Extended Stay in Ukraine?

What should you do if you plan an extended stay in Ukraine?

After some research and a little reading, I want to share with you my conclusion and two links. The conclusion is this:

If you want to live in Ukraine for an extended time, you need to apply for a permanent residence card in Ukraine. The Ukrainian consulate, American expats, and British expats all render this same recommendation: apply for permanent residence, but not in your native country. Apply while in Ukraine, the land where glory and freedom have not perished.

Here are two links. The first is to an excellent article on applying for residence permits and work permits in Ukraine. The second is a forum with some expat testimonies of applying for the residence permit.

Residence Permit & Work Permit Process in Ukraine

Residence Permit in Ukraine - Forum

If you need to know something else, please ask in the comments section below. If you learned something you want to share, please put that into a comment as well. Remember, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”!

Easy & Cheap Way to Learn Russian & Ukrainian

The most important part of seeking a Russian or Ukrainian (or Latvian, Lithuanian or other former CIS lady) is the visit. You absolutely must plan a visit. May is the best month of the year. But, plan ahead of time. Be sure to schedule many meetings, and even hold the names of some agencies in reserve in case the ladies you planned to meet just don't have the two-way chemistry everyone knows should be present from the beginning.

Once your visit is scheduled at least three or four months after you have begun to communicate with some ladies, you will want also to begin to learn basic greetings, the names of food, how to properly pronounce names, and anything else you can manage.

So, here are my two excellent recommendations for you:

1. Pimsleur basic audio lessons. I speak a few languages myself. Pimsleur truly delivers what it promises- rapid learning by optimizing their knowledge of the processes of the brain in learning. What I also got from Pimsleur was a good base for pronunciation. I received a lot of compliments on my flawless accent, especially on my "nye-eh" (a form of nyet). I am talking about one of Pimsleur's basic products, not the $345 30-CD set.

2. The next thing is an app you can buy for less than $10. Word Power Lt provides more than a hundred categories of words. Each category averages about 20 words each. The app pronounces the word, provides sentences (some of which also have audio), has pictures of most words, and provides several additional utilities and resources. It is an amazing teaching tool for the price. And, as an app, it goes with you wherever you take your iphone or ipad.

So, start with the Pimsleur. It will carefully teach you the all-important pronunciations slowly and carefully. Second, get the Word Power Lt app from itunes.

You will earn much more respect when you can introduce yourself and make a few polite exchanges. You don't have to give a speech at the university chemical engineering club, just say "hello" and "nice to meet you."

Ukrainian Customs

Illegal Seizure of Goods at Customs in Borispol (KBP) International Airport, Kiev, Ukraine

My friend Brian flew to Kiev last weekend, arriving on August 27^th, 2011. He always travels light. He had just a backpack with a change of clothes. They stopped him at customs after scanning his bag. “It is the first time I have seen that equipment running,” Brian told me.

They asked him, “We see some pills. Do you have some pills in your luggage?” He said, “Yes. I have some Motrin in there.” They asked if it is in the original package. He said that it is.

Also in the bag were a diamond engagement ring and wedding band set. He also brought two cell phones, one for his fiancée and another for his future mother-in-law (who is a kind woman). The customs agents seized these items.

They held him at Customs for 4 hours. They announced that the phones are worth $1,000 each in Ukraine, and that the ring is worth $5,000. Brian said he paid only $200 each for the phones (his declared value.) The ring, he also purchased at wholesale.

In the brief time he had, he had to attain an official translation of his passport into Ukrainian and proffer it so he could appear in court and request return of his items. His fiancée pressed the court officials on what needed to happen in order to receive the items. They said, “Nothing but paying the import duty.” They explained that seizures have been down and higher ups are pushing for seizures.

The court assessed 44% import duties, the same as was demanded at Customs in Borispol airport. They wanted $2200 for the rings and 2 times $400 for the cell phones. They wanted $3000 total to settle the matter.

Why this is Illegal

Ukraine joined the World Trade Organization in May of 2008. The WTO is established to normalize and facilitate trade. Rules are clearly set forth. In the matter of importing (which excludes gifts such as an engagement ring!) the value is to be declared by the importer. If Customs officials believe the declared value to be different than that claimed, they may “request additional information.”

Here is a key component of the agreement wording (Uruguay Round) of the WTO:

The WTO agreement on customs valuation aims for a fair, uniform and neutral system for the valuation of goods for customs purposes — a system that conforms to commercial realities, and which outlaws the use of arbitrary or fictitious customs values.

So, here is Ukraine establishing arbitrary values for the rings and phones. There is no real basis for their valuation other than their command elements requiring that seizures increase. This is exactly corruption. It can only serve to harm Ukraine. What will result from this practice? Fewer goods will enter Ukraine!

One-sixth of the GDP of Mexico is imported goods- wealth sent to Mexico by nationals working in foreign countries, primarily the largest market in the world: North America. So, here is Ukraine announcing, “We don’t want your wealth! Keep it.” This has been their error from the beginning of Independence in 1992. Officials and men of influence have desired to maintain control so they can skim and benefit from graft.

Unfortunately, the world is staying away in droves. Ukraine is the world’s richest deposit of engineers. Has anyone heard of the great international engineering companies based in Ukraine? No. This is because firms stay away.

Ukraine has come a long way. Those who have been traveling there for two decades report how police stops (for collecting a “toll”) have greatly decreased. Yuschenko, the last president, announced that no graft would be tolerated under his watch, and corruption diminished even more. However, Ukraine remains a very corrupt nation because of greed in those who yet retain power.

Ukraine is such a beautiful nation. Some of the greatest people I have ever met in my life are Ukrainians. I will never forget a Colonel I met in Kuwait. He wept as he told me how beautiful is his Ukraine and how much she suffers because of the economy. I have never seen such passion for America in an American.

It is a beautiful nation. But, how long will this corruption remain about Ukraine’s neck, strangling her?

What Can I Learn from the Photos on Russian Women Dating and Marriage Sites?

How to Evaluate Russian Women Photos

What kind of woman do you really want to marry? Consider the heart of the woman you want to be with in your forties, in your fifties, in your sixties and seventies? What is she like? She is not 23, this is for sure. She will likely be within a few years of your own age. The thing that will make your life a joy for the next fifty or sixty years is a companion with a loving heart.

How do you ascertain this in the Russian women photos on the bridal club, letter exchange, and marriage agency websites? Divide the sites into two main types. There are many ways to divide virtually anything. Divide the sites into these categories: fleshy photos and professional photos.

You want the professional photo women. Why not the bikini photos? The answer is simple: the women who want to tantalize you with their flesh are exactly that: fleshly, material women. Russian, Ukrainian, and other former USSR ladies are generally very educated, very feminine, and very professional and responsible. Western thought creeps in via movies, the Internet, and travel. You want the more traditional Eastern European gal. She exudes femininity and character. The aspect of character shines brightly in Ukraine and in Russia. With so many liberties removed in Communism, Russian culture shifted greatly to love and to romance. Looking beautiful, and being beautiful became very important.

How does a traditional Eastern European lady stand out from the crowd? First, she has her own style. She has avoided the bikini sites in order to maintain her integrity. She knows who she is, and chooses not to concede her character to increase her chances to attain a goal such as finding a good man. Very likely, the women who sacrifice their morality in a bikini display are seeking material objectives: a rich man.  

Keep in mind that in Ukraine, Byelorussia (White Russia), Romania, and Moldova, the economies remain prisoner to private interests. Russia, Kazakhstan, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic immediately instituted free market economies. In the latter set of nations, per capita income has increased to levels where families and individuals can live comfortably and buy nice wardrobes. In the former nations listed above, most still struggle to put food on the table. A lady in one or two outfits is showing you the best of her outfits.

To be fair, some ladies may be showing their bikini outfits because they simply do not have another photo option. To show themselves in different settings- and still look beautiful –they choose beach photos. In other cases, the dating sites encourage sexy photos to promote traffic to their sites. In general, almost every lady you meet in a visit will be exceptional. All the women and men I met in my two visits have been amongst the best people I have met in my entire lifetime. The same will be true for you!

I traveled to Kharkov and met there two ladies. The first lady worked for a chain of delis, making salads. She earned more than twice the typical monthly income. The second young lady was between college and a trade school. She wore the exact same outfit she wore in her dating site photos. Both women I met were exceptional in comport, conversation and politeness. Neither of these ladies appeared anywhere in bikini photos.

One of the major decisions you must make is this: Do you want to fulfill lust or love? 

A lifetime of love, joy and happiness results from choosing a lady correctly: Choose love.

Check Russian Women Sites for Evidence of Self-Cleaning

You want a good experience meeting a Ukrainian lady or Russian lady. How do you ensure your experience is real?

There are several steps in the process where you can employ responsible caution.

Skype- See Who You're Talking to
First: Look at the method you are using to meet a woman from a distant country. Are you using every available method? For example, Skype is free. Internet cafes are everywhere in Russian cities and in major Ukrainian population centers. Even small villages have one shop with Internet. I traveled by train to Rischatelivka. I saw a still operating German WWII motorcycle, with sidecar, on the road there. The streets were made of cobblestone or enormous concrete slabs. Hay was transported on a makeshift flatbed- a converted rail car with enormous wheels. It was a one-horsepower affair. Literally, one old horse was out front, pulling that cart, several bails of hay, and the driver. Still, Rischatelivka had a grocery store. In a side room, the owner had situated two roughly built tables. Covered with nice red and white checkered cloths, computers sat there, available for use. Dial-up, of course, provided the only connection. 

Download Skype for free

Second: Ensure that the agencies you use filter their results. Some agencies rise up quickly. They fill their ranks with data from other sites and allow anyone to post a profile. They make money from the western men. They need a large database, and so do not care about the women.

Here is a good sign on the Elena's Models site: "This profile was suspended by admin. We are checking on it." This lets you know that they are self reviewing their members.

Third: Travel to Kyiv, St. Petersburg, Moscow, or wherever live the women with whom you have been communicating. Maximizing this travel requires that you plan to meet women from cities close to each other. If you use an agency, this is all coordinated on your behalf. If you intend to travel alone, and plan your own visit, consider the time consumed sitting on a train, riding in cars. You will want to rest and visit sites and meet ladies while in Kiev.

Whatever you do, travel and meet the women with whom you correspond. Schedule this trip soon into your efforts. Having a date makes the relationship and adventure more real to both you and to the ladies. You will view the process more seriously if you have a plane ticket and reservations. The ladies will also be more interested in you as a serious and responsible suitor.

Different Life in the United States

What should you expect when your new wife comes to the United States on a K-1 marriage visa?

Living with your new wife will differ from marrying a western woman. Things in the former Soviet Union ran differently. Hot water is not a given. My wife returned from Kyiv last month after a two-month visit. The first thing she said when we arrived home was, "Do we have hot water?"

PAYING FOR HEAT
Russia, Ukraine, White Russia and other former communist nations built one gigantic hot water plant for an entire city. The government decides when the hot water comes on and when it goes off. When the radiators come on in October, and there is a warm spell after that, the heat keeps coming. The central hot water utility turns on once per year and shuts down once per year. To regulate temperature in their apartments, Ukrainians and Russians open windows or close windows.

When my wife moved into my apartment, now our apartment, she employed the same procedure. If she felt too hot, she opened a window, and let the heat continue to run. I explained to her several times, "We pay for the heat. It comes in our bill." Several months later, showing her the bill, the kilowatt hours, the rate, and the total, she finally understood: It costs us money.

Your wife will not understand the operation of a thermostat. You must show her.

LAUNDRY

Most eastern Europeans do not own washers and dryers. My wife's family has a small, compact washing machine. They hang the clothes to dry on a rack in their living room. When the spin cycle finishes, out comes the drying rig. It looks like an old military Yagi antenna, a kind of horizontal spider web. The clothes get laid out across the lines of the web. Both sides are exposed to air and the clothes dry quickly.

I had to teach my wife how to use a washing machine. Though she bought the unit in her family's Kyiv apartment, no one taught her to use it properly. Just two weeks ago, we had our four year anniversary. Two days later, a load of lime green towels appeared in the linen closet. I have several too-small sweaters. Black things sometimes returned matted up with little white balls after being washed and dried with towels.

Most sites I visited talked about the challenge of learning English for your wife, and the communication challenge for both of you. My wife taught herself English before we met. But, we still had some miscommunication and language barrier issues. Mostly, this produced some good laughs.

However, I still help my wife with spelling, completing forms, and some uncommon vocabulary.

Be prepared with patience and understanding. Some things we do daily without a second thought are entirely knew adventures for our new wives.

An Example Letter to Potential Brides in Eastern Europe

This is a letter I used to send to women I contacted in Eastern Europe. After the letter, I post some comments, which may be more useful in drafting your own letter.

Hello!

I read your profile a few weeks ago. I like what you wrote about yourself, and also your photos. ;-)

I write to you from California, the west coast of the United States. I live in Modesto, a city in the San Joaquin Valley. This is an area of rich farmland and good people. We even have a few very good churches here. The church I attend is all Russian & Ukrainian people, except for me. Modesto is less than 2 hours from snowboarding and skiing, and less than two hours from Santa Cruz, one of the most popular beaches in California. We are also close to Yosemite Park, San Francisco, and Sacramento. This is a wonderful place to live.

I have learned a little Russian. I am enjoying this new language. It is easy to learn a language when it is the key to communicating with wonderful people.

I read your profile. I certainly meet all your (few) requirements. I hope we can exchange some letters and determine if we are well suited.  The most important thing in a relationship is a close personal relationship. This closeness should be greater and stronger than a requirement for words. I believe this is a necessary ingredient in a recipe for a good relationship. This kind of connection between two people is not even possible without two things: first, both people need to believe it is possible to know each other this way. And, second, both people must want this connection.

I have this connection with many of my good friends. If a friend is ill, upset or just troubled, I can feel it. I even sometimes call them to talk. It is good to have friendships like this. I am so glad you also value this!

I am looking for a woman to marry. I hope this is also your goal. I only say this to assure you that I am not wasting your time. I already have purchased a ticket from British Airlines to travel to Eastern Europe / Russia. I will travel when I have met someone who wants to meet me, and who has dreams of a beautiful life. I plan to visit in May or June. (We people from California hate the cold… we are spoiled by wonderful sunshine almost all year long!)

God is the most important thing in my life. Nothing comes before my love for the Lord! With this, all the real needs are provided. I hope you agree.

I will answer some questions I see many ladies asking in their profiles: I am financially stable. I work in a family-owned business. I am an engineer. I only drink socially (a night out for dinner or drinks). I have never used drugs (praise God!). I do not smoke cigarettes. I have smoked a pipe 6 times, and 3 cigars. (It’s only fun to do with a friend or two. It kills my mouth!) I do not have any kids, but I do want kids. I definitely want children.

I do like to dance. However, I am only an OK dancer. You will not win a dance contest with me. But, you will have a lot of fun! I also like to joke and to laugh. I am well known for this.

It has not escaped my attention that you have a very beautiful smile. I hope and suspect that your inner person is equally warm, or warmer. If so, you are a very beautiful lady!

I hope to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Your Name Here

PS – If you are not interested, please delete me from your “admirers” list. Thanks!

Notes: 

1. I identify that I have read her profile, and understand who I am writing.
2. I identify that God is an important thing in my life, and that there is a Russian/Ukrainian Christian population here in Modesto. The church reference lets women who are not interested in Christian men know that they should not waste their time- or yours.
3. I tell her about the place I live. Remember the perspective of the woman. She will leave everything she knows and take up an entirely new culture and lifestyle.
4. Personalize the letter. Mention something from the profile in introductory letters. Many of the ladies send out stock letters. They suspect that some men will likewise use form letters to check interest. Since you are genuinely interested, Take your form letter, and modify it to mention specific items from the profile. This lady mentioned she was sensitive to the needs of others. So, I mentioned that this is also true for me. Mention similarities between you and the lady.
5. State your purpose. If you have honorable intentions, say so! Eastern European women are much closer in morals and customs to our grandmothers from the 1940's and 1950's. They expect respect and courtesy.
6. Make a plan to visit. Tell your ladies that you will visit, and tell them when. Many men write, and then just cease writing, without explanation. This can be a rejection for the ladies. So, be clear about what you are doing. This separates you from irresponsible suitors. You are much more likely to receive a response if the lady knows you will visit.
7. Answer questions that are frequently asked. This saves time and effort. Some ladies have disqualifying attributes. Smokers want to marry other smokers. A woman who enjoys drinking on weekends does not want a teetotaler. A woman who prays every morning is not interested in an atheist. Atheists don't want to marry Sunday church goers. By answering common questions, or otherwise incorporating them into your letter, you save yourself time by weeding out those who want something different. Don't exaggerate or cloud the truth. Be honest. Remember: you want to establish something to last a lifetime!