The Kyiv Beat......

[payxibka 10,045]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[snz 0]

hey ladies! Join us at our forum for russian women in the US. We talk about visas and other stuff you may be interested in.

www.zaokeanom.com/forum/

[LvivLovers 39]

APPROVED

Everything went smooth, only one question asked. Finally this part of the journey is coming to an end...

Congratulations!!!

[zqt3344 21]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

FWA GUY

How is your timeline progressing now? Any touches since filing AOS? Transferred? Interview yet? Bio metrics? EAD? AP?

ZQT3344

[payxibka 10,045]

Hmmm..... I thought I had kept my timeline up to date.. let me take a look.. Yup it is up to date and current..

[zqt3344 21]

Hmmm..... I thought I had kept my timeline up to date.. let me take a look.. Yup it is up to date and current..

My you are coy. I never saw any thing on you for the August filers thread and the transfer to CSC thread. So congratulations on your transfer, had no idea you had that happen.

[USSR 1]

Well, I guess this is as good a time as any to introduce myself to those of you on the Kyiv Beat. I have a fiance in Sumy that I am waiting on receiving the necessary documents and photo from her, so that I may submit my I-129F. I have traveled quite a bit in Ukraine, and have been in just about every city East of the Dnieper. I have studied the former Soviet Union extensively, and am considered an authority on Soviet militaria and labor awards. I developed a website called Unique Soviet Souvenirs and Relics (A play on words of USSR), from which I sell items made and used in the FSU. I am a practicing Orthodox Christian, and am wondering if anyone here is as well? Thanks in advance for your replies.

Don

[zqt3344 21]

Well, I guess this is as good a time as any to introduce myself to those of you on the Kyiv Beat. I have a fiance in Sumy that I am waiting on receiving the necessary documents and photo from her, so that I may submit my I-129F. I have traveled quite a bit in Ukraine, and have been in just about every city East of the Dnieper. I have studied the former Soviet Union extensively, and am considered an authority on Soviet militaria and labor awards. I developed a website called Unique Soviet Souvenirs and Relics (A play on words of USSR), from which I sell items made and used in the FSU. I am a practicing Orthodox Christian, and am wondering if anyone here is as well? Thanks in advance for your replies.

Don

Welcome aboard Don! Nope, I am a practicing Baptist.

[John and Luda 0]

Well, I guess this is as good a time as any to introduce myself to those of you on the Kyiv Beat. I have a fiance in Sumy that I am waiting on receiving the necessary documents and photo from her, so that I may submit my I-129F. I have traveled quite a bit in Ukraine, and have been in just about every city East of the Dnieper. I have studied the former Soviet Union extensively, and am considered an authority on Soviet militaria and labor awards. I developed a website called Unique Soviet Souvenirs and Relics (A play on words of USSR), from which I sell items made and used in the FSU. I am a practicing Orthodox Christian, and am wondering if anyone here is as well? Thanks in advance for your replies.

Don

Welcome Don! I'm Roman Catholic and my fiancee is OC.

[RichardS 0]

Hello All...

I have been a member since 2004 and only just found this Ukraine Forum! LOL!

I have been to Kyiv 6 times now .... met my fiance/wife there in Oct 2004 and started all processing immediately after my return. We had our interview at the Embassy in Kiev in March 2004. The interview could be classified as a "piece o' cake" as I was present to observe the proceedings (having returned to meet my wife's family). Lots of fretting and worry for NOTHING! My wife immediately got her visa and came to USA on K-1 in April 2005. We were married in May 2005. Just filed her I-751 for Removal of Conditions.

We returned to Kyiv in July (2006) and we were in Kyiv again this year just a few weeks ago (Oct 2007). Thank GOD the Hryvnia has held at 504 / 505 = 1 USD! Everything seems more dirty in the main city and people appear "more aggressive" than in past years/visits. Taxi drivers are "demanding" LOTS of more hryvnia to make the same drive as in 2006. Many more cars now in Kyiv and the drivers are CRAZY! They drive on the sidewalks and don't mind running-you-over or just plain KILLING YOU or playing "chicken" as you cross the street. Lots of new construction with new buildings being sandwiched-in between older buildings ... looks like lots of illegal pay-offs to start all of these new condominium / flats.

This year we visited the famous Kiev Circus ... always wanted to do this but could never fit it into my schedule in the past! What a hoot!

For the 2nd consecutive year we have flown Aeorsvit (which I now have renamed "AERO-SPIT"). Last year (2006) we flew them to Moscow and this year we flew them to Athens. I CAN ONLY ADVISE EVERYONE TO COMPLETELY AVOID THIS AIRLINE IF YOU CAN! They "exude" their wonderful level of customer service" in all of their literature, however; I have traveled ALL OVER THE WORLD on virtually every known airline and "AERO-SPIT" gives the meaning and takes the level of "customer service" to an all-time record low! While my personal experiences in 2006 and 2007 were horrific, I was absolutely thrilled (this year) in Athens to watch their Lead Customer Service Agent have a 20-min non-stop "screaming match" with another passenger in front of at least 150 other people who were trying to "sign-in" at the ticket counter! Mmmmmmmmmm! And, of course, when I emailled them about my personal problems in Kyiv, Athens and onboard 2 flights .... "AERO-SPIT" wrote me back stating that there must have been some "miscommunication on my part!" (Clearly --- to them --- I am the problem --- not the airline! And so it goes ................

My wife and I are both Ukrainian Orthodox (I had my Christening at Vydubytsky Monestary in Kyiv last year).

[USSR 1]

We returned to Kyiv in July (2006) and we were in Kyiv again this year just a few weeks ago (Oct 2007). Thank GOD the Hryvnia has held at 504 / 505 = 1 USD! Everything seems more dirty in the main city and people appear "more aggressive" than in past years/visits. Taxi drivers are "demanding" LOTS of more hryvnia to make the same drive as in 2006. Many more cars now in Kyiv and the drivers are CRAZY! They drive on the sidewalks and don't mind running-you-over or just plain KILLING YOU or playing "chicken" as you cross the street.

Richard,

Yeah, it amazes me that the Dollar/Hryvnia rate has remained pretty much unchanged, at the same time that the Dollar/Euro exchange rate has nosedived. Evidently the value of the Hryvnia is tied to the Dollar. When I go to Ukraine, I fly into Borispol just outside of Kiev, AND THEN I GET OUT OF THERE AS QUICK AS I CAN! I much prefer smaller cities such as Kharkov, Sumy, Dnepropetrovsk, and the cities in Crimea. Yes, the drivers in Ukraine are crazy, and the ones in the northern cities seem to be the worst. There is a running joke that if they hit a pedestrian, they get out of their car and beat them up for denting their car.

Don

[RichardS 0]

Hi Don....

Borispil is ALWAYS a rare treat! I have flown all over the world and this airport (followed by Sheremetyevo 1 in Moscow) are the WORST!

However, I must say that my immigration time has cut down appreciably on each and every visit. My first trip took almost 30 minutes whereas my trip last month only required less than 3 minutes!

My wife and her family live in Kyiv so travel to outside smaller cities has not been on our agenda. My wife traveled extensively throughtout the Ukraine for her job and every time I say lets go vist Kaniv, let's visit Uman, let's visit Slavutych, let's visit city xyz ... she always says that there is nothing to see or do there of any value so no need for us to go. However, she did say that next time we can visit Lviv for 1 day! LOL

I really enjoy visiting Ukraine and, with all of its internal and political faults, I am at great peace when I visit all of the historical churches and monestaries.

Thanks for the story about Ukrainian drivers ..... too funny but there is some degree of truth imbedded there!

Of course the value of the hryvnia is tied to the dollar but the Ukraine Government (fortunately) provides enough support to keep the exchange rate mostly "whole!" When I first visited the Ukraine 3 years ago (2004) there were 525 hryvnia to the dollar.

An interesting currency story .....

About 3 weeks ago, I exchanged some money for hryvnia about 630P at a location just across the road from the Kyiv Circus. 504= 1USD .. just fine. I came out from the circus about 830-900P ... just 2 hours later ... and the same exact location was exchanging at a rate of 484 = 1 USD! The very next morning I past by the same location and they were advertising 505 = 1 USD!

Richard

We returned to Kyiv in July (2006) and we were in Kyiv again this year just a few weeks ago (Oct 2007). Thank GOD the Hryvnia has held at 504 / 505 = 1 USD! Everything seems more dirty in the main city and people appear "more aggressive" than in past years/visits. Taxi drivers are "demanding" LOTS of more hryvnia to make the same drive as in 2006. Many more cars now in Kyiv and the drivers are CRAZY! They drive on the sidewalks and don't mind running-you-over or just plain KILLING YOU or playing "chicken" as you cross the street.

Richard,

Yeah, it amazes me that the Dollar/Hryvnia rate has remained pretty much unchanged, at the same time that the Dollar/Euro exchange rate has nosedived. Evidently the value of the Hryvnia is tied to the Dollar. When I go to Ukraine, I fly into Borispol just outside of Kiev, AND THEN I GET OUT OF THERE AS QUICK AS I CAN! I much prefer smaller cities such as Kharkov, Sumy, Dnepropetrovsk, and the cities in Crimea. Yes, the drivers in Ukraine are crazy, and the ones in the northern cities seem to be the worst. There is a running joke that if they hit a pedestrian, they get out of their car and beat them up for denting their car.

Don

[payxibka 10,045]

KBP has made significant facility improvements over the past three years... I take very few issues with this airport now. The same can be said of the airport in Odessa. A far cry from what it was.

[zqt3344 21]

We returned to Kyiv in July (2006) and we were in Kyiv again this year just a few weeks ago (Oct 2007). Thank GOD the Hryvnia has held at 504 / 505 = 1 USD! Everything seems more dirty in the main city and people appear "more aggressive" than in past years/visits. Taxi drivers are "demanding" LOTS of more hryvnia to make the same drive as in 2006. Many more cars now in Kyiv and the drivers are CRAZY! They drive on the sidewalks and don't mind running-you-over or just plain KILLING YOU or playing "chicken" as you cross the street.

Richard,

Yeah, it amazes me that the Dollar/Hryvnia rate has remained pretty much unchanged, at the same time that the Dollar/Euro exchange rate has nosedived. Evidently the value of the Hryvnia is tied to the Dollar. When I go to Ukraine, I fly into Borispol just outside of Kiev, AND THEN I GET OUT OF THERE AS QUICK AS I CAN! I much prefer smaller cities such as Kharkov, Sumy, Dnepropetrovsk, and the cities in Crimea. Yes, the drivers in Ukraine are crazy, and the ones in the northern cities seem to be the worst. There is a running joke that if they hit a pedestrian, they get out of their car and beat them up for denting their car.

Don

AMEN Ukraine brothers! Preach it! We did see a man get hit, flipped and thrown through the air and killed in Dnepropetrovsk while walking on sidewalk along Karl Marx Avenue one evening last summer. And blood was everywhere, it was so surreal, just like a movie scene. And yes the Hyrvinia is tied to the US dollar, just like China does. Drivers there are crazy and ride right up on the rear end of someone and then honk like crazy to go around or it is insane they are only inches off their bumper! I got to experience this treatment with a taxi ride down the Ai-petri mountain in Yalta last summer with a 1950 Volga! it is was insane. Here I Am going down this mountain with this young driver going as fast as he can listening to that Ukraine/Russian music as loud as he can, tires squalling, going around curves that were blind and passing people and only honking as he did so, I thought I was going to meet my maker right then and there, and my wife and her family thought nothing of it at all. It is insane.

ZQT3344

[zqt3344 21]

Hello All...

I have been a member since 2004 and only just found this Ukraine Forum! LOL!

I have been to Kyiv 6 times now .... met my fiance/wife there in Oct 2004 and started all processing immediately after my return. We had our interview at the Embassy in Kiev in March 2004. The interview could be classified as a "piece o' cake" as I was present to observe the proceedings (having returned to meet my wife's family). Lots of fretting and worry for NOTHING! My wife immediately got her visa and came to USA on K-1 in April 2005. We were married in May 2005. Just filed her I-751 for Removal of Conditions.

We returned to Kyiv in July (2006) and we were in Kyiv again this year just a few weeks ago (Oct 2007). Thank GOD the Hryvnia has held at 504 / 505 = 1 USD! Everything seems more dirty in the main city and people appear "more aggressive" than in past years/visits. Taxi drivers are "demanding" LOTS of more hryvnia to make the same drive as in 2006. Many more cars now in Kyiv and the drivers are CRAZY! They drive on the sidewalks and don't mind running-you-over or just plain KILLING YOU or playing "chicken" as you cross the street. Lots of new construction with new buildings being sandwiched-in between older buildings ... looks like lots of illegal pay-offs to start all of these new condominium / flats.

This year we visited the famous Kiev Circus ... always wanted to do this but could never fit it into my schedule in the past! What a hoot!

For the 2nd consecutive year we have flown Aeorsvit (which I now have renamed "AERO-SPIT"). Last year (2006) we flew them to Moscow and this year we flew them to Athens. I CAN ONLY ADVISE EVERYONE TO COMPLETELY AVOID THIS AIRLINE IF YOU CAN! They "exude" their wonderful level of customer service" in all of their literature, however; I have traveled ALL OVER THE WORLD on virtually every known airline and "AERO-SPIT" gives the meaning and takes the level of "customer service" to an all-time record low! While my personal experiences in 2006 and 2007 were horrific, I was absolutely thrilled (this year) in Athens to watch their Lead Customer Service Agent have a 20-min non-stop "screaming match" with another passenger in front of at least 150 other people who were trying to "sign-in" at the ticket counter! Mmmmmmmmmm! And, of course, when I emailled them about my personal problems in Kyiv, Athens and onboard 2 flights .... "AERO-SPIT" wrote me back stating that there must have been some "miscommunication on my part!" (Clearly --- to them --- I am the problem --- not the airline! And so it goes ................

My wife and I are both Ukrainian Orthodox (I had my Christening at Vydubytsky Monestary in Kyiv last year).

AHAHHA Aero SPIT, that is a good one! AND in typical Russian/Ukraine business decorum, the customer is always wrong and just lucky that they allow you to fly on their plane! AHAH it is so true. Try Dneiperovia Air or DonAirbus, I mean it is unreal how they treat customers and lie to them and change procedures or schedules or well they just do what they want and no one can do a thing. Everything you say is so true. You have all those big cities and then nothing in between but villages or run down small homes or apartments or farms or well it looks like a wasteland. If you do not live in a city(and that is not much even in Ukraine compared to rest of world) then you are not getting anything in the form of modern services, it is amazing but way it is there. Everything starts looking the same in all those cities in Ukraine, and after you been to one you been to them all, but what a unique place, aHAHAHaH I love it. AND is it amazing how there is a beer stand on every street corner, casino, and bank exchange everywhere! What gets me is how in the world they are building all those new expensive apartments in Kiev or for that matter in all cities there in Ukraine, then what they charge or ask for rent and to buy, and I am like who in the world is buying them over there, for you all know what the average person there earns, maybe $100 - $400 month at best in USA dollars, I mean it is a mess, you have the politicians or business bosses and friends/families from former Soviet control that swooped in and bought everything after the fall of Soviet Union, and then you have little or no middle class at all, then a whole lot of disadvantage poor people just earning enough to walk to work or ride a bus or buy groceries and hardly no one owns a car compared to overall population like here in USA. It sometimes worries me anytime we are visiting that there might be a revolt or uprising to overthrow every thing there, because the government and so many other organizations there are downright corrupt to the core. Only in former USSR, I guess it is a problem in Russia and all the CIS or former Soviet states that are still not in EU.