our scenario this time. I had the interview at the
sixth window, in the corridor. The Officer, a man, listened to me carefully and
was clicking on his keyboard reading something on his monitor, while I was
talking. He looked through all the documents that I handed him, though, at
first it was clear - he had no intention to... but, just as we rehearsed, I was calm and he looked at our notebook to the end (except for
the fact that your cover letter he made me open for him - I think, being afraid
that it can be poisoned). And in the end, when I was thinking - "Thank
God! Looks like this is a good man and he will give me approvel...... He said,
with a pleasant smile - I regret to inform you that....
And here my
nerves broke and stopping him I said - ‘You know, I am not dreaming to stay for good in your America! With your - "NO", you did not ruin my
plans for the future... I am quite comfortable here in Russia. You have just
ruined the dreams of many fellow citizens of yours!’”
***********
Of course I immediately
SKYPE called Sasha. He first
apologized for the lack of communication through the night. He tried five times to send out
messages, but the roaming feature on his cell phone didn’t seem to work. He was so tired after spending 48 hours without sleep on buses, planes, the subway, taxi, plus then the emotional turmoil of the interview process.
Sasha said he did as we
rehearsed: He politely greeted the
Officer. Then he asked the officer
to look for any letters which might be in his file in addition to the electronic
application. We were expecting some
letters of support. Sasha said the
man looked bewildered, but then spent quite a bit of time looking at his
computer screen.
Sasha then presented
Attorney Ken’s cover letter and the entire notebook. The officer asked if Sasha had met these people in
America? Sasha explained that No,
he met the families in Russia. The
officer then asked if the families were Russian? Sasha explained that the children were Russian and being
adopted by Americans.
The Officer read Attorney
Ken’s letter, then my cover letter (explaining the 10 year Adoption Anniversary
Celebrations, family hostings etc.)
Then he read his computer screen for a long time.
The Officer asked nothing
about Sasha’s property, Sasha’s mother or sister in Germany. He smiled and said the visa request was
denied because there is nothing to connect Sasha to Russia. “Possibly you would stay in America”.
Sasha said “It
is not me you have affected so much as you spoiled the summer holidays and
plans of many people” “It is on
your soul”.
***********
It is so frustrating that a
hasty decision by one person could shatter the hopes of so many good people
around the world who have been following this Journey. There was immense goodwill being
exchanged between all the students, families and other persons who have been
part of the Sasha Team.
How do you tell all the adopted children that the U.S. Officials will not allow Sasha to come visit them?
Tina
