tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8837439793897479536.post8365630560160693852..comments2023-06-15T03:42:15.945-04:00Comments on Pierce Family Adoption: Question on visasMamapiercehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08313103546500488010noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8837439793897479536.post-53495761145453580892011-01-24T11:14:42.703-05:002011-01-24T11:14:42.703-05:00I would definately 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!Stefanie and Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11770902190128752383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8837439793897479536.post-51474639756260322892011-01-24T09:06:07.419-05:002011-01-24T09:06:07.419-05:00I don't know anything about visas, but honestl...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.Dianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08444891084585965661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8837439793897479536.post-74745042452918998232011-01-24T07:52:10.381-05:002011-01-24T07:52:10.381-05:00I believe if they travel on Ukrainian passports th...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.Bogarantyúhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04074797563088310061noreply@blogger.com