different question

[bgreed 0]

Ok here is a question that I have seen asked before. My wife is a Ukraine citizen and has worked both in Russia and Ukraine. However the situation in Ukraine is that she was working under her Russian work papers.

Here is why, in Ukraine and Russia your potential employer is looking at your work experience (sounds familiar) however they don't just accept your resume they want to see your work papers which is an offical log of where you worked for how long and what your position was. This is the reason she was using her Russian work papers because they contained all her previous experience where her Ukraine papers were blank. So she was employed in a grey area where if anyone asked it would be like she never worked there. Kinda like being an American citizen but employed like an illegal in the US.

So my question is should we show her employment history for the last five years even given that if they actually check it out the response will be "never heard of her" Or just say that she was unemployed for the last five years. Any thoughts?

[payxibka 10,045]

Ok here is a question that I have seen asked before. My wife is a Ukraine citizen and has worked both in Russia and Ukraine. However the situation in Ukraine is that she was working under her Russian work papers.

Here is why, in Ukraine and Russia your potential employer is looking at your work experience (sounds familiar) however they don't just accept your resume they want to see your work papers which is an offical log of where you worked for how long and what your position was. This is the reason she was using her Russian work papers because they contained all her previous experience where her Ukraine papers were blank. So she was employed in a grey area where if anyone asked it would be like she never worked there. Kinda like being an American citizen but employed like an illegal in the US.

So my question is should we show her employment history for the last five years even given that if they actually check it out the response will be "never heard of her" Or just say that she was unemployed for the last five years. Any thoughts?

I don't think the US cares if she worked "legal" or "illegal" in Russia... besides I am certain the consulate understand all the beaureaucratic "hoops" that these citizens have to go through and pretty certain nothing phases them... If it were me, I would make certain her documents were prepared accurately and truthfully....

I am also quite certain that no employment checks are done....

Edited October 8, 2007 by fwaguy

[Jigi 0]

Hi

Just write what she worked as, her position... and tell truth.. lying in any way would dis qualify her for ever.. if there are any questions.. Consular officer will ask... Dont worry about it ... Tell truth.. go ahead with it

Jigi

[pushbrk 12,906]

Ok here is a question that I have seen asked before. My wife is a Ukraine citizen and has worked both in Russia and Ukraine. However the situation in Ukraine is that she was working under her Russian work papers.

Here is why, in Ukraine and Russia your potential employer is looking at your work experience (sounds familiar) however they don't just accept your resume they want to see your work papers which is an offical log of where you worked for how long and what your position was. This is the reason she was using her Russian work papers because they contained all her previous experience where her Ukraine papers were blank. So she was employed in a grey area where if anyone asked it would be like she never worked there. Kinda like being an American citizen but employed like an illegal in the US.

So my question is should we show her employment history for the last five years even given that if they actually check it out the response will be "never heard of her" Or just say that she was unemployed for the last five years. Any thoughts?

I don't think the US cares if she worked "legal" or "illegal" in Russia... besides I am certain the consulate understand all the beaureaucratic "hoops" that these citizens have to go through and pretty certain nothing phases them... If it were me, I would make certain her documents were prepared accurately and truthfully....

I am also quite certain that no employment checks are done....

I agree but some of the OP's wording has me wondering if there might be an issue of working in a security sensitive area. This could pose problems to be prepared to deal with. See bolded above. If this "grey area" was something top secret etc. then she could be denied or need to go through a waiver process.

Here's an example. Say she indicated she worked for something like "Lockheed Martin" as an "auditor". That probably wouldn't raise any flags. But you see, Lockheed Martin does a lot of top security work, so maybe she "audited" super top secret weapons data. Now we have a problem. If any of this starts to ring a bell, you might want to be very careful just how you word the truth.

[bgreed 0]

No she has not worked in any security sensitive type work. The grey area is that technically she was not legally employed in Ukraine because she used her Russian work papers to prove that she had work experience to get better jobs. She has been a manager at a bank and a upper level administrator working for the city of Sumy in the planning dept. The thing is if she were to say she worked these places there would be no record. So any further ideas?

[etripke 0]

No she has not worked in any security sensitive type work. The grey area is that technically she was not legally employed in Ukraine because she used her Russian work papers to prove that she had work experience to get better jobs. She has been a manager at a bank and a upper level administrator working for the city of Sumy in the planning dept. The thing is if she were to say she worked these places there would be no record. So any further ideas?

First of all just tell the truth. They're not going to ask about the employment book, that book is maintained by her employer. My fiancee has the same book, and it is one of the reasons she is planning on giving 2 weeks notice before leaving. She wants the book back, it does show her employment history.

The hassles they must go through to get a job, keep a job, and make an "honest" living over there are incredible. Add to the fact that Ukraine is a poorer country than Mexico and most of South and Central America with all of the same corruption and political discord, and it is not a great place to make a living.

Don't forget she'll need a Police Cerificate from EVERY place she has lived more than 6 months from age 16. The ones from Russia can be a real hassle (time consuming) to get.