Russian Immigration: One Family's Story of Coming to America

In the JFK Airport, hundreds of people arrive from other countries and wait in lines for hours in order to be granted admittance into the United States. Many of these people are immigrants and have left their homes in hopes of creating a new life in America. Among these immigrants: Russians who have abandoned a land of a poor social system, struggling economy, health issues and few opportunities. Look into the eyes of these Russian immigrants and see the combination of excitement, fear, anxiety and hope as they endure their final hours, minutes and seconds before months and years worth of patience pay off in their immigration process.

In the mid-1800s, salesmen for transatlantic shipping liners lured Russians with exaggerated depictions of America being the land of opportunities and fortune to emigrate to America. Susceptible Russians would spend weeks in the dank cramped third class quarters or in ship holds in order to reach their new home. In later years, political unrest, bloody revolutions, and war drafts forced Russians to seek haven in America and other countries. From the mid to late twentieth century, the Soviet Union closed much of itself off from the outside world and allowed Russian emigration to other nearby European countries with special permission. Russians spent months and sometimes years hopping from one country to next in order to pass the physical exams and eventually gain passage to America.

On August 22,1991, the world's eyes rested on the debacle between Gorbachev and Yeltsen, in Moscow. In that same city, Victor made the same Tuesday pilgrimage that he had been making for the past five months to check the final status on his family's passports to America. The government workers in Moscow had been on strike in revolt to Yeltsen, including those who issued passports. But, because Yeltsen had undoubtedly assumed the presidency of Russia, Moscow government workers realized the danger of angering the new president and resume their duties.

Later that same day, Victor returned home from Moscow to his family who were eating fried potatoes and awaiting his arrival. His family asked him what he had received from the government office.

"Nothing," he said and proceeded in wearily removing his hat, shoes and coat. After he had removed his coat, he pulled eight passports from his pocket.

Two of Victor's daughters, Natasha and Lora, sit in the front seat of a maroon utility vehicle and excitedly recount the events that led to their emigration to America. Both sisters occasionally push away locks of short blond hair out of their eyes as they loudly finish each other's sentences, interrupt one another with additional details, and occasionally correct each other in Russian. Regardless, the passage of time since the event, both sisters still react to the memory of their father returning with their passports as if the event was occurring.

"It was a miracle!" recalls Natasha.

Reality set in on the family. They at last had their passports, and the United States had accepted them under refugee status. Their two years of waiting, under religious persecution, had ended. The lengthy questioning sessions, endless paperwork, and numerous medical exams had all finally paid off. They would be embarking a new life.

Lora remembers being told to pack and in the excitement not knowing where and how to start. Only one thing was certain. "We were going," she says.

Natasha and Lora remember the anxieties their family had of coming to America. "We didn't know English!"

"No money!"

The family sold their house and gave away Russian money that would not exchange into U.S. dollars. Friends and family became the recipients of their furniture, belongings, and clothes that they could not take with them. On September 24, 1991, the family flew into America to meet the people who had sponsored their journey.

"We didn't know if they would meet us or if we would have to sleep in the airport," recounts Natasha.

Their family felt sick after their trip because their bodies had not been accustomed to drinking ice water. "I didn't even know how to say 'no ice,'" remembers Lora.

After their sponsors had provided their family with a house to live in, the family attended free English classes and proceeded in learning the English language. Soon after, they all merged into the American life and took advantage of the job opportunities.

On July 17, 2004, Lora returned to Russia and married her high school sweetheart Igor. In August, the couple began the tedious journey in gaining Igor access to America to be with her. But, the immigration rules have changed for the United States, since September 11. Normally, the wait runs from two to two and a half years before a Russian can immigrate to America. Lora refuses to allow her husband to wait like she did. She has expedited his immigration process because she is already an American citizen and he can consider her a family tie in the United States. Igor's immigration process is coming to a close and the seven months of shelling out hundreds of dollars, filling out paperwork, writing letters to the American Ambassador, and endless waiting are about to pay off. Lora hopes that he will be in the United States by July. After Igor has been in the country for a year he can apply for his citizenship.

Not all Russian immigrants undergo the immigration process as smoothly as Igor. Some immigrants endure more waiting and persecution that Lora, Natasha, and their family. But, each immigrant ventures from their homeland to America with a goal in mind and with a hope to take advantage of the opportunities that the United States has to offer. Some things are worth the sacrifice and worth the wait.