Mailing Doc's to Ukraine

[Nate&Elena 3]

The time has finally come for me to Mail Doc's, Skype Info, Face Book Info, Letters, Flight Itinerary from trip, receipts, Tax Info, Pay stub, W-2's....the whole damn shooting match to Odessa, Ukraine. Embassy Interview is coming up in 4-5 weeks. As far as in the "Ukraine"...who is the safest/ most secure.....and even more so...."who is the least secure to send something as important as this package". I know when packages get outside the USA, its a whole different Ball Game. I have heard Horror Stories about packages being opened,...gifts being stolen....so on, so on. " I am so scared to mail this Info out ". I don't know if there is enough "Copenhagen" chew in Utah to calm my nerves down about dropping this in the mail. I would FREAK, if these papers got lost.....I am so tempted to just fly them there....hand them to my Elena....... Feed back on this would be greatly appreciated, thanks........

[Hollyday 122]

Shouldn't it be fairly safe if you use DHL or something like that? Some reliable postal service instead of Ukrainian post?

[JohnE 57]

Not to make you feel bad but since my finacee lives in Mexico City and I in Atlanta we travel between cities very often since it is only a 3 hour flight and sometimes tickets are less than $400. In our case we have just passed paperwork during our visits. However we are almost ready for the interview in Ciudad Juarez and I just secured copies of my last three years tax returns from the IRS plus I needed to get her my latest check stub. We have no more visits before the interview so I simply scanned them and sent them to her via email. From what I read in your post I would feel email would work (or at least for Mexico). Someone with dealing with Ukraine might want to post up but I think you should be fine with email.

[always_the_sun 1]

I am actually from Ukraine but currently working in Canada. I've heard such stories you are talking about but I think you shouldn't worry. Just use DHL or Fedex. Just to be safe. And I dont really think that people in the post office need your docs:)

Good luck to Elena on her interview!!!!

[me & her 2]

DHL IS GOOD

DHL IS GOOD

[Hollyday 122]

I am actually from Ukraine but currently working in Canada. I've heard such stories you are talking about but I think you shouldn't worry. Just use DHL or Fedex. Just to be safe. And I dont really think that people in the post office need your docs:)

Good luck to Elena on her interview!!!!

The scary part is if they lose them they won't give a damn. Lol.

Most of the stuff can be transferred electronically anyway (e-mails, FB messages, etc.), but if originals are needed i'd try to avoid the Ukrainian post itself. Courier services should be ok. They have responsibilities.

[masha2012 2]

i just sent all my papers to fiance in ukraine thru DHL and he got it in 4 days !!! no problem at all!! it costs a lot but it safe!

[always_the_sun 1]

Yeah! Just use the DHL and dont worry too much!!!

[batallion9 50]

I've sent 2 packages to Poltava and both times they were opened before arriving to fiancé. As far as airline tickets, receipts, etc, DHL. As for W2s, tax returns, check stubs, bank accounts, I would scan and fax. They do not have to be original. Be careful with anything that could be used for identity thief.

[TBoneTX 45,304]

*** Thread moved from K-1 Process forum to the Russia/Ukraine/Belarus subforum for country-specific input. ***

[Hilt 1]

I'm sure I am responding to late, but I have just completed one of the perverbial nightmares. I mailed documents USPS registered mail for like about $45.00. Here goes: I was very apprehensive about the address from the get go, I must have confirmed the address with my Elena 2 or 3 times, especially because there was no postal code. Plus I abbreviated the region Kharkiv with Kh. Needless to say it never showed up. I was furious when I found out "of course" they have regional postal codes but Elena not overly familiar with mailing protocol and our less than perfect communication abilities lead to this snafu and my abbreviating the region was a second "huge" error. After 2 or 3 visits to local post offices she found the package (unopened) at a small town with a very similar spelling in a totally different region 250 kilometers away. After a 24 hour round trip to pick up package and 3 weeks after mailing she has what she needs from my end. Never use USPS, Never! For this type of correspondence. They have absolutely no tracking ability once package reaches customs in the intended country.

[vbtwo 54]

I'm sure I am responding to late, but I have just completed one of the perverbial nightmares. I mailed documents USPS registered mail for like about $45.00. Here goes: I was very apprehensive about the address from the get go, I must have confirmed the address with my Elena 2 or 3 times, especially because there was no postal code. Plus I abbreviated the region Kharkiv with Kh. Needless to say it never showed up. I was furious when I found out "of course" they have regional postal codes but Elena not overly familiar with mailing protocol and our less than perfect communication abilities lead to this snafu and my abbreviating the region was a second "huge" error. After 2 or 3 visits to local post offices she found the package (unopened) at a small town with a very similar spelling in a totally different region 250 kilometers away. After a 24 hour round trip to pick up package and 3 weeks after mailing she has what she needs from my end. Never use USPS, Never! For this type of correspondence. They have absolutely no tracking ability once package reaches customs in the intended country.

If you mail Priority or Express mail, Ukrposhta has tracking once it's in Ukraine (at least for packages, don't know if they do for envelopes). When I sent a package first class mail, Ukrposhta had no tracking at all, but it did arrive. Usually takes 2.5 weeks or so.

Yes, they do have postal codes. You can find what it is on their site by entering your city and street. It's not completely necessary, but without it, you might get mix-ups like in your case.

[vbtwo 54]

Is there a way to delete? It posted twice for some reason.

Edited July 21, 2013 by vbtwo

[Hollyday 122]

I'm sure I am responding to late, but I have just completed one of the perverbial nightmares. I mailed documents USPS registered mail for like about $45.00. Here goes: I was very apprehensive about the address from the get go, I must have confirmed the address with my Elena 2 or 3 times, especially because there was no postal code. Plus I abbreviated the region Kharkiv with Kh. Needless to say it never showed up. I was furious when I found out "of course" they have regional postal codes but Elena not overly familiar with mailing protocol and our less than perfect communication abilities lead to this snafu and my abbreviating the region was a second "huge" error. After 2 or 3 visits to local post offices she found the package (unopened) at a small town with a very similar spelling in a totally different region 250 kilometers away. After a 24 hour round trip to pick up package and 3 weeks after mailing she has what she needs from my end. Never use USPS, Never! For this type of correspondence. They have absolutely no tracking ability once package reaches customs in the intended country.

Just out of curiousity: why would you even think about abbreviating the region anyway??

[Hilt 1]

I want to say that I saw the region abbreviated as Kh on one of the Ukrainian documents that I had in my possession that I sent in the envelope. Possibly one of the translated documents, at the time I felt comfortable, but in retrospect it was obviously an error.