Review of Point of Entry...JFK Airport

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Hello All:

What with the arrival of Alla in her new country, getting married, settled, etc (still not settled) It took until now for Alla to put together her experiences in coming here, both in Ukraine and at JFK. Hopefully her experiences will help others. She gives also her version of how she came to chase around Dionetsk for 3 days in search of the phantom "tax documents" which were never needed. For those with children, she says to be sure you keep the letter giving permission for the child to leave the country handy. BUT you do NOT need a new letter...the one you have for the visa is for a PERMANENT relocation to the USA and is acceptable regardless of how long ago it was written. She seemed to have more trouble with bringing her animals than with herself or son. )) So I give that information also as I am sure she is not the only fiancee that has a dog or cat. Basically it is not a big problem but expect to pay quite a bit of money to get the animals here. I stopped calculating the cost of everything long ago, it is not about money...we will get more of that next week!

So, here, in it's un-edited, un-cut, un-changed (for political correctness) version...is Alla's experience at point of entry:

About documents for the child I did not write anything, except for the information on necessity to have the letter from the father. More ask nothing. Only the visa of the child and the letter from the father.

"I have arrived to the USA, having with myself:

- The son of 13 years,

- A dog of breed the Pekinese, 3 kgs without a cell{cage},

- A cat of breed the Persian, 2,5 kgs without a cell{cage},

- 4 suitcases,

- Hand luggage.

It is necessary for transportation of animals:

- Territory of Ukraine (train):

For each animal the travel paper in the same cash department, as a travel paper for people is made out. It is enough of it{this} for transportation of an animal in a train.

- Flight Ukraine-America (flight AEROSVIT, departure in 1 Р.М. From Kiev to New York):

In one interior of the plane can there is one animal speak rules. It means, that if in interior ekonom - a class there is someone who flies with an animal your animal will depart in a luggage space, instead of with you in interior of the plane.

I transported 2 animals. 2 weeks prior to my flight I have made 3 calls to company AEROSVIT with the request to reserve to me a place in interior for one animal. As a result, when I have arrived to the airport, reservations on a place in interior for an animal for me have not been made.

Employee AEROSVIT has strictly asked me why I have not reserved a place for an animal. I have answered it, that have reserved a place, and have asked it{him} why this reservation is not present. With strict on kind this employee has replaced tone at once after I have promised to it{him} to start to find out a question on professionalism of employees of company AEROSVIT from its{his} management{manual} now at presence of witnesses. As a result one my animal flied with me (dog), not looking that in the same interior, as I, flied one more dog.

I tell this history that you understood, that you have the right on normal of the attitude{relation} to.

At presence of all documents, understanding of the rights, you should defend the rights easy, but is unshakable.

Second my animal flied in luggage.

Cost of transportation of 1 animal in interior - 150 dollars. Cost of transportation of 1 animal in luggage - 200 dollars.

In day of my flying away payment for transportation of animals was accepted in dollars LAST DAY!!!! (this information has informed me employee AEROSVIT orally, I did not check it{her}).

Special requirements to cells{cages} did not show.

With itself it is necessary to take diapers for animals.

Documents for each animal:

- The passport, in the passport all inoculations current, and also the INOCULATION AGAINST FURIOUSNESS. After an inoculation of an antibody to the activator of furiousness are developed{produced} within 30 days. Thus, the inoculation should be made a minimum 30 days prior to prospective flight.

- The information{inquiry}. After 30 days have passed{have taken place}, you can receive the information{inquiry} in the state city veterinary clinic of your city. This information{inquiry} is valid within 5 days. Within 5 these days you should sit down in the plane. At the airport there is a veterinary. You necessarily come to it{him;them} with animals and documents. On the basis of an information{inquiry} available you the veterinary writes out to you the special document for flight of the international sample. With this document you also fly.

- A cell{cage}. The cell{cage} is necessary necessarily.

The weight of an animal with a cell{cage} should not exceed 5 kg, differently an animal will fly in a luggage space.

My cat flied in a luggage space and it{she} is now alive and healthy. However at the airport of the city of New York with a cat I have found a cell{cage} somewhere in the middle of a hall (could and not find).

Now about the document from tax inspection for me. I called in airport BORISPOL and was interested, what documents is necessary for passage of the customs control. To me have told, that I should give the document from tax inspection that I do not have debts against my Native land on payment of taxes.

I have gone to tax inspection. There to me have told, that I should bring it{him} 2 information{inquiries}:

- One information{inquiry} that I do not have car,

- The second that I do not have ground.

The information{inquiry} on absence of the ground do{make} a minimum 21 day (without a bribe). The information{inquiry} on absence of the car do{make} within an hour (without a bribe). Information{inquiries} it is necessary to pay For all. (for all documents on animals - too).

On the basis of information{inquiries} on absence of the ground and the car within 21 days (without a bribe) tax inspection promises to make the information{inquiry} on absence of debts under taxes before the country. At me on 20 put the information{inquiry} it was yet ready. I have asked of the sanction to get acquainted with the chief of tax inspection and to find out from it{him}, that so detains delivery to me information{inquiries}. After that the information{inquiry} to me have given out within 2 hours which I have lead pending in a corridor of tax inspection.

As I understand, simply nobody wrote out this information{inquiry}.

THIS INFORMATION{INQUIRY} was NOT asked by ANYBODY in Ukraine, and in America.

It is very necessary to have at itself the letter from the father of the child that it{he} does not object to departure of the child abroad. This letter ask constantly.

At landing{planting} in the plane there is one more check of documents (except for standard passport control and other...). There Is a young man who steadfastly considers{examines} documents and asks tricky questions. ( Had to add that, I cross the border into Canada so much I am always amused by the "tricky questions")

It is necessary to answer simply precisely and easy.

In New York the first whom I have met, was the old American of the Italian origin who talked to me as if{as} I a dirt on a sole its{his} boot. I think, it is simple its{his} style of dialogue with the world. Thus it{he} raises{increases} a self-estimation.

I had not all necessary documents. In the plane to us have allowed to fill 1 form. The second form lays on tables in a room in which you get at once after an output{exit} from the plane (before passport control). There 2 kinds of forms (different colors{flowers} - green and white). I should fill white.

To me has carried. Having heard as I silently swear, one of the employees of passport control idly going around, has approached{suited} to me and has started talking in Russian. It{he} both has filled the form, and has checked up all documents. Was friendly and ironic.

After that I have passed{have taken place} 2-3 more controls. In particular, my documents from embassy of the USA in Ukraine (the sealed envelope) were checked by the woman of an Afro-American origin. It{she} did not talk to me as if I a dirt. It{she} did not talk to me at all. What for?

However it{she} has strictly told to me: " YOU SHOULD MARRY Within 90 DAYS OR LEAVE FROM the COUNTRY ". Till now I shudder at memoirs on a is loud-market voice.

The employee of last control over New York has pleasantly surprised. It{he} too well spoke in Russian and was absolutely quiet.

And sympathetic the simple grandfather who is responsible for carriages in the general{common} luggage hall was kind.

In a word, all as everywhere: there are people normal, is... Not palatable.

In the end I wish to tell, that it is necessary to have at myself the Ukrainian currency and the American currency (it is desirable to have a part of money in fine denominations). Never you know, for as when it will be necessary to pay and in what currency.

In Kiev and at landing{planting} there was a huge turn.

The clothes are better for taking multilayered that it was possible to remove{take off} superfluous.

In the plane give thin blankets.

Theoretically, all can be set questions, having called in airport BORISPOL or in office AEROSVIT.

Practically, the information often inconsistent, people simply do not know answers, do not know changes in their company, do not wish to answer, are borrowed{occupied}...

But all to learn{find out} it is possible".

Thank you Alla...Welcome to the USA. I am the luckiest man in the world!

Gary

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Welcome to America, Alla, and that is a great review. Lots of useful information. I am so glad that you were able to bring your cat and your dog as well as your son to your new home and new life in the US.

[TBoneTX 45,292]

Si, man!

[^KK^ 3]

Welcome...