Greetings again from Gary.
I’ll discuss in this and the following post some of the particulars about going to Ukraine. Going to Russia is different and I’ll write about that in a separate post.
First, and most obvious, you need a valid U.S. passport. This is to comply with Ukrainian entry law as well as recently enacted U.S. entry law. Next is the visa question. When I went to Ukraine in 2004, it was not a question - - I needed to get a visa. But that has changed and under certain conditions you don’t need a visa to enter Ukraine as a U.S. citizen. Specifically, if you go on a “private visit” such as to meet and visit with a prospective marriage partner, you don’t need a visa. But note that if you go as a “tourist”, you need a visa. On this link for the U.S. Department of State http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1229.html you can get a good recap of the visa requirements for any country you wish to go to. At the bottom of their recap for Ukraine you’ll find a link to the Ukrainian government for detailed info. When you click on that link you’ll go to a Ukrainian web site. Click on “eng” in the upper right corner for the page in English. Then cursor over “Consular issues” and select “Visa requirements” from the drop down box. The information on this page is lengthy and confusing; but the most important things you’ll find are - - confirmation of the State Department recap and addresses with phone numbers for Ukrainian Consular offices in several U.S. cities. If you have visa questions, I suggest you contact one of the listed consular offices.
And by the way, here’s a tip - - when you go through passport control upon arrival in Ukraine, you’ll be asked the purpose of your visit. Don’t say you’re there as a tourist unless you have a tourist visa. Tell them you are on a “private visit”. This may prompt the question “where will you be staying”. Be sure you can provide them with a person’s name you’ll be with and an address you’ll be staying at.
That’s all until next time when I’ll write about going through customs.
Goodbye until then.
Gary.
