On the 5th of June I am getting married to a Ukrainian woman in Ukraine. I'm from England. On 1st of June I am going out there for 2 weeks. After the wedding and the initial celebrations we plan to firstly get our marriage certificate translated into English and then she will apply for new Ukrainian passports in my name. Once she has them, we will then apply for the 2 year visa for her to enter the UK as my wife.
I am interested in knowing from any of you who have been through this process how long it took from the date of the wedding until the date when your wife could join you?
My future wife has said that she has been told that firstly she has to get a new internal passport because only with that can she get a new international passport. She has been told that in both cases that it will take about 2 months (meaning a total of 4 months!), however as with anything in Ukraine that this can be significantly reduced with the payment of the usual bribe.... "anything for your money honey" as she says to me on a regular basis. Should this not be the case however, I fear it could take upto 6 months. Is that right?
She said 30 days for each Passport or pay an extra %100 (this was 2007 rate)for each and can be processed in 3 days. This is not a bribe $100 payment - but the official fastway. Maybe for $50 bribe to right person ???
I don’t know England’s immigration red tape, but here in NZ - been married doesn’t guarantee your wife entry. Infact the marriage is not officially recognised by NZ
Where in Ukraine is your fiancee from ???
Have you both been to her local Passport offices together ??