The Kyiv Beat......

[USSR 1]

Where I stayed in Kherson, it wasn't just hot water, it was all water was not available during certain hours of the day. No hot water being available during the summer months is a given in Ukraine. Fortunately, most of the apartments rented by me were, as they say, up to "Western" standards, and had the little "on demand" hot water heaters.

Don

[Brad and Vika 129]

Where I stayed in Kherson, it wasn't just hot water, it was all water was not available during certain hours of the day. No hot water being available during the summer months is a given in Ukraine. Fortunately, most of the apartments rented by me were, as they say, up to "Western" standards, and had the little "on demand" hot water heaters.

Don

In February I rented a place that had about seven hours of running water per day. It was in a twelve story (I think) building, part of a five building complex. Maybe the water availability has to do with the population density in the complex. I stayed closer to the river in June and the water was 24/7.

[zqt3344 21]

When in doubt, a bribe or tip, works wonders with passport control we have found. Just have some cash handy to place in that passport if needed, I have seen it done many times by others over there and it works, sad but true. Usually they hold you up or hassle you I think when they are wanting to make some extra money from a bribe. Since they all get paid so little in that country.

You do not have to get exit stamp, nothing happens to you if you go back later on. Would recommend your spouse keep their Ukrainian passports in their maiden name and use it later on, no will know the difference. And it will make life when they go back to travel or visit Ukraine much more easier and simple.

When people leave Ukraine do they need to get exit stamp on their ukrainian passport?

What happens if they dont and later travel back to ukraine ?

What if you are married in a civil ceremony in Ukraine? Doesn't the passport(s) need to change to reflect a name change (there will be one in our case)?

When we got married in Ukraine, my wife took my last name. We then got her internal passport changed to reflect the name change. Once that was done, we got her international passport changed to reflect the name change. I figured it was better to get all this done over there to avoid further hassles once in the USA and also on the paperwork. Everything went very smooth in our process.

Were there entry/exit problems at passport control?

[Brad and Vika 129]

When in doubt, a bribe or tip, works wonders with passport control we have found. Just have some cash handy to place in that passport if needed, I have seen it done many times by others over there and it works, sad but true. Usually they hold you up or hassle you I think when they are wanting to make some extra money from a bribe. Since they all get paid so little in that country.

You do not have to get exit stamp, nothing happens to you if you go back later on. Would recommend your spouse keep their Ukrainian passports in their maiden name and use it later on, no will know the difference. And it will make life when they go back to travel or visit Ukraine much more easier and simple.

When people leave Ukraine do they need to get exit stamp on their ukrainian passport?

What happens if they dont and later travel back to ukraine ?

What if you are married in a civil ceremony in Ukraine? Doesn't the passport(s) need to change to reflect a name change (there will be one in our case)?

When we got married in Ukraine, my wife took my last name. We then got her internal passport changed to reflect the name change. Once that was done, we got her international passport changed to reflect the name change. I figured it was better to get all this done over there to avoid further hassles once in the USA and also on the paperwork. Everything went very smooth in our process.

Were there entry/exit problems at passport control?

Interesting - I am always afraid that if I put out a bribe while being hassled, I run the risk of getting into more serious trouble. Also, I was told that a Ukrainian official who expects compensation will probably not be shy about telling me. How often have you done it?

[Muddy 0]

What happens if you schedule the visa interview and later cancel it, can you reschedule? Is there a time limit?

[Mark and Sasha 0]

I have a question regarding the financial documents and requirements on form I-134. Section C/1 states “copy of last income tax return filed" which is for me form 1040 – does this need to be notarized? Will a simple photocopy do, or do I need to request that my tax preparer give me an additional copy?

Thanks in advance,

Mark n' Sasha

[johnichka 0]

I have a question regarding the financial documents and requirements on form I-134. Section C/1 states “copy of last income tax return filed" which is for me form 1040 – does this need to be notarized? Will a simple photocopy do, or do I need to request that my tax preparer give me an additional copy?

Thanks in advance,

Mark n' Sasha

The tax retrun does not need to be notarized. You can provide the return, but must have the support behind the return - such as W-2, 1099's etc. that prove the numbers on the tax return. A photocopy of all of this acceptable.

John

[johnichka 0]

What happens if you schedule the visa interview and later cancel it, can you reschedule? Is there a time limit?

Yes, you can cancel the interview and reschedule. To cancel your visa interview appointment, you need to call the call center with a request to do so and reschedule for another date. Good luck. I am leaving in 8 days for Ulyana's interview on the 19th. I thought you had your's scheduled for the 13th...

John

[payxibka 10,047]

I have a question regarding the financial documents and requirements on form I-134. Section C/1 states “copy of last income tax return filed" which is for me form 1040 – does this need to be notarized? Will a simple photocopy do, or do I need to request that my tax preparer give me an additional copy?

Thanks in advance,

Mark n' Sasha

It is important to read the instructions and do not add words that do not appear. It says “copy of last income tax return filed", it does not say “notarized copy of last income tax return filed".

[Mariya 0]

I plan the trip with my baby from Ukraine to US- would like to have as smooth as it can be...

Is it only US that I have to re-check my luggage if I fly from Ukraine and have to make a connecting flight in USA?

Do I have to re-check my luggage if I have to change my flights in Europe using different airlines - Ukrainian International to KLM??

Thank you...

[Brad and Vika 129]

I plan the trip with my baby from Ukraine to US- would like to have as smooth as it can be...

Is it only US that I have to re-check my luggage if I fly from Ukraine and have to make a connecting flight in USA?

Do I have to re-check my luggage if I have to change my flights in Europe using different airlines - Ukrainian International to KLM??

Thank you...

If your destination country is the US, you will go through customs at your first point of entry here - even if you stay overnight in another country. You won't be able to get your checked bags though. Then you will recheck the bags to your US destination.

Edited August 8, 2008 by Brad and Vika

[Poacher 0]

It sounds like you are flying from Kiev to Amsterdam, then to US. You do not have to go through customs in Amsterdam. It is only when you get to the US, after immgration that you have to go through customs. That is painless also. You have already been through the hassle of immigration. The customs people are pretty laid back from what I have seen on all of my trips.

[Mariya 0]

I fly Kiev-Brussels (Ukraine International Airlines) and then Brussels-Amsterdam (KLM) and then to US. so I was asking if I have to re-check my luggage in Brussels.

[Mark and Sasha 0]

I have a question regarding the financial documents and requirements on form I-134. Section C/1 states “copy of last income tax return filed" which is for me form 1040 – does this need to be notarized? Will a simple photocopy do, or do I need to request that my tax preparer give me an additional copy?

Thanks in advance,

Mark n' Sasha

The tax retrun does not need to be notarized. You can provide the return, but must have the support behind the return - such as W-2, 1099's etc. that prove the numbers on the tax return. A photocopy of all of this acceptable.

John

What if most of my clients don't provide me with 1099s? Is this going to be a problem?

Mark

[Brad and Vika 129]

I fly Kiev-Brussels (Ukraine International Airlines) and then Brussels-Amsterdam (KLM) and then to US. so I was asking if I have to re-check my luggage in Brussels.

No - as long as you are only passing through Brussels. This is true even if connections are forcing you to stay overnight in Belgium. Your bags are checked through to your destination country, so you won't have to recheck unless you connect again in the US.