MAJOR problem developing ...

[SteveColo 0]

All the info I wrote in this thread is direct from my wife, living in Ukraine, and very familiar with the law. Even with a approved visa and her K4 in her mom's passport, the country will not allow the little girl to leave without fathers written approval.

[Y's_habibitk 2]

All the info I wrote in this thread is direct from my wife, living in Ukraine, and very familiar with the law. Even with a approved visa and her K4 in her mom's passport, the country will not allow the little girl to leave without fathers written approval.

oh Steve, Im so sorry. I would still get extra letters from the father. someone else suggested a lawyer with a notory on staff??? do you think this is possible?

sorry i dont have anything useful 'cept prayers for your family.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

In Ukraine, in order for a child of a divorced couple to leave the country, the non-custodial parent must sign a release, allowing child to leave the country. At one time I guess this form was good for 90 days. Recently that's changed and now the document is only good for 30 days.

The x-husband of my wife had agreed to give us this form so that she and my 5-year-old stepdaughter can come home after the interview and the visas are received.

This man is involved with illegal activities in Ukraine. I don't know the full extent of his actions, but to say the least, if he is ever caught, he is going away for a while. So while working, he is obviously "in hiding". It some sort of theft/espionage thing from the government ...

Today, he informs my wife that at the end of March, he will be going to "work" clear across the country and will be gone for 6-8 months. He will simply disappear and she will have no way to contact him.

He will sign the form before he leaves, which gives us until the end of April to get my wife and stepdaughter out of the country.

That means we have to get our NOA2 (not here yet), get through the NVC to Kiev, interview, get her visa, then get her out of the country in a little less than 10 weeks. I don't know if it is even feasible.

Basically, if we don't accomplish this, she is stuck there (even with an approved visa) until he shows up again in 6-8 months to give her another document to let my stepdaughter out of the country. I can't believe this.

This man will not make himself available so that my wife can reach him and help us out. This man is re-married, and will be having a child soon, and will not even come back to see his child born because of his "work". He certainly would not make any special arrangements to meet my wife to give her the needed paperwork.

Does anyone know how long K3 is good for before it is used? I don't want to go through all this, get the visa but miss out on the paperwork for my stepdaughter not allowing her to leave, wait until he decides to show up again, only to have the K3 expire and have to start this mess all over again.

I don't know what to do. I feel like I am totally screwed. I am seriously losing it …

Well now let's talk about THIS. When we got our visa the letter from the father of my fiancees children was nearly 8 months old, It was signed January 22, 2008 and our interview was August 7, 2008, of course she had heard this letter was no good and the lowlife had held us up for some $$$$ to sign the letter. He couldn't have cared less about his two sons, but he wanted something for himself. Ok, so we were worried that the letter was no good and the ####### would hold us up for more $$$$ for a new letter. So I called the embassy and was told the letter needed to state he approved of his sons moving to the USA PERMANENTLY. I assured them that is exactly what the letter said. They said "No problem, it is for PERMANENT relocation" I was told I would need to keep that letter until both boys were over 16 (one is already) but that the letter was valid for travel from Ukraine to the USA PERMANENTLY. It is not valid for their travel from Ukraine to any other country. If for example we wanted to go to Ukraine and then UKRAINE to Italy, we would need a different letter!!!

If someone has some other information, please let me know as we are planning a summer trip to Ukraine with the 14 year old this summer and I do not want to find out this tidbit of information when we go to leave.

Steve, it is also perhaps because you are seeking a new visa and not traveling on a green card ????? Her 14 year old son has his green card, I would presume they KNOW he has this permission if he has a green card. Any input from other VJers is helpful, thanks.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

All the info I wrote in this thread is direct from my wife, living in Ukraine, and very familiar with the law. Even with a approved visa and her K4 in her mom's passport, the country will not allow the little girl to leave without fathers written approval.

You and your wife are exactly correct about one thing, she needs a letter from the father, no doubt. She will absolutely not get her daughter past passport control without it. That said, Alla breezed right through passport control with her 13 year old son in September with a letter from the father dated in January. No questions asked, no hesitation. As we understand it is because the letter gives her permission to take him to the USA permanently. Incidentally, before she came here she took a small vacation with the boys to Turkey and needed a separate letter for that trip with a specific date to leave Ukraine and return and THAT letter had to be dated within 30 days, but it was not for a permanent relocation. My guess is your wife is getting some slightly erronious information. They DO need a letter, but if it is for permanent removal I do not think they need multiple letters. If she had a letter before that met the consulate qualifications, I would think it is still valid. I will be sending an email to the visa section and ask myself. I know it is Ukrainian customs rules, but they should certainly be able to answer this one.

[Svetulek 0]

In Ukraine, in order for a child of a divorced couple to leave the country, the non-custodial parent must sign a release, allowing child to leave the country. At one time I guess this form was good for 90 days. Recently that’s changed and now the document is only good for 30 days.

The x-husband of my wife had agreed to give us this form so that she and my 5-year-old stepdaughter can come home after the interview and the visas are received.

This man is involved with illegal activities in Ukraine. I don’t know the full extent of his actions, but to say the least, if he is ever caught, he is going away for a while. So while working, he is obviously “in hiding”. It some sort of theft/espionage thing from the government ...

Today, he informs my wife that at the end of March, he will be going to “work” clear across the country and will be gone for 6-8 months. He will simply disappear and she will have no way to contact him.

He will sign the form before he leaves, which gives us until the end of April to get my wife and stepdaughter out of the country.

That means we have to get our NOA2 (not here yet), get through the NVC to Kiev, interview, get her visa, then get her out of the country in a little less than 10 weeks. I don’t know if it is even feasible.

Basically, if we don’t accomplish this, she is stuck there (even with an approved visa) until he shows up again in 6-8 months to give her another document to let my stepdaughter out of the country. I can’t believe this.

This man will not make himself available so that my wife can reach him and help us out. This man is re-married, and will be having a child soon, and will not even come back to see his child born because of his “work”. He certainly would not make any special arrangements to meet my wife to give her the needed paperwork.

Does anyone know how long K3 is good for before it is used? I don’t want to go through all this, get the visa but miss out on the paperwork for my stepdaughter not allowing her to leave, wait until he decides to show up again, only to have the K3 expire and have to start this mess all over again.

I don’t know what to do. I feel like I am totally screwed. I am seriously losing it …

[Svetulek 0]

I think you should contact the customs and the consulate and make sure if its is ok if she brings the paper from the police department that her ex-husband wasn't found. Just you have to find out where to find the person in police who can make it.

[Shad and Dani 3]

You'd be surprised what a notary will and won't do for $100 under the table.

Will he sign an undated copy? or post dated copies?

I suggested this to her. That won't work, they have to be notarized and a notary won't stamp the document unless it's dated ...

Exactly! If Ukraine is anything like Bulgaria, Money Talks! Otherwise I wouldn't push the issue too much, sounds like this guy is genuine mafia.

[pushbrk 12,234]

All the info I wrote in this thread is direct from my wife, living in Ukraine, and very familiar with the law. Even with a approved visa and her K4 in her mom's passport, the country will not allow the little girl to leave without fathers written approval.

You and your wife are exactly correct about one thing, she needs a letter from the father, no doubt. She will absolutely not get her daughter past passport control without it. That said, Alla breezed right through passport control with her 13 year old son in September with a letter from the father dated in January. No questions asked, no hesitation. As we understand it is because the letter gives her permission to take him to the USA permanently. Incidentally, before she came here she took a small vacation with the boys to Turkey and needed a separate letter for that trip with a specific date to leave Ukraine and return and THAT letter had to be dated within 30 days, but it was not for a permanent relocation. My guess is your wife is getting some slightly erronious information. They DO need a letter, but if it is for permanent removal I do not think they need multiple letters. If she had a letter before that met the consulate qualifications, I would think it is still valid. I will be sending an email to the visa section and ask myself. I know it is Ukrainian customs rules, but they should certainly be able to answer this one.

I suspect the confusion has to do with context. Once a letter is signed giving permission to immigrate (by definition, that's "permanent") the letter probably doesn't expire. When you ask for clarification, make sure you ask the right question, which would be, "What is required from the other parent to give permission to immigrate to another country?" I suspect the answer given by the authorities in Ukraine will be different than for pleasure travel. Context is sometimes King and the devil in the details.

[GiGii 4]

I suspect the confusion has to do with context. Once a letter is signed giving permission to immigrate (by definition, that's "permanent") the letter probably doesn't expire. When you ask for clarification, make sure you ask the right question, which would be, "What is required from the other parent to give permission to immigrate to another country?" I suspect the answer given by the authorities in Ukraine will be different than for pleasure travel. Context is sometimes King and the devil in the details.

I believe the letter that is good for 30 days is like if the kid was going for vacation to the US, not permanently to live here. Check with the consulate maybe here in the US or ask your wife to do more inquiries at home.

Even though a letter says "immigrate" I think the border control may not let the kid go, if its an old letter and doesn't have the word "permanent" in it. They can be hardasses about it, and say "no word permanent, kid no go". Also, notaries in Ukraine are not like notaries in the US. They are more like our US equivalent of an attorney. However, have no fear, if you wave some $$$ magic happens. If you want to be on the safe side and stress less, fork over some $$$ and get a post dated letter from the father.

By the way, guys that disappear for months at a time have super sneaky deals indeed. I heard stolen cars come from the US, this is the time to pick them up, forge papers, sell or auction them, and bounce back home.

[dxt7339 1]

I think you have some good suggestions.

find out EXACTLY what the law requires for her to clear customs. Do ask if the k4 establishes the fact that the father gave consent.

Try not to freak until you have all of the facts. I would ask your wife to get postdated affidavits from him, before he leaves anyway.

Keep us posted.

Lisa

USA and Ukraine have signed agreements concerning child kidnapping. This is where the requirement for the ex-spouse must consent to allow the child to leave the country. Russia has not signed such agreement and ex spouse document is not required.