The Kyiv Beat......

[payxibka 10,045]

It helped that she opted to do the interview in English.

Just curious but why do you say this? My SO's interview consisted of zero questions and it took about 30 seconds in total (basically the amount of time for them to look at her passport and stamp the application approved) and she opted for it in Russian.

For thos who have previously stated the Kiev is a stickler for paper work... YES they are.... Make sure your paperwork is organized and complete and this will help you come interview time....

[payxibka 10,045]

Wow, I like the sound of this system alot better than what it used to be... Good luck on the interview, are you going to be there?

Other than it costs $12USD for each phone call... before an e-mail to the embassy with the KEV-1 form attached was no charge...

[bcartr 0]

I have used the email system and it worked great, always had an answer within 24hrs.

The pin number was used to set up an interview date as well. Although I called that same day Skymas did, the earliest time they had for me was July 16th. Damn the bad luck.

I will be traveling on the 13th arriving on the 15th in time to be at the interview with Anna.

Yes she will have to interview alone, but she will know I am right outside the door.

I have plans to travel back on July 21st so hopefully the Visa comes back on time or earlier would be better.

I have all the paperwork now, so this weekend I will put it in a nice little package to take with me.

Anna is arriving on the 10th, to do the exam, we have rented an apartment in Kyiv which I have paid for in advance so she will not have to deal with that. I told her to fly to Kyiv but she has never flown and stated she rather take the train. Yup, she realizes she will be flying back with me, but she stated at least I will be there with her.

Would be nice to hear from those who are Recently going through through the process of interviews, since some of the changes etc...

I will post our experience when we get through as well.

T

[payxibka 10,045]

For us the interview was anti-climatic...

Sveta arrived early and went to the guard to be allowed in. Since she travelled all night she had a small bag. She was not going to be allowed in with her bag and/or cell phone. She ended up finding an office nearby and paying the gal to watch her stuff while she was in the embassy. So only bring the essentials with you!!

When she entered the embassy she was directed to a "special room". It was at this time she handed in her paperwork and paid the visa fee. The lady on the other side reviewed the documents and asked one question. Who prepared your documents? Sveta indicated that I and her did it all... The lady responded with "I wished everyone would arrive this organized." She was then given a number and told to wait. She said there were about 20 other ladies who were having interviews that day. After about a 2 hour wait, she was the first called to the window for the interview. She showed her identification and the interview took less that 30 seconds. Simply enough time for the interviewer to stamp "APPROVED". Absolutely NO questions whatsoever! She then went to the courier desk and filled out the delivery instructions. She then exited the embassy...

The visa was approved on May 3rd (a Thursday), printed/issued on the 7th (a Monday), and delivered on the 9th (a Wednesday)....

[bcartr 0]

For us the interview was anti-climatic...

Sveta arrived early and went to the guard to be allowed in. Since she travelled all night she had a small bag. She was not going to be allowed in with her bag and/or cell phone. She ended up finding an office nearby and paying the gal to watch her stuff while she was in the embassy. So only bring the essentials with you!!

When she entered the embassy she was directed to a "special room". It was at this time she handed in her paperwork and paid the visa fee. The lady on the other side reviewed the documents and asked one question. Who prepared your documents? Sveta indicated that I and her did it all... The lady responded with "I wished everyone would arrive this organized." She was then given a number and told to wait. She said there were about 20 other ladies who were having interviews that day. After about a 2 hour wait, she was the first called to the window for the interview. She showed her identification and the interview took less that 30 seconds. Simply enough time for the interviewer to stamp "APPROVED". Absolutely NO questions whatsoever! She then went to the courier desk and filled out the delivery instructions. She then exited the embassy...

The visa was approved on May 3rd (a Thursday), printed/issued on the 7th (a Monday), and delivered on the 9th (a Wednesday)....

I did not realize that the Visa took that long from approval to on hand delivery. I was hoping to go in on Monday for the approval and fly out by Saturday. Staying in Kyiv is costing us around $70 a night just for the apartment. I spoke with Anna about the timeframe and she made a great suggestion.

After the interview on Monday we take a train back to Mariupol, gives me a chance to see Ukraine from the train. LOL But this will also save us approx. $550 USD by staying at her place while waiting for the Visa.

I will have to call Delta and see what the charges are for changing the flight once I have a good date.

Regards,

T.

[RobandTania 1]

I did not realize that the Visa took that long from approval to on hand delivery. I was hoping to go in on Monday for the approval and fly out by Saturday. Staying in Kyiv is costing us around $70 a night just for the apartment. I spoke with Anna about the timeframe and she made a great suggestion.

After the interview on Monday we take a train back to Mariupol, gives me a chance to see Ukraine from the train. LOL But this will also save us approx. $550 USD by staying at her place while waiting for the Visa.

I will have to call Delta and see what the charges are for changing the flight once I have a good date.

Regards,

T.

Mail delivery outside of Kiev is slow and occasionally does not arrive. I lived in Kiev for almost two years, and had contact with several Americans. Often, men in America would send me mail and packets to cities outside of Kiev. I'd go to the main train station and give the mail packet to a passenger with a promise of 20 or 30 griven (or so) on delivery to the recipient's city's train station. I'm leaving a few details out, but it was VERY easy and VERY fast! This method of sending mail is quite common in Ukraine.

This does not help passport/visa delivery from the embassy, I know.

I often flew Northwest/KLM to Chicago or Detroit. Twice I had to adjust departure or arrival dates of rock-bottom priced non-refundable economy coach tickets. The fee was a flat $200.

George

[bcartr 0]

I was under the impression that the embassy used DHL to deliver the Visa to your door. If that is the case it should arrive to Mariupol in around the same time as Kyiv? Within a day I am assuming.

Or are you saying they ship the Visa via regular mail?

[JoeMama 0]

I did not realize that the Visa took that long from approval to on hand delivery. I was hoping to go in on Monday for the approval and fly out by Saturday. Staying in Kyiv is costing us around $70 a night just for the apartment. I spoke with Anna about the timeframe and she made a great suggestion.

After the interview on Monday we take a train back to Mariupol, gives me a chance to see Ukraine from the train. LOL But this will also save us approx. $550 USD by staying at her place while waiting for the Visa.

I will have to call Delta and see what the charges are for changing the flight once I have a good date.

Regards,

T.

I don't know if you've rode the trains in Ukraine yet. I won't give away the funny things about it. But it's something to experience! Unless you're going 1st class on the train, throw the thought of an Amtrak out the window! You'll laugh when you see how the toilets flush in coach!

Edited June 23, 2007 by JoeMama

[RobandTania 1]

I was under the impression that the embassy used DHL to deliver the Visa to your door. If that is the case it should arrive to Mariupol in around the same time as Kyiv? Within a day I am assuming.

Or are you saying they ship the Visa via regular mail?

Passports with the visa stamp from the Kiev embassy are delivered to the beneficiary's address via courier, FedEx I believe. DHL is used from the NVC to the embassies.

I did state this method of fast "Train Mail" delivery does not help visa delivery from the embassy.

Also, the embassy takes time to get their work out of the building and to the postal system or to a courier. "Ski" told me she just received packet 3 from the embassy. It was dated June 8 in the cover letter. This is when the embassy SAID her packet 3 was sent. LOL! The post-mark from the post office was June 20, it took almost two weeks for the embassy to drop packet 3 off to the post office! LOL!

George

Edited June 23, 2007 by SkyMas

[RobandTania 1]

I don't know if you've rode the trains in Ukraine yet. I won't give away the funny things about it. But it's something to experience! Unless you're going 1st class on the train, throw the thought of an Amtrak out the window! You'll laugh when you see how the toilets flush in coach!

I rode busses and overnight trains all over Ukraine, they're quite an experience. I took a premium/first class cabin only once. All other times I'd have a cabin with four berths, and shared with stangers. I have a few interesting stories.

George

[bcartr 0]

I want Anna to receive her Visa as soon as possible, of course to get to the USA quickly. But also so that I can return to work ASAP as well. So I am trying to determine if we should stay in Kyiv and hope for the best or if it is not going to make a difference to go ahead and go to Mariupol.

So I am waiting for some recent experience to see how long it is currently taking folks to receive their Visa.

So I am interested in hearing from SkyMas as yours is July 3 so it is going to be some recent info.

I have never been on a train, but I have read some stories, had my own to share on a bus from Kyiv to Mariupol. So we will see what happens.

T.

[karolina 0]

I did not realize that the Visa took that long from approval to on hand delivery. I was hoping to go in on Monday for the approval and fly out by Saturday. Staying in Kyiv is costing us around $70 a night just for the apartment. I spoke with Anna about the timeframe and she made a great suggestion.

After the interview on Monday we take a train back to Mariupol, gives me a chance to see Ukraine from the train. LOL But this will also save us approx. $550 USD by staying at her place while waiting for the Visa.

I will have to call Delta and see what the charges are for changing the flight once I have a good date.

Regards,

T.

I don't know if you've rode the trains in Ukraine yet. I won't give away the funny things about it. But it's something to experience! Unless you're going 1st class on the train, throw the thought of an Amtrak out the window! You'll laugh when you see how the toilets flush in coach!

Travel by train to any country of the former union - really huge experience , but you with the favourite person then try some moments to make for you two more romantic then , it is possible you to see, the main thing in Ukraine.

I am very glad, that my favourite person see in Ukraine, the main thing and accepts many tests with a smile,

I from Ukraine therefore, can give advice - buy tickets for a train at once a full compartment (4 places) and be ready to experience!

[karolina 0]

I want Anna to receive her Visa as soon as possible, of course to get to the USA quickly. But also so that I can return to work ASAP as well. So I am trying to determine if we should stay in Kyiv and hope for the best or if it is not going to make a difference to go ahead and go to Mariupol.

So I am waiting for some recent experience to see how long it is currently taking folks to receive their Visa.

So I am interested in hearing from SkyMas as yours is July 3 so it is going to be some recent info.

I have never been on a train, but I have read some stories, had my own to share on a bus from Kyiv to Mariupol. So we will see what happens.

T.

I now only prepare for forthcoming interview but I know that with the visa deliver the passport in current of 10-14 days

[etripke 0]

I did not realize that the Visa took that long from approval to on hand delivery. I was hoping to go in on Monday for the approval and fly out by Saturday. Staying in Kyiv is costing us around $70 a night just for the apartment. I spoke with Anna about the timeframe and she made a great suggestion.

After the interview on Monday we take a train back to Mariupol, gives me a chance to see Ukraine from the train. LOL But this will also save us approx. $550 USD by staying at her place while waiting for the Visa.

I will have to call Delta and see what the charges are for changing the flight once I have a good date.

Regards,

T.

I don't know if you've rode the trains in Ukraine yet. I won't give away the funny things about it. But it's something to experience! Unless you're going 1st class on the train, throw the thought of an Amtrak out the window! You'll laugh when you see how the toilets flush in coach!

Travel by train to any country of the former union - really huge experience , but you with the favourite person then try some moments to make for you two more romantic then , it is possible you to see, the main thing in Ukraine.

I am very glad, that my favourite person see in Ukraine, the main thing and accepts many tests with a smile,

I from Ukraine therefore, can give advice - buy tickets for a train at once a full compartment (4 places) and be ready to experience!

I'll be there on July 9th, and on July 10th My fiancee and I will travel overnight by train to the Carpathians for a little over a week. It should be an experience to remember from what she has told me. It will also be my first experience at a Sanatorium (The health type to you Americans....NOT a Sanitarium i.e Mental Institution here in the States) although in dealing with this prolonged and painful process I suppose I could end up in one of those as well.

[JoeMama 0]

Well, I see my fiancee, Karolina, has made her way to the Kyiv Beat! Everyone meet my lady! She's a sweetie!