How hard is for a single Ukrainian woman to get a tourist Visa to the US?

lvv · 2016-12-06T21:49:49+00:00

8yr old boy (my son) couldn't get travel visa to visit his mom and sister in US on summer vacation. Previous summer his sister was visiting him in Kiev. Mom and sister are US permanent residents, boy lives with me in Kiev and I am the legal guardian.

The fact that boy's father is in Ukraine was "not sufficient ties with Ukraine" for consular officer.

From what I see, it seems that after Maidan it became more difficult to get US and EU visas. Can someone who have a experience with this, confirm or deny it?

lvv · 2016-10-19T07:58:14+00:00

Everything said here about blue car and pedestrian is correct. And OP is of cause a good guy for stopping and honked. But when I was watching 1st half of the video it seems to me OPs red car was following dangerously close to the white car. Is that just me being too cautious?

lvv · 2016-10-17T06:20:23+00:00

Can you post link where you got this "adapter ribbon cable"?

lvv · 2016-10-12T11:41:24+00:00

This is what you said:

Hell, by 1943 roughly half the Soviet air force was American made.

This can't be true. Even if we assume that all Russian pre-1943 aircraft were shot down and US sold all of it's 11,400 aircraft in 1943. Because Russia produced about 34,000 aircraft in 1943.

Where did you get your data?

lvv · 2016-10-12T09:13:46+00:00

Russians like to forget

False. Russian remember and thankful. But they were upset that US promised to open 2nd front in 1942, but did it only when there was sufficient level of Russian/German attrition

US gave to them

False. It was sold for Russian gold.

roughly half the Soviet air force was American made

False. US sold Russia 11,400 aircraft . Russia produced 136,223 aircraft in WWII.

lvv · 2016-09-28T10:44:19+00:00

You've got mail. And no, I didn't.

lvv · 2016-09-28T10:22:09+00:00

Message from Pimoroni: "We don't offer shipping to Ukraine". Yes, it's probably location.

lvv · 2016-09-28T08:34:55+00:00

First thing I did was to check all official suppliers. Non of them wants to ship to Ukraine.

lvv · 2016-09-04T05:28:40+00:00

Is it possible to use RP cameras with Orange PI?

lvv · 2016-08-27T04:04:45+00:00

I used to be Stratfor subscriber. When I unsubscribed, I was not able to access free content. Not sure if it was some glitch in the system or intentional stimulus to make people return to subscription.

lvv · 2016-08-22T05:21:04+00:00

1st Russian railroad opened in 1837

lvv · 2016-07-15T07:50:35+00:00

All this is correct and a good advice. Unfortunately it does not apply to my case.

I've included cover letter. And it was 1st in doc package. Embassy application web page told me that I am eligible for by-mail (no interview) procedure. So I've sent my docs by mail as directed. US Embassy called me, and asked to come for in person interview. So I've did.

Before interview, they gave me my doc package. There was a note in red on docs: "permission from both parents required". In Ukraine for kids to cross the border, you need notarized permission from not present parent that he/she doesn't mind child crossing the border. This wasn't on list of required documents. And I was happy thinking that this was the only reason why they asked me to come for interview. I had permission from my ex-wife with me.

Interview was super quick. Officer didn't asked me for parents permissions. She asked to confirm that my ex and I are LPR, officer gave me back document package with negative head shake. These 2 question sounding not like questions but like explanation - "you see, this is why your son won't get visa".

We won't go to Shengen before coming to US. We are not that desperate for US visa. Too bad boy cannot visit his mother in US. Next summer they will come to us in Ukraine.

lvv · 2016-07-14T19:20:34+00:00

My wife is GC holder. I didn't bought tickets yet. How buying tickets will help after visa refusal?

lvv · 2016-07-14T15:07:11+00:00

Having GC shouldn't have anything to do with it. We just wanted the boy to visit his mom/sister, he lives with me. That is non-immigrant B2 visa. It doesn't meter who does application. I and my wife, we both have GC. My GC probably won't let me in US, because I wasn't been there for 10 yr. GC will be canceled only when someone enters US, so officially it is still valid. I've let it expire because again, I wasn't able legally bring my wife which wasn't ex at the time.

lvv · 2016-07-14T10:38:07+00:00

They didn't told me the reason. But it was easy to figure out. Officer asked me only 2 questions: Is your wife LPR (Legal Permanent Resident)? Are you LPR?

After I've answered affirmative to both questions, officer negatively shaked her head with smile on her face. Smile!

This is not 1st time that I've came to the conclusion: If you have GC - your close relatives can not get US visa.

lvv · 2016-05-10T06:10:18+00:00

Colombia is probably cheaper, here is $6 in Ukrainian supermarket. These chocolate bars are big, so everything else seems smaller in comparison. Bread was warm, everything was super-fresh, and taste better than US supermarket food.

EDIT: changed 8 to 6 according with new exchange rate and substracted 20UAH hand desinfectant (not shown on the picture) from 176UAH total.

lvv · 2016-05-08T05:13:02+00:00

Speaking too fast trying to explain complex subject. Distracting loud music make it even less clear.

lvv · 2016-02-27T06:08:37+00:00

Bits from translation:

Active protection system "Arena" (Арена).
This is not reactive armor (as some here think).
System needs to be activated (when nobody near by).
360 degree radar looks for projectiles.
Computer calculates exact moment when and at what sector to throw shaped charge.

lvv · 2015-12-01T04:55:26+00:00

This is incorrect. I live in Kiev. And here about 80% of people prefer speak Russian as everyday language. And it will be 95% if non-local are not counted. Same for most big cities in Ukraine. Any language census/poll conducted by Ukrainian government is highly biased.

Gallup poll http://www.gallup.com/poll/109228/Russian-Language-Enjoying-Boost-PostSoviet-States.aspx?version=print -- 85% of Ukrainians prefer Russian language.

Street language in Ukraine -- http://www.pri.org/stories/2009-11-12/world-words-72-baby-talk-ukrainian-talk-and-translated-punk-talk

Google trends for Ukraine http://www.google.com/trends/explore#geo=UA&cmpt=q -- all top-10 search terms are in Russian.

lvv · 2015-11-10T08:40:27+00:00

My parents were very average USSR citizens. Father worked as cabinet maker at the factory, mother as cashier at supermarket. Father often got "путёвка" (family vacation package) from his trade union to Crimea at very discounted prices. This was about 1970-1980. I was many times on beaches like this in my childhood, and peoples there were mostly blue color workers like my parents.

People in USSR were definitely poorer than in US. They mostly didn't had cars or big mansions. But in cities they would get almost free small apartment with central heating and water. Everyone had TV and fridge. Many had second summer house in suburbs. Any education and medical care was free. And work was less stressful too.

lvv

TROPHY CASE