ForumTitleContentMemberSexCountryDate/Time
Europe & Eurasia (except the UK and Russia)Declaring her engagement ring
QUOTE (Grid @ Feb 24 2008, 11:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi Everyone,
I will be taking an engagement ring with me to Ukraine next month. I will be flying into the Lviv airport. Usually I move through customs very quickly and fill out a short customs form that does not require that I declare anything. I am wondering, since this time I will have a valuable piece of jewelry with me, should I make a point of declaring it even though I may never be asked if I have anything to declare?
Thanks
Grid


Grid,

If it was me I would not declare it. You may be asked if you are bringing any valuable gold or jewlery into the country as a gift. Keep it in your pocket or wear it on your finger (turned around so the diamonds are not seen)


Boryspil airport in Kiev is very busy, the last time I went through there it took forever to get through customs....Russians and Ukrainians do not know how to form a line smile.gif When I flew into Kharkov a much smaller airport the customs process was much more 'up close and personal' simply because it was a smaller airport. My observations of the people working at the airport is that they are not overly suspious, in fact they looked very bored and very busy.

If it was me I would keep it on my person and not declare it. I do not know what the tax would be but I have shopped for jewelry in the Ukraine and the prices are high compared to Western standards...that tells me that the import taxes are high.

Good luck

Harry
HarryGillungMaleUkraine2008-02-24 13:27:00
Europe & Eurasia (except the UK and Russia)Interview
QUOTE (Gary and Alla @ Aug 28 2008, 06:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE (HarryandAlena @ Aug 28 2008, 03:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Does anyone know how many Visa's are denied in the interview process and for what reasons? Alena and I have our interview on October 2 and I am just trying to cover all the bases.
Thanks
Harry


I would have to say very few are denied at the interview level. The main reason would be a lack of some document and even then the visa will be approved but held until you provide the needed documents. Financial support may be another reason. We just had our interview in Kiev on August 7. There were 6 fiancees and they all got their visa. If you have ALL the documents on the checklist, I wouldn't worry about it. Kiev is relatively easy (as I understand from reading posts here) and our interview was a breeze. As far as documents proving a relationship, I had TONS of this and they took only four photos from my collection as proof. They didn't even look at all the other documents I had laboriously kept, copied, organized and carried all the way to Kiev.

I can say this to anyone going to Kiev. Get all the documents they ask for and relax. Our "interview" was "no questions asked". Alla said "That is all? Why not just MAIL the documents and MAIL the visa? It was just about that easy.

Gary


Thanks Gary! I appreciate the comments.
Harry
HarryGillungMaleUkraine2008-08-28 20:51:00
Europe & Eurasia (except the UK and Russia)Interview
Does anyone know how many Visa's are denied in the interview process and for what reasons? Alena and I have our interview on October 2 and I am just trying to cover all the bases.
Thanks
Harry
HarryGillungMaleUkraine2008-08-28 14:22:00
National Visa Center (Dept of State)Got interview date!
QUOTE (RickOlechka @ Feb 20 2008, 11:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I have a good news! Finally, i got a interview date!! IM so happy!!
NVC scheduled it for the april 8th , and its in Kiev!
Who have their interview date same day in Kiev- write me!
biggrin.gif


CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

GOOD LUCK!!!!!
HarryGillungMaleUkraine2008-02-21 11:41:00
K-3 Spouse Visa Process & ProceduresInterview passed - waiting for passport with visa
kicking.gif Congratulations!.... A list of the documents would be very helpful. kicking.gif

Edited by HarryandAlena, 19 December 2007 - 03:33 PM.

HarryGillungMaleUkraine2007-12-19 15:32:00
US Embassy and Consulate DiscussionK-2 Interview & Translating Devices
I bougth a Ectaco also and it works pretty well. While the phrase books are great when your lady comes here it might help her if she had a good electronic dictonary. I left mine with Alena after our first visit and she has used it a lot. We still bring it with us on trips but rarely use it as Alena's English is getting much better. It comes in very handy when you just need to find that one word you need to explain something. I also see that Eataco has a new voice recognition version available. If you decide to buy one go to their website and express your interest but do not buy it and shortly thereafter you will start receiving discount offers via e mail.
I also agree that leaning Russian will score you big points, at least it has for me.

Good luck
Harry
HarryGillungMaleUkraine2008-02-19 09:32:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsSasha got her VISA!!!!!
good.gif good.gif CONGRATULATIONS!!!! good.gif good.gif
HarryGillungMaleUkraine2008-01-10 18:10:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Case Filing and Progress ReportsThe day has finally arrived!
Congratulations Gary! Best wishes to you and Alla!
HarryGillungMaleUkraine2008-09-19 19:21:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & Proceduresnoobie here (hello!) ... k1 process sent already
Welcome to the site and good luck!
HarryGillungMaleUkraine2007-11-25 10:25:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresChange of Telephone - Waiting for NOA2
QUOTE (smgx4000 @ Dec 12 2007, 09:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
You may want to consider emailing the embassy the new number once your case has been approved and the NVC has sent her paperwork to the embassy just to be on the safe side.

My fiance (now husband) was in the same boat (new phone number) and had emailed the embassy to let them know. It was a really good thing too because they ended up calling him to schedule his interview for the following week.


Thank you for your response and good advice, I appreciate it
HarryGillungMaleUkraine2007-12-12 18:37:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresChange of Telephone - Waiting for NOA2
helpsmilie.gif Alena and just returned from a wonderful holiday in The Dominican Republic. While there Alena lost her cell phone and had to get a new telephone once she returned to the Ukraine. How do I get this new telephone number to proper people at the VSC? We filed the I-129 in October and are still awaiting for my NOA2. Thanks in advance for the advice.
HarryGillungMaleUkraine2007-12-12 08:01:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresAir Line Tickets
Don't call the airline..they will most surely tell you NO. Sure you can do it. The post regarding flying the first leg did not get what you actually tryng to do. You will fly the first leg on both tickets. One to here and one to there. If you use a travel agent make sure you buy them on two separate calls otherwise they will know what you are doing and not allow it. If you buy online then no worries. The airlines really frown on this but as long as your not making a habit out of it you will be fine.
HarryGillungMaleUkraine2008-01-10 18:15:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresRFI Question
I received an RFI two weeks ago. The information they requested was easy to provide. I sent it in and today received an email informing me that they acknowledge receiving my reply and that my case was now active again. I filed in Vermont. I have two questions.

First can I assume that I will not receive any other RFI's on different topics other then the one I replied too (I am confident that I satisfied their request for information)?

My second question is how long is it before I can expect NOA2 approval if I have satisified their requirements?

Thanks in advance for the input and advice.

Harry

Edited by HarryandAlena, 21 February 2008 - 07:19 PM.

HarryGillungMaleUkraine2008-02-21 19:18:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresRFe question
QUOTE (supranatural @ Feb 22 2008, 08:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hmm posted this yesterday and it disappeared...so here goes again.

When do people seem to get their RFE's (if at all)? Is it usually very soon after the NOA1 (indicating that someone actually went through the file after picking it up and putting it on their desk) or was it a while after the NOA1 (indicating that the file gets picked up and then put on their desk, to be reviewed as they get to it)? The reason I ask is they received my K1 package this week and I have a chance in 21 days or so to visit my fiancee for 4-5 weeks and I'd hate to be over there if I were to get an RFE here.

Thanks.


I filed in Vermont just like you will.

I got my NOA1 approval on October 22 and received a RFE notice e mail on Feb 5. It took another four days to receive the hard copy in the mail (Feb 9). I had 60 days to respond. It seems like the processing times are moving a little faster now but you never know. I would send in the K1 ASAP and you will most likely be OK. If you send in your K1 this week you most likely have a NOA1 before you leave.

I would make sure to sign up for automatic e mail notification from The Department of Home Land Security once I get my NOA1 approval. That way you will receive an e mail notification if they are sending you a RFE. That way you will know while you are on your trip. If you are having someone getting your mail while you are away you can tell them to be looking for it. I have e-fax. If you have such a service they could then fax you the notice and you could get it via an e-mail attachement.

This would be helpful especially if they have asked you for something about your fiance since you will be there with her. For example I have read rare cases where they have asked for a ladies birth certificate.

Hope this makes sense and is helpful.

Good luck!

Harry
HarryGillungMaleUkraine2008-02-24 13:49:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresWaiting with my fiancé for NAO2 and interview
QUOTE (Grid @ Feb 24 2008, 03:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi Everyone,
I received the NAO1 on 12/13/07. I will be in Ukraine (4/1/08 to 8/30/08) to wait with my fiancé for the embassy interview date. I am trying to think of eveything that I need to take with me for the interview and also what I might need to respond to an RFE. I would appreciate any recommendations that you may have for me. I am trying get everything together before I leave. Thanks.
Grid



THere is no way to answer the question if you get an RFE.

If your NOA2 is approved without an RFE you will be fine. You should complete the 864-Affidavit of Support before you leave and take it with you. That will be what is needed from you.
HarryGillungMaleUkraine2008-02-25 07:51:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresDocument Translations
Will Alena have to have her birth certificate translated into English for her interview at the Kiev Embassy? If so, what is the acceptable format and is there somewhere I can download this format?
Thanks in advance for your responses
HarryGillungMaleUkraine2008-03-18 08:08:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPrevious Marriage Discussion
Thanks for all of the good advice and words of encouragement.

Yes, I did disclose the marriage and provide the necessary documentation in the I-129. I understand that the embassy in Kiev does not require that the finance have a complete photocopy of the I-129 package at the interview. I did send Alena a copy of the original application and some other doucments along with my I-134. I do not think she has read any of it because she has been busy with work and school. Again, I had planned on telling her in the DR. I realize I need to tell her and will do so in a letter.
THanks
Harry
HarryGillungMaleUkraine2008-05-19 15:28:00
K-1 Fiance(e) Visa Process & ProceduresPrevious Marriage Discussion
The time is drawing near for Alena's interview. We have delayed because she is finishing her degree at the university. After five hard years of her hard work I can wait for her for another month. My situation is this. I was married to a Russian woman once before. I brought her into the USA back in 1999 and we were married for almost 5 years. The subject has never came up with Alena and I did not volunteer the information. One time I tried to start a conversation regarding previous relationships and she wanted nothing to do with it so I have left it alone. I was planning on telling her all about it in April when we had a trip planned for the Dominican Republic but at the last minute I had to cancel because of work problems. I just feel like it is not a subject you bring up on the telephone.

My question is this. Is this going to come up in her interview and will it be a problem if she does not know anything about it?

Thanks in advance for the advice

Harry
HarryGillungMaleUkraine2008-05-19 14:00:00