Did I screw up?

[Wokka 0]

This topic has brought up a question of my own.

When I bring my fiance to the United States from Ukraine, she will most definitely have to switch planes at least once or twice. In my experiences flying to and from Ukraine I usually have to transfer in Canada, Netherlands, England, or Germany. As a US citizen, I have never required anything other than my passport. Is it likely she will require transit visas for any of these countries?

[Dave&Roza 748]

This topic has brought up a question of my own.

When I bring my fiance to the United States from Ukraine, she will most definitely have to switch planes at least once or twice. In my experiences flying to and from Ukraine I usually have to transfer in Canada, Netherlands, England, or Germany. As a US citizen, I have never required anything other than my passport. Is it likely she will require transit visas for any of these countries?

Something you need to look into as to what are the visa requirements of a Ukrainian citizen with a Ukrainian passport that just happens to have a visa to the US. Some will tell you about the first part and not mention the second part. I would limit the number of transfers even if that means a high cost of the ticket as it will lessen the possibility of problems in aquiring a transit visa if required or being stuck somewhere without a transit visa. I'll give you my experience as a reference: I was traveling from Denver to Almaty via London. The snow storm hit Denver and we were late in leaving and the snow storm in London was causing all kinds of problems. My flight from London to Almaty left, but I was not in London to be on it. So I was booked 12 hours later thru Moscow. I asked if I needed a transit visa and was told three times that I did not. I asked this many times because I had read that all travellers need a transit visa when going thru Moscow. So I arrive in Moscow at around 5 am. When going thru passport control I was told to wait over to the side. After a few minutes a nice gentleman took our passports and lead the three of us (two women from Chicago also going to Almaty) to a door and told us to come back at 0700 and disappeared with our passports. We waited. Finally at 0700 we went back and he had our passports. It all went smootly except for me worrying about being in Moscow without a passport.

The best source of informaion is the Country's Consulate or Embassy that she will be traveling thru. If nothing else, you can have an e-mail printed out that you did comtact someone and are following their instructions. This is something you need to be aware of when she gets her GC as she will be travelling internationally based on the rules for her passport. The GC may make it easier for her to get a tourist visa, but she will still need to get one if a citizen of the Ukraine is required a tourist visa. As a USC there are many, many places you can visit without a tourist visa or the tourist visa is a mere formality, but for her it will be a RPITA to get a visa. That is one of the advantages of the immigrant becoming a USC.

Good luck,

Dave

Edited February 9, 2013 by Dave&Roza

[Turboguy 6]

I can't help a lot with that one but I can say that I am pretty certain that she would not need one for Germany or for the Netherlands. I think as far as England goes if she doens't have to change airports she may be ok. Canada I have no idea about but I would be concerned about that one. Sorry I couldn't be more helpful but check the websites for the airports and countries in question.

[vbtwo 54]

Most places in the world do not require any visas if you never leave the international terminal. Most places have an airside to airside transfer area where you come off your plane and then go to the departure gate without going through passport control or customs or luggage or checkin. Some airports also have airside transfer areas between terminals so you can do a terminal to terminal transfer without going through passport or customs. For all these countries, you do not need any visas to do the transfer as they will not even check your passport usually (and in some countries they do, but it's just a quick computerized scan to check if you're on any do-not-fly lists).

In the US, there are no airside to airside international transfer areas and everybody must go through passport control, customs, get the luggage and then go to regular checkin. In this case, she would require a visa of some kind (or be from a country that does not require a visa to come in to the US), otherwise they won't even check her in to her flight to the US and if she somehow gets over here, they'll just send her back at passport control.

Edited February 10, 2013 by vbtwo

[Sveta & Ron 23]

all this brings up a question for me . last summer I flew round trip to kiev thru moscow never was asked for visa to pass thru moscow and yes went thru passport control both times the trip back had tobe transferred to another terminal via van around 3am to other end of air port on dark runway ( whole time hoping no stops before reaching the term lol ) but had never been asked for a transit visa. maybe it was my honest baby face look?

[Alfia & John 10]

all this brings up a question for me . last summer I flew round trip to kiev thru moscow never was asked for visa to pass thru moscow and yes went thru passport control both times the trip back had tobe transferred to another terminal via van around 3am to other end of air port on dark runway ( whole time hoping no stops before reaching the term lol ) but had never been asked for a transit visa. maybe it was my honest baby face look?

Ron, that does seem odd. Seems you would need a transit visa for Russia as no visa is required for Ukraine.

[Turboguy 6]

I sort of remember reading somewhere on SVO's info that a transit visa is not required if your time there is under something like 12 hours but I wouldn't want to bet much that I recall that correctly.

[vbtwo 54]

I sort of remember reading somewhere on SVO's info that a transit visa is not required if your time there is under something like 12 hours but I wouldn't want to bet much that I recall that correctly.

I just flew via SVO to Ukraine around New Year's. Currently, terminals D, E, F are connected via an airside hallway and you are free to walk between all three of them without needing a visa for international-to-international transfers. You are allowed to stay in the airport for up to 24 hours without a visa, so if your next flight is more than 24 hours after your first flight arrives, you'll need a transit visa (and you really don't want to stay in the terminal for that long anyways). There are also terminals B, C, which are a separate complex and thus might require a visa to transfer between them and the D, E, F complex. Pretty much all international destinations are from terminals D, E, F now though.

They do make you go through "passport control" where they just scan it through a computer, and also through "security screening" where they make you go through a metal detector and don't really care if it beeps or not, and scan your hand luggage through xray but don't make you open anything or take off your shoes or belt or anything else.

Keep in mind for people that are traveling to Belarus. This is not considered an international destination from Russia for some reason, and thus if you go there through Russia, you are required to get a Russian transit visa in addition to the Belarus visa.

[ken_jar 0]

In fact, Russia is one of the very few countries in Europe where you do need a visa and they do it mostly for revenue.

No, they don't do it for revenue. Russian laws are reciprocal in this sense. Do you need to get a visa to go to EU or US if you're from Russia? That's why you need a visa to visit Russia. Ukraine did away with visas for Americans for purely political reasons, while ukranians still need to get american visas.

[cluelessinny 2]

Just came home with my wife, her american visa in her native passport is all they want unless you leave the terminal, yes it is true, american traveling thru russia and belarus require a visa

[JohnR! 5,495]

I am planning our next trip and thought I was being brilliant flying Anna into Atlanta and meeting her there to fly together to Montego Bay. But then I just had a sinking feeling....is she allowed to stop at a US airport? We would stay in the terminal. I guess I just assumed that the terminal is international ground like in The Terminal with Tom Hanks. Anybody got a solid answer on that? I've looked all over the internet but can't find an answer.

It depends on the passport she carries. The US no longer allows for TWOV - Transit Without Visa.

If her passport was issued by a country in the VWP list, all she needs is the ESTA, as if she were traveling to the US. If her passport was issued by a non-VWP country she may apply for a common B1/B2 visa, with which she can travel through the United States or a Transit Visa which will allow her to transit on American soil but not enter the country. The drawback about the transit VISA is that she will escorted to a holding area until she is ready to board her next flight. It is really not the most pleasant experience, as far as globetrotting goes...

Good luck!

Edited February 18, 2013 by Gegel

[Ms Hogan 295]

Something you need to look into as to what are the visa requirements of a Ukrainian citizen with a Ukrainian passport that just happens to have a visa to the US. Some will tell you about the first part and not mention the second part. I would limit the number of transfers even if that means a high cost of the ticket as it will lessen the possibility of problems in aquiring a transit visa if required or being stuck somewhere without a transit visa. I'll give you my experience as a reference: I was traveling from Denver to Almaty via London. The snow storm hit Denver and we were late in leaving and the snow storm in London was causing all kinds of problems. My flight from London to Almaty left, but I was not in London to be on it. So I was booked 12 hours later thru Moscow. I asked if I needed a transit visa and was told three times that I did not. I asked this many times because I had read that all travellers need a transit visa when going thru Moscow. So I arrive in Moscow at around 5 am. When going thru passport control I was told to wait over to the side. After a few minutes a nice gentleman took our passports and lead the three of us (two women from Chicago also going to Almaty) to a door and told us to come back at 0700 and disappeared with our passports. We waited. Finally at 0700 we went back and he had our passports. It all went smootly except for me worrying about being in Moscow without a passport.

The best source of informaion is the Country's Consulate or Embassy that she will be traveling thru. If nothing else, you can have an e-mail printed out that you did comtact someone and are following their instructions. This is something you need to be aware of when she gets her GC as she will be travelling internationally based on the rules for her passport. The GC may make it easier for her to get a tourist visa, but she will still need to get one if a citizen of the Ukraine is required a tourist visa. As a USC there are many, many places you can visit without a tourist visa or the tourist visa is a mere formality, but for her it will be a RPITA to get a visa. That is one of the advantages of the immigrant becoming a USC.

Good luck,

Dave

If she is coming through Toronto, Canada to a US destination then she will go through US customs at the airport. Just additional FYI but anyone flying to US destinations through Pearson International in Toronto has to clear US customs there first. http://www.torontopearson.com/Traveling_and_Security_USA.aspx#

[Codeblue009 3]

For the original poster, I have somewhat the same situation as you, with one exception. My fiance and I had an already approved K-1, which she did not use in 2011. We will be going to Cancun next week, and she does have a stop in U.S. She applied for a transit visa, and had documents to prove she would return, plus she had her airline tickets and the hotel receipts (they tell you not to purchase tickets prior to approval). I used my miles and put everything in her name. If she would have been denied, all would have beeen refundable. She went to her interview and she said the only thing they asked her was about the approved K-1. They didn't ask to see any other documentation. They approved her in about 5 minutes and told her she would receive her visa in 2 to 3 days. So when she comes through the U.S. port of entry, her transit visa will be good for 29 days and allow for continuous travel to Cancun. We did this trip so we could see each other, because my work schedule will not allow me to be gone too long and too far away. This way, if something happens, I can get on a plane and get there in a matter of a few hours. We will re-file the I-129F when we return from Cancun. So, we can wait for the process to be completed by then. I wish you both good luck and much happiness and love.