From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Ukraine Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Wed, 26 Aug 1998 12:37:38 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1881 Path: world!daemon Message-ID: <199808260839_MC2-5760-7D8F@compuserve.com> Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Approved: usenet@world.std.com Distribution: wstd Precedence: bulk Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-List-Info: LN=travel-advisories WHOM=76702.1202@compuserve.com Content-Disposition: inline Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Mime-Version: 1.0 Lines: 130 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Ukraine ============================================================ Ukraine - Consular Information Sheet August 27, 1997 Country Description: Ukraine is a newly independent nation undergoing profound political and economic change, still in the process of stabilizing its relations with neighboring countries. Tourist facilities are not highly developed, and many of the goods and services taken for granted in other countries are not yet available. Travel within Ukraine is unrestricted. Travelers must, however, register with Ukrainian authorities upon arrival, and may also be asked to present their passport and visa on demand by local police. Entry Requirements: A passport and visa are required. Visas are obtained from the Embassy of Ukraine, located at 3350 M Street N.W., Washington D.C. 20007, tel. (202) 333-0606 or 333-7507, or at Ukrainian consulates in Chicago and New York, or at any Ukrainian embassy or consulate worldwide. A letter of invitation from a person, company, or organization in Ukraine or a tour company voucher is required to obtain a visa. U.S. citizens and travelers from the United States and other countries where there is a Ukrainian embassy or consulate cannot obtain visas at airports or border crossings. Travelers must therefore ensure that the proper visa is obtained before arriving in Ukraine. Note: Travelers who intend to visit Russia from Ukraine must also have a Russian visa. The Russian Embassy in Ukraine is located at Prospekt Kutuzova 8, Kiev, tel. (38) (044) 294-6701. Ukraine Registration: All foreigners visiting Ukraine, except those staying less than three working days and minors (under 16), are required to register their passports with local law enforcement authorities. This law is not uniformly enforced, but visitors who do not register may experience delays when leaving Ukraine or difficulty when trying to extend visas. The registration requirement is automatically met when foreigners stay in hotels, when resident business persons register their companies, or when students register under established exchange programs. Private visitors must have their hosts, relatives, or landlords register their U.S. passport at the local "Section of Visas and Registration" office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (known by the acronym "VVIR" in Ukrainian and "OVIR" in Russian). A fee is usually charged for visa extensions or passport registration. Medical Facilities: Medical care in Ukraine is limited. The U.S. Embassy maintains a list of English-speaking physicians, Western-style polyclinics, and a list of pharmacies that offer American and Western European supplies and medicines. The availability of basic medical supplies, including disposable needles, anesthetics, and antibiotics has improved. However, elderly travelers and those with existing health problems may be at risk due to inadequate medical facilities. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. Travelers have found that in some cases, supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including air evacuation coverage, has proved to be useful. Further information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at tel. (404) 332-4559 or via the CDC home page on the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov. Crime Information: Inflation, unemployment, and the breakdown of the country's social fabric have contributed to an ever-increasing and violent crime rate. Westerners, their vehicles, and residences are increasingly viewed by criminals as choice targets. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The Department of State's pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad" provides useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad. Additional information on the region can be found in the brochure "Tips for Travelers to Russia and the Newly Independent States." Both publications are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402. Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: Roads in Ukraine are in generally poor condition. Travel between cities at night and in the winter can be particularly treacherous. Carjackings of Western-made or foreign-registered cars is on the rise. There has been an increase in the number of documented reports of criminal acts occurring on trains, including gassings and robberies. Currency Regulations: Ukraine is a cash economy. Traveler's checks and credit cards are gaining wider acceptance in larger cities. Use of credit cards is limited to better hotels, Western-style restaurants, international airlines and select stores. Customs regulations prohibit sending cash, traveler's checks, personal checks, credit cards, or passports through the international mail system to Ukraine. These items are regularly confiscated as contraband by customs authorities. Changing U.S. dollars for Ukrainian hryvnia or another currency is legal only at banks, currency exchange desks at hotels, and at licensed exchange booths. Travelers must declare all cash and jewelry, regardless of value, upon entering Ukraine. Any undeclared items are subject to confiscation. Under customs regulations, travelers may bring up to 10,000 U.S. dollars into Ukraine without special permission; more than 10,000 U.S. dollars requires a written statement by the traveler. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and fines. Registration/ Embassy Location: Americans may register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy and obtain updated information on travel and security within Ukraine. The U.S. Embassy in Kiev is located at Vulitsa Yuria Kotsubinskoho 10, tel. (380) (44) 244-7343, 244-7345 or 244-7349. The U.S. Embassy's 24-hour emergency number (answered only in English after working hours) is (380) (44) 216-3805. No. 97-135 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet for Ukraine dated February 20, 1996, to update information on entry requirements, registration, currency regulations, traffic safety, and internet addresses. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. 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