Mark and Sasha

Indeed.

If the kids are under 14 years old, they have to be supervised by the airline and you pay around $100 (depends on the airline). They will need to complete a form stating the name of the adult that will be picking them up at the airport.

Airlines do this all the time. Give them a call.

Thank you all for the replies!

.....and J-1 (high school age) appear to still be on the table. Is this correct?

Nevermind, J-1 says you can't stay with relatives.

.....[edited out]......

Copy of child’s original birth certificate

Copy of the final adoption decree

Evidence that you had 2 years of legal custody (this could have been awarded by a court prior to the final adoption decree)

Evidence that you had 2 years of physical custody (this means time during which the child was living with you and you were exercising primary parental control)

Maybe I don't understand how adoption works. How is someone having legal and physical custody of a child without already adopting them? I'm pretty sure that people adopting from foreign countries don't have either of those.

I don't think adoption would be an option for the family anyway, I think too many legal issues and family issues would get in the way.

Due to a number of reasons, we'd rather her come before high school. Adoption is out, but F-1 (elementary age) and J-1 (high school age) appear to still be on the table. Is this correct?

I have not heard of a 10 year old getting a tourist visa to visit the US on their own. I don't know how possible it is. Hopefully someone else will chime in on that.

I would never ever send a 10 year old by themselves on a transatlantic flight, especially one with a stop over at large international airport!

Any guardian would have to apply for a tourist visa on their own merit.

I believe that there are direct flights from Kiev to Los Angeles

Student Visa.

http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1269.html

This page would seem to indicate that's not legal for a child to do that. Would we have to pay for private schooling?

Hello VJers,

Myself - US Citizen

Wife - Ukrainian Citizen, permanent resident, will likely have US citizenship next year

Wife's Cousin's Daughter (1st cousin, once removed?)- Ukrainian Citizen

We have some thoughts of bringing daughter to the US when she is 11 or 12 (2016/17), but aren't even sure where to start with that. The daughter is related to my wife, but it's not exactly a "neice/aunt" relationship. Would that qualify as petitioning to bring a relative here? What legal difficulties would there be having a minor child move here? We wouldn't be adopting her, but would obviously have some type of guardianship over her.

Thanks for any thoughts on the matter!

~M & S

we posted another related issue here if any other thoughts pop-up http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/402932-minor-child-tourist-visa/

Hello VJers,

Myself - US Citizen

Wife - Ukrainian Citizen, permanent resident, will likely have US citizenship next year

My wife's cousin's daughter is 8 years old, and we'd like for her to visit for a summer when she's 10 (2014). It seems likely a tourist visa probably isn't too difficult to apply for and get her here.

- Has anybody had any experience with this?

- Is 10 too young to travel by themselves?

- Would she be able to have a guardian escort her to the plane? (or on it?)

- Do the airlines support a child traveling alone?

- What about border control leaving Ukraine or entering US?

Thanks for the thoughts!

~M&S

somewhat related post, if any other thoughts ... http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/402934-minor-child-tourist-visa-eventual-immigration/

I do not now if you can trust them but you can be shore that you will find some coffee shops that have WiFi and you can use your phone without problem. At least in Romania is like that.

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I'm aware of that option. However, there might be some times where I'm not near a cafe and I need to send some simple email. Finding a cafe just to do that would be terrible.

~mark

Howdy All,

I'm going to be visiting Ukraine later this year, and I'll need to have a relatively continuous data connection while I'm there. Something like a MiFi would be great. I didnt really want a USB card, cuz then I have to have a laptop all the time. Verizon claims they have data coverage there, so I could add international data roaming (relatively cheap) to my android phone.... but I dont know if I trust their claim on it.

Does anybody have any experience with renting/buying a device like this (which provider?)? I can pick it up in Kiev, but I'll mostly be in Kirovograd.

Thanks in advance!

Mark

Hi,

Take a look at the link: http://www.meest.net/index.php?lang=en

Regards, Irina.

Thanks for the link Irina, we were aware of them, but read some negative reviews online. Additionally, when my wife emailed them in Kiev, it took the a few weeks to reply (and they just said, contact the US based office). Have you used them personally?

~Mark

Hi all,

My husband (a perm. resident w/greencard) passed his written exam for a learner's permit today in Rhode Island. When he went to schedule the road test for the proper license, they said he'd have to bring proof of insurance on the day. I don't drive due to a disability, so I can't put him on my own insurance or provide him with a vehicle. My parents may be able to lend him their car. Their insurance company said that they cover other drivers who borrow the car with their permission. If we get a notarized letter from my parents stating that they give him permission to borrow their car for the road test along with a copy of their insurance coverage, will this be good enough? We don't want to buy a car at this time. We just want him to have the license for cases where he needs to rent one or to use our local Zip Car service. There's also the possibility that he may get a job offer that requires commuting and we all of a sudden do need to buy a car, so we want to have it now rather than have a good job opportunity pass him by.

Might be too late for an answer, but you should be able to get all this done at a rental agency - or at least they could help you get the information you need. If not, a letter signed by your parents along a copy of the letter from the insurance company should be good. You should be careful though, because some insurance companies will only cover the car, not the driver. Read the fine print.... good luck.

All,

My wife and I will be visiting Ukraine later this year, to visit family, and bring some of her things over to the US. We're having a little trouble finding shipping companies and how to get the items here. She's quite worried that her items will be lost or stolen along the way somehow. Any suggestions or experiences would be appreciated.

~Mark

Sasha had her interview today, got approved within a few minutes and was out quickly enough. Best of luck to everyone else. She can fill in more info for you all if she wants ~

Mark B.

My congratulations When will she be arriving?

Thanks.

I'll be in the US in the middle of September I guess.....

Sasha

UPDATE:

I just spoke to Ulyana. THe Embassy just called her this morning. They said her documents/visa is ready and will be sent to Ivano-Frankvisk for pickup on Monday. Fed Ex will not drive to her Village to deliver. She lives in a village by the name of Zarinchya - about a 30 minute drive by car to Ivano. So, she will go on Monday to pick up her Visa.

So, it took them two/three days to process the visa paperwork & FedEx out. In essence it will be 6 days from the date of our interview to the time she gets the Visa - that includes two weekend days.

She will arrive to the US on September 6th. I had previously purchased her and Anna's ticket back in July.

John

Yes, I got a call from Fedex today, too... However, I'll get the package by myself in their office on Tuesday (as Monday is the day off) -- still have things to do in Kiev.

Sasha

Sasha had her interview today, got approved within a few minutes and was out quickly enough. Best of luck to everyone else. She can fill in more info for you all if she wants ~

Mark B.

My congratulations When will she be arriving?

Thanks.

I'll be in the US in the middle of September I guess.....

Sasha

Got back to Chicago last night from Kiev. I went to Kiev last Friday to be with Ulyana for her Interview on the 19th of this week. Here is the sequence of events:

Arrived to the Embassy at approximately 9AM on the 19th. There were many people milling about and forming a line to the front door of the embassy. Someone before, maybe FWAGUY, said that you receive much respect when you show a US passport. Definately true. We were whisked to the front of the line and told to proceed inside. Even the Babushka at the front of the line did not like this, but when the officer said something to her, she replied "I understand, I understand"

Once inside we were sent to the wrong line -we waited about three minutes when another officer asked what visa we were applying for. We said K1 and were instructed to go back down a hallway to a smaller room with two heavy glass windows that protected the workers inside the office - much like you would see at a currency exchange.

One tip - when you get back this room, there is a button by one of the glass windows that says you can push it for assistance. We did not and after sitting there for 45 minutes, (It was 9:50AM at this time) I pushed the button and a lady came to the window. I asked if we needed to sign in or check in. She replied "your fiancee can bring her documents to the window now"

The embassy official had her own KEV1 form and went right down the line asking for each document. Ulyana would push the document through the opening of the glass window. She was told to sit down. After about 5 minutes, she was called back again and asked to go down this side aisle. She returned very quickly. I asked what was that for - "It was for finger and palm prints". We again sat down.

And then we waited and waited. There was only two other girls all morning. One girl had an 8AM appointment and was gone by 10:15am and one girl had a 9:30 appointment. We started to get a little nervous and then at 11:30 another officer (man) called Ulyana's name and she was asked to go back down this side aisle to a window - again, similiar to a currency exchange. I asked if I could go. He said yes. By the time I had gotten back there, he had already asked Ulyana if she spoke English, she said yes.

He then proceeded to start giving our documentation back through the opening at the bottom of the glass window - again, a window similiar to what you would see at a currency exchange. He then looked at me and said: "I looked at all of your documentation and I really don't have any questions. Take this form out the Fed-Ex station and they will record it and you will reveive your visa in 7 to 8 days."

So, that was it. Not one question. So, I would very much agree with what has been written here. Make sure all your documentation is in order and that you have ample evidence of a relationship. They had our documents for 1 1/2 hours and there was only one other girl at the same time as our interview, so they had ample time to review the documentation.

I had every letter Ulyana wrote to me, every letter I wrote to Ulyana, an sms log for the last year, phone records for the past year, ample financial eveidence to support the 134 form, pictures, records of three trips to Ukraine since Auugust of 2007 to see her, one trip in March to Egypt together.

But there was one girl form Ulyana's home city that previoulsy had interviewed in July - she was turned away and asked for more proof a relationship. She scheduled another interview on August 5th. She again was denied - I beleive because they do not beleive the relationship was bona - fide. So, my counsel to all here would be to ensure you have plenty of documentaiton and proof of a real valid relationship.

Thanks to each of you for all for your valuable advice.

Good Luck

John

Congratulations!

Btw, I was told to go to the beginning of the line (near the front door of the embassy), too, because K1 visa applicants do not have to wait there.

I guess that was a really nice day, you were asked no questions at all, and I was asked only three -- how many times Mark has visited, how we met and where he lives.

Sasha

Sasha had her interview today, got approved within a few minutes and was out quickly enough. Best of luck to everyone else. She can fill in more info for you all if she wants ~

Mark B.

My fiancee had her interview today, our case was approved, she was inside the embassy for 3 hours 9-12noon

the interview took less than 5 minutes

asked her only one question, is everything on the forms true.

Congratulations!

Hi to everyone,

I have a question about forms. I know that I shouldn't sign DS-156K at home, but what about DS-156 and KEV-1? Should I sign them at home, and if yes, what date should I write near my signature -- the date of the interview, or any date before it? Oh and btw, did everyone here complete these forms according to visajourney examples?

Thanks,

Sasha

I think one of the forms specifically (can't remember which one) says specifically DO NOT SIGN .... as it is needed to be signed in front of the CO. With the advent of the call center, do they even use the KEV-1 anymore?

Yes, they still use KEV-1.

Anybody going to Kyiv (or Kirovograd) leaving 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17? I may not have sent my documents early enough to my Fiancé, our interview is the 19th (next tuesday).

As I've played courier before, I was wondering if i could get someone to play courier for me? If you can, I can overnight the documents to you and you can pass them on to her in Kyiv.

PM me if you can, much appreciated.

Mark B.

Anybody going to Kyiv (or Kirovograd) leaving 13, 14, 15, 16, or 17? I may not have sent my documents early enough to my Fiancé, our interview is the 19th (next tuesday).

As I've played courier before, I was wondering if i could get someone to play courier for me? If you can, I can overnight the documents to you and you can pass them on to her in Kyiv.

PM me if you can, much appreciated.

Mark B.

Hi to everyone,

I have a question about forms. I know that I shouldn't sign DS-156K at home, but what about DS-156 and KEV-1? Should I sign them at home, and if yes, what date should I write near my signature -- the date of the interview, or any date before it? Oh and btw, did everyone here complete these forms according to visajourney examples?

Thanks,

Sasha

I have a question regarding the financial documents and requirements on form I-134. Section C/1 states “copy of last income tax return filed" which is for me form 1040 – does this need to be notarized? Will a simple photocopy do, or do I need to request that my tax preparer give me an additional copy?

Thanks in advance,

Mark n' Sasha

The tax retrun does not need to be notarized. You can provide the return, but must have the support behind the return - such as W-2, 1099's etc. that prove the numbers on the tax return. A photocopy of all of this acceptable.

John

What if most of my clients don't provide me with 1099s? Is this going to be a problem?

Mark

I have a question regarding the financial documents and requirements on form I-134. Section C/1 states “copy of last income tax return filed" which is for me form 1040 – does this need to be notarized? Will a simple photocopy do, or do I need to request that my tax preparer give me an additional copy?

Thanks in advance,

Mark n' Sasha

Thank you, fwaguy and Muddy

Yes, you are fine. Police Certificates are good for 6 months as well as the medical is good for 6 months.

My Ulyana called today to schedule her medical and was given July 24th, but this was too soon for her. They told here they only schedule up to 10 days away from today's date, so if she wanted something in the following week to call back on Monday. So, she will call back on Monday to schedule her and her daughter's medical.

Conincidentally, we have our Interview on August 19th too, at 9:30AM. Where are you from - USA?? If you are from America, and your interview is scheduled around the same time, I will see you at the Embassy.

John

Hi John,

Thanks for your reply... I was already thinking about the possibility of getting another certificate tomorrow I'm from Ukraine, my fiance Mark is from the USA. Funny, but I was told 9:30, too.

Didn't know that they schedule medical up to ten days, thanks for that info.

Sasha