Ukraine - extended stay

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

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..

There's a lot of Ukrainians on here who keep both passports. One for travelling to Ukraine, and the US passport for other travelling, etc... Iv'e never read on here where it's been a problem of having both passports. You just show the Ukrainian passport when you enter Ukraine and the US passport for just about everything else....outside of Ukraine.

[Mariya 0]

I could show Ukr. paasport when entering Ukraine (no problem with that) What about leaving Ukraine? if i showed my Ukr. passport when leaving they would ask for a green card which i do no tpocess any more.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I could show Ukr. paasport when entering Ukraine (no problem with that) What about leaving Ukraine? if i showed my Ukr. passport when leaving they would ask for a green card which i do no tpocess any more.

The people at passport control would not ask for your green card but the people at the airline check in will. You have to show that you have some permission to enter the US before they check you in.

In most countries a person can present BOTH passports, get both passports stamped. But not in Ukraine as they do not allow dual citizenship. So you cannot just go waving around both passports. I am not sure if they even enforce that with US citizenship but why push it? An option would be to fly back through Moscow, show your Ukrainian passport when leaving Ukraine to go to Moscow and use your US passport to board the plane in Moscow. Even your Ukrainian internal passport will work for this, you do not need a zagranpassport to go to Russia.

many of the Ukraine airports offer "VIP service" which is nothing more than a "prix fixe" bribe. You pay the extra "fee" up front and they wave you right through the passport control. I never used the service as I do not care for that. It has been "offered" to me in Kiev Borispol on my arrival, but no one ever approached me on departing. Not sure if it is available for departures as the US may have something to say about such a policy for US bound flights, the US does not care who they let in to Ukraine.

The only problem with this is that if you do not return to Ukraine they will still have you, a US citizen, listed as being IN the country since they have no record of you leaving. This could be a problem the next time you enter. It could probably be explained away as some sort of SNAFU, they happen ALL the time in Ukraine. "I turned in my card when I left, what did you guys do with it? Obviously I left or I would not be here now"

Many Ukrainians, now US citizens, keep both passports. They use the USA passport to enter and leave Ukraine and use the Ukraine passport to enter and leave Russia or other CIS countries, but always arrive AND depart from Ukraine. It saves the trouble and expense of a Russian visa. But they do not overstay in Ukraine.

I still do not think you will have a problem if you simply request an extension of your stay.

[M&Pooh 12]

The people at passport control would not ask for your green card but the people at the airline check in will. You have to show that you have some permission to enter the US before they check you in.

Theoretically yes, a border guard on departure shouldn't ask you about the papers to enter your destination country. In pratice, they MIGHT... and this scenario would mean a trouble for the OP...

Many Ukrainians, now US citizens, keep both passports. They use the USA passport to enter and leave Ukraine and use the Ukraine passport to enter and leave Russia or other CIS countries, but always arrive AND depart from Ukraine. It saves the trouble and expense of a Russian visa.

Why arriving/departing from Ukraine? In the scenario when a person holding Ukrainian and US passports flies to Moscow directly, is he/she going to experience any problems entering/exiting Russia with a Ukrainian passport?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Theoretically yes, a border guard on departure shouldn't ask you about the papers to enter your destination country. In pratice, they MIGHT... and this scenario would mean a trouble for the OP...

Why arriving/departing from Ukraine? In the scenario when a person holding Ukrainian and US passports flies to Moscow directly, is he/she going to experience any problems entering/exiting Russia with a Ukrainian passport?

I had recommended against the top scenario though for a different reason. As far as going to Russia with a Ukrainian passport it is no problem

Ukraine does not allow dual citizenship. You cannot present BOTH a US and Ukrainian passport at passport control in Ukraine.

US citizens do not need visas to go to Ukraine, they DO need visas to go to Russia, Ukrainians do not. So...fly to Ukraine, present US passport for entry, then take a flight or train to Russia using Ukrainian passport, return to Ukraine and depart for the US using the US passport.

No visas needed.

Edited January 21, 2012 by Gary and Alla

[M&Pooh 12]

I had recommended against the top scenario though for a different reason. As far as going to Russia with a Ukrainian passport it is no problem

Ukraine does not allow dual citizenship. You cannot present BOTH a US and Ukrainian passport at passport control in Ukraine.

US citizens do not need visas to go to Ukraine, they DO need visas to go to Russia, Ukrainians do not. So...fly to Ukraine, present US passport for entry, then take a flight or train to Russia using Ukrainian passport, return to Ukraine and depart for the US using the US passport.

No visas needed.

The thing worth noting about the last scenario is that Ukrainian authorities will consider you present in the country all the time since your initial entry. So, you stay in Ukraine PLUS your stay in Russia should not exceed 90 days.

Your previous reply was worded like in order to go to Russia with an Ukrainian passport you need to transit Ukraine first. So, I became curious.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

The thing worth noting about the last scenario is that Ukrainian authorities will consider you present in the country all the time since your initial entry. So, you stay in Ukraine PLUS your stay in Russia should not exceed 90 days.

Your previous reply was worded like in order to go to Russia with an Ukrainian passport you need to transit Ukraine first. So, I became curious.

That is correct you would not want the total stay to be over 90 days. Alla will be a US citizen in a couple weeks and we also visit Russia in addition to Ukraine.

[Mariya 0]

Update - I called Boryspol passport control services. They told me to go to a local passport agency and get a stamp extending my stay. I went to the passport agency they told me to go to the Immigration Services Center. There is NO phone to reach the center. So I just went there - the inspector in charge for my country was not there. I came next day - she said that there is no way to offically extend my stay and that the only way was to get paperwork ready (extended stay visa) when I was in the USA before I entered Ukraine.

And what is "funny" every time I call Boryspol saying that I am staying in Ukraine more than 90 days and asking what's gonna happen. They tell me I gonna have prombles. Every time I ask what kind of problems - a fine or a prohibition to come back to Ukraine? The answer is "just problems" and obviously nobody knows what kind of..

Are you kidding me? I spent three days "travelling" around the city (trying to find the time inbetween I nurse my baby). I get so mad that I get happy that I am not a citizen of this "wonderful" country anymore.

***A friend of mine in Ivano-Frankyvsk got her American spouse's passport stamped somehow (they are staying in Ukraine for 6 months)

Edited January 27, 2012 by Mariya

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I could show Ukr. paasport when entering Ukraine (no problem with that) What about leaving Ukraine? if i showed my Ukr. passport when leaving they would ask for a green card which i do no tpocess any more.

Right. Why_Me has the right idea but you show the US passport when entering and leaving Ukraine and use the Ukraine passport for going from Ukraine to Russia/Belarus/other FSI republics.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Update - I called Boryspol passport control services. They told me to go to a local passport agency and get a stamp extending my stay. I went to the passport agency they told me to go to the Immigration Services Center. There is NO phone to reach the center. So I just went there - the inspector in charge for my country was not there. I came next day - she said that there is no way to offically extend my stay and that the only way was to get paperwork ready (extended stay visa) when I was in the USA before I entered Ukraine.

And what is "funny" every time I call Boryspol saying that I am staying in Ukraine more than 90 days and asking what's gonna happen. They tell me I gonna have prombles. Every time I ask what kind of problems - a fine or a prohibition to come back to Ukraine? The answer is "just problems" and obviously nobody knows what kind of..

Are you kidding me? I spent three days "travelling" around the city (trying to find the time inbetween I nurse my baby). I get so mad that I get happy that I am not a citizen of this "wonderful" country anymore.

***A friend of mine in Ivano-Frankyvsk got her American spouse's passport stamped somehow (they are staying in Ukraine for 6 months)

I stayed in Ukraine for 2 years but I did have a visa beforehand. There is another member here that was doing this foreign fiancee thing in reverse, HE was moving to Ukrraine! His member name was "Tnic" and you may be able to contact him.

I am not sure of the Ukraine rules and obviously neither are they, and the run around, as I am sure you know, is not unusual. In fact it IS usual. Here in the US if your overstay is less than 180 days, that means the 90 days you are allowed PLUS 180, there is no penalty at all but a stern talking to when you leave. You do not incur any penalties such as entry bans for at least 180 days, but they are not going to just tell you that if you call. If you get my drift.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

***A friend of mine in Ivano-Frankyvsk got her American spouse's passport stamped somehow (they are staying in Ukraine for 6 months)

Alla says "they want money" Never underestimate the power of $50

[baron555 934]

I stayed in Ukraine for 2 years but I did have a visa beforehand. There is another member here that was doing this foreign fiancee thing in reverse, HE was moving to Ukrraine! His member name was "Tnic" and you may be able to contact him.

I am not sure of the Ukraine rules and obviously neither are they, and the run around, as I am sure you know, is not unusual. In fact it IS usual. Here in the US if your overstay is less than 180 days, that means the 90 days you are allowed PLUS 180, there is no penalty at all but a stern talking to when you leave. You do not incur any penalties such as entry bans for at least 180 days, but they are not going to just tell you that if you call. If you get my drift.

I can get you in touch with Tim, who Gary references above. He moved from the US to Ukraine and have been there about a year now. He goes by "Buckeye" something or other over on the RMP forum and has posted excellent how to live as an expat there.

[Mariya 0]

Gary&Alla, Baron555, thank you for your responses.

Gary&Alla "You do not incur any penalties such as entry bans for at least 180 days, but they are not going to just tell you that if you call. If you get my drift." -- That's what I thought, was nice to hear it from you to confirm my thoughts.

"can get you in touch with Tim, who Gary references above. He moved from the US to Ukraine and have been there about a year now. He goes by "Buckeye" something or other over on the RMP forum and has posted excellent how to live as an expat there" -- we had a thought to move to Ukraine at some point but my hubby, a country boy from TN, stayed here 3 months and was ready to go home..lol..

Edited February 4, 2012 by Mariya

[Brad and Vika 129]

Vika and I talked about this yesterday. She asks (like one of the earlier posters here) why you don't just cross the border into Romania, Moldova, or any other country, then cross back. That would get you 90 more days, wouldn't it? Well Romania anyway, or any EU country, because you won't need a visa with a US passport either direction.

Edited February 5, 2012 by Brad and Vika

[Mariya 0]

I do not cross a border due to a few reasons:

1. I live in Kharkov (Eastern Ukraine)to far from Romania, Poland etc. and have a 5 months old baby that I am nursing - so kinda inconvenient to travel long distances . And I (as a bearer of US passport) need a visa to go to Russia which is geographically quite close to Kharkov.

2. I could leave my baby in Ukraine with my mom and say fly to Romania or Poland etc. In that case there is a possibility Ukraine won't let me come back -according to the law an american citizen can stay in Ukraine for 90 days within 180 day period only. And I've stayed here for 90 days by now.

So I have just decided to "zabit'" (my favourite russian slang word забить means "take it easy") and stay here as much as I need - until my flight (one more month). I moved from Ukraine to US 4 years ago and got used to think the "American way" - to follow the law etc. And forgot that in Ukraine there are more people that break the law then follow it. The laws here are made to break. For example, when I tell people in US that in Ukraine policemen can drive drunk as long as they have a "ksiva" (a license saying they work for the police) nobody believes me but it is 100% true, if you speed - you just "donate" $20-$50 to a cop and he will tell you - thank you and have a good day etc.

Anywho I got distracted again - I gonna stay here till my flight and come what may at the airport )

Edited February 5, 2012 by Mariya