Pierce Family Adoption Registry
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Question on visas
After making a list of pros and cons and praying about it - we have decided to take our children with us on the first trip to Russia. We are now looking at visas to enter Russia. They have single entry, double entry, and multiple entry visas. Victoria at AAC has recommended that Tyler & I get the multiple entry visa for ourselves, but I'm wondering if the kids could just get the single entry visa? Also, since Keith & Iryna have dual citizenship with the US and Ukraine, do they need a visa to enter Russia? Anyone know?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
I believe if they travel on Ukrainian passports they don't need a visa to the Russian Federation, but if they travel on US passports they do.
I don't know anything about visas, but honestly, if you don't have to have them traveling as Ukrainian citizens, I wouldn't. While I know there are plenty of people who do it all the time without any problems, it also leaves the door wide open for problems. Blaine very nearly got strip searched at JFK beause of this and then when they figured out we were all together, they detained our whole family. I am 100% certain it's because we had US passports and our kids didn't. We were also sans passports in Hungary for quite some time during our layover coming home because the passport control agent had to get permission from his supervisor to grant us clearance to even board the plane. It's also pretty widely known that relations between Russia and Ukraine aren't always that great...and neither is their propensity for following rules. Remember how business is conducted in Ukraine...it's all about whatever mood someone is in that day. Personally, after what we went through just trying to get them home, I can tell you the risk probably isn't worth it. No matter what any "authority" may tell me otherwise, there is NO WAY my kids will EVER travel outside the USA without a US Passpport. I'd of course take their Ukrainian passports with me, but I'd have them travel as US Citizens.
I would definately have them travel as US Citizens. I would also think hard about taking them with you. We took our 4.5 year old son with us to Ukraine in 2008. He is an excellent traveler and very layed back, and it was VERY tough. We adopted again in 2010 and as tough as it was to make arrangements to leave 4 small children at home, it was by far the best choice for them and us. Just my two cents worth! Congratulations!
Post a Comment