Type of visa granted to a Lebanese citizen applying to study in Ukraine; procedure followed to obtain said visa; rights afforded to an individual holding a sluzhbova visa (1998-2002) [UKR41740.E]

In 1999, under the auspices of the 20 February 1999 Cabinet of Ministers Resolution 227 on the Introduction of a New Procedure of Issuing Visa Documents for Entering Ukraine, Ukraine introduced a new visa procedure (Shevchenko, Didkovskiy & Partners 11 June 2002). The Research Directorate found only limited information on the Ukrainian visa regime before the introduction of new procedures, and Ukrainian consular representatives were unable to respond to the questions posed for this Response.

Before the 1999 resolution, visas were issued for up to 5 days to foreign subjects and persons without citizenship travelling to Ukraine on business on the invitation of government (Ukraine Today 1 Mar. 1999). In 1997 and 1998, the Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de l'Europe (AEGEE) referred to official, private invitation, business, transit and express visas available to European students travelling to Ukraine (AEGEE-EWWG Apr. 1997; ibid. May 1998). The reports noted that a student travelling to Ukraine could also purchase a 3-day "emergency visa" at the border, which required renewal upon arrival in the city of residence (ibid.; ibid. Apr. 1997).

The new procedure introduced specific visas for diplomats, businesspersons, humanitarian personnel, students, guest scholars, media representatives, religious officials, those entering under cultural or sports exchanges and tourists as well as so-called "private visas" and immigration visas (Ukraine Today 1 Mar. 1999). English descriptions of these visas may be found on the Webpage of the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington at http://www.ukremb.com/consular/visas.html.

After the introduction of the new visa procedures in 1999, those seeking to enter Ukraine to study were required to have a student (Ukraine 9 Mar. 2002) or O-class visa (ibid. 19 June 2003), which is obtained by providing a written invitation from the institution with confirmation from the Ukrainian Ministry of Education (ibid. 6 Aug. 2002; ibid. 24 Feb. 2000). Lebanese citizens are required to apply for Ukrainian entry visas by submitting a standard visa application form to the Embassy of Ukraine in Beirut and are recommended to attend an interview with a Consular officer at the Embassy (ibid. 9 Mar. 2002). Persons travelling from Lebanon are not eligible to obtain visas at Ukrainian airports or border crossings (ibid.).

The "business" (sluzhbova) visa (Boryspil 19 June 2003a; ibid. 19 June 2003b) are issued when persons travelled on official business as clerical personnel of foreign embassies and representatives of international organizations and public authorities (C-1 visa), members of foreign militaries (C-2) or agents of industrial, trade, financial and political groups (C-3) (ibid. 19 June 2003a). A business visa is only issued with an invitation from a legally registered entity in the Ukraine accompanied by a copy of its certificate of registration and detailing information concerning the visit (Ukraine 19 June 2003).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Association des Etats Généraux des Etudiants de l'Europe- East West Working Group (AEGEE-EWWG). May 1998. "Ukraine (UA)." VisaBooklet. Edited by Ralph Böhlke. http://www.karl.aegee.org/aeg-info.nsf/0/685e8d81a0ee174e4125661300461634?OpenDocument [Accessed 23 July 2003]

_____. April 1997. "Ukraine (UA)." VisaBooklet. Edited by Ralph Böhlke http://www.karl.aegee.org/aeg-info.NSF/0/bbe9018aad5720f4c125647c004f505e?OpenDocument&ExpandSection=1

Boryspil State International Airport of Ukriane (Boryspil). 19 June 2003a. "Visa to Ukraine." http://www.airport-borispol.kiev.ua/kiev_visitors/visa.html [Accessed 27 June 2003]

_____ (in Ukrainian). 19 June 2003b. "Visa to Ukraine." http://www.airport-borispol.kiev.ua/ukr/kiev_visitors/visa.html [Accessed 27 June 2003]

Shevchenko, Didkovskiy & Partners, Kiev. 11 June 2002. "Administrative Law: Law Interpretation Shift Affecting Foreigners' Re-Entry in Ukraine." http://www.shevdid.com/alert/alert110602.htm [Accessed 27 June 2003]

Ukraine. 19 June 2003. Ukrainian Embassy, Washington. "Visa Requirements." http://www.ukremb.com/consular/visas.html [Accessed 27 June 2003]

_____. 9 June 2003. Consulate General of Ukraine in New York. "How to Read a Ukrainian Visa." http://www.ukremb.com/consular/visa-howto.html [Accessed 27 June 2003]

_____. 6 August 2002. Consulate General of Ukraine in New York. "Required Documents (Grounds for Issuing Visas)." http://www.ukrconsul.com/visa/index5.html [Accessed 27 June 2003]

_____. 9 March 2002. The Embassy of Ukraine in the Lebanese Republic. "Requirements for Obtaining a Visa to Ukraine." http://ukremblebanon.com/serv01.htm [Accessed 27 June 2003]

_____. 24 February 2000. Consulate General of Ukraine in New York. "Visa Requirements." (Brama) http://www.brama.com/ua-consulate/visa.html [Accessed 27 June 2003]

Ukraine Today [Lvov]. 1 March 1999. "New Procedure for Issuing Entry Visas to Come into Force in Ukraine by Late 1999." http://www.lviv.uar.net/~sdatech/infobank/1999/0301e.html [Accessed 27 June 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted


The Consular Section of the Embassy of Ukraine in Beirut was unable to reply within time constraints.

The Consular Section of the Embassy of Ukraine in Ottawa was unable to provide information on this subject.

Internet sites, including:

Draft Ukrainian Laws Online

Legislation Online

Travel Document Systems

Ukrainevisas.com

Visa Reciprocity and Country Document Finder

Visalaw.com

Way Back Machine

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