Living in Ukraine (UK Based at the moment)

[UkGraham]

Apologies but I have repeated this post from the immigration/visa section as I haven't got much response 




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I  have decided to move to Ukraine instead of  trying to get a Uk Visa for my fiancé.
I know the living conditions are not as good but that is not important
I have been trying to make sense of the visa’s.
I believe now you cannot just pop out after 90 days, but have to stay out another 90, so that is no good.
What I want to do is get an extended visa and then look to see if there are any business opportunities or even take a low paid job,
Although being in my mid 50s with only a limited Russian vocabulary a job seems unlikely. I do intend to learn more of the language.
Does anyone one have any experience of business or entrepreneur visa?
Are they likely to grant someone a visa without having any business or employment set up, my idea being to see if there are any opportunities, I may even take a TEFL course and see if I can teach English on a self employed basis. I don’t want to take the course until I get the visa.
We would probably get married in 6 months anyway all being well.
Does being married to a Ukrainian lady virtually assure you of getting a permanent visa?
I’ll have some capital to live on so that is not an immediate issue.
Any advice welcome, thanks in advance.
 

[Froster]

I might be go to live in Ukraine for a while next year as I'm also a victim of the stringent UK visa laws.

It's now the case that you can't pop in and out the country every 3 months. It's only possible to stay there 90 days out of 180 consecutive calendar days.

I'm going to investigate the prospect of a private visa in the future.

Good luck!

[UkGraham]

Good Luck Froster, Let me know how you get on, maybe share info.

[Hub]

I don't think you fellas have the correct scoop here.  I don't know the official rules either, but I do know that some American guys have been living in Ukraine for several years.

You can check with Scott who posts here regularly.  Also there is a Roberto who posts here some and more on RWL who has been living in Kyiv for several years.  Roberto at one time thought he had to regularly leave the country but found out from another American living in Kyiv (Robert Shank) that there was a pretty easy way around that.  You will have to hunt him up on these boards and find out the procedure.

And one of the longest living in Ukraine is probably Art O'Leary who posts on RWL.  He owns a couple of properties in Sevastopol.  He and his wife found the way to get permanent residency for himself.

Also there are a couple of Americans who post on Brama who have lived in Ukraine for several years.

[Ste]

I might be go to live in Ukraine for a while next year as I'm also a victim of the stringent UK visa laws.

What are you talking about!!???

UK immigration laws are the easiest in the West, provided you've not transgressed in the past and even so, what other Country will allow LTR for previous overstayers, illegal workers and homosexuals?

Read the guidelines on the ukvisas and bia websites, we've had two visitor visas, and three student visas, no denials, you really just have to play the game.

[UkGraham]

Sorry for sounding thick here guys but what is RWL (Russian Women ????)and is there somewhere on this site last lists the abbreviations?

[55North]

There seems to be plenty of English teaching opportunities in Kyiv, -just Google, even without formal qualification.

There are some part-time residents (UK in Ukr) who lurk here....

http://en.for-ua.com/forum/list.php?7
 
Post, and see if there is a response.

[UkGraham]

Thanks 55 I'll check that out.
Anyone let me know what RWL means please ?

[Mir]

I think RWL is another similar discusion board, perhaps : RUSSIAN-WOMEN-L@LISTSERV.ICORS.ORG

but I am not sure

[Froster]

What are you talking about!!???

UK immigration laws are the easiest in the West, provided you've not transgressed in the past and even so, what other Country will allow LTR for previous overstayers, illegal workers and homosexuals?

Read the guidelines on the ukvisas and bia websites, we've had two visitor visas, and three student visas, no denials, you really just have to play the game.


Do you wanna give me some tips on how to get a visitor visa then?

[SANDRO43]

and is there somewhere on this site last lists the abbreviations?

Yes, the RWD Glossary (http://russianwomendiscussion.com/wiki/index.php?RWD%20Glossary) in the RWDpedia .

[Ste]

Do you wanna give me some tips on how to get a visitor visa then?

Have you been refused already?

[Froster]

Have you been refused already?

She's not been refused before. Only foreign country she's been to is Russia. She satisfies most of the criteria however she's not currently working having just left uni so I'm fearful that they'll refuse her based on that. We do have a strong, established relationship though - almost 1 year together now. I've made 5 visits and I've got a sh*tload of evidence to back this up. I also regard myself as a decent sponsor - money in the bank, homeowner and good job/salary. At the end of the day though, it's personal situation they're going to look at, not mine. The lawyers I've spoken to seem take a pessimistic view but maybe they've got their own agenda and are trying to scare me into using their expensive services

What do you reckon?

[Ste]

She's not been refused before. Only foreign country she's been to is Russia. She satisfies most of the criteria however she's not currently working having just left uni so I'm fearful that they'll refuse her based on that. We do have a strong, established relationship though - almost 1 year together now. I've made 5 visits and I've got a sh*tload of evidence to back this up. I also regard myself as a decent sponsor - money in the bank, homeowner and good job/salary. At the end of the day though, it's personal situation they're going to look at, not mine. The lawyers I've spoken to seem take a pessimistic view but maybe they've got their own agenda and are trying to scare me into using their expensive services

What do you reckon?

The criteria are:

1. Reason to return.

2. Money to fund visit.

3. Somewhere to stay.

2 and 3 are wangle-able, stumbling block is number one. I know UK doesn't really object to bf and gf seeing each other on VV's (although some ECO's will refuse on that) the ECO is this case is gonna assume she's gonna attempt to settle. Wrong I know, but others do try it and the ECO's must have good reason from that.

So I reckon ur gf should find a job, any job and try a VV in about six months.

Or, try for a short term student visa, it's what we did first, basically book her onto a DfES approved English Lang College with accommodation for two weeks. She'll get a student visa valid for six months (no work) but don't do what we did. Send her home in a reasonable time after. We used ours for three months and got in a bit of bother. Expensive for a short time together but it's a start, next visa will be most likely a formality. Now Nadia is on a three year Student visa here.

But, I'm talking about Russia, where denials are in the region of 2%. For Ukraine the denials are much higher, I forget the figures but something like 13% ISTR.

Or why not look into an tourist agency tour for her to UK from Ukraine? I know they do them from Russia and I always wonder how they sort the visas out. I am certain it's by specials 'relationships' and a bit of a bung.

Student visa is my personal favourite tho, we did ours via an agency in Eburg, they had 100% success rate but I dunno if they can work from Ukraine.

Good luck dood.
 
 

 

[luda]

Who tried to work in Kiev? How long is whole job searching?

[LiveFromUkraine]

I came on the 90 day free travel.  You were able to leave and come back right away until the laws changed.  I think they were changed in July so that will not be an option for you. I was able to stay by paying a bribe service fee for an additional 90 days.  Since I am married now I believe I can just reregister at the OVIR office every 90 days. 

If you want to stay long term than you would normally apply outside of Ukraine for that visa.  As far as I was told, you cannot apply for business or long term visa within Ukraine.

I have no idea about the job market.  From my understanding, you would do better to offer private english lessons.  That is if you are able to get customers.



Thomas

[Simoni]

In her second year here, Marina likes the US much better. However, at least once a month she comes up with a new dream or scheme on how we can live in Ukraine.  Things like open a Starbucks there, even Subway!  LOL

The bottom line is that it's a tough place to do business. 

One would be better off working in their own country, saving, and then retiring in Ukraine.

[LiveFromUkraine]

In her second year here, Marina likes the US much better. However, at least once a month she comes up with a new dream or scheme on how we can live in Ukraine.  Things like open a Starbucks there, even Subway!  LOL

The bottom line is that it's a tough place to do business. 

One would be better off working in their own country, saving, and then retiring in Ukraine.

I would agree with Simoni.  If you want to live here you may want some type of employment that you can do over the internet.  I have a friend that is moving here who is makes his money in the stock market.  I develop software and sell it online. 


Thomas

[ScottinCrimea]

I came on the 90 day free travel.  You were able to leave and come back right away until the laws changed.  I think they were changed in July so that will not be an option for you. I was able to stay by paying a bribe service fee for an additional 90 days.  Since I am married now I believe I can just reregister at the OVIR office every 90 days. 

Thomas, be careful on this one.  Marriage doesn't change your visa and registration status at all, it only makes it easier to gain permanent residence.  If you are intending to stay longer than 90 days, you need to get a 5 year multiple entry visa,, either a business one or a private one.  I have a business one and I was told that I could not register at OVIR every 90 days like you can with the private visa.  Instead I have to leave the country and then return.  The new visa rules only apply to tourist visas, not multiple entry visas, so I can just step into Poland, turn around and re-enter Ukraine.

I thought at first I could just register at OVIR and by the time I figured out this wasn't the case, I had overextended the 90 day period.  Believe me, you don't want to do that!  It took several months, some good contacts and a lot of paperwork to avoid deportation.

[LiveFromUkraine]

Thomas, be careful on this one.  Marriage doesn't change your visa and registration status at all, it only makes it easier to gain permanent residence.  If you are intending to stay longer than 90 days, you need to get a 5 year multiple entry visa,, either a business one or a private one.  I have a business one and I was told that I could not register at OVIR every 90 days like you can with the private visa.  Instead I have to leave the country and then return.  The new visa rules only apply to tourist visas, not multiple entry visas, so I can just step into Poland, turn around and re-enter Ukraine.

I thought at first I could just register at OVIR and by the time I figured out this wasn't the case, I had overextended the 90 day period.  Believe me, you don't want to do that!  It took several months, some good contacts and a lot of paperwork to avoid deportation.

Thanks for the info Scott.  We were told I could extend it easily.  I have a feeling they really didn't know what they were talking about after reading your post.  I can still extend it through my contact at OVIR office.  I am hoping by the time my visa expires we will have Sveta's spousal visa in hand so we can leave together. 

If not I will leave and then apply for a multi entry visa.  I am shocked you can't register but need to leave every 90 days.



Thomas

[Simoni]

I would agree with Simoni.  If you want to live here you may want some type of employment that you can do over the internet.  I have a friend that is moving here who is makes his money in the stock market.  I develop software and sell it online. 
Thomas

I spent five weeks in Ukraine this summer.  I hit the internet cafe daily, and got to know another American who was there using the computer.  He was playing the stock market, and scoring BIG.   From Ukraine :-)