Starting Over

[Tnic 5]

It's easy to start driving school, let she will try. Half women have driving license now, it's from statistics, may be different in Ukraine. Gazelles how you call them, are very dangerous, in big Russian cities you can use big and enough comfortable buses, though again I visited Ukraine long time ago, but everything changing. Really better to start driving in her home place. With my many years of experience of driving in big city in Russia driving in USA was very much easy!!! Everything written, everything marked, most drivers are careful enough, good roads...by the way, I'm a woman too.:-)

Hi Awiz,

She might have a Drivers License, I don't know. We both agree that there really isn't much need for a car in the city though. The bus or Gazelle (I forget the proper name for them) is convenient and cheap. My plan is to move there so I'm sure there's a car in the future so we can tour Crimea (from Simferopol) easier.

Well, in 2 days 10.5 hours I should be wheels up and about 20 hours later its huggie, kissie time.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Hi Awiz,

She might have a Drivers License, I don't know. We both agree that there really isn't much need for a car in the city though. The bus or Gazelle (I forget the proper name for them) is convenient and cheap. My plan is to move there so I'm sure there's a car in the future so we can tour Crimea (from Simferopol) easier.

Well, in 2 days 10.5 hours I should be wheels up and about 20 hours later its huggie, kissie time.

Have a great trip! What was your motivation to move there? As an aside, if you get a car there and tour, beware of the highway police. They are notorious entrepeneurs

[Auris 0]

Hi Awiz,

She might have a Drivers License, I don't know. We both agree that there really isn't much need for a car in the city though. The bus or Gazelle (I forget the proper name for them) is convenient and cheap. My plan is to move there so I'm sure there's a car in the future so we can tour Crimea (from Simferopol) easier.

Well, in 2 days 10.5 hours I should be wheels up and about 20 hours later its huggie, kissie time.

Be aware of police there and be aware that some driving rules are different, nothing is written on signs, always picture-type, no special rules for school buses, you can by-pass them when they stop(just be careful watching), no any possibility to turn right on red light, which is allowed in many places in your country, etc. And no nice services for renting cars there as no good places for repair, if for the short time may be better to use a train to that place if any...or just walk around! High tourist season is almost over already, so may be your lady can deal with local taxi driver to assist your trip, level of salaries there is very low for many people, so both sides can be happy, one to get extra money, another one to get relaxing trip for not big price.

[Tnic 5]

Thanks Brad and Awiz!

I haven't moved yet. As for motivation, well you did see the pic I posted of Mila, didn't you?

Seriously I'm retired so all I need is a bankomat to get some cash. When I finally settle in with (get married to) my One and Only then I'll start the process to gain PR status. If its Mila then maybe we'll start the 2 year clock next year sometime. Kto Znayet?

No car this trip. We're using public transport all the way, unless a friend or two is driving.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Thanks Brad and Awiz!

I haven't moved yet. As for motivation, well you did see the pic I posted of Mila, didn't you?

Seriously I'm retired so all I need is a bankomat to get some cash. When I finally settle in with (get married to) my One and Only then I'll start the process to gain PR status. If its Mila then maybe we'll start the 2 year clock next year sometime. Kto Znayet?

No car this trip. We're using public transport all the way, unless a friend or two is driving.

Are you going to do one of those three months and out for a day deals (over the border for a day - then another visa), or will you apply for residency (marry her there first)?

[slim 1,525]

Well, in 2 days 10.5 hours I should be wheels up and about 20 hours later its huggie, kissie time.

Awesome! Have fun!

beware of the highway police. They are notorious entrepeneurs

That's not always a good thing! Check out this dude below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6UPxdK65JU&p=4B6832B9E0F2CB47&playnext=1&index=25

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thanks Brad and Awiz!

I haven't moved yet. As for motivation, well you did see the pic I posted of Mila, didn't you?

Seriously I'm retired so all I need is a bankomat to get some cash. When I finally settle in with (get married to) my One and Only then I'll start the process to gain PR status. If its Mila then maybe we'll start the 2 year clock next year sometime. Kto Znayet?

No car this trip. We're using public transport all the way, unless a friend or two is driving.

Seriously we are considering the same in just a few years. We have a place in Donetsk and can live there for a small fraction of what it costs here to live. Once I retire completely and Pasha is in college, Alla is a citizen and has a degree in teaching English, she will have a very marketable skill, we will be able to travel as we please, come back here anytime we want (to buy shoes and clothes) and live cheap. Ukraine is not a bad place at all provided you have adequate income, in fact, with a US income it is a really good place to live. As US citizens we will be able to travel to lots of cool places cheaply also. Opera in Vienna anyone? I did it before, it was great and really I remember it as some of the best times of my life, certainly my greatest adventure ever!

Good luck. Hey, you can get VJ in Ukraine!

Edited August 30, 2010 by Gary and Alla

[Brad and Vika 129]

Awesome! Have fun!

That's not always a good thing! Check out this dude below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6UPxdK65JU&p=4B6832B9E0F2CB47&playnext=1&index=25

So why exactly would you NOT beware of them?

[Tnic 5]

Are you going to do one of those three months and out for a day deals (over the border for a day - then another visa), or will you apply for residency (marry her there first)?

Border hopping IS an option. I have some things to handle here before I can do that and, well, I'd kinda like to see how well Mila and I do as a couple first. But I will want to obtain PR status when the time comes.

From what I've learned so far,

You have to be married to a Ukrainian for MORE than 2 years before you can be granted Permanent Resident status under the related to a native clause.

The day we marry the 2 year clock starts ticking.

When you get married though, under Ukraine's "we don't want to split up families" rule you can get a visa or special permit (I forget what its called) to stay with your beloved for the entire 2 years until you get the PR. No border hopping.

If anyone is thinking about becoming an expat in Ukraine here's a site with all the good info. http://www.expatua.com/

[Brad and Vika 129]

Border hopping IS an option. I have some things to handle here before I can do that and, well, I'd kinda like to see how well Mila and I do as a couple first. But I will want to obtain PR status when the time comes.

From what I've learned so far,

You have to be married to a Ukrainian for MORE than 2 years before you can be granted Permanent Resident status under the related to a native clause.

The day we marry the 2 year clock starts ticking.

When you get married though, under Ukraine's "we don't want to split up families" rule you can get a visa or special permit (I forget what its called) to stay with your beloved for the entire 2 years until you get the PR. No border hopping.

If anyone is thinking about becoming an expat in Ukraine here's a site with all the good info. http://www.expatua.com/

Great information - thanks. I saved the site to favs too.

[Tnic 5]

Great information - thanks. I saved the site to favs too.

Due to the sudden changes Ukraine makes some times I will be keeping up with it at that forum. For now if you go to the intro forum and look for my howdy thread there's a direct link the the page with all the info you need. P-N knows his stuff and loves to help.

There's a guy I know at RMP who wants to retire to Ukraine in a couple years, but they kinda messed themselves up by her becoming a USC. But I'm sure she can apply for reinstatement as a UAC. SO if you're thinking about making the move over maybe you should stick with a GC for your wife and skip some extra paperwork. Me no expert of course, its just a thought.

AND HEY! In 24 hours I'll be at JFK. WooooooHoooooooo!

My bags are packed, I'm ready to go.

I'm leeeeeaaaaavin on a jet plane...

Edited August 31, 2010 by Tnic

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Due to the sudden changes Ukraine makes some times I will be keeping up with it at that forum. For now if you go to the intro forum and look for my howdy thread there's a direct link the the page with all the info you need. P-N knows his stuff and loves to help.

There's a guy I know at RMP who wants to retire to Ukraine in a couple years, but they kinda messed themselves up by her becoming a USC. But I'm sure she can apply for reinstatement as a UAC. SO if you're thinking about making the move over maybe you should stick with a GC for your wife and skip some extra paperwork. Me no expert of course, its just a thought.

AND HEY! In 24 hours I'll be at JFK. WooooooHoooooooo!

My bags are packed, I'm ready to go.

I'm leeeeeaaaaavin on a jet plane...

We were planning to forget to tell Ukraine about any other citizenships. Passports are kept valid at all times.

[Tnic 5]

We were planning to forget to tell Ukraine about any other citizenships. Passports are kept valid at all times.

Good idea Gary. I was under the impression that she had to surrender her Intl. passport though. If not then um, never mind.

[slim 1,525]

So why exactly would you NOT beware of them?

I watch out for everyone overseas, especially cops and mafia!

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Good idea Gary. I was under the impression that she had to surrender her Intl. passport though. If not then um, never mind.

No. The US does not care about such things. They do not "tell" other countries who has become a US citizen and they do not require you to surrender a foreign passport. Keep the passport current by renewing it IN UKRAINE when you visit. For best results, Do not allow it to expire (you can renew it up to 2 years in advance)