Living in Ukraine

[Albert]

Roberto, what are you referring to that 'they' may be harder to obtain.  Are you talking about the 5 year multi entry visa?

And, the 6 month registration situation was not for business visa, it was for the tourist visa.  Maybe it applies to both, but my friend was on the 5 year tourist visa.

Also, another line of thought.  I know it is Ukraine law that applies here, but have you given any thought to checking with American Embassy to help clarify?   The Embassy people are on Diplomat status with different rules . . . . but I am sure that many of them know of many other non-Diplomat Americans in Ukraine and have discussed these things back and forth many times.  Also would be good to establish some contacts at the American Embassy anyway . . . don't you think?

[dorogoyroberto]

Albert,

I am referring to the five-year Private visa, which is the one I  received last year. That is what the OVIR staffer commented on, not the  Tourist or Business visas.

I have a couple of contacts at the U.S. Embassy, since I need go there  monthly. I need to go there next week and will inform them of what the  OVIR staffer told me. If pertainent, I will post their comments.

Roberto
Kiev, Ukraine

[Krissa]

I have good news.  You can send your passport off and have good old uncle sam add pages to your passport at [color="darkred"]no charge[/color].    Mine just came back a few days ago.  You need to allow about 30  days unless you opt for the expidited service for which there is a  fee.   If you are going to be using a lot they will add 48  pages upon request.  Otherwise, without counting it looks like two  dozen new ones.

The fastest and simplest way to have pages added to your passport is to  go to any US embassy or consulate overseas and they will add the pages  without charge while you wait (minutes - not hours typically). 

I have done this in Minsk, Moscow and Vilnius and in every case it was fast and handled in a courteous manner.

When you do fill up the passport and renew it, ask for the large  passport the next time.  There is no additional charge for the  passport with more pages.

[wxman]

I also have the multiple entry private visa. Mine is only for 3 years, as that is when my passport expires. They are very easy to get through the consulate office serving you. Since I had a few single entry visas already in my passport, they approved the multiple entry private visa with no problem. When you renew your passport, make sure the US government sends the old one back to you along with the new one. The reason being when you apply for a new multiple entry visa, you also send the old passport in with the new to the consulate, to prove that you have been granted a multiple entry visa in the past.