Job Discussion Forums

[Kirkpatrick]

I met a guy here in Odessa and he's like overstayed a year and a half. I did this once in Thailand and was in deep dog doo doo. What's the scoop here in the Ukraine. Are you just barred for 5 years or are you jailed and fined to boot. Also, what happens if you lose that little white piece of paper ( departure slip) that has a duplicate of your visa on it?

[charlesinukraine]

Don't lose the little white piece of paper. The paper is part of your immigration registration. One half was taken upon entry and the other half you must retain for your departure. If lost you could be fined and I believe the fee is between $80 and $100. The worst part is that immigration will detain you while paperwork is completed.

Once upon a time overstaying the limit was not an issue. Pay a fine and off you go (happened to me twice). But, these days with a new tracking system and stronger enforcement due to entrance into the WTO it has become strict. There are an increasing number of reports that if a person overstays it results in deportation. Immigration police will force you to sign legal documents written in Ukrainian that will prevent you from entering the country again for five years.

best of luck

[Cardinal Synn]

Actually, I've lost that bit of paper more than once, and have never been asked for it when leaving, let alone fined. Even when i have it, I don't bother handing it over, because, like I said, they don't ask for it. Maybe I've just been lucky, but I'd be much more worried about overstaying for a year than losing my landing card. It's the stamp in your passport they're interested in.

[Apollo1]

[charlesinukraine]

It is not legal to work in Ukraine with a business visa. The business visa requires a support letter and so does the IM-1 visa. The cost is about $100 for each visa application. Furthermore, a visa can only be secured outside of Ukrainian borders. Another difficulty is dealing with a Ukrainian consulate in a foreign country. This can be problematic.

I highly suggest that you get your documentation taken care of before you enter Ukraine. This will make your life much simpler. And, it will allow you to be legal in Ukraine.

I heard many stories from teachers that once in country the employer delays and delays the paperwork. The teacher having bourne many costs usually exceeding a thousand dollars continues to stay and deal with the hassle of living illegally in Ukraine or departs.

Any employer can issue the paperwork for an IM-1 visa just as easily. They won't want to issue it since the employer will have to pay employment tax which I believe could be around 30% of salary.

[ETA]

[ancient_dweller]

which is the easiest border to get across then? Ukraine/Moldova?

[Cardinal Synn]

Belarus, so I've heard

[Cardinal Synn]

[maruss]

...unless you have to go there because they are very awkward about entry and transit visas and as a rule do not issue even transit visas at the border,as I discovered to my cost when arriving from Poland,but that was about 10 years ago on my way to Russia,for which I did not need an entry visa with my Cypriot passport at that time.

[coledavis]

Belarus requires a visa if you are not a CIS citizen.