We have the same problem---my wife wants her stuff from Odessa also. There is a company called Meest---but if I remember correctly, the prices they quote on shipping by sea are from the docks in Odessa to their terminal in Jersey--you are responsible for getting it delivered down here. Have you really looked at paying the "extra baggage" fee from the airlines? Or you could possibly find someone else visiting Lviv to act as your mule. Right now our plan is: on her next visit back to Odessa (probably in April) I am going to accompany her also, and we will pack the maximum allowed in the luggage to bring back here.

We're planning to take 2 big suitcases each which we are allowed for free. I have also reserved 4 extra bags, but no one can tell me exactly how much it will cost. I made my tickets through NWA, but they are ticketed on their partner KLM, and the first flight is operated by UIA. I've called each airline more than once to see whose luggage rules will apply and get a different answer each time. It looks like it could be as much as 200 euros for each extra bag which seems excessive to me. That's why we are thinking we may just ship most of her things as extra cargo.

Remember the free allowance is two bags @ 23 kg (50 lbs) each... maximum weigh for the bag cannot exceeed 32 kg (70 lbs) but you will potentially be subject to an overweight charge. I did exactly as you are planning and believe me it doesn't take long to get to the weight restriction before you are out of space in the big bags (or if you have books).

Any of you that have wives or fiancees who owned their own property (apartment) in Ukraine please post I have a question regarding procedures over there. The issue involves the "Internal" passport (Propiska?) needing to be "stamped" so the departing resident can transfer utilities and water to a family member occupant on departure.

Thanks

Yeah,

We have not done that or at least didn't do that, Sveta has been speaking about this but it sounds like a beaureaucratic nightmare... Momma just went to Kherson to pay the "bills".... E, I want you to lead me on this one.... OK?

Yeah,

We have not done that or at least didn't do that, Sveta has been speaking about this but it sounds like a beaureaucratic nightmare... Momma just went to Kherson to pay the "bills".... E, I want you to lead me on this one.... OK?

Well according to Lena she went to do this today, and was turned back after waiting in line for 2 hours. Her brother is taking over her place, and what I didn't understand is that they are billed by the number of people living in the apartment and the square meter size. She was told she had to go to where they do the residence registration for the internal "passport" and will have to get it stamped there indicating she is or has moved to the states. Her brother can then be listed for the billing on the other stuff. We are talking about sending them "proof" she is not living there after the fact like with a copy of our lease, etc, and the I-94 and hope they'll just do it. It can be done before her departure, it will just take hours of standing in line at two different places.

The old Soviet never dies I guess.

I know, we are paying for utilities for a household of two even though everything is shut off...

As I noted it is an "Ukranian Exit Visa" it is the Ukraine's requirement for all nationals planning to live outside of Ukraine. Your spouse can and will be questioned when she later returns and then attempts to leave Ukraine to travel back to your country without one.

A long time ago on RWG Doug Salem wrote about how his wife Olga was stopped on 3 visits to Ukraine when she attempted to leave and return to the USA because she did not have the Exit Visa stamp in her Ukraine International Passport! Finally Olga's mother contacted a local official and arranged for her daughter to obtain one with the usual appropriate gifts, etc.

For us it took longer going through normal channels to obtain the Exit Visa than to obtain the Canadian Visa for Lora.

There is however one downside you need to consider it this as well. Your spouse will have to sign off on all existing property rights in Ukraine. That is give up ownership of her flat or house if she has one. Simple to sign over ownership to a relative as this takes care of the problem. Thus not everyone from Ukraine applies for an Exist visa as like I noted it means they loose their local passport and give up their Ukraine property rights. So a lot for you to think about with your Ukranian spouse!

After moving to your country your Ukranian spouse will need to register with the local Ukraine Embassy or Consulate as a Ukranian living abroad in your country.

Also, Ukrainians who have immigrated to the U.S. without obtaining the proper exit visa from Ukrainian authorities may be subject to civil or criminal penalties, and will be required to obtain an exit visa before returning to the U.S. For additional information, see the Consular Affairs web site for our Dual Nationality flyer

All Ukrainian passports allow the holder to re-enter Ukraine. Until January 1, 1993, separate Ukrainian exit visas were required for travel abroad. All external passports should, by now, be either re-issued or re-registered at VVIR offices or at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Regular passports are valid for five years and those still produced on Soviet passport stock are overstamped with an amendment authorizing the bearer to travel to any country of the world, thus eliminating the exit visa requirement. Persons emigrating from Ukraine normally retain their Ukrainian citizenship.

Effective January 1, 1998, all Ukrainian passports with Soviet Union symbols and red covers (all series and numbers) and official passports with dark blue covers (series “CM”, “KC”, “01” and “02”) will no longer be valid for travel abroad.

Reciprocity Schedule - Updated 6th April 2007,

and more: An exit visa is not necessary for departing the country, but for departure to take place it must be valid.


I think that clears things up.

On Ukrainian exit visas: In that same post mentioned above, I found:



I read that post also, and asked for his reference on it. I received a rather smart response, but in any case we have decided not to worry about it for now.



So it looks like we don't need to worry about exit visas at all if I am reading this right and it's correct.

All Ukrainian passports allow the holder to re-enter Ukraine. Until January 1, 1993, separate Ukrainian exit visas were required for travel abroad. All external passports should, by now, be either re-issued or re-registered at VVIR offices or at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Regular passports are valid for five years and those still produced on Soviet passport stock are overstamped with an amendment authorizing the bearer to travel to any country of the world, thus eliminating the exit visa requirement. Persons emigrating from Ukraine normally retain their Ukrainian citizenship.

Ukraine does not recognize dual nationality. American citizens entering Ukraine with a Ukrainian passport will be treated as Ukrainian citizens by the local authorities. This may include being required to perform mandatory military service. Also, Ukrainians who have immigrated to the U.S. without obtaining the proper exit visa from Ukrainian authorities may be subject to civil or criminal penalties, and will be required to obtain an exit visa before returning to the U.S.

Please help!!!!!
Copy of which passport do you send to NVC Internal or Travel???

By "Travel" I assume you mean whats referred to as your "international" passport? It would be your international passport then, as that is what would be recognized outside of Ukraine

Hi everyone!
Just got our NOA2 after 153 days of waiting. I know that waiting will continue with recent situation on sending documents from CSC to NVC. Just wanted to ask those of you who recently scheduled interview in Kiev, how long it takes to wait for appointment from the time you call ? Hoping to reunite before Christmas
Thanks in advance

Should either I-864 or I-864EZ be notorized or just signed by the petitioner?

And what is 1099 from requested in I-864EZ? where can we get it from?

Please help!!!!!
Copy of which passport do you send to NVC Internal or Travel???

8 weeks. So if you know now that you will have everything by then, get your KEV# handy and call NOW to schedule your interview.

Thanks, Zadan.
Just hoped that it would be less then that... Oh well, will wait...

The Embassy will NOT schedule an interview until they have the hard copy of the petition in their system. Once you have the KEV number from NVC get the medical out of the way, and make certain your other needed documents are sent soon.

The lead times for interviews have dropped a bit since this past summer. I think 8 weeks is a stretch, more like 35-45 days right now. I looked through timelines from last fall, and they seem to drop around this time of year, and as some of the announced interview dates have come in over the past several weeks, I think you can expect them to be closer to the range I quoted above.

As you pointed out the mailrooms are bogged down and NVC will see your petition in about a month. Start calling NVC in a couple of weeks to see if they have received it and when they have get the KEV number over the phone.

The NVC rep told me as soon as I had a KEV# I could contact the embassy in Kiev. I did as soon as I got one and it worked.

I recall an official wait-time being listed somewhere on the State Dept. website somwhere for the embassies. Anyone remember where it is?

You never received any notification from NVC and I would guess the Embassy had your hard copy of the petition when you called. Trust me, they won't do it unless it is there. The Embassy used to have a statement on the Fiance/ee visa page that would say something like "now scheduling interviews for the week of.." but they stopped doing that some around the end of May/early June.

State Department dates do not show the "Immigrant Visa" types. Just the others, or at least that is what I saw last time I looked. Although the K-1 is classified as a non-immigrant it does go to the IV unit in Kyiv.

Etripke is right, about 35-45 days from the time you call and it will take them about 10-15 days or so from the time it is sent from NVC to the embassy before they can put it in their system. Then you can call the call center and make an appointment. Believe me, I tried from the moment I got the KEV# from NVC, they will not have it in their computer system until the embassy enters it. You may always get lucky though like Etripke and get an appointment a couple weeks out Speaking of Etripke, good luck to you on Monday my friend, I can't wait to hear of your approval.

Have a nice weekend all...

Visa Approved!!

I just now got off the phone with Lena. She had a longer than anticipated wait at the embassy. Her appointment was at 09.30 and she called me at 12.52 Kyiv time so all in all she was in the Embassy for over 4 hours.

She said that she waited for over 2 hours for the interview itself, and they DID take fingerprints from her which I suspected was going to happen given we were stuck at NVC for a solid 5 weeks. I think that she most likely had a near hit on name checks while there and they had to do it.

She said like everyone else has said that the interview itself was pretty short, and non-eventful. She said the consulate officer was American and complimented her on her English specifically saying she had a "nice accent" which she took to mean her speech is very clear and understandable. He then seemed to engage more in small talk with her asking her if she was going to live here in Madison, and then telling her that it is a great place to live and that he has been here. He commented about the University of Wisconsin being here and their large Slavic Studies department (maybe he's alumni?) and then give her the slips to pay for the return of the passports etc.

She said he didn't look at anything she brought in, and that he briefly looked at the I-134, but returned everything. She was asked if she had ever had a name change from her previous marriage (which she had not, always maintaining her maiden name) but nothing else.

So, I'll keep everyone up to date on her arrival. Right now we are looking at Monday November 5th for her and Sasha (her daughter) to arrive.

I really would like to thank all of you for the support, and FWAGUY for starting this thread. It really did help us prepare and certainly helped me keep my sanity during the wait.

E.

Visa Approved!!

I just now got off the phone with Lena. She had a longer than anticipated wait at the embassy. Her appointment was at 09.30 and she called me at 12.52 Kyiv time so all in all she was in the Embassy for over 4 hours.

She said that she waited for over 2 hours for the interview itself, and they DID take fingerprints from her which I suspected was going to happen given we were stuck at NVC for a solid 5 weeks. I think that she most likely had a near hit on name checks while there and they had to do it.

She said like everyone else has said that the interview itself was pretty short, and non-eventful. She said the consulate officer was American and complimented her on her English specifically saying she had a "nice accent" which she took to mean her speech is very clear and understandable. He then seemed to engage more in small talk with her asking her if she was going to live here in Madison, and then telling her that it is a great place to live and that he has been here. He commented about the University of Wisconsin being here and their large Slavic Studies department (maybe he's alumni?) and then give her the slips to pay for the return of the passports etc.

She said he didn't look at anything she brought in, and that he briefly looked at the I-134, but returned everything. She was asked if she had ever had a name change from her previous marriage (which she had not, always maintaining her maiden name) but nothing else.

So, I'll keep everyone up to date on her arrival. Right now we are looking at Monday November 5th for her and Sasha (her daughter) to arrive.

I really would like to thank all of you for the support, and FWAGUY for starting this thread. It really did help us prepare and certainly helped me keep my sanity during the wait.

E.

Visa Approved!!

I just now got off the phone with Lena. She had a longer than anticipated wait at the embassy. Her appointment was at 09.30 and she called me at 12.52 Kyiv time so all in all she was in the Embassy for over 4 hours.

She said that she waited for over 2 hours for the interview itself, and they DID take fingerprints from her which I suspected was going to happen given we were stuck at NVC for a solid 5 weeks. I think that she most likely had a near hit on name checks while there and they had to do it.

She said like everyone else has said that the interview itself was pretty short, and non-eventful. She said the consulate officer was American and complimented her on her English specifically saying she had a "nice accent" which she took to mean her speech is very clear and understandable. He then seemed to engage more in small talk with her asking her if she was going to live here in Madison, and then telling her that it is a great place to live and that he has been here. He commented about the University of Wisconsin being here and their large Slavic Studies department (maybe he's alumni?) and then give her the slips to pay for the return of the passports etc.

She said he didn't look at anything she brought in, and that he briefly looked at the I-134, but returned everything. She was asked if she had ever had a name change from her previous marriage (which she had not, always maintaining her maiden name) but nothing else.

So, I'll keep everyone up to date on her arrival. Right now we are looking at Monday November 5th for her and Sasha (her daughter) to arrive.

I really would like to thank all of you for the support, and FWAGUY for starting this thread. It really did help us prepare and certainly helped me keep my sanity during the wait.

E.

Visa Approved!!

I just now got off the phone with Lena. She had a longer than anticipated wait at the embassy. Her appointment was at 09.30 and she called me at 12.52 Kyiv time so all in all she was in the Embassy for over 4 hours.

She said that she waited for over 2 hours for the interview itself, and they DID take fingerprints from her which I suspected was going to happen given we were stuck at NVC for a solid 5 weeks. I think that she most likely had a near hit on name checks while there and they had to do it.

She said like everyone else has said that the interview itself was pretty short, and non-eventful. She said the consulate officer was American and complimented her on her English specifically saying she had a "nice accent" which she took to mean her speech is very clear and understandable. He then seemed to engage more in small talk with her asking her if she was going to live here in Madison, and then telling her that it is a great place to live and that he has been here. He commented about the University of Wisconsin being here and their large Slavic Studies department (maybe he's alumni?) and then give her the slips to pay for the return of the passports etc.

She said he didn't look at anything she brought in, and that he briefly looked at the I-134, but returned everything. She was asked if she had ever had a name change from her previous marriage (which she had not, always maintaining her maiden name) but nothing else.

So, I'll keep everyone up to date on her arrival. Right now we are looking at Monday November 5th for her and Sasha (her daughter) to arrive.

I really would like to thank all of you for the support, and FWAGUY for starting this thread. It really did help us prepare and certainly helped me keep my sanity during the wait.

E.

Yeah, he was a bit rude, but I understand sometimes. Some people ask over and over again, there was another reply from a moderator there that was tersely worded also.

I'm with you on this one, we are having some conflicting information on it, but I suppose the state department might not be the authority to know absolutely if one is needed.

We're just going to shelve it for now.

Well according to Lena she went to do this today, and was turned back after waiting in line for 2 hours. Her brother is taking over her place, and what I didn't understand is that they are billed by the number of people living in the apartment and the square meter size. She was told she had to go to where they do the residence registration for the internal "passport" and will have to get it stamped there indicating she is or has moved to the states. Her brother can then be listed for the billing on the other stuff. We are talking about sending them "proof" she is not living there after the fact like with a copy of our lease, etc, and the I-94 and hope they'll just do it. It can be done before her departure, it will just take hours of standing in line at two different places.

The old Soviet never dies I guess.

That blows. Maybe sending over copies of anything here here that has her name on it, marriage license, and so forth would be enough, you never know. I hate to have Lena go through this BS especially those lines to register are HUGE for the "propiska" (SIC). She waited for over 6 hours the last time she needed something done.

Here is some more information on the "Exit Visa" as it is called by Ukrainian Authorities. This is from RU Adventures LINK: http://ruadventures.com/index.php?topic=16...0;boardseen#new

Quote from a user:



From the US DOS:

.

So, it appears that she will have to more or less give her place up to her Brother and lose all rights to the property. The catch from what I read is that this is for "Immigrant" status in the USA. If they are coming over here on Non-Immigrant status (with immigrant intent) does this still apply? I would imagine that once the AOS is completed THEN it is an issue, but not before. Anyone want to chime in on that?

I Just moments ago received a sms from Lena, and she has the pssports back w/Visas in hand. I am amazed she recieved them so quickly, and given it was a Monday Interview, and they batch process them, I don't know what this does to our perception of them holding them for each Monday. If indeed that were the case, then she wouldn't receive it until next week. Alternatively, she live lives in Kyiv and if it was processed on Monday, she should have had it yesterday or even Tuesday given the shipping?

Sorry, I'm rambling here. We are now set for the November 5th departure and arrival at O'Hare.

E.

I Just moments ago received a sms from Lena, and she has the pssports back w/Visas in hand. I am amazed she recieved them so quickly, and given it was a Monday Interview, and they batch process them, I don't know what this does to our perception of them holding them for each Monday. If indeed that were the case, then she wouldn't receive it until next week. Alternatively, she live lives in Kyiv and if it was processed on Monday, she should have had it yesterday or even Tuesday given the shipping?

Sorry, I'm rambling here. We are now set for the November 5th departure and arrival at O'Hare.

E.

Well super that is great to hear. I think we all are lucky to be honest, based on what I have seen and read from others posting on this visajourney website and seeing what others go through having finances in other countries, this Ukraine USA embassy appears to be very easy to deal with, based on what I have seen and read so far, and from personal experience also.

ON the lighter side of things just curious about anyone else's experiences in Ukraine.

1) Curious to ask you other Ukraine K1s, what air service do you use when you fly in and out of Ukraine and do you mostly fly to Kiev or try flying to other cities, reason I ask, when I try flying to other cities besides Kiev it gets kind of unreliable and hectic sometimes, flights get cancelled for now apparent reason in other words then you are scrambling at the airport.

I have used both LOT Polish Airlines and Northwest/KLM. I prefer the Northwest/KLM flights by far. Much nicer aircraft.

2) How did most of you meet your finances? Meet mine while at a friend's New Years Eve party in USA of all places while she was here in USA visiting her sister.

We were introduced through a mutual friend (former co-worker of mine and Ukrainian by birth). We were intro'd via email and then things just progressed to phone, and 3 visits.


3) Any of you have the old bus or train experiences yet whiles traveling around the country of Ukraine?

I have both, but our vacation to the Carpathians in July of this year involved a 14 hour train ride from hell which I would not recommend for anyone. But Ukrainians are tough, for them it is business as usual and being a pampered Yank it was uncomfortable. The return trip was miserable due to the weather, it was very hot outside and had to have been over 100 degrees in the compartment. I ended up stripping down to only my underwear, throwing on a pair of workout shorts, and worrying about dehydration. Next time, I would consider a flight in the backseat of a bi-plane.

4) How about those old 1930s or 40s or 40s airlines from DonAirbus or Dneprovia airlines that link up between cities in Ukraine, anyone every ride on one of those? I thought I was going to meet my maker one night in December flying one to Odessa! Those things are held together by a band aide and rubber band literally.

I have not done that yet


5) Also have you found that the restaurants totally suck, I mean you wait for 2 hours for the food, it costs way too much for Ukraine and they serve next to nothing and then it tastes like crap! AHHA I see why everyone there eats at home and goes to grocery store and buys their own and refuses to eat at a restaurant, but I had no idea it would be that bad. Everytime I go back to visit I notice that those same restaurants will be closed or out of business!

You my friend have not been to a nice restuarant. I have had some great meals over there and love anything Georgian or Khazak. I have always been the sort of guy who can eat almost anything and I love to cook myself. Some of the cuisine may be "bland" by our standards, but by and large it is a healthier diet than the crap we eat over here with all of the preservatives, and fat. How many fat children did you see over there? I saw very few compared to the states. I love the "presentation' of the meal as well, some of the courses look like a work of art, and show alot of care and thought in making it. I did eat in one Mexican restuarant in Kyiv that was expensive. The same meal at ChiChi's or someplace similar would have cost about half as much, and been tastier. On the other hand I ate at several upscale restuarants which were VERY reasonable compared to the states, maybe even 1/2 the cost.

Hope everyone is doing well and having a good time and K1 experience. I know I cannot say how many times over and over I have truly been blessed by meeting my wife from Ukraine, the women of Ukraine are by far the best I have ever seen in Eastern Europe or for that matter the world, they are definitely one of a kind and a cut above the rest, I never dreamed any woman could be so good and beautiful in this world.

ZQT3344
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I agree with you here for certain. Although I can't compare her to many other countries, I have lived abroad before and we have a great life ahead of us. The cultural differences work to each others advantage at times, and will make for interesting days otherwise. I know there are some American men out there who got into this situation looking for a "Wife" while others are looking for a "soul-mate" and I consider myself the latter. We think alike and Lena's strengths are in her intelligence, and self sufficiency which will serve us well here in the States. She is also a great Mom and will be a great step Mom for my son.


E.