Marrying in Ukraine

[knighta 2]

Late Summer, possibly early Fall I am going to go to Ukraine to marry my fiance. She spoke with the embassy and she was told I need to provide the certificate of that that you are healthy that you have no debts to America and there is no criminal record.

Since I have less than 5 posts I can't put in the URL but it says I need to fill out a Letter of Non-Impediment to Marriage then Authenticate the "Letter" at the Legalization Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. Then obtain a certified translation of the data page of your passport and the letter of non-impediment to marriage. I will have her fill out my information in Ukrainian. Then I need a

Passport (translated into the Ukrainian language); <li>an apostilled Certificate of Birth (translated into the Ukrainian language); <li>an apostilleв document on individual current marital status (such documents can be obtained from a district court); Wouldn't the apostille document on my marital status be the Letter of Non-Impediment to Marriage? Also, did she receive some bad information from the embassy?

Once I have all these documents it says to arrange for your marriage, take all the documents, including your original passport (with a translation) and the authenticated Letter of Non-Impediment to Marriage, with translation to RAGS - loosely translated as the civil registrar’s office in the hometown of your fiance(e). Does it have to be her hometown? She lives in Mariupol and we plan to stay in Kiev. It is quite a travel between Mariupol and Kiev. I want to do as less traveling as possible and make things as easy and be informed of everything in advance so I know what to expect so there won't be any surprises.

I appreciate the advice. Thanks.

[Penguin_ie 5,993]

*** Moving from VCR-1 to RUB forum as question is about marrying in Ukraine, not US immigration ***

[Sveta & Ron 23]

( no debts to America ) are you filling for ukraine passport? or to marry girl in ukraine? or going to live in ukraine? imo I would check the information again

[knighta 2]

( no debts to America ) are you filling for ukraine passport? or to marry girl in ukraine? or going to live in ukraine? imo I would check the information again

I am not filing for Ukraine passport nor am I going to live in Ukraine. Basically its to get all the paperwork I need prior to my trip with her, marry then begin the CR1 process when I fly back to the states.

[Sveta & Ron 23]

what would it matter if has debts in america unless plan to leave for good? other wise none their business

[Tnic 5]

what would it matter if has debts in america unless plan to leave for good? other wise none their business

Ok, I'm in country doing this right now.

Rule #1

Always have your gal go to YOUR ZAGS office and inquire as to what they will want you to present to them. Different cities have different ways of doing things. DO NOT expect uniformity or for ANYTHING to make sense here. Eta Ukraina!

BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE USA

-If you're divorced get an original copy from your court clerk and send it to your State's Sec. State for an Apostill stamp. Only the Sec State will do it and ONLY the State that has jurisdiction CAN do it. It usually runs around $15.

-Go to the US Embassy/Kiev site - Citizen Servixes - and schedule an appointment for "notary services". NOTE: make this an early appt as you MUST get to UA FM Legalization office before noon.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE IN SUNNY UA

-Go the Embassy WITH YOUR GAL. Ask the nice person at the window for a Letter of Non-Impediment to Marriage. (S)he will ask married before or not married before (kinda like paper or plastic?), hand you the appropriate form for you to fill out and direct you to the cashier to pay $50 usd or 415 uah or they take plastic. After payment and completing the form (your lady will need to complete the UA parts (IN UKRAINIAN mind you). Hand the completed form to the nice person at the window along with your passport and payment receipts (both of them) and have a seat, the Consular Officer will be with you shortly at window #5. The CO will swear you in and have you sign the form IN HIS/HER PRESENCE and you're done. Collect your phone, guns & knives at Security on yer way out.

NOTE: you can also print off some LNIs and fill them out ahead of time.

-Call a taxi and head to the UA FM Legalization Office. BEFORE NOON If you can't find the address or remember it, it's beside St. Michael's Church and behind the Intercontinental Hotel. Every cabbie in Kiev knows where both are. Walk around the back of the Hotel with St Mike's on your right. Look for a portal with a blue sign with "2 and something in UA that likely says its the Legalization office. Follow those signs right to their musty doors. Tell them you want it back TODAY. Costs 105 uah. She'll tell you 102, but the kassa lady adds another 3 uah surcharge. Prolly to change the farts in her seat cushions. Return to the Legalization window (both in the same room btw, which is totally shocking that anything in the UA govt. could actually be sensible OR efficient). She'll tell you to be back at 1600 (4pm for you westerners) to collect it and don't be late.

Go have some fun (we zipped over to the vokzal and took the avtobus excurusion. 2 hours, kinda cool and they have an English narrated tour you can choose, for a price) or walk down the hill (St Mike's on your LEFT) to Kreshatik Square. It's only a 10 minute, leisurely walk and the weather is getting really nice now. Short skirts, high heels, click, click, click. Be back at 4, stand in line until 4.15 or 4.20 and watch the line evaporate as they throw docs at people as fast as they can.

NOTE: DO NOT lose that little scrap of paper she hands you. Just don't. :bonk: No, I didn't, but someone else did. It wasn't pretty, but it WAS mildly amusing. Yes, I AM twisted.

WHEN YOU ARRIVE IN HER CITY

-Have your passport (info page) translated to UA and all pages copied and included in the neat little package.

-You might also have to have the English text on the LNI translated too. Don't jump up and beat the walls with your head like I did. Eta Ukraina! You'll understand when you see the LNI. It has both Eng AND UA one atop tuther and the FM Legalization stamp on the back (presumably to verify that the document is authentic and correctly translated).

-If you show up at ZAGS with all that done, don't be surprised if they decide they need something else. Eta Ukraina!

-If you're pressed for time in country and have to leave earlier than the required 30 day waiting period expect a "No". Remain calm, its ok if you mumble a little and sigh (quietly) a few times. After much discussion between them and your gal this will most likely change to "Nu mozhet". Well maybe. Bring a translated copy of your plane ticket confirmation just to nudge em a bit and have 800 uah in an envelope. Your gal will know what to do with it, don't ask.

-You will be asked which Friday or Saturday you want to appear before the magistrate and handed a list of wedding prep instructions (IF all is well).

We just jumped through the hoops today and SHOULD get our dates (Expedited no less) tomorrow AM.

Udachi and remember. When things get really frustrating dealing with govt. weinies who seem to be out to get you. They do that to everyone local or not. Eta Ukraina!

[PhilC 5]

Good but mine was a little different.

My gal could not go into the Embassy with me. It was 14 deg. and she waited outside for me. Make an appointment at the Embassy before you go. You can do this online. I went on Monday with no appointment and had to make one online and come back on Tuesday.

Take a copy of your birth certificated and get both dovice paper apositle. Get your employer to print up a document stating you only have two weeks of vaciton and can't get more vacition untl next year. Be sure to take the documents from the I-130 packetes that she will need to sign. You will need to get many documents translated but there are many places to do this. You can get married right in Kive. We did it in two weeks but we were busy. BE sure to go back to see her and meet her family sometime before the interview. You also might want to go to the interview. If she has children you need to get permission from the father for the child to come to the USA.

[Tnic 5]

Good but mine was a little different.

My gal could not go into the Embassy with me. It was 14 deg. and she waited outside for me. Make an appointment at the Embassy before you go. You can do this online. I went on Monday with no appointment and had to make one online and come back on Tuesday.

Sorry I wasn't more clear.

-You MUST make your appt. on-line. No other way and they will not let you in w/o the appt. confirmation printed out.

-Also correct, your lady will wait outside for you the same as you will wait outside when she goes in for her interview. At least they wouldn't let me in and I had my USAF 1st Sgt hat on. Hope for good weather as there is no shelter from the elements.

The good thing about the ACS appt is that it only takes about 15 minutes. SO if you arrived in a taxi have him wait for you (she can sit in comfort then) and zip off to the UA FM Legalization office when you stride out the doors with purpose, like royalty.

[Tnic 5]

Well our docs were accepted and fees paid. We have to call on Tuesday for the date. Apparently I'm the first Amerikan to come through her office so she has to check with the home office in Dnepro for the official okey-dokey on an expedited date.

We scouted the restaurant (ochin vkusna!) and started looking at gowns (OMG she's gorgeous! ).

[Tnic 5]

I just reread your OP Knighta.

My gal says yes, you MUST go to the ZAGS in the city where she is registered as a resident. Sorry, that adds another couple days travel time.

[Tnic 5]

Ok, another, "I just saw this..."

What's up with the birth cert thing? Anytime I've tried to present mine they always say, "ne nada".

FWIW, your passport is all you really need since a BC was required to get that. If "they" ask for a BC then fine, but I've never had to present mine and I've gone through a few offices ZAGS, OVIR, ZHEK, divorce court...and now ZAGS again, here in the last 2 years.

[PhilC 5]

Ok, another, "I just saw this..."

What's up with the birth cert thing? Anytime I've tried to present mine they always say, "ne nada".

FWIW, your passport is all you really need since a BC was required to get that. If "they" ask for a BC then fine, but I've never had to present mine and I've gone through a few offices ZAGS, OVIR, ZHEK, divorce court...and now ZAGS again, here in the last 2 years.

Not sure I was told to bring mine but don't think I was asked for it. Might be good to have it just in case.

[PhilC 5]

I just reread your OP Knighta.

My gal says yes, you MUST go to the ZAGS in the city where she is registered as a resident. Sorry, that adds another couple days travel time.

When I got married Feb.2012 we married in Keiv. My wife lives in Kherson. Maybe it has changed in the last year and sometimes you can pay a little extra to make things happen(read bribe). We didn't have to pay extra. Get your lady to check it out.

[Tnic 5]

Not sure I was told to bring mine but don't think I was asked for it. Might be good to have it just in case.

Yeppers, never hurts to be prepared. I always tell Katya I'd rather have "it" on hand than need "it.

[PhilC 5]

Yeppers, never hurts to be prepared. I always tell Katya I'd rather have "it" on hand than need "it.

"Always be prepared"