Visa Application question

[Marty]

Headed to Ukraine on Thanksgiving, applying now for the Visa.  We have a one year old child, does he need a visa too?  On the visa application, paragraph 24, it asks for names of children under 16 who will be included on my passport; is this what I'm looking for?  How about the fee, is he included in on my $100?  Couldn't find anything on this and any help would be appreciated.

[Dan]

... in response to Visa Application question, posted by Marty on Nov 5, 2003

First off, the assumption is you are a US citizen traveling on a USA passport - and your wife is Ukrainian/Russian traveling on a foreign passport.

In Ukraine, when a child is born - the birth is recorded in the mother's passport. In Ukraine the child is not issued their own international passport until (I believe) the age of 14 - and then, only if they apply.

In America, when a child is born, there is no entry into a parent's passport. If you wish for the child to travel with you, it is necessary to apply for and receive a separate passport issued in the child's name.

Complicating matters slightly is that Ukraine does NOT allow dual citizenship - whereas Russia does.

Now - if the child is born to an American guy and Ukrainian lady while living in America, the child is officially a US citizen by virtue of bithright - but optionally, you may choose to have the Ukrainian Embassy register their birth as a Ukrainian citizen born abroad - and enter them into your wife's passport.

While Ukraine does not allow dual citizenship - I do believe the child can hold both citizenships until the age of 18 at which time they must make a decision on citizenship - BUT I MAY BE WRONG ABOUT THIS - Ukraine authorities are NOT very clear on this topic.

If (big IF) you go through the bureaucracy of filing your child's birth with the Ukraine Embassy in Washington DC - and enter them into your wife's passport - then you have no problem getting them into Ukraine, and no visa for the child is required. HOWEVER, the problem becomes getting the child BACK into the USA. If the child does not have a US passport - and since your wife's visa in her passport (or green card) ONLY recognizes *her* right to live in America - and not the child - it becomes problematic to return to America without unbelievable hassles.

The other option is to treat the child as a US citizen - get them their own US passport - and get them the Ukrainian visa to allow them entry into Ukraine.

Expedited services run about 2 weeks for the US passport - and another 2 weeks for the Ukraine visa - so if your travel plans are in the next 4 or 5 weeks, you may be too late.

I hope this helps.

- Dan

[T P Cornholio]

... in response to Visa Application question, posted by Marty on Nov 5, 2003

If the child is listed in your passport, then you only need the one visa and include the child's name on the visa application.  Otherwise, for passport services regarding children:

http://travel.state.gov/passport_services.html

[CJ]

... in response to Visa Application question, posted by Marty on Nov 5, 2003

I dropped mine at the embassy yesterday.  I think your son's covered by your visa.  There was something about no application fee for children under 16.

[Marty]

... in response to Re: Visa Application question, posted by CJ on Nov 5, 2003


Just called a travel agent in New York (toll free of course) and she said my kid needed his own visa.  Does this sound right? Really, I've seen nothing specific on this.

[CJ]

... in response to Re: Re: Visa Application question, posted by Marty on Nov 5, 2003

Does he have his own passport?  It might be that since in Ukr/Rus children are listed in their parents' passport then no separate visa is required. If he has his own US passport maybe the rules are different. I'd call the Embassy/Consulate directly.