Marriage in Ukraine

[Turner]

I am very interested to know what are the ramifications if me and my beloved get married in Ukraine. I am an american. Can I still bring her to the USA one day?
Also if we can marry like this (or even if we marry in the USA with a traditional finacee package deal), can she live part of the year in the Ukraine?
I ask all this because my future wife has an excellent business in Ukraine and neither one of us would want her to give it up.
I am willing to live apart from "moya dorogaya" part of the time and go visit her there and of course have her live with me here for most of the duration.
Thanks for any constructive comments

[Jeff S]

... in response to Marriage in Ukraine, posted by Turner on Apr 25, 2003

Hi Turner:

Yes, you can marry in Ukraine - it's called a K3 (Spousal) visa. If you do the K3 or K1 (Fiancee visa) you adjust your status (get married and report to the INS that you are married) you need to get what's Called "Advanced Parole" (sp?) that allows her to travel and return to the US before her 2 year temporary green card is issued (last time I heard it takes nearly a year.) Once she receives her green card, she can come and go in and out of the US at will, but if she only spends a couple weeks per year here, they'll pull her card after several years (it happened to my wife before I met her.)

My experience is very dated so I can't recommend which one is the most expedient or least hassle - nor do I know anything about her entering & exiting Ukraine, which I read isn't a slam dunk, but the US side should be pretty straightforward.

- Jeff

[svanos1]

... in response to Re: Marriage in Ukraine, posted by Jeff S on Apr 25, 2003

Having just done this, let me correct a few things.  You can easily get married in the Ukraine.  When you go to American embassy to get your letter of non-impediment to marriage, DON'T tell them you've been married before, just say 'I've never been married'.  This isn't as illegal as you might think on first glance.

Also, it is only a K3 visa if you come back here to the USA and file for K3 with INS.  This would be a stupid move if your wife is Ukrianian.  You can still do a Direct Consular Filing in the Ukraine (Warsaw).  I got my wife here in 46 days!

She will get here with full green card and nothing else to do but apply for Social Security number and enjoy life!