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 GETTING READY FOR YOUR TRIP
• Passport and Visa
• List of the documents to take with you
• What to bring back to The U.S.
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If you are considering a trip to Russia or Ukraine, in addition to your U.S. passport you will be required to obtain a travel visa. The visa is issued by the Russian or Ukrainian government and is necessary for entry into Russia or Ukraine.
You and your Fiancé(e) must each take passport type photographs for submission with the USCIS petition. The requirements for the photographs are quite strict. We recommend that your Fiancé(e) find a local professional company to take the pictures. We need two photographs from you and two from your Fiancé(e) for the USCIS petition. I would suggest doing it while you are visiting your Faincee.
You should also bring home photos of you with your Fiancé(e). These photos are needed to show that you did indeed met your Fiancé(e) and that there is love and affection between both of you. Therefore, ask someone to take photos of you and your Fiancé(e) showing affection (arm around her, or the two of you kissing, for example). It is preferable that the photographs be time and date stamped or just simply write on the back of the photo where and when it was taken.
Your Fiancé(e) must provide you with the following documents:
- A clear, legible, photocopy of the page(s) of her international
passport showing her photograph and her signature page. If your Fiancé(e) doesn't have an international passport, we can submit the USCIS petition without evidence of the passport. However, make sure that your Fiancé(e) applies immediately for her international passport, since it can take months to obtain one in Russia.
- A clear, legible, photocopy of all divorce decrees, with a certified translation into English.
NOTE:
All documents not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation FORM Russian or Ukrainian into English. You may arrange for the translation of documents overseas, where it may be cheaper than in the United States. However, make certain that the translation is done by a professional firm and that the firm gives you a certification that:
- is in English;
- is signed by the translator;
- is printed legibly or typed;
- includes a statement that the translator is familiar with both languages; and
- includes a statement that the attached translation is a true and complete translation to the best of the translator's knowledge, ability and belief.
- Police report
Your Fiancé(e) is obligated to obtain a police certificate describing her criminal record, or lack thereof, for all geographical regions in which she has lived for more than six months since attaining the age of 16. She should contact the local police station. Even though the police certificates are required for the Embassy, and not for the USCIS petition (your Fiancé(e) should not send them to us), we start the Fiancé(e) working on obtaining the police certificates right away because the certificates can sometimes be difficult or even impossible to obtain.
NOTE:
Police certificates must not be issued more than six months prior to the Embassy interview.
Therefore, we recommend for your Fiancé(e) to research the issue of obtaining the police certificate right away, but then wait to actually order the police certificate until your Fiancé(e) receives a package from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate regarding her interview.
- Prior to your departure, make photocopies of your airplane tickets and send them to us later with your other materials. While in Russia, please, keep as many receipts and other evidences of your travel as possible, and bring them back with you to the United States.
- If there is correspondence and phone bills between you and your Fiancé(e), make photocopies of them and send them to us along with your other materials upon your arrival back to the United States.
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