Ukraine - extended stay

[Mariya 0]

I am a US citizen - in Ukraine with two kids at my parents'. But need to stay more than 90 days - I am staying around 120 days. I do not have any visas. what is there possibly to happen at the airport? Thanks.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I am a US citizen - in Ukraine with two kids at my parents'. But need to stay more than 90 days - I am staying around 120 days. I do not have any visas. what is there possibly to happen at the airport? Thanks.

There is actually very little chance of a problem that could not be resolved for a bribe. What airport are you departing from? Kiev is probably the only one where they would make an issue of it, just tell them you had an emergency and hand over some cash...since you are not supposed to leave Ukraine with Grivnya anyway..."Oh, and look, I have this extra Grivnya here, I forgot about that, can I leave it with you gentlemen?"

The other option is to go to the Ukrainian consulate and apply for a visa to extend your stay. Again, a donation should hurry things along.

Edited January 19, 2012 by Gary and Alla

[Mariya 0]

Alla, thank you for the prompt reply. I was wondering if there are any people that stayed longer in Ukraine and could share their experirnce at the airport. I called Boryspol passport control agency and they told me that a US citizenis are not allowed to stay longer than 90 days in Ukraine and if i do i will have "problems" when i will be leaving Ukraine. I just got my US passport so I was not really aware about this "law". I also have two small kids (5 months and 5 years)that will be flying to US with me - so i hope i won't be throwm in jail or something// lol.. Somebody told me that they may forbid me to come back to ukraine if i violate visa rules.

[ONA 133]

There is actually very little chance of a problem that could not be resolved for a bribe. What airport are you departing from? Kiev is probably the only one where they would make an issue of it, just tell them you had an emergency and hand over some cash...since you are not supposed to leave Ukraine with Grivnya anyway..."Oh, and look, I have this extra Grivnya here, I forgot about that, can I leave it with you gentlemen?"

The other option is to go to the Ukrainian consulate and apply for a visa to extend your stay. Again, a donation should hurry things along.

I don't think that immigration issues can be resolved THAT easy. You have to know somebody "important" to be able to deal this way with immigration - even if we're talking about Ukraine.

Mariya, if you stay in Ukraine for longer than 90 days, you'll have to pay a fine. They might not let you in Ukraine next time. It used to be possible to leave Ukraine and go to Poland for a day - and then go back, I don't know if that still works.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I am a US citizen - in Ukraine with two kids at my parents'. But need to stay more than 90 days - I am staying around 120 days. I do not have any visas. what is there possibly to happen at the airport? Thanks.

Visitor visa in Ukraine is 90 days. If you cross over to any border...Poland, Slovakia, etc..and then cross right back over again you just re upped yourself for another 90 days. It's done all the time over there.

[UK_Fan 192]

a bit off topic, but did you have to give your ukranian citizenship up or they automatically take it away after you become a citizen of another country? and is it the same case with Russia?

[ONA 133]

a bit off topic, but did you have to give your ukranian citizenship up or they automatically take it away after you become a citizen of another country? and is it the same case with Russia?

There is a law in Ukraine that forbids having 2 citizenships (mainly because a lot of people in Crimea were given Russian citizenship). Russia doesn't care about other citizenships

[Mariya 0]

I don't think that immigration issues can be resolved THAT easy. You have to know somebody "important" to be able to deal this way with immigration - even if we're talking about Ukraine.

Mariya, if you stay in Ukraine for longer than 90 days, you'll have to pay a fine. They might not let you in Ukraine next time. It used to be possible to leave Ukraine and go to Poland for a day - and then go back, I don't know if that still works.

I wonder how big the fine is?

People from Boryspol told me that I should have used my Ukrainian passport instead of American one when entering Ukraine. But I used my US one.

[Mariya 0]

a bit off topic, but did you have to give your ukranian citizenship up or they automatically take it away after you become a citizen of another country? and is it the same case with Russia?

American authorities do not care about your other passport/citizenship. Ukraine does NOT allow dual citizenship. Russia does. So looks like you will be able to have both citizenships.

[ONA 133]

I wonder how big the fine is?

People from Boryspol told me that I should have used my Ukrainian passport instead of American one when entering Ukraine. But I used my US one.

I don't really know how big the fine is...

You can read this: http://www.adybov.ru/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=614&start=0

and that: http://russia-ukraine.tk/forum/27

It's for Russian citizens, but it might help.

[M&Pooh 12]

People from Boryspol told me that I should have used my Ukrainian passport instead of American one when entering Ukraine. But I used my US one.

This _might_ be a serious issue.

If a country allows - explicitly or implicitly - dual citizenship, it usually demands that anyone possessing its passport can't use any other passport for entering/exiting that country. Doing otherwise _might_ be considering a serious immigration offense, although I haven't heard of the cases that it was strictly enforced in the xUSSR countries.

The interesting thing is whether Ukraine still considers you its citizen. I don't know how the Ukrainian law stipulates it - is your citizenship automatically lost at the moment of naturalization in another country, or do you need to perform any explicit actions to have it officially revoked?

Edited January 19, 2012 by M&Pooh

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Alla, thank you for the prompt reply. I was wondering if there are any people that stayed longer in Ukraine and could share their experirnce at the airport. I called Boryspol passport control agency and they told me that a US citizenis are not allowed to stay longer than 90 days in Ukraine and if i do i will have "problems" when i will be leaving Ukraine. I just got my US passport so I was not really aware about this "law". I also have two small kids (5 months and 5 years)that will be flying to US with me - so i hope i won't be throwm in jail or something// lol.. Somebody told me that they may forbid me to come back to ukraine if i violate visa rules.

In the US nothing happens if you overstay less than 180 days, Ukraine could be different of course, but there is some leeway. Also US citizens CAN be in Ukraine for 180 days per year without a visa but only 90 days at one time.

Unless you stay WAY over, I do not think you will have an issue. If concerned talk to Ukraine authprities and get an extension for up to 180 days OR you will have to leave the country and return.

Ukraine does not allow dual citizenship but many Ukrainians who become US citizens keep their passport but you cannot now just arrive at passport control with a Ukrainein passport and the airlines will not allow you to board a plane for the US without some sort of entry document and a Ukraine passport does not do it.

You could get a new passport in Ukraine while you are there. Just for you information I do not suggest you use it.

I do not recommend traveling to Ukraine with a Ukrainian passport if you are a US citizen. Using it to go to Russia from Ukraine would be OK

If you want to stay on the up and up then go to the proper authorities and get an extension on your stay

[slim 1,525]

Nobody cares about two passports except Iran.

[Mariya 0]

Anywho. Looks like I will go to OVIR or passport agency here in Ukraine - just to be on the safe side. It is gonna be time consuming and confusing. I am almost positive that for a bribe I would not have any problems at Boryspil. But you never know esp. I will be travelleing with kids and driving from Kharkiv.

[Mariya 0]

I am kinda mad at myself. Why was I in such a hurry to get US citizenship?? If I still had my 10 year green card now - travelling to Ukraine and staying here would not be an issue. Now it turns to be a pain in the ... heel knowing Ukrainian bureaucracy.. Just needed to vent.. now feel better..