Help on Obtaining Tourist Visa

[Charles]

A good friend of my wife is getting married in about two weeks and a friend of the bride-to-be has invited a friend from Ukraine.  The Ukrainian lady is married, with children, and has an established business in Ukraine so I know from past experience that we can probably get her a tourist visa.  Last night she called about coming to the wedding and getting a visitor's visa.  Normally the U.S. Embassy in Kiev requires several weeks to process one of these things.  Before telling her that it's too late, as it appears to be, if anyone has any brilliant ideas on how to circumvent the normal processing times I am, as Ross Perot once said, all ears.

[Mark W]

... in response to Help on Obtaining Tourist Visa, posted by Charles on Feb 3, 2002

I went after my visa late on my last trip to the Ukraine.  I used a service called Travel Document Systems Inc.  As the name suggest they deal in getting visa documents and other such things.  They will phyisically run all the paper work through for you, if you FedEx everything off to them.  They did mine in under two weeks.  They do this primarially for businesses so they are used to getting visas processed on short notice.  It will cost you a decent buck so you have to be willing to pay.  I think it was probably around $150.  You can get their info at www.traveldocs.com.  The phone number is on the web site.  Call them and they will tell you if they can help you in time.

[jj]

... in response to Help on Obtaining Tourist Visa, posted by Charles on Feb 3, 2002

I do not know about any way of shorting the process,  but if you stress in your letter of support that the lady in concern has been invited to attend your wedding and that you will be sponsiring her travel, accomodation and travel insurance.  That her daughter will be staying in Ukraine and parents and that you will ensure full compliance of visa including her return to Ukraine before the expiry date.  It may also assit if you can show a travel itinery and return flight booking.  Include any references you can verifying your responsibility to sponsor a visa application.  You must stress the need to confirm the issue of a visa in sufficient time to confirm flight details.

The main point to stress is that she will be returning to Ukraine to her daughter and family.

I managed to arrange a visa to the USA as part of a roundf the world travel ticket.  I needed to present my credentials and had a little help from a member of Parliament who acted as a referee for me but I had no real difficulty.  A visa was issued within a month.  

I wish you all the best please keep us informed.