US and Ukrainian Citizen, Traveling to Ukraine

[virtualNik 1]

Good afternoon.

I've recently filed to acquire a Ukrainian Permanent Residency in Ukraine, being married to a Ukrainian citizen for >2 years. I am also a Ukrainian-born, now a US Citizen, for many years.

My permanent resident card will not happen, as Ukraine checked and notified me that I am still a Ukrainian citizen because I've never formally given up my Ukrainian citizen, coming to this country as a child.

Ukrainian embassy has informed me that a Ukrainian international password could be made for me, but now the big questions:

* How do I travel to Ukraine on a longer than 3 month stay (mandated by US passport) on a Ukrainian password as a Ukrainian citizen and come back to the US?

I know going to Ukraine on a UA passport will basically keep me in UA since getting out of Ukraine will require a visa but that's no easy path. Is it possible for a dual-citizen between US and UA to go to Ukraine for more than 3 months stay? I know Ukraine does not formally recognize dual citizenship yet still manages to have millions of its own citizens have dual citizenship.

How do I handle having two citizenships and travel to Ukraine for more than 3 months as U.S. Citizen on a Ukrainian intl. passport without issues?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

[Caryh 5,206]

The USA doesn't recognize dual citizenship either. They just ignore it. I would assume this is much like my wife's country though. When you enter the Ukraine, you show your Ukrainian passport upon entry and exit to officials. When on US soil, you show your US passport to CBP. For the airline you can show both passports if needed to show you have the rights to be in either country without a visa.

Edited April 28, 2016 by Caryh

[virtualNik 1]

Thanks.

If anyone has any experience in exactly the situations that I'm in (I know there are millions of post-Soviet US citizens out there), please let me know if you've been in this situation and know how to handle.

[Dave-n-Oksana 49]

Thanks.

If anyone has any experience in exactly the situations that I'm in (I know there are millions of post-Soviet US citizens out there), please let me know if you've been in this situation and know how to handle.

virtual,

What Caryh has said is correct. Just use your Ukrainian Passport to enter/exit Ukraine and use your American Passport when entering the US. We have many naturalized friends from Ukraine who use this method.

Enjoy the trip.

Dave

[virtualNik 1]

Thanks Dave.

I just don't understand how one can leave a country on one passport (leave US on a Ukrainian passport) and come back also exit Ukraine as well. Ukrainians require visa's, etc. to leave Ukraine, so how is this doable leaving Kiev/Lviv? Then, how does one enter in the US via CBT using their US passport if there is no stamp on the original exit? I'm confused, please clarify. Thanks.

[Caryh 5,206]

Thanks Dave.

I just don't understand how one can leave a country on one passport (leave US on a Ukrainian passport) and come back also exit Ukraine as well. Ukrainians require visa's, etc. to leave Ukraine, so how is this doable leaving Kiev/Lviv? Then, how does one enter in the US via CBT using their US passport if there is no stamp on the original exit? I'm confused, please clarify. Thanks.

If they question why you're exiting without a visa, just show them your American passport, much like you would have shown them your green card before. You're seriously overthinking this. Also the USA doesn't stamp your passport when you leave. They just look at it upon your return. As a USC you're required to use your US passport on as you enter the country.

[virtualNik 1]

Thanks Caryh.

That makes sense. Let me ask you this then, after leaving said destination and back in the US of A, wanting to go back to UA again, presenting the Ukrainian passport to border control in Ukraine, they'll look for exit stamp from Ukraine, during which the US passport was used to leave the previous time.

Is this correct and any issues there?

[Caryh 5,206]

Thanks Caryh.

That makes sense. Let me ask you this then, after leaving said destination and back in the US of A, wanting to go back to UA again, presenting the Ukrainian passport to border control in Ukraine, they'll look for exit stamp from Ukraine, during which the US passport was used to leave the previous time.

Is this correct and any issues there?

You actually will get your Ukrainian passport stamped entering and exiting Ukraine. You'd just show the US passport if they ask why you have no visa, as you would your green card previously. Unless you can travel there without visa with the US passport, then you might decide just to just use the USA passport for all entries and exits. But most countries you're a citizen of, generally want you to use your passport of that country when you enter and exit.

[virtualNik 1]

I've been researching like a mad man about this and it appears people are now being caught: http://www.expatua.com/forum/index.php?topic=9650.0

[Caryh 5,206]

I've been researching like a mad man about this and it appears people are now being caught: http://www.expatua.com/forum/index.php?topic=9650.0

What is the law in the Ukraine? Do they basically say you're no longer a Ukraine citizen if you get citizenship in another country? There is a big difference between countries that either allow dual, ignore dual, or forbid dual citizenship. From reading there, its sounding like they forbid their citizens dual citizenship.

It looks like they have the same rules on dual citizenship as the USA does, they ignore your second citizenship. But in practice, they are all over the board.

Edited May 9, 2016 by Caryh