Return Travel to Ukraine with Children

[etripke 0]

My wife and Step Daughter are planning a trip home. My Step Daughter must head back to renew her travel document (it expires in March and according to the consulate in Chicago she MUST get it renewed in Ukraine). Although they are not leaving anytime soon, we are making plans and trying to be certain that we have everything in order.

The issue that is coming to a head now is one that would involve the father of my step-daughter. Obviously he gave his written permission for her to leave for the states. We are now reading that she would need yet another permission letter from him if she returns to Ukraine for a couple weeks and departs, regardless of her status here in the states or the previous permission letter. Let me clarify this by saying that we are concerned about Ukrainian Authorities allowing her out of the country. She has her green card so no issues getting back into the USA.

Her father is a difficult man, and we had problems with the first permission. We realize that she will have to have his permission for renewal of the travel document as well.

Have any of you returned to Ukraine with children and had to get the additional permission of the absent parent? If so, is this the case for each and every trip home that the child makes?

If anyone can share their experience(s) about this I would really appreciate it.

[1HappyGuy 45]

I'm a little confused by your inquiry. If your step-daughter has her green card then why would she have an expiring travel document from Ukraine. Did she come on a K-2 visa or a B1/B2? If she has a green card I don't see why Ukraine would be involved at all, since possession of a green card indicates a permanent resident of America.

I understand that her father needed to give his approval for her to leave originally, but things have now changed. She is a permanent resident and should be afforded the rights of Americans.

[victor+natasha 0]

I'm a little confused by your inquiry. If your step-daughter has her green card then why would she have an expiring travel document from Ukraine. Did she come on a K-2 visa or a B1/B2? If she has a green card I don't see why Ukraine would be involved at all, since possession of a green card indicates a permanent resident of America.

First of all if your daughter has a green card, you can go to the Ukrainian consulate in chicago and get a stamp in her passport that she is a permanent resident of US and put her on (oblic). The consulate is able to ussue her a new Ukrainian passport. Do not take no for an answer, it is their job to renew passports of Ukrainian citizens who permanantly reside abroad as lond as they do it legally.

I understand that her father needed to give his approval for her to leave originally, but things have now changed. She is a permanent resident and should be afforded the rights of Americans.

As for this comment you should know that when you are in another country you are subject to the laws of that country. In Ukraine the rights of Americans don't matter (especially if they are not Americans yet and are Ukrainian citizens).

Edited July 30, 2008 by victor+natasha

[etripke 0]

The Ukrainian Consulate in Chicago said "No". They will not issue a new travel document, and all travel documents for those under the age of 18 MUST be renewed back in Ukraine. As far as registering her as a permanent resident here in the states, I can't entrirely answer to that. One thing for certain is that she is going to have to head back to Ukraine for the travel document to be renewed, thus the additional permission etc.

As far as here Green Card status, we have no problems with the US Government and her getting into the states after a trip. Our concerns are on the other side of "the pond" when she tries to leave Ukraine without the proper documentation i.e. parental permission, if that is the case.

So, getting back to the issue at hand, have either of you made trips back and had issues in removing the child from the country? Were you asked about the absent parent's permission? Did you give the original permission that was obtained initially?

[1HappyGuy 45]

My stepson was over 18, so parental okay was never an issue. How old is your stepdaughter? I thought the issue changes at age 16.

[etripke 0]

My stepson was over 18, so parental okay was never an issue. How old is your stepdaughter? I thought the issue changes at age 16.

She is 11 and according to the consulate she will need to be 18 before this issue becomes a no issue.

[etripke 0]

My stepson was over 18, so parental okay was never an issue. How old is your stepdaughter? I thought the issue changes at age 16.

She is 11 and according to the consulate she will need to be 18 before this issue becomes a no issue.

Ok, I stand corrected. According to the manual "Of the Embassy of Ukraine in the USA" published in 2007 which we obtained while at the Chicago Consulate, my daughter can obtain her own passport at age 16. She can can however remain in my wife's passport until age 18.

We have found more conflicting information from the manual when compared to what we were told at the consulate and on the phone with them.

[1HappyGuy 45]

Well, I sure wish you lots of luck. I know that some parents can be quite difficult when it comes to allowing their children to leave. It is rather unusual for a father to be concerned, so if he is a good father you might just try talking to him. Assure him that his daughter is being well cared for and that she will visit him each time she returns to Ukraine. Tell him that it is your wish that your stepdaughter will keep a good relationship with her father and will write or send emails often to tell how she is.

If that doesn't work, then you will have to find out what is his motivation. He might just be looking for some money.

As a side note, my stepson is in Ukraine now. He went to the village where his father lives to meet him. It is the first time he's spoken to his father in 15 years.

[Nanusia & Lukaszek 0]

The Ukrainian Consulate in Chicago said "No". They will not issue a new travel document, and all travel documents for those under the age of 18 MUST be renewed back in Ukraine. As far as registering her as a permanent resident here in the states, I can't entrirely answer to that. One thing for certain is that she is going to have to head back to Ukraine for the travel document to be renewed, thus the additional permission etc.

As far as here Green Card status, we have no problems with the US Government and her getting into the states after a trip. Our concerns are on the other side of "the pond" when she tries to leave Ukraine without the proper documentation i.e. parental permission, if that is the case.

So, getting back to the issue at hand, have either of you made trips back and had issues in removing the child from the country? Were you asked about the absent parent's permission? Did you give the original permission that was obtained initially?

I spoke with a Ukrainian friend who said you may have been given a run around in Chicago. He believes someone in his family had a travel document renewed for a child here in Chicago. The paperwork is filled out here, then sent for processing in Ukraine, and takes 3-6 months to get the new travel document to be sent back to Chicago. You get a notice in the mail that its at the consulate, and you have to pick it up. Only the mother of the child will be able to file this.

[payxibka 10,045]

-e

As I told you in the PM. Vova's parental permission document signed in 2006 (almost two years ago). Passport control asked for it as well as his greencard upon departure on Wednesday. The officer looked at it and let us leave without any added questions. We used regular exit and NOT the VIP service. This was also Odessa not Borispyl.

[Brad and Vika 129]

It sounds like you might want to escalate at the consulate. Ask for a supervisor, or head of section. Just a thought, and good luck with it.