We talk straightforward about various schemes of consumers’ fraud in the service sector and peculiarities of doing business that are usually hidden from outsiders.

Today we speak with a woman from Luhansk, Ukraine which has worked for several years in the marriage agency. She told us in what way the Ukrainian dating agencies can “trick” their customers. It should be noted, we do not say that all marriage agencies of Ukraine act in this way.

Scamers will take away everything

Applying to Ukrainian marriage agency (dating site), you need to make sure that it works legally and has all the necessary licenses. Otherwise, the customer can be left “without trousers and love”. The agency, in which I worked, existed some years and was closed for the certain reasons. Choosing between the closing of the agency and incurring penalties for fraud, my employer chose the former. I want to give an advice to anyone who can not find a significant other and plans to resort to the help of third parties – get acquainted with the company, find out how long it has been on the market, read responses in the social networks. On websites the positive responses are often left by the staff of the organization.

“Illicit profiles”

In the agency where I worked, the scams were carried out at the second stage immediately after the profile preparation. The customers were told that the search for the potential “halves” is paid separately; it is about viewing the profiles of other people. To seem a great agency with years of experience and an “extensive” base, the client was shown the “illicit profiles” or people who had long lived in family life. If a person was interested in a fake, the agent invented excuses: “not for you”, “Oh, he does not like brunettes”, “you are 36, and the man has asked for women under 35”.

Foreigners

Unfortunately, many of our (Ukrainian) women want to find happiness leaving Ukraine. For this reason, the beautiful and not beautiful women try to find a foreigner husband. So, this is the most tidbit trick. To arrange the connection of the client and the foreigner the marriage agent will “milk” you to the last cent. Even Skype-talks can be paid separately! And the funniest thing is that there are few real foreigners, if any, in the database. I know that there are agencies which specialize just on the foreigners in order to pocket the money that they sent their Ukrainian women. A striking example: a woman needs to learn the language to understand the lover and he sends her money for training. If the “suitor” does it resorting to the marriage agent, and exactly so he does, the woman will see at best only a part of the money.

Kept men and women

It is no secret, the marriage agents are not the most conscientious people. Many put “their” people into the base. They are men or women who enchant their potential halves, and then begin to “milk” them. By the way, men, not women, curiously enough manage to get large amounts of money. The kept man asks to “borrow” some amount of money by his half, the loving woman gives money, and he disappears with it. Often then the woman asks for help the agency, where she has found her “lover”, but what a nuisance: the agent has the same number and address that the deceived woman has. Then the kept man and the marriage agent divide money into equal parts.

A very small percent of people can really find a significant other turning to a dating agency. “Most agencies do not aim to make the customer happy and to find him the significant other. They need benefit, because there is no place in business for love. And the marriage agencies are not bad business “, – concluded the woman.

Ukrainian Children’s Foreign Passport is a document needed for the child’s departure abroad.

With the children’s foreign passport your child will be able to travel free aboard Ukraine.

If you in determining reasons cannot accompany your child by departure from Kiev or other cities, it is necessary to obtain the Ukrainian Children’s Foreign Passport. Having the own passport a child will be able to travel aboard Ukraine, accompanied by relatives, guarantors, in organized groups for visiting various events, participating in competitions and festivals, training or simply for rest.The procedure of issuance of the Ukrainian Children’s Foreign Passport is somewhat easier than adult passport execution, but in any case compliance with the certain procedure is required. If the child aged 16 the internal passport of the child is to be added to the list of documents.

So, there are main points when the Ukrainian Children’s Foreign Passport is needed:

1. The child goes abroad within an organized group of children
2. The child goes abroad without his/her parents
3. To obtain a visa at the embassies of some countries a children’s travel document, regardless of the child’s age, is required.

Basic information about the Ukrainian Children’s Foreign Passport:

• The children’s foreign passport can be obtained from the birth of a son/daughter, and up to 16 years.
• Validity of Ukrainian Children’s Foreign Passport- 4 years. Then a new one is issued. Extending is impossible.
• For visiting many countries the children’s travel document is required since the birth of the child.
• The Ukrainian children’s foreign passport is valid for 4 years and can not be extended. If the validity of the children’s foreign passport has expired, you need to obtain a new document, where a new photo will be glued, as the child’s appearance rapidly changes in the process of growing

IMPORTANT!

Is the presence of a parent obligatory by the children’s passport issuance? – No.

For issuance of the children’s travel document the notarized permission from a parent is needed; in the case if one parent refuses to give permission, a court decision is required.

The list of documents required for issuance of the Ukrainian Children’s Foreign Passport:

For children under 12

• 1 photo of 10×15 cm (glossy, face – 80% of the photo on a white background, without frames, corners, etc.).
• 2 photos of 3,5×4,5 cm (glossy, face – 80% of the photo on a white background without frames, corners, etc.)
• All the photos are identical to each other!
• The child’s birth certificate and its copy
• The identification code of the child, if any.
• The internal passports of both parents + copies of all filled pages, as well as the presence of both parents when submitting the documents.
• If a parent can not be present when submitting the documents, an application signed by a notary is required for issuance of the children’s passport.

The presence of the child is not obligatory

For children aged 12

• The child’s birth certificate and its copy
• The identification code of the child, if any.
• Originals and copies of the passports of both parents
• The internal passports of both parents + copies of all filled pages, as well as the presence of both parents by the documents submission.
• If a parent can not be present by the documents submission, an application signed by a notary is required for issuance of the children’s passport.

The presence of the child is obligatory

How to receive the service

• to submit an application and required documents;
• To apply to the territorial authority or the SMS department and get the children’s travel document or refusal for its issuance.

Cost of the service and privileges

• The cost of the services – UAH 30.35
• The cost of the blank form – UAH 24.00

In case of urgent (within 10 days) issuance:

• The cost of the services – UAH 60.70
• The cost of the blank form – UAH 24.00

Applying

Personally (aged 16 to 18) or by the legal representative

Documents required for the Ukrainian Children’s Foreign Passport

• the application providing the information about the applicant: name, given name, patronymic, passport data (series, passport number, when and by whom issued, address), phone number.
• the payment document (receipt) with a mark of the bank, post office or code of the operation on the payment of this administrative service and the passport blank;
• the notarized request of the parents (or legal representatives of the parents or children) is needed in case of the child’s independent departure abroad, and in the cases where the parents are not married – from that one with whom the child lives. If there are objections of a parent the document can be issued by a court decision. For children aged 14 to 18 the absence of circumstances limiting under the law their rights for travel abroad is indicated in the application;
• the passport of the citizen of Ukraine, and for persons aged under 16 – the birth certificate (after receiving the documents are returned to the service receiver);
• the child’s consent, recorded in writing and notarized (in case of departure from Ukraine for permanent residence of children aged 14 to 18 years);
• three photos of 35×45 mm.

The term of consideration of the application

• The applications for the travel documents for a child are considered for 30 working days after submission of the documents (pre-term – up to 10 working days, issuance is made on citizens’ applications), and if travel is related to emergency treatment of the departing person, departure of the person accompanying the seriously ill patient or death of the relative who lived abroad – within three working days.
• In the case when a child – citizen of Ukraine adopted by foreigners departs abroad for permanent residence, the passport is issued within a period of 10 working days
• In the case of departure for permanent residence (immigration) – up to 3 months

Result from receiving the service

Issuance of the travel document of the child

Validity of the Ukrainian Children’s Foreign Passport

Up to three years or until the child reaches the age of 18

Grounds for refusal to provide the service

• possessing information constituting a state secret – up to the end of the period determined by the Law of Ukraine “On State Secret” (in the case of traveling abroad for permanent residence –after aged 16);
• there are unsettled alimony, contractual or other outstanding obligations  – up to the time when the obligations are performed or the disputes are resolved by agreement of the parties in accordance with the law, unless otherwise provided by the international treaty of Ukraine;
• a criminal case is open – up to the end of the proceeding (after 14 years);
• conviction for committing a crime – up to the end of servicing sentence  or the release from sentence (after 14 years);
• evasion from performance of the obligations imposed by the court decision, the decision of other body (official) – up to the fulfillment of the obligations;
• conscious providing the false information about themselves – up to the clarification of the causes and consequences of the false information;
• a civil suit is brought against the citizen in the court, – by the end of the proceeding;
• stay under the administrative supervision of the body of internal affairs – up to the termination of supervision.

Passport is a document issued by the state for its citizens’ identification. The passport entitles legally to cross the border and determines the nationality of its owner. Usually the passport includes the basic information about the citizen’s name, age, date of birth, sex. The current passports have the photographic image of the passport holder. Some countries (including Ukraine since 2015) apply the new biometric passports with a high level of forgery protection, and additional information about the citizen.

In some countries except an international passport which serves as a certificate when crossing the national borders, there is also a so-called internal passport – an identity card of the citizen of the State within this State. The internal passports are used to control the movement of persons within the country and their places of residence.

In many countries the passports have a single form and international format, most identification fields on the main page are filled with English. In many other countries (e.g. the USA and EU countries) the passport is not obligatory, and identification documents, passport cards or driver’s licenses take a role of an internal identity card.

Types of passports in Ukraine

Passport of the citizen of Ukraine

Passport of the citizen of Ukraine is a document confirming its owner’s identity and citizenship of Ukraine. It is issued by the central executive body implementing the state policy in the field of citizenship to every citizen of Ukraine aged 16.

To cross the border the citizen of Ukraine must have another passport (so-called “international“), which is issued upon demand to the persons aged 18.

The internal passport is valid for conclusion of civil transactions, banking operations, execution of warrants for other persons in order to be represented before a third person only on the territory of Ukraine, unless otherwise provided by the international treaties of Ukraine.

The internal passport is issued by the territorial departments of the State Migration Service of Ukraine at the residence of the citizen of Ukraine aged 16, and further, if necessary, is exchanged, issued instead of the passport which has been lost, stolen or damaged.

To homeless citizens the passports are issued at the place of their preferred location. Issuance and exchange of the passports are held within a month.

To obtain the passport of the citizen of Ukraine a person submits the basic documents:

• The application for issuance of the passport;
• The application is filled by the applicant in person by hand, legibly, with exhaustive answers to all the questions, without abbreviations and acronyms. Filling in the application form by other persons instead of disabled persons, mentally ill persons etc. is allowed and the appropriate note is entered into the column “service marks” of the application;
• The application and documents prepared improperly are not accepted and are returned to the applicant;
• The birth certificate;
• Two photos of 3.5 x 5 cm. The photos submitted for preparation of the passport must be done of one negative picturing only the full face without headdress, made on a thin white or color photo paper and without corner. For the citizens permanently wearing glasses, photographing in glasses is compulsory;
• The state tax payment receipt or the copy of a document on state tax exemption.

Additional documents for issuance of the passport of the citizen of Ukraine (if necessary):

• The certificate on registration of the citizen of Ukraine or the Ukrainian citizenship certificate;
• The certificate on the person’s return to live in Ukraine with a corresponding mark in the international passport issued by employees of the territorial body of the citizenship, immigration and persons’ registration services in major departments, departments of MIA of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, regions, cities of Kyiv and Sevastopol, or the passport of the citizen of Ukraine for travelling abroad – for the citizens of Ukraine who had a permanent place of residence abroad, after their returning for residence in Ukraine;
• The certificate on release from penitentiary, if before conviction the person had no passport or his/her passport was not withdrawn and attached to the personal file;
• The certificate of registration issued by a specialized institution that provides accounting of homeless people (for the homeless citizens).

The passport and two photos of the specified size are submitted for gluing into the passport for the citizens aged 25 and 45.

Original documents are returned to the person with the issued passport.

Exchange of the passport of the citizen of Ukraine is held within one month at the place of residence of the citizen. Gluing new photos into the passport of the citizen aged 25 and 45 is performed in five days.

Exchange of the passport is made in the following cases:

• Change of name, given name or patronymic;
• Ascertainment of differences in the entries;
• Unsuitability for use

To exchange the passport of the citizen of Ukraine a person must submit:

• The application of the form prescribed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine;
• The passport to be exchanged;
• Two photos of 3.5 x 5 cm

For exchanging the Ukrainian passport in connection with change of name, given name or patronymic, or by differences in the entries the documents confirming these facts are also submitted.

A citizen is obliged immediately to notify about the loss of the passport the passport department, which issues a temporary certificate confirming his/her identity. Form of the temporary certificate, procedure of its issuance is set by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.

For exchanging the passport and gluing the new photos a citizen submits the documents and photos no later than a month after reaching the appropriate age or changing name, given name or patronymic, ascertaining differences in the entries or unsuitability of the passport for use.

Notices

• Passport blank forms are made in the form of passport booklet or passport card upon a common model approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
• Introduction terms of the passport card are determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine as a state automated system of population counting is developed.
• Pursuant to the law all entries in the passport and information about its owner entered hereto must be done only in Ukrainian.
• Additional information can also be entered into the passport on the glued sheets of the form specified by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
• Passport booklet is a cut booklet of 88×125 mm, consisting of a cover and 16 pages.
• All pages of the booklet are numbered, on each of them the State Emblem of Ukraine is shown and a series and passport number are perforated.
• The top of the cover front has the inscription “Ukraine”, below the State Emblem of Ukraine is placed and under it – the inscription “Passport”.
• There is the image of the State flag of Ukraine in the center of the inner left side of the cover, below – the inscription “Passport of the citizen of Ukraine.”
• Name, given name and patronymic, date and place of birth are entered on the first and second pages of the passport booklet. On the first page also the photo is glued and a place for the owner’s signature is given. On the second page data on sex, date of issue and the authority issued the passport are entered, the signature of the officer responsible for its issuance is put. The entries are certified with a mastic seal and the photo with a convex dry seal.
• The first page or the first sheet can be covered up after filling the relevant entries and gluing the photo. In the case of covering up all sheets the entries and the photos are not certified with the seals.
• The third, fourth, fifth and sixth pages are for photos, and the seventh, eighth and ninth – for special marks. On the tenth page a mark about the family status of the passport owner is made; the eleventh – sixteenth pages are for registration notes of the citizen’s residence.
• Upon the citizen’s request data on children, blood group and Rh factor can be included into the passport (seventh, eighth and ninth pages) on the basis of the appropriate documents.
• It is forbidden to enter into the passport entries not provided for this Regulation or laws of Ukraine.
• Any entries, marks and photos gluing in the passport are performed by the passport service.
• Validity of the passport made in the form of a passport booklet is not limited.
• New photos are glued into the passport booklet of the citizen aged 25 and 45. The passport without such photos glued upon his/her owner’s achievement of the age aforesaid is considered invalid.
• The passport in the form of a passport card (information sheet) has a size of 80×60 mm. In the information sheet the photo is glued and the information about its owner is entered: name and given name, patronymic, date of birth and personal number, date of issue and authority code issued it.
• The information sheet is covered up on both sides.
• Validity of the passport made in the form of the passport card is determined by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.
• Passport blank forms are produced on request of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine by the Main Department for production of securities and important controlled documents of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine with high quality paper having special protection and are strictly accountable documents.
• Documents for obtaining the passport should be given within 1 month after achieving the age of 16 (or you are required to pay a fine)

Passport of the citizen of Ukraine for travelling abroad

Passport of the citizen of Ukraine for travel abroad (international passport) is a document certifying the identity of the citizen of Ukraine when crossing the Ukraine state border and staying abroad. Since Ukraine has been officially recognized on the international arena as a sovereign and independent state the official authorities faced with the task to provide their citizens with the relevant documents guarantying their right to cross the state border in order to visit any country or territory in the world.

According to the normative legal acts adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in 1992 and 1993, President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk approved “Regulations on the passport of the citizen of Ukraine for travelling abroad” by his Decree of October 28, 1993 No 491/93 and charged the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine to issue the passport of the citizen of Ukraine for travel abroad from January 1, 1994. Thus the citizens of Ukraine became the right for their own Ukrainian document that would allow them to cross the state border and stay abroad.

Despite this fact the passport of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (1991 issued) was not ceased to be effective, and therefore a legal precedent was set when the citizens of Ukraine used the document of the non-existent country (USSR) for travel and stay abroad.

The advantage of getting the first Ukrainian passports was given to public officials, and ordinary citizens of Ukraine could receive the USSR passports more than one year.

Documents required for issuance of the passport of the citizen of Ukraine for travelling abroad

• the application form (application form is provided by the Foreign Ministry)
• the state tax payment receipts (or a document confirming the right for exemption);
• the passport of the citizen of Ukraine, and for persons aged under 16 – the birth certificate (after receiving the documents are returned to the service receiver);
• the copy and original of the identification number (returns after receiving documents);
• the paper issued by the internal affairs authority about loss of the passport (available only in case of loss of the passport).

A standard period for passport preparation is 30 working days. Tariff rate increases in 100% in case of exigent consular action. (10 working days).

How to get the Ukrainian passport for travelling abroad

1. To submit to the SMS (State Migration Service) department documents required (if living abroad to apply to the relevant diplomatic institutions);
2. When preparing the passport with an electronic chip the procedure of scanning the pointing fingers should be underwent by submitting the application in the SMS department. Scanning the child fingers can be carried out after their achievement of the age of 12 and only with the parents’ permission (or legal representatives).
3. To verify correctness of the personal information entered into the application form, paying special attention to spelling the name, given name, and to certify accuracy of such data by signing the application form;
4. To apply to the territorial agency or to the SMS department and obtain the passport of the citizen of Ukraine for travelling abroad giving the passport of the citizen of Ukraine for making an appropriate mark, or to receive the refusal in preparation and issuance of the passport of the citizen of Ukraine for travelling abroad.

Cost of the passport of the citizen of Ukraine for travelling abroad

• The state tax – UAH 170. (Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of 21.01.1993 No 7-93 «On State Tax”).
• The cost of the services – UAH 87.15. (Decree of the CMU of June 4, 2007 No 795 “On approval of the list of paid services provided by the departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Migration Service, and payment amount for their provision”)
• The cost of the blank form is determined by the manufacturer (based on p. 4 of the order of providing paid services by the departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Migration Service approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of October 26, 2011 No 1098 “Some issues of paid services providing by the MIA and SMS”)
• with an electronic chip (biometric passport) – UAH 304. 32.
• without an electronic chip – UAH 238. 32. 

The cost of issuance of the passport of the citizen of Ukraine for travelling abroad in case of exigent preparation (within 7 days)

• The state tax – UAH 340.
• The cost of the services – UAH 174.30.
• The cost of the blank form determined by the manufacturer
• with an electronic chip
• without an electronic chip – UAH 238.32.

Documents required for receiving the passport of the citizen of Ukraine for travelling abroad

• the application providing the information about the applicant: name, given name, patronymic, passport data (series, passport number, by whom and when issued, address), phone number. The application is executed by the employee of the SMS of Ukraine;
• the payment document (receipt) with a mark of the bank, post office or code of the operation confirming payment of this administrative service and the passport blank;
• the payment document (receipt) with a mark of the bank, post office or code of the operation confirming state tax payment or a document about full or partly absence of tax obligations
• the passport of the citizen of Ukraine, and for persons aged  under 16 – the birth certificate (after receiving the documents are returned to the service receiver);
• for issuance of the second passport/travel document or for simultaneous preparation of two passports/travel documents the citizens additionally submit an application justifying the need for regular travels abroad (e.g. providing passenger or freight services, participating in sport competitions or concert and theater tours, business, tourist or journalist activities etc.). By simultaneous preparation of two passports/travel documents two application forms with copies of required documents are submitted.
• if the passport is prepared for the person who has not achieved the age of 12 or the person who can not move independently in connection with the lasting health malady, as confirmed by the relevant certificate of the medical center, two colored photos of 3.5×4.5 cm and one photo of 10×15 cm are given for making the person’s digitized image by scanning.

Consideration term for the application for issuance of the passport of the citizen of Ukraine for travelling aboard

The applications for issuance of the passport are considered for not more then 20 working days after submission of the documents, except of the following cases:

• By urgent issuance (on request of the person) with double size payment of the state tax and the cost of the services – up to 7 business days.
• If travel is related to emergency treatment of the departing person, departure of the person accompanying the seriously ill patient or death of the relative who lived abroad – within three working days.
• In the case of departure for permanent residence (immigration) – up to 3 months

In the case when a child – citizen of Ukraine adopted by foreigners departs abroad for permanent residence, the passport is issued within a period of 10 working days.

Validity of the passport of the citizen of Ukraine for traveling abroad

For the citizens under 16 years – 4 years, for the citizens aged over 16 – 10 years from the date of issue

Grounds for refusal to issue the passport of the citizen of Ukraine for traveling abroad

An exceptional list of grounds for temporary refusal to issue the passport of the citizen of Ukraine for traveling abroad is defined in Article 6 of the Law of Ukraine “On procedure of departure from Ukraine and entry into Ukraine by the citizens of Ukraine”

• possessing information constituting a state secret – up to the end of the period determined by the Law of Ukraine “On State Secret” (in the case of traveling abroad for permanent residence –after aged 16);
• there are unsettled alimony, contractual or other outstanding obligations  – up to the time when the obligations are performed or the disputes are resolved by agreement of the parties in accordance with the law , unless otherwise provided by the international treaty of Ukraine;
• preventive measure is applied against the person in the manner prescribed by the criminal procedural law, under which he/she is forbidden to travel abroad – up to the end of criminal proceedings or the repeal of the relevant restrictions;
• conviction for committing a crime – up to the end of servicing sentence  or the release from sentence
• evasion from performance of the obligations imposed by the court decision, the decision of other body (official) – up to the fulfillment of the obligations;
• conscious providing the false information about themselves – up to the clarification of the causes and consequences of the false information;
• a civil suit is brought against the citizen in the court, – by the end of the proceeding;
• stay under the administrative supervision of the body of internal affairs – up to the termination of supervision.

There is no man on the earth who would not fall in love at least once in life. Love is holy feeling, but often it is defiled and someone can play on the feelings of the loved person in order to obtain own benefit. Such examples include the dishonest and illegal actions of marriage agencies in Ukraine in general and particularly in Odessa.

Find love in Ukraine and not lose money

Every day a large number of foreigners look through Internet sites for a girlfriend with Slavic appearance from Ukraine. However, many of these foreigners do not guess, but even if they guess, they believe that it will not happen to them, namely a scam on the Ukrainian dating sites in order to obtain money through mediation or direct from the foreigner. How can anyone find love in Ukraine and not lose money? How can anyone discern a real Ukrainian marriage agency from a scam? How can anyone protect their violated rights and be legally protected being in Ukraine in search for love?

Search of a significant other is an extremely difficult work which sometimes stretches for years. Because of the furious tempo of life, desire to create a strong financial base for the future family, many foreigners think about marriage in a very late age. In order to minimize the time consumption and to accelerate the process of searching the significant other the Internet sites of marriage agencies come to the foreigners’ help. However, the sites of the marriage agencies have one important difference – their creation and work purpose.

The sides of the international marriage agencies or the portals of the Ukrainian marriage agencies are created for the purpose of not only promoting services of the individual marriage agencies, but also for a accessory or passive income. If a site only informs about the name, location and contact details of the agency, its purpose is informing in order to attract visitors and potential customers. But there are sites for communication with the foreigners, so-called forums and chats. The main aim of such sites is attracting the more foreigners for communication in the paid chats where payment is calculated per minute of communication. Such promotion for a longer chat session is the main goal and the main profit of the pseudo marriage agencies which do not set a goal to help the customers, but to get rich on their needs.

How do the scam marriage agencies in Ukraine work?

With annual huge demand of the foreigners for the services of the marriage agencies many fly-by-night-companies are opened, which set a goal to get rich on the foreigners and to close until the police comes. The scheme of these companies’ work is as follows. First of all a legal entity is registered, usually on a man of straw in order to avoid problems with the law by the true owners of illegal businesses. Then they announce recruiting translators and models for photography.

As the models both the simply beautiful girls and the former or current models are selected. They are photographed, a photo shoot is paid. And then there are three common versions:

1. An agreement on the photos placement on the marriage agency site or other website where the foreigners search for wives is not signed with the model;
2. An agreement is signed that the model agrees to be photographed and placed on Internet sites;
3. An agreement is not only signed with the model, but she is employed in the case if the foreigner suddenly wishes to meet with her for spending some time with her in town.

After that the Ukrainian marriage agencies-scammers or fly-by-night-companies begin actively to post the photos on the sites with the aim of attracting the foreigners for communication in private chats.

Next the translators take up a matter and on behalf of a girl correspond with the foreigner, and the main goal, in this case, is the most long-term communication and the longest delay of meeting with the foreigner. However, the translators can work both officially and unofficially without an employment contract. These details also play an important role in identifying the real marriage agencies.

What is the difference between the real Ukrainian marriage agency and the scam one?

The true Ukrainian marriage agency, unlike scams, concludes with the girls the real agreements on brides’ search, and do not earn by communicating with the foreigners. The marriage agencies must have the references of those who have entered into marriage, the primary purpose and profit of a true marriage agency is marriage, which is not only financially profitable, but also love-match. The real marriage agency puts its purpose no conversation in the private chats, but mainly a real meeting with the foreigner, which it planed and organized by the marriage agency. Therewith an extremely important point is that money or money orders for the future fiancées in any case are not required from the foreigners, what is extremely common by the scammers. Everything concerning payment and money on the foreigner’s part should be strictly stipulated and spelled out in the contract.

For adequate protection, order a service of verification of Ukrainian marriage agencies or dating sites. It will be the best assistant and reliable support for you, which will help you to find a true, acting in accordance with Ukrainian law marriage agency, which aims to find the significant other for you. Also, our civil organization sets itself the goal to provide comprehensive legal support in the case of possible fraudulent actions by the marriage agencies-scammers and provide you with comprehensive support when dealing with the real marriage agencies of Ukraine and Odessa especially.

What is the price of Ukrainian Passport

Cost of Ukrainian biometric passport is from UAH 518 (about $US 25) to 1128, nowadays in Ukraine there are 30 official places where biometric data are collected.

On January 12 the State Migration Service (SMS) began receiving documents for issuance of biometric documents for traveling abroad.

For now the documents for the Ukrainian biometric passports are taken in a very limited extent – throughout Ukraine only 30 official places in the State Migration Service departments are open for collection of biometric data.

In February 2015,  necessary equipment for 600 working places will be delivered to Ukraine (fingerprint scanners, digitizing signatures, etc.) Then, as the State Migration Service hope, excitement will be released.

Update of January 15. There are a large number of people wanting to obtain the Ukrainian biometric passport. For example, to submit the documents in Lviv on Rudanskoho St. 3, every day people make lists in which they register themselves since the evening of the previous day and wait at the office all the night. On January 15 up to 13:00 less then 30 people had been submitting the documents for the biometric passport.

Where are the documents for issuance of the Ukrainian biometric passports for traveling abroad submitted?

Documents receiving centers are located in the regional offices of the State Migration Service of Ukraine:

What is the cost of issuance of the Ukrainian biometric passport?

Update of April 9. The cost of producing the blank form increased in 16%, the cost of the services of Document SE increased by UAH 100.
The Ukrainian biometric passport will cost UAH 561 ($US 25) (blank form – UAH 304, state tax – UAH 170, services – UAH 87). Issuance of the passport through standard procedure takes 20 days. Accelerated procedure – 7 days – the passport is prepared at the rate of double tax and registration services, by the same cost of the blank form and amounts UAH 818.
If a person has no time to prepare the documents for the passport, he or she can apply to one of the 18 branches of Document State Enterprise. A fixed price for their services is set and it does not exceed UAH 353. Thus, the maximum price for the new biometric passport is 818 + 353 = 1171 UAH.

What documents are required for issuance of the Ukrainian biometric passport?

To obtain the Ukrainian biometric passport the following documents are provided:

• the passport of the citizen of Ukraine (+2 copies)
• the identification number (+2 copies)
• the old international passport (if any)
• money to pay for services
• The birth certificate
• The application form of one of the parents
• Two color photos of 3.5 x 4.5 cm;
• One color photo of 10 x 15 cm
• The death certificate of the other parent;
• The court’s decision on deprivation of parental rights of the other parent;
• The court’s decision on declaration of absence of the other parent;
• The court’s decision on recognition of incapacity of the other parent;
• The document on registration of the child’s residence with one of the parents who submits the application form;
• The extract from the State Birth Register indicating data on the father pursuant to p. 1, Art. 135 of the Family Code of Ukraine (according to the mother).

Read more:  The biometric passport for a child can be made from birth. Everything about the international passports for children.

For the persons under 16 years:

For the persons under 12, in addition:

If a child lives with one of the parents, one of the following documents is submitted additionally:

Detailed information and answers to the questions about the biometric passports you can see in the publication Biometric passports of Ukraine. Only the facts.

The implementation of constant, protected and non-discriminatory procedure of issuing the biometric passports is a requirement of the EU concerning visa abolition for Ukrainians.

Issuance of children’s travel documents in Ukraine ceases since April 1.

On April 1, 2015 the State Migration Service of Ukraine ceases production of children’s travel documents for traveling abroad. These documents still can be used for three years, but the State Migration Service of Ukraine terns to production of the children’s international passports which will be the only effective documents valid for crossing the border with children.

So entering the child’s data into the passport and the children’s travel document for travelling abroad will be canceled. These documents can be used for three years, but further the State Migration Service of Ukraine will produce only the children’s international passports.

This practice is global and fully justified. The children’s international passport will be valid for four years. Beginning with 16 the full international passport with validity for 10 years will be issued.

The passport will be produced in the form of a booklet which consists of a soft cover, 32 pages and a data page, and the right end sheet of the passport will contain a contactless electronic media.

Addresses of the centers for biometric data collection in all regions you can see in the publication “Where and at what price can a biometric passport be issued”

Detailed information and answers to the questions about the biometric passports you can see in the publication “Biometric passport. Only the facts”.

Nowadays there are thee types of documents empowering travel aboard with the child

1. The international passport of the child;
2. The travel document of the child;
3. Entering the child’s data into the international passports of the parents;

What documents are required for issuance of the children’s international passport?

For issuance of the children’s international passport the following documents are required:

• the passport of the citizen of Ukraine (+2 copies)
• the identification number (+2 copies)

For the children under 16:

1. The birth certificate
2. The application form of one of the parents (is formed in the office)
3. Two color photos of 3.5 x 4.5 cm;
4. One color photo of 10 x 15 cm
   1. The death certificate of the other parent;
   2. The court’s decision on deprivation of parental rights of the other parent;
   3. The court’s decision on declaration of absence of the other parent;
   4. The court’s decision on recognition of incapacity of the other parent;
   5. The document on registration of the child’s residence with one of the parents who submits the application form;
   6. The extract from the State Birth Register indicating data on the father pursuant to p. 1, Art. 135 of the Family Code of Ukraine (according to the mother).
   7. The notarized appropriate request of the parents;
   8. For the child under the age of 16 – the birth certificate, aged 16 – the passport of the citizen of Ukraine and the birth certificate are required;
   9. The passport of the citizen of Ukraine of a parent;
   10. The children’s travel document (if previously issued);
   11. four photos of 3.5 x 4.5 cm;

For the children under 12, in addition:

If the child lives with one of the parents, one of the following documents is submitted additionally:

The state tax of UAH 170 (or UAH 340 in case of urgent issuance) by issuance of the children’s international passport is not charged.

Thus, the cost of the children’s international passport will be UAH 348.15 – when making non-urgent (20 working days). In operational regime (7 working days) – UAH 435.30.

Up to 14 years any fingerprints and electronic signature will not be entered into the children’s international passport. After 14 years biometric data can be entered into electronic media by parents’ agreement.

Attention! Since April 1, 2015 the State Migration Service of Ukraine ceased production of children’s travel documents for traveling abroad.

These documents still can be used for three years, but the State Migration Service of Ukraine terns to production of the children’s international passports which will be the only effective documents valid for crossing the border with children.

What documents are required for issuance of the children’s travel document? (since April 1 is not issued – the documents for issuance of the children’s international passport are to be submitted)

Explanation of the State Migration Service: the children’s travel document is valid for 3 years from the issue date. Possibility to obtain a document is extended to April 1, 2015.

For making the children’s travel document the following documents have to be submitted:

• UAH 30.35 in the case of routine producing  within 30 calendar days,
• UAH 60.70 in the case of operational producing within 10 working days
• UAH 24 – the cost of the blank form.
• The child’s birth certificate;
• The parents’ passports for entering the data;
• Two child’s photo of 3.5 x 4.5 cm;
• The services payment receipt;
• UAH 18.63 in the case of routine producing  within 30 working days;
• UAH 37.26 in the case of operational producing within 10 working days;

The cost of the children’s travel document producing in the routine regime is UAH 54.35, in the case of operational producing – UAH 84.70.

The application form and registration card are filled by the parents in the migration department. To fill the application form passport data of the parents are needed.

What documents are required for entering the child’s data into the international passport of the parents? (since April 1 data are not entered –the children’s international passport is to be issued)

According to Decree of the CMU of 26.11.2014, No 682 “On amendments to Decree of the CMU of May 7, 2014 No 152 and recognizing as ceased to be in force some Decrees of the CMU ” the service of entering information about the children is provided up to 01.04.2015 only in the passport of the citizen of Ukraine for travelling abroad of previous models (which were issued before 12.01.2015).

With the passports where the children’s data are entered you can cross the border of Ukraine as well as with the children’s international passports and children’s travel documents. With such passports you can travel with the children up to the expiry of the document or child’s achievement of the age 18.

To enter the children’s data into the passport (of old model) the following documents have to be provided:

All three documents are valid for crossing the border of Ukraine with the children.

Everything you need to know about the Ukrainian biometric passport
Since January 12, 2015 issuance of international biometric passports officially began in Ukraine. Such document has an electronic data media with inserted biometric data of the passport holder for his/her identifying.

The main idea for implementation of this type of official documents consists in significant increase of society protection against developing crime and international terrorism. However, for the Ukrainians the biometric passport will also mean that the country is one step closer to visa-free regime with the EU.

Addresses of the centers for biometrical data collection in all regions and actual information regarding document submission as of January 13 you can see in the publication “Where and at what price can a biometric passport be issued?”

List of documents required for issuance of the Ukrainian biometric passport

To obtain the biometric passport the following documents are provided:

• the passport of the citizen of Ukraine
• the identification number
• the old international passport
• money to pay for services

The price of the Ukrainian biometric passport is UAH 518

The new biometric passport for travelling abroad will cost for the Ukrainians UAH 518. The head of the State Migration Service of Ukraine Serhiy Radutnyy gave such information on December 10, 2014.

The passports will be printed by Ukraine Printing and Publishing – within 20 days. There is also an accelerated regime – for a week. Such passport will be cost UAH 775.

Update of April 8, 2015
The price of the international passports increased in 16%

Main centers for accepting documents for biometric passport for travelling aboard (as of January 12)

In Kyiv

the documents for the biometric passports are accepted at the following addresses:

• Herzen St. 9 (the SMS, Shevchenko district)
• Bereznyakivska St. 4a (Main Department of the SMS in Kyiv)
• Mykoly Lebedyeva St. 14a (the SMS, Dniprovskyy district)
• Bohdana Khmelnytskoho St. 10 (department of centralized documents registration №3)
• Bazhanavenue 3 (the SMS, Darnytskyy district)
• Shevchenko St. 27 (Center “Passport Service”)
• Petropavlivska St. 11 (Department of the SMS in Kiev region)

In Lviv

the documents are accepted in the department of migration service on Rudanskoho St. 3.

Addresses of accepting centers in other regions

Answers to basic questions about the biometric passports were given by the spokeswoman of the main department of the State Migration Service of Lviv region Svitlana Khytrova.

Biometric passport is a step toward visa-free regime with EU

The Ukrainians need the biometric passports if they want have a visa-free regime with the EU. This is a requirement of the world and Europe concerning security against terrorist threats. Without completing this step, we can not expect that the EU will open up the borders.

The need for biometrics arose after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the USA.

Such forms of identification documents are used in more than 90 countries of the world and all warnings of Ukrainian people on the implementation of biometrics are strange. For example, Moldova already uses these passports; Russia also uses this type of identification documents. For security by integration in the civilized world we have to do it.

Biometric passport does not mean the immediate right to travel without any visa to Europe

The Ukrainians were left with a false impression that receiving the biometric passport they could cross the borders of Europe without any visa.  It is not true. The visa-free regime with the EU has not yet been implemented.

International biometric passport is not a plastic card

This document has not a form of a plastic card. This is a common book having 32 pages in order to make the marks on crossing the border. Outside the biometric passport will look like the passport being valid at the present time: a blue title page which will have an international mark of biometric document. On the inner part of the end sheet the passport will have a strip which will be read by a special device. This strip is a contactless electronic media, where biometric data of the person are to be entered.

Details about appearance of the passport can be read in Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No 152, dated May 7, 2014.

There are three types of biometric data

In the world three types of biometric data are to be distinguished: person’s image, fingerprints and electronic signature. At present we do not know whether Europe will require the presence of all three elements of biometrics in our passports. While there was no precedent, so there is no possibility to verify this fact.

Ukrainians may refuse taking biometric data

The legislator has three versions of the document: a passport with biometric data, a passport with contactless electronic media, but without entering biometric data there, and a passport without electronic media in the event of the person’s refusal to provide his or her biometric data. So there are three versions, and a person has the right to accept or to refuse one of the versions.

Providing fingerprints is a human right, not an obligation.

Children also need to have biometric passports

Read more: 
The biometric passport for a child can be made from birth. Everything about the international passports for children.

There will be no children’s travel document because it is not prescribed by law at all. The legislators’ motivation is that the children’s travel document, which has been still issued, is not recognized by all countries as an official document.

The price for the children passport will be made UAH 348 by producing for 20 days and UAH 605 by producing for 7 days.

The children’s travel document will be issued up to April 1, 2015, and from April 1 the children’s biometric passport will be issued. It will be valid for 4 years. More information about issuance of the children’s biometric passport can be found in the offices of the migration service.

Any additional documents are not required for issuance of biometric passport

Any additional documents to obtain the biometric passport are not required: only those which people have brought to get the usual document. Changes will touch only the migration service, namely the process of biometric data collection.

Biometric data will be taken by using special devices

The biometric data will be taken by using special devices. The method of photographing will not differ from what we have today: the person’s photo made with a digital camera will be inserted into computer and through the special protected channels will be transferred to the passport producer.

Fingerprints and electronic signature will be taken with a special device: nobody’s fingers will be greased with some special substances, as it is done in criminology. A person will come to the device and put the fingers, in the same way, perhaps by means of additional devices, the electronic signature will be left on this device. All biometric information will be digitized and send through the special channels to the producer. The expert of the migration service will help the people by doing this procedure.

Time of the passport production will not change

For producing a passport 30 calendar days are given if it is a regular routine version, and 7-10 working days, with additional payment, when we talk about an immediate document.

Equipment for taking biometric data will be in every department of the migration service

64 sets of equipment for taking biometric data will be placed in Lviv; that means 64 additional centers for accepting documents for the passport will be appeared. By January 20 they have to appear in all district offices of the migration service in Lviv region.

Thus, the problem of endless queues in the offices of the migration service will be leveled, that has been most significant reason of abuse and corruption in this process. At present there are only 22 centers for accepting documents in Lviv region.

Old-model Ukrainian passports remains valid

The current international passports will be valid until the end of their validity, regardless of the person’s new biometric passport.

The Ukrainians have a right to possess two international passports simultaneously

Pursuant to the current law, a citizen of Ukraine has the right to have two international passports, but not more than two. This is provided for people who travel frequently and have no time to change the passports.

Validity of the Ukrainian biometric document is not changed

The biometric passport is issued for 10 years, for children – 4 years.

The biometric document provides an extremely high protection level

The first advantage of the biometric document for traveling abroad is an extremely high protection level. The second advantage: if a document is lost or damaged, it will be very easy to recover having biometric data.

The third advantage: leveling the so-called subjective factor, particularly the distrustful gaze of the border guard, when checking the document, at you and your photo, when you feel that he can not believe that it is you. With the biometric documents the border guard loses this chance.

Do not be afraid to give anyone your biometric data. We have a lot of illusions about the concept of personal freedom. When we speak about freedom of Western society – its main feature is openness, and we understand it in the opposite direction. After all, why should I be afraid of extension of my personal data if I know I’m clean before the law?

Information with biometric data will be stored in the Unified State Demographic Register

Information with biometric data will be stored in the Unified State Demographic Register, which creation has not yet started, though it has been regulated by law in 2012 already. This is a large-scale project that requires more money and resources. But it is necessary.

The laws provide very limited access to the database of the Unified Demographic Register. In addition, every person will have the right to control what organization, when and for what purpose asked for information about him/her in the register.

Reference:

The biometric passports are becoming more common in the world. According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), more than 90 countries of the 193 UN states- members currently issue such documents, and more than 20 states are ready for implementation of such documents in the coming years.

About 45 countries which issue biometric documents store both fingerprints and facial image in these documents. However, more than 30 countries use only digitized image of the passport holder. Other countries use only facial image, but in the near future they plan to use fingerprints too.

According to ICAO, over 15 countries use automated checkpoint system for the owners of the electronic passports. In order to go through passport control, the traveler can use “electronic gate”, which automatically compare his/her biometric data with information stored on the chip of the document. Among the countries that read (scan) e-passports at airports and borders are the USA, the UK, Singapore, Portugal, New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia and Germany.

A global network covered not only the sphere of people’s business and friendly relations; it reached also the personal one. It is known that somebody’s dreams, desires, unsettled personal life are used by scammers in order to get easy money. And various Ukrainian dating sites are not an exception in this case, where the swindlers have recently activated hunting for their victims.

Scammers

To determine the swindlers on the dating sites, regardless of sex, there is even a special word – scammers: from English scam, that has meaning “rascal, raise a scare …” An if at the beginning of “development” of this “business” (2000) men have scammed under the women’s “icons”, now representatives of the weaker sex stay with the strong sex, but men still dominate.

How do Ukrainian scammers work?

First of all a scammer registers himself on the popular dating site, sometimes on several. He places there a profile, photo of a pretty girl not promoted online. A made-up text is about: a beautiful lonely girl wants to meet a real man … (who of the men does not consider himself real?!). The rest is paperwork and rich imagination…

“On average – according to an administrator from one of the Ukrainian dating sites – such a pretty girl can receipt from 15 to 30 messages per day. When correspondence with potential brides revives, “winning hearts” begins, culminating with a beautiful and sad story-problem, which solution requires a certain amount of money”. Of course, “the real men” lend their reliable shoulders sending money on indicated requisites. Then follows a logical upshot: communication stops.

Of course, a scammer should be not only a sociable person, but also a good psychologist. Because the size of the scammer’s “salary” (students mainly engage in scamming in marriage agencies of Ukraine) depends on the ability to lead his victim a dance. Often “processing a client” lasts 4-6 months, if the victim “does not bite”, they switch to another. There are a lot of scam schemes, according which the scammers work and recognize each other…

Scam schemes on the Ukrainian dating sites

Among the most common scam schemes for the Ukrainian dating site visitors are:

1. “Money for travel”

A swindler indicates in his profile that he lives, for example, in a remote village. After becoming a good friend with someone he lets to know that he loves his e-pal and would like to come for meeting, but the travel needs money. Right here there is a fraud. Consider, would a person grudge about 20-30 dollars for really meeting with his or her beloved men or women?! And a rich foreigner will not grudge even 1,000 dollars. What is most interesting, almost none of the potential suitors refuse the swindler in financial support. Such is the end of the story and a point in relations.

2. “Predicament”

The scammers “play” often on the women’s feeling of compassion. First the scammers can introduce themselves as a wealthy woman with a good job. Later they told that they need to leave immediately for somewhere. Then the mass of variants are possible. For example, robbery at the airport, after which the “business-woman” tearfully begs to send her 3,000 dollars, then 2,000, and next agrees for 1,000 dollars. Because she has nobody more to ask for money.

3. “Top up my account”

The beginning is typical: acquaintance, communication online … Within some time (usually in a month or two) the scammer tells that really wants to hear his e-pal’s voice and asks to buy a top up voucher and send its code. It is not hard to guess that the communication comes to the end. And no matter how you try to improve the situation and to set the communication going, nothing happens.

4. “Free SMS message”

The swindlers on the Ukrainian dating sites monitor new profiles and send to the owners of such profiles on behalf of the site’s administration the messages that registration has to be confirmed; otherwise the profile will be removed. The message contains a short number for sending SMS confirmation. The cost of SMS can make at best 20-50 dollars. It should be remembered that the free dating services do not require any confirmation…

5. “Letter to the fiancee.”

20 online agencies owned by the scammers are listed in the “black list” of the Ukrainian scam dating sites. Some scammers are in online love correspondence with men seeking fiancées, and for each letter the candidate must pay, for example, four dollars. Hereby a pseudo-bride refuses to give the candidate for communication her mail or phone number, choosing communication through a mediator. On these sites any first available pictures can be posted (sometimes of little known models), and the false information about their height, weight and interests also costs money.

“The situation of Internet scams in the USA and the UK has become so serious that the security services of these countries and the civic organizations have worked at these sites creating the websites where you can check whether your e-pal is not any known marriage swindler. However, the problem is that some of these sites are also a money grab: the fake sites for verifying information about the suitors and fiancees, according to the American National League of Consumers, became the third among the most common types of frauds in the Internet. Yearly in the United States each victim of the online scammers (and only marriage) loses 3.5 thousand dollars”.

Therewith it is very difficult to catch a man in scamming, though possible. By the way, not so long ago, the Odessa police ceased activity of a scammer, who had “collected” from the men a tidy sum.

How to guard against scammers on dating sites?

It is easy to dissociate oneself from unwanted contacts on the Ukrainian dating sites changing email address, closing the program etc. Then tomorrow you can start with a clean sheet. But the biggest trap of such communication is that illusion of the full emotional life devoid of shortcomings and difficulties of real communication appears by the people. The main psychological problems of the visitors of various Internet sites, including marriage sites consist in separation from reality. A man loses vigilance.”

So you should be careful. Of course, you can visit the online Ukrainian dating sites, communicate with those who you like, but therewith follow the simple rules:

1. Do not leave your email, Skype and home address on the site in open access.
2. Do not harry to talk about your material possessions by the first contact.
3. Do not place on the site your photo where you are on the background of an expensive car or in your own penthouse.
4. Do not share your phone to the next men.
5. Try to “pull up” your e-pal on the websites – anti-scams and in the social networks.
6. Do not accept any gifts sending by post, courier, etc.
7. Do not send the SMS to any short numbers.
8. Do not send any reveal photos.
9. Do not be afraid to ask any provocative questions like: “Why have you not found the other half still?” Then you will exactly know whether a person is actually what he pretends to be.
10. It is not worth to pay for “extra” services on the free Ukrainian dating site.
11. And do not be lazy to read the forums and themes. If at least one of the proposed behavior models or stories will seem familiar to you, take a decision.
12. If you suspect a scam danger, ask a girl to send the copy of her Ukrainian passport and check it. Verification of the Ukrainian passport will dissipate all your doubts.

Respect yourself, love and be loved!

Ukraine will issue passports in form of a plastic card

The Migration Service of Ukraine worked out a plan of gradual substitution of the passports of a citizen of Ukraine for the ID-cards of the new sample, as the press service of the State Migration Service of Ukraine informs.

It will not be any compulsory substitution of old-sample Ukrainian passports for a plastic ID-card.

Gradual substitution of the old passports for the new ID-cards will take place within the next five years (2015-2020). Substitution of the passports-booklets for the plastic ID-cards will not be compulsory. The Migration Service will start implementing a new system in January 2016.

“At the first stage the plastic ID-cards will be issued free of charge to the persons after 14. The citizens applying to the Migration Service Departments for reissue of lost documents will also be offered to obtain the new passport-card and also a passport of a citizen of Ukraine to travel abroad”, – the press-service accents.

New Ukrainian Passport

The new Ukrainian passport will not contain information about person’s marriage and residence registration.

“The Migration Service will give appropriate extracts from the register to the citizens to confirm their place of residence. However, with the development of e-government and the sphere of administrative services after some time such a confirmation will not be required neither when applying to the authorities nor for banks,” – the Migration Service reports.

It was noted in the Migration Service of Ukraine that the main advantages of the new Ukrainian passport are its protection against forgery and opportunity to receive more administrative services through the Internet.

It is to be recalled, that in late July the Cabinet of Ministers has allocated 50 million hryvnias to the State Migration Service for implementation of a card system of a citizen of Ukraine.

Since January 1, 2016 the new plastic ID-cards will be issued in Ukraine, which will replace present national passports.
Biometric data of the passport owner will be entered into these cards.

Everything you need to know about the new Ukrainian passports, their advantages and the way to obtain them you can see in the infographic.

Facts about new Ukrainian passports

In Ukraine a false passport costs from $US 30 to $US 160.

A product that was already in use is the cheapest.

Quite another passport market niche concerns to Ukrainian passports of new model. A new document in any name and with any photo can be made for relatively little money. Identification number and birth certificate included. It will cost UAH3500-4000 ($US 145-160). Someone offers a new passport for UAH2500 ($US 100).

Offers of false Ukrainian passports

The general scheme is simple: the customer sends his/her photo by e-mail (sometimes the specimen signature is asked), gives surname, first name, patronymic, year and place of birth he/she needs. Advanced payment of 50% is made mostly on electronic account (WebMoney, LiqPay, etc.). Time for fulfillment of an order is sufficiently short – from 3-5 to 7-12 days.

The most expensive “passport makers” act most carefully. Guys asking for passport until €9300 explain: “You have to go to the Czech Republic for two – three days”. Just there they take the advanced payment in €4500. They promise getting a new Ukrainian passport in three months, of course, in any name and for anyone.

Purpose of selling such false personal certificates is to get easy money. Purposes of purchasing such false documents (Ukrainian passports) are quite different. Getting a loan is the commonest of them. Having some legal knowledge or a “lured” notary, malefactors can register an enterprise laundering money under the name of the person, which passport has got into their hands. Also prospects for fraud with real estate and other property are opened.

Posters with Stalin, tricolour flags with a double-headed eagle, military equipment on the streets, eradication of everything connecting with Ukraine, domination of Russian ruble, total mass insanity on Putin and prayers “Russia, come!” are realities of today’s Donetsk … Unless bears in the trapper hats and felt boots still have not gone on the streets.

In a short time Donetsk having been until recently a European city, a regional capital, a center of Euro-2012 will be perceived exactly in this way. During the mutual information war between Russia and Ukraine we have to separate the wheat from the chaff when reading media reviews, and especially social networks.

After establishing relative peace migrants began to return to their homes. Social networks are filled with posts that it is possible to live here, walk about the streets, there are a lot of people and cars, so please come easily and do not be afraid.

In any way, we do not call anyone to go and look at life in the Donetsk People’s Republic. However there are some tourists wishing to visit Donetsk, as my husband and I, who previously often have been in Donetsk on business.

Most our former partners left the city, but through their help we could find a guide who helped with the trip. Out of curiosity we asked Ukrainian travel agencies. They had got not any tour to the “DNR”, and a maximum of what they could help was finding a hotel or apartments. That we could do without their fees and charges.

So, we realized a tour in Donetsk at our own discretion- without any notification of so-called Ministry of State Security of the “DNR” and other similar agencies, without any announcements in social networks such as “we go!”, without any registration in the city. So we traveled as ordinary tourists without local registration and with maximum understanding of whither we went based on the general (often frightening) information. As a result of the trip we made travel advisory for tourists traveling to Donetsk.

General provisions

The Donetsk People’s Republic is an incomprehensible part of the Donetsk region. Legally it is occupied territory of Ukraine. But in the “DNR” it is considered as a territory independent from Ukraine (by not all, but many people). Despite the course on Russia, the area also can not be named as Russian. This is an outright unrecognized, as they say here, “republic”. If South Ossetia and Abkhazia are recognized even by Russia, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Nauru, the “DNR” like Transnistria and Nagorno-Karabakh is not recognized by anyone (without taking into account South Ossetia having signed documents on cooperation with the “DNR”).

Special living aspects of the “DNR”

Time

The “republic” has got a number of its features. Here people live by “Moscow time” (it is called “Donbas’s time” or “Donetsk time”), i.e. in the winter-spring period difference from Kyiv is one hour (when in Kiev 12:00, in Donetsk – 13:00).

Currency

Currency is Russian ruble. Not so long ago hryvnia has been also in use, but now everywhere only ruble is used. Hryvnias, Dollars and Euros are changed in exchange offices. There are many such points. It is interesting that all exchange offices have got unified rate, established by the so-called Republican Central Bank of the”DNR”. Coins and banknotes with nominal value less than 20 hryvnias are not changed. In mid-November the exchange rate in the exchange offices was as follows: 1USD – 63.50RUR, 1EUR – 66RUR, 1UAH – 2.56RUR. There is an advice for tourists: rubles are profitable to buy on the mainland of Ukraine – the rate is higher. Be not afraid to change money in the “republican” exchange offices: everything is “civil” – testing devices, security, calculators at the windows, allowing licenses on currency transactions stamped by the “DNR”.

Bank cards

There is no international banking system here, so bank cards are not useful. All consumer payments are in cash. So please stock up with cash in advance. In the extreme case you can withdraw cash from your bank card in special locations – on average at 4.5% if you withdraw hryvnia, or “at the rate of 1: 2 plus 25%” when withdrawing cash in rubles from hryvnia card. But we did not risk – even outside such locations had no credibility.

Mobile phone

Communication. Among all Ukrainian mobile operators only MTS and Life operate in “republics”. There is also a “republican” operator “Phoenix”, but it is not particularly extended. Try to top-up your mobile phone maximally being on the “big land” (so inhabitants of the “DNR” call a territory under the control of Ukraine), stock up with top-up scratch cards (they are on sale, but the price is half as much again). In the “DNR” you can top-up your mobile phone using terminals, but there are a few of them and topping up is already three times more expensive. There is Internet in the “republics”, so you can top-up the mobile phone via internet banking.

How to get to DNR

If you decided to visit the “DNR”, you should get an “e-pass”. Now this is no problem with it: fill the data on a special website of SSU (urp.ssu.gov.ua) and in two weeks you get an approval for crossing the boundary line.

It is not recommend going to the “republic” by your own car. Firstly, for safety reasons (great attention is paid to cars with car numbers from other regions of Ukraine – you will be examined at the checkpoints and when moving through the city the police of that place can stop you). Secondly, your car is an additional temptation for checkers. There is no blatant arbitrary, as it was in Donetsk in spring and summer of last year. But there are different situations. It is better not to risk. Thirdly, there is a huge queue of cars at a checkpoint on the boundary line. So the locals advise a more mobile way to travel: by train to Sloviansk, Kramatorsk or Kostiantynivka, and then by bus to Donetsk. Bus drivers fell in with the new rules and quickly, without any particular queue, transport their passengers through the checkpoint. The fare without changing at the checkpoint is 300-350 UAH.

Instead railroad you can use bus service. For example, a ticket “Kyiv-Donetsk” costs 600-700UAH for travel “with changing” (when you are brought to the checkpoint, debussed, then you let to check your luggage, and on the other side a connecting bus of the same company waits for you and carries you already in Donetsk). Also minivans “without changing at the checkpoint” ply, but the price of the ticket “Kyiv-Donetsk” is already 1500UAH.

Security

For obvious reasons it is the most delicate question. This was the first thing we discussed when the idea like “would we gone to Donetsk” appeared. It is difficult to gain an understanding alone. Therefore, another travel advice will be: choose a person for accompanying (among friends or colleagues) who resides on the “hosting side” and understand all nuances of the local “customs”.

Our friends recommended Mykhailo, who became our guide in Donetsk and undertook the main organizational issues. He instructed us “on behavior,” and a thing or two we learned of our own experience. So there are a number of safety adviсes.

Behavior features in the “DNR”

1. A martial law is applicable in the “DNR”, and one of its points is imposing a curfew (it is forbidden to be in the street from 23:00 to 5:00). As residents tell, the patrol may delay you for violation of this rule, then you can be put into pretrial detention facility (or rather, places for detainees are called “cellars”) for three days, be used in public works and then set free. In extreme situations you can take a taxi at night.
2. Have always a passport about you when going out. This is also one of the conditions of the martial law. This does not mean that it will be checked constantly. Staying two weeks in Donetsk we had to show the passport twice. And not the police, but watchful grandmothers in the outskirts were disquieted, because we photographed on mobile phones. They just did not like our Kiev registration; right for such cases a support with the local address in the passport is needed. Our guide introduced us as his relatives coming to visit him.
3. Your behavior on the street can not show that you are “a stranger” (residents of Central and Western Ukraine, foreigners are taken as “strangers”, but the Russians are “our”). Not only security forces, but also ordinary citizens show increased attention to “the strangers”. There is a feeling that they see a spy or saboteur in every stranger. So going with a map of the city means getting into troubles (for better orientation use maps in your mobile phone). Naturally, using Ukrainian symbols in your clothes or attributes is out of the question.
4. There are limitations on photo- and video shooting. If you go with a camera on the street, meeting with the police can not be avoided. This is connected with “spies and saboteurs.” In principle, you can photograph monuments, parks, churches, and vegetation, each other against the backdrop of attractions. But it is forbidden to photograph houses, destruction, military, police, military equipment, goods and prices. It is better not to risk, because the camera can be removed, and you can not prove anything. That is why even the locals take pictures of the city mostly on their mobile phone and then secretly.
5. Mobile phones, smartphones, pats are a separate issue. According to Mykhailo, when you meet with checking your passport, the patrol often requires to show your phone. They will check the latest calls, photos and videos, as well as your social networks and emails. Take into consideration this point: going outside remove anything that might rouse suspicion (especially private correspondence in social networks). When traveling in the “DNR” review your subscribers’ name in the phone book. The car of our guide Mykhailo once was stopped by the military; it was a raid on saboteurs. “Staff Igor” was among the recent calls in his mobile contacts. Can you imagine what here has begun … The “Staff” meant Humanitarian Rinat Akhmetov’s Staff, where he received medicine and food set for his elderly mother. And Igor is one of the volunteer of this staff, with whom Igor supports contact. That time they gained an understanding on the ground. But Mykhailo is a local and behaves calmly in such situations. If on his place was a “stranger”, arrest for clarifying the circumstances would be imminent.
6. Be especially careful when dealing with ordinary people. Do not touch upon any political themes or discussions on “who is right, who is wrong, who has started this war,” do not show any disrespect to the city, the “DNR” and its rulers. Remember: you are “a stranger” and information against you can be quickly denounced to the authority (yes, there are denunciations here even from neighbors). Hotlines for informing about everything suspicious are constantly televised.
7. Go to crowded places, ordinary for civilians – among people you feel calmer.
8. However, even being in an apartment or hotel room, do not relax, do not forget that you are in the “DNR”: ensure that loudness of Ukrainian broadcasts being watched on the Internet is not too loud: no loud music (especially Ukrainian) no breach of order – in other case meeting with the police is ensured.

Nobody will give you full security assurances in the “DNR”. And you have to understand this fact when going thereto. But in general, if you come to town like a normal person with good intentions, comply with local rules of living together, the trip will be calm. There are always a lot of people in the city center, resting places. The police maintain public order. There are no crowds of military; nobody goes with a weapon in the areas of civilian life. But in first days, until getting familiar, nervous trembling when going out is guaranteed.

Means of conveyance in Donetsk

We traveled by Mykhailo’s car in remote areas of Donetsk. But public transport normally works in the city (travel by trolleybus/tram costs 3 rubles, by minibus – 6-8 rubles). However, there are problems with transport after eight in the evening, because drivers try to get back into transport pools and then get home before the curfew begins. But taxi service works round the clock (the minimum price is 60-70 rubles).

Sights of Donetsk People’s Republic

They can be divided into three blocks. Firstly, there are significant traditional places of the city having been visited before “Russian Spring”: Pushkin Boulevard (with cafes and restaurants), recreation parks, the famous stadium “Donbas Arena” and a seating area around it, a botanical garden, a park of forged figures and so on.

Secondly, there are areas related to military operations. There are places in the city, namely, a museum of regional ethnography, the Palace of Youth “Youth”, a railway station, houses subjected to massed shelling, terrible consequences of which are still visible. You can visit them along. But it will better to take support when visiting the outskirts of Kiev, Petrovsk and Kuibyshev regions (which are still “on the front line”), because life is special here, it is very different from life in the city. Views of the outskirts are, of course, shocking – fired houses with charred black holes, without any windows, with damaged roofs. … But even here people live. They are much less than in other areas, but they are. And children play on survived playgrounds.

Third block of attractions we have identified as “republican” – everything that reflects everyday life of ordinary citizens of the “DNR”. And the main thing here is new spirit impregnated with “republican ideology”. You can understand that when listening to people talking in transport, shops and cafes. This is backed up by surrounding attributes: flags of the Donetsk People’s Republic (they are everywhere); St. George ribbons (on backpacks, cars, trolleybus); billboards throughout the city on the October 18 election, which has not occurred, on the ministries, the “head of the republic” Oleksandr Zakharchenko. On every street corner you can see sale points of “Novorossia’s” and “DNR’s” souvenirs. In kiosks “Press” there are only newspapers “Novorossia”, “Donetsk republic”, “Voice of the republic.” Tobacco kiosks offer then cigarettes “Novorossia”, “Russ”, “Heorhyevskye” And absolute absence of blue-yellow color combinations.

A separate theme is shops and markets. They are also like attractions. Prices shock at once – they are in rubles. Unusual items are new brands of Russian and Belarusian production.

We were impressed with shops with a sign “commission”. There are a lot of such shops, well, like in the 1990s. This is not “second-hand”, but outright real shops with furs, worn shoes, blankets, pans, spoons and forks … We received bad impression from them, we had a feeling that some things were marauders’ booty .

Another flair of the time is points of Akhmetov‘s humanitarian aid in all regions. They are noticed not only through prominent yellow sign “We help”, but because of long queues. In these queues you can hear many stories about how old people and parents with small children have to survive in these conditions.

There are also other queues in the city, namely in offices of the “Republican Central Bank”, where pensioners receive a pension, and other categories – social assistance.

We, tourists, mostly roamed along the streets half a day, observing what was going on and watching the dead city (hammered shops, neglected buildings of banks, broken ATMs, unfinished skyscrapers).

Amusements in Donetsk

Cafes and restaurants work in the city, among them “Lviv cafe” on Pushkin Boulevard. There is a network of pizzerias “Celentano” (which, incidentally, have free Wi-Fi), a sushi network “Mao edun”. A water park and attractions operate in Shcherbakov park, a children’s railway – in the park of Lenin Komsomol (where pupil are drivers and conductors, and painted caravans are used instead of wagons). Only one cinema “Zvezdochka” works.

Be sure to visit republican celebrations. They are a dime a dozen: Day of love, family and loyalty, the “DNR” Independence Day, Republic Day, Birthday of Komsomol, many sorts of strange flash mobs and round dances – “the dance of unity”, “Donbas speak in Russian”, “Friendship of peoples”, “round dance in honor of the “DNR’s” flag “, “Republican dance”, and so on. Every weekend activists of the local organization “Donets republic”(a sort of ruling party) wave flags on Lenin Square or in resting parks and celebrate something.

In the evenings, when it is impossible to go out, watch local TV channels. They have to “produce an impression”. There is no Ukrainian TV channel in a cable network; there are only Russian TV channels and “republican channels” – “First republican channel”, “Plot TV”, “Union”. You should watch them in order to understand why many people are so inspired by the idea of the republic. Local news and programs are continuous praise and stories about wonderful life in the Donetsk People’s Republic and developing “young state”. They also show news from Ukraine, namely how badly people live in Ukraine; how the country rots and rolls into the abyss (this position is strengthened additionally by the central Russian news channels). After 10 minutes of viewing you are shocked and do not understand what and whom they are talking about. Then you begin to argue with TV, later – to resent. Then everything is changed with aggression. It is important to stop in time and turn off the TV. But the people here live with this box and believe every word…

The price paid

Two-week tour to the Donetsk People’s Republic came to 9,000 UAH ($US 375). Two of them ($US 85) we spent on travel “Kyiv-Donetsk-Kyiv”. On food, travel through the city and incidentals we spent about 300 UAH ($US 12) per a day.

Our guide Mykhailo chose an apartment in the city center in advance (one-room flat after repairing and with home appliances). Two weeks staying came to 1200 UAH ($US 50). We did not risk looking for an apartment by ourselves: we could meet with scams or rent an apartment temporarily left because of the war. And we did not want to explain anyone that we came from Kyiv, and purpose of our trip was just to see the city. By the way, in Donetsk there are several reputable hotels, but standard rooms cost from 1200 UAH ($US 50). You can choose cheap hotels at the base of former hostels for 350-400 UAH ($US 15) per a day.

We paid Mykhailo for his services 1,000UAH ($US 40) (solution of organization problems, journey through the city by his car).

* * *

After visiting Donetsk we had double feelings. On the one hand, we were glad to make our own impression of the city. On the other – this impression was against Donetsk, probably because we went thereto with light and glad memories, so it was difficult to accept what we saw. Mentally we became different, we felt it. Positive thing – all our worries and fears have not justified, and the hope glimmers in our souls that in the near future we will be united, and after some time everything will fit together – and on the flagstaffs, and on the television screens, and in their heads.

Beginning with January 1, 2016 the Migration Service of Ukraine begins the process of introduction of new identity cards – plastic cards (Ukrainian plastic passport) with a contactless electronic chip that will replace current passports.

Interior Minister Arsen Avakov wrote about.

According to him, registration of such plastic identity cards (Ukrainian plastic passport) will be possible beginning with January 1, 2016. Turnaround time of a new document is the same as of the old one- 10 working days.

In addition, replacement of the old Ukrainian passports for the new plastic identity cards is voluntary; the law of Ukraine provides a five-year transition period.

A citizen can get a Ukrainian passport with contactless electronic chip in the department of the State Migration Service at place of residence when getting for the first time, and in any department when appealing next time. Your photo is not required; the SMS official will photograph you by registration.

“The card chip can contain its owner’s biometric data – fingerprints and digital signature. But you can refuse this option; in this case a special mark will be made on the card. ID card does not contain any information about nationality, religious beliefs and residence place.

The data about marital status is fixed on the electronic chip, but they are not written with the letters on the card.”

The European Commission promulgated the final report on the implementation by Ukraine of its Visa Liberation Action Plan.

Next year the citizens of Ukraine holding a biometric passport will be able to travel to the EU without visas.

Unfortunately, this fact does not mean that Ukraine has fulfilled all plan requirements – “areas of concern” remain in a part of the fight against corruption. But Brussels took an unprecedented step and decided to start the procedure of visa cancellation turning a blind eye to shortcomings of the Ukrainian part.

The EU has a rule not to believe the promises of Kyiv, but this time it has made an exception.

There is a great deal at stake. In case of failure the EU’s image losses in Ukraine would be too large. And Brussels understands this. So, first there are key messages.

–According to plan the Ukrainians will get a visa-free regime in half a year. Most likely, this will happen in the last week of July 2016. There is a chance that this date will be adjusted – for this purpose the EU will have to breach its own procedure. But it is not necessary right that Brussels will agree to do it.

–But there is a high probability that the EU will again yield to Kyiv, accelerate the procedure and then a visa-free regime will work at the end of April.

–The Commission’s decision does not mean visa cancellation for Ukrainian citizens. Two EU institutions – the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers are ahead. Although they now tend to support Ukraine, “but there is a nuance”.

–Although the EU has not established any formal conditions for visa cancellation, de facto Kyiv still has to fulfill five obligations having been undertaken by the President and Prime Minister. And if Ukraine simply ignores its promises, we can be sure – the EU will not forgive.

Now – more on the EC’s decisions and Kyiv’s commitments – recorded and not recorded in the document. And also why absence of formal conditions is important.

To do impossible

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did what seemed to be impossible.

Despite of resistance of a large part of the European Commission’s apparatus, Ukraine ensured a positive resolution of the EC, not fully following the requirements of a “visa-free plan”.

It must be also admitted that President Poroshenko for a reason has gone to Brussels for so-called “mini-summit” which has been a surprise even to those who follow the European issues. Just at this dinner with the participation of Poroshenko, Tusk, Schultz and a narrow group of officials the key points of the agreement were agreed.

A key argument was the joint letter from the leaders of the Ukrainian state, the President and Prime Minister, to the President of the European Commission. In this letter “two” undertook the obligations to fulfill all the outstanding VLAP requirements.

Kyiv has independently determined the deadline of its “homework” – we have to meet with the deadline of the first quarter of 2016.

There is information about VLAP.

The plan had two phases. At the first, “legal” phase Ukraine has to adopt the required laws, and at the second, “implementation” phase – to prove that they are carried out, and the established authorities work effectively. Formally, Ukraine passed the first stage in 2014 externally. But everyone knows that a number of “visa-free laws” have been passed by the Parliament only at the end of autumn!

So, facing the truth, we are now still quite far from fulfillment of all the VLAP requirements.

So why is the resolution of the European Commission so positive?

Explanation is simple. The EU needs rapprochement with Ukraine. Especially its leaders need it, including the EC President Jean-Claude Juncker.

After 2014 politic leaders in Brussels finally began to realize that they also (not only Russia and the US) should play in geopolitics. And also they understand the fact, that informational intimidations are sometimes more important then the military one. So for Brussels it is extremely important “not to lose Ukraine”.

The EU also is fully aware that a large part of the reforms, which have been held recently in Ukraine, have a clear cause – the Verkhovna Rada and the Cabinet have strived for visa cancellation (to show it to voters as their achievements).

Finally, it is no secret that refusal of the European Commission would be “nuclear weapons” for Russian propaganda.

And the wrong signal as if “Ukrainians, Europe does not need you” would put into good soil. And a “detail”, that uderfulfillment of VLAP is fault only of the Ukrainian part, would not interest anyone in the information war.

Home work

It is important to understand: the European Commission’s decision does not mean automatic cancellation of visas.

“Today’s event does not mean that we have now to calm down. The European Commission has examined all our abbreviations (newly created anti-corruption bodies), they welcome all institutional changes, but it all should work. The Commission will monitor this progress, it will clearly be written in the report” – Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin said on Friday.

A little theory.

The procedure in the European Union is as follows: the Commission forms a legislative proposal for changing the list of visa-free countries (this will be done at the beginning of 2016) and transmits it to the EU Council, where consent of the European Parliament is inquired. When the European Parliament “gives the green light”, the EU Council at the level of Justice and Interior Ministers will approve “a visa-free regime”.

After the Council’s meeting the date of visa cancellation for Ukrainian citizens is finally announced.

So, Ukraine still has a chance to “mess up a visa-free regime”. And the Government is fully aware thereof.

“European truth” has already informed on the list of requirements that are spelled out in the visa-free report.

President Poroshenko and Prime Minister Yatsenyuk provided the EU oral and written guarantees that in the first quarter of 2016:

– national Anti-corruption Bureau and Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor’s Office (CAP) will start working effectively;

– the Prosecutor’s Office Act concerning the principles of forming CAP will be changed (in particular, senseless qualification requirement of 5 years experience in an ordinary prosecutor’s office for employees of CAP must be canceled);

– the final formation of the National Agency for Prevention of Corruption will be completed (NAPC) and it in practice will begin activities on analysis of state officials’ declarations;

– the laws on the Agency for Asset Recovery will be amended, as well as the laws on special confiscation and seizure of property, which have to level deputies’ corrections made for the second reading;

– the state budget will be changed in order to provide financing for all these bodies.

It will be difficult to fulfill all these requirements. Verkhovna Rada bears the main responsibility for their implementation, but not only it. In particular, the situation regarding the NAPC reached a deadlock, and so far it is unclear how to solve it.

But it is worth remembering what has been mentioned at the beginning.

There are no clear conditions for visa cancellation. The EU Council will adopt a resolution in its discretion. Therefore the Europeans can turn blind eye to some shortcomings – for this purpose the EC has provided such formulation.

But if we simply ignore our obligations – we will not get any free visa regime. And we must be conscious of this

Most questions the EU has regarding the situation with the National Agency for Asset Recovery and conflict in the NAPC. They are key pain points.

It should be added that the list of five points is not exhaustive. Ukraine can also create a problem if a rule on prohibition of discrimination does not appear in the new Labor Code.

But if Kyiv at least make efforts to have progress in all points of “anti-corruption” and does not stop other reforms or legislative changes, which have already occurred, a visa-free regime is guaranteed. And the date of its implementation can be predicted just now.

And briefly about victory of the Government. Why it is so important that we have no official “conditions” for visa cancellation, but disguised “obligations of Kyiv”. On December 18 the EC also promulgated a “visa-free report” on Kosovo, and also –a final one. But in this case Brussels has established exactly conditions for visa cancellation, and without their execution the procedure does not even start. Therefore Kosovo will not get a visa free regime before the end of this year. And no one knows what situation will be in the EU at that time (especially with migrants).

And the fact that we have avoided such a delay is a real victory of Ukrainian diplomats.

So when will it happen?

There are good reasons for us to describe in detail just above the procedure of adoption of legislation in the EU.

Life in the EU is much formalized. So often it is possible to predict the date when the procedure will be completed. And it is exactly the same case.

A point on visa cancellation is considered by the EU Council. This is the Interior and Justice Council. Its meetings are scheduled and consideration is known a year in advance. Thus, the spring session will be held in March, but at that moment the EU will not be ready to cancel visas – the first quarter will not pass on, and the European Parliament will need more time to adopt its decision.

The Ukrainian point will be considered by the Council on June 9-10.

During a month and a half the decision will come into effect.  Joint signing (the European Parliament and the EU Council), promulgation and implementation of a visa free regime for Moldova took such period.

Thus, in the case of Moldova the Council approved visa cancellation on March 14, and citizens of this country could travel to Europe without a visa, only with biometric passports, on April 28.

Similarly, we have an expected term of visa cancellation for the Ukrainians – the last week of July.

Not as fast as we want, but in the present situation (when we remember that we have not really completed our visa-free plan) it is very optimistic.

Of course, politic, including European has space for compromise. In particular, not only the “specialized” Council, but also others can theoretically consider the Ukrainian visa free regime. But in the present situation when it is required not only to adopt a formal decision, but also consider whether Ukraine has fulfilled its obligations – this point probably will not “be farmed out” to the Agriculture or Transport Council.

Therefore the called terms are most realistic.

There is also the most optimistic variant, whereunder the EU will agree “to forgive” Kyiv, and adopt a resolution on the EU Council meeting in early March.

Then Ukrainians can meet the May holidays in Europe traveling there only with biometric passports.

This version seems to be fantasy for anyone who wants to force Kyiv to fulfill all obligations, but it still will not be excluded.

But for this purpose Kyiv, of course, has to show exactly the “cosmic velocity” in implementation of anti-corruption agreements. If the Council adopts the necessary laws in January, this version sure enough can materialize.

We only have to wait and press the Parliament, Government and President, in order for them not to “rest on their laurels” and not to forget about anti-corruption commitments. Because then visa cancellation can just be disrupted.

Recently so-called international marriage agencies become very popular in Ukraine. Here young and attractive girls are offered to find a foreign “prince” who will marry and take them into the “Golden Foreign Land”. The idea is not new, but thanks to high-speed Internet it got terrible speed. And today even a small town has at least one such dating websites.

There is countless number of them in Poltava, Ukraine. Either demand creates offer, or there are so many enterprising citizens of Poltava, who have understood the way to “make a fast buck” from naive foreigners. Nevertheless, now it is difficult to find at least one girl who would not be asked in social networks to create an account at one of the agencies. I was no exception.

“Professional” photo shoot is just the beginning

Once in winter I received a message from a girl, let us call her Tatyana, with the offer of a free photo shoot with a professional photographer. The photo shoot was actually needed for a marriage agency, where you could find interesting acquaintances, or even love.

The latter did not very interest, but the offer to receive the absolutely free professional photo session won. Besides, I have already heard a lot about principle of operation of these agencies, and know that except photos the girls do not get anything else, and it is not any matter of foreign husband.

We agree to meet in a week. For registration on the site a copy of Ukrainian passport is required, so I have to take it along. We meet near the Diamond Plant (in Poltava).

– Now let’s go to my house. It is very cold in the agency, we are working at home for the present, because our translators feel cold, – she smiles.

The apartment was on the first floor of the Khrushchyovka. The apartment is renovated, very light and comfortable. It seems the agency brings good profit. We go into the living room, which also serves as a study. Mauve walls, a white leather sofa, a worktable with a computer and printer. Solid and expensive.

While a copier is buzzing scanning my passport, I try to ask as much as possible about the agency. I asked how many girls actually had got married.

– Already eight girls. And they are married pretty happily. Even some already have children – the employee of the marriage agency tries to convince me.

There is a question going round in my head, namely how much percentage wise of all women registered on the site is that, but I keep quiet.

My passport is scanned. We film on the first take. I fill a standard questionnaire, where I indicate my full name, parameters, eye and hair color, English level, my favorite flowers and other information in this style. A question immediately rises of whether we will communicate with men.

– No, no! Our translators communicate with men, only on your behalf. Just when a long correspondence starts up, I inform you, you come, and we decide what to do next, whether arrange a meeting with a foreigner, or … – the girl says.

– And how often do these meetings take place? – I ask her.

– Differently. We have a girl who has at first not received any letter. She even thought to leave the site. She said it was no sense to stay there. I suggested that she would wait. We have made a new photo shoot for her, and now she travels every month abroad to meet with men. She calls me and says: “I do not know, should I go to Germany this month, or to Spain,” – Tatyana smiles.

We talk just a few minutes about other girls and bout the different cases in the dating agency. Everything sounds like a veiled advertising. We negotiate for a photo session. We assign it a month later, when we will have free time.

We meet after a month on a certain day. According to plan the first is a make-up artist. So we go to her. For half an hour I, painted and almost unrecognizable, and Tatyana were brought by car of Tanya’s husband to a specially rented apartment. A promised “professional” photographer was Tanya’s husband Roman. This “universality” alerted me.

We worked two hours and I changed five dresses in the toilet that served as changing facilities. Then, we were tired and sat on the couch discussing the photo shoot. Tatyana made coffee, so the whole room was filled with aroma of the beverage.

– So, look, – the photographer begins – I’ll edit photos in Lightroom. It’s not Photoshop, but almost the same. I will add beautiful effects.

– E-mail me originals – I say without hiding a surprise, – and I will edit them in Photoshop by myself. It’s not a problem.
– Do you know how to work in Photoshop? O! Will you teach me? – Roman asks clearly serious.

I am silent. Because what can I answer? Without sarcasm – in any way, but my good manners do not allow. After all, he tried.
The next day I got my photos. Of three hundred photos I could find at least five which would deserve attention. But they also needed “tons” of Photoshop. All the rest – the lighting failed, the arms and legs were cut, the composition was curved…

Almost half a year passed after all those events. I did not get any e-mail from Tatyana. Here they did not disappoint my expectations. Or is the matter in failed photos?

Dummy girls are only a part of business

Such metamorphoses and deceptions are only the tip of the iceberg. And the tip is not so annoying, because girls do not pay a penny, so even getting bad photos you grudge the time. But there are more serious frauds with Ukrainian dating websites.

Katya works as translator in one of international marriage agencies of Poltava, Ukraine. According to her, the work is not complicated, just to respond to men’s letters on girls’ behalf. But she has never seen any of these girls, only on photographs. Consequently, most of the information written by the girls is fiction. But nobody cares of this. The most important thing in this business is to get more letters from men because for each letter the agency receives some money, and translator – a percentage.

And the girls, according to Katya, do not wish too much to meet foreign men. The majority agreed to be registered only because of free photos. That is why sometimes funny things happen.

– Once a foreigner was going to come to one girl – Katya said. – He had already bought a ticket, and we expected his arrival. But the girl refused to meet with him. The agency did not want to lose money, because an interpreter of the agency should be present at the meeting. The foreigner had to pay approximately $30 per hour for his services. The agency receives a part of the money, what means that a considerable amount is gathered during a few hours, or even days.

Therefore, in order to make money, they found another girl, someone like that one to whom the foreign bride came. At the meeting he did not see that it was another girl, so spent with the girl a few days. They went to different cafes, restaurants and suchlike and, of course, he paid for everything. As a result, he did not like the dummy girl, he did not want to see her more, and we breathed with relief. After all, if he decided to build further relationship, the deception would sooner or later be revealed.

Later it turned out that such transformations were not uncommon. But they are not always successful. Inna, an interpreter of an another Ukrainian dating website, told of a case where a foreigner noted at the first meeting that a girl to whom he came, and a girl who came to him for a meeting were two different people. He kicked up a row and refused to continue the meeting. Although the agency and the interpreter took a stand that it was one and the same person. As a result, it ended peacefully.

It is unknown how long such business built on naivety and romanticism of foreign men will be around. But more and more Ukrainian agencies appeared with each passing year and it seems there will be no girl in Poltava, who would not have been registered on one of them.

P.S.

If you got to know a woman from Ukraine, you received a copy of her passport by email and not sure if it is real or fake, we will check Ukrainian passport. In 24 hours you will get the results if the passport number (+ name + picture etc.) are fitting to each other to see if the passport has been manipulated digitally.

We worked at Ukrainian marriage agency, where so-called brides trick money out of overseas suitors

Ukrainian dating agencies/websites become an object of focus by law enforcement officers. Recently, the first criminal case was initiated against an organizer of such business – the police suspected that huge sums of money were tricked out of foreigners just for nothing. If the fault is proved the other marriage agencies will get rattled considerably – the foreigners are tricked massively. Only now mediators do not beg for money from the suitors, but they make money on e-mails of the dummy brides. The result is tens of thousands of dollars of net profit per month. We intruded into the ranks of dummy brides and found out the details of marriage business.

Translator does not need to know foreign languages

To be a dummy bride, girls do not even need to know a foreign language. Employment sites are literally full of propositions: “Translation work on an international dating site. Girls between 18 and 40, operational experience and English knowledge (!) are not required”. Sending a resume and interviewing are also not required – everything is resolved in a few minutes through telephone conversation.

An advertisement on a job search site

Work in Ukraine/vacancies in Kyiv/translation work in Kyiv

Work: English translator. Basic knowledge. Students. (Kyiv)

Company:           MA Ludmila

City:       Kyiv

Wages: $500

Work schedule:               remote work

Education:          secondary level

Experience:       inexperienced/beginner level

Position:              English translator. Basic knowledge. Students.

Position’s person specification/vacancy information:

International Marriage Agency Ludmila employs English translators. We are looking for pleasant girls wishing to work and to earn.

We guarantee individual approach, wages, flextime and collegiate.

Requirements:

-A girl before 40;

-Basic level of PK knowledge;

–English knowledge is not required;

-Students are allowed;

-Inexperienced girls are allowed.

Tel:. (093) 551-61-85 Julia

Please send your resume using the form “Send a resume” and indicate the position for which you are applying (Resume for vacancy: English translator. Basic knowledge. Students.)

“The work is not complicated, but demanding – you need to correspond with foreigners on the known international dating site. The work will take 4-5 hours at any time of the day or night. One day a week is a day off. I will send your wages on your card, and the amount depends on the output – the more foreigners write you, the more you earn,”- Julia from the marriage agency Treasure of Beauty (I have not found it in the internet) puts me quickly in the picture. According to her, there are girls who earn just UAH 100 per month, but they idle. “You can earn from $150 to $1,000. You’ll be in correspondence with the men on the international dating site, they pay for correspondence, and you do not pay. For one email sent to you they pay to the site $8, and the site, in turn, gives us $1.5. We divide the money in half. Chatting with a foreigner is also paid – a foreigner gives us 0.12 cents for every minute of communication. You can just talk about the weather and earn $5-6. And if you talk “on camera”, i.e. if the man sees you, then he pays up to $24 per minute …»

Other Ukrainian dating websites offered me one dollar for an incoming letter and 15 cents for one minute of chat session -. According to their calculations, the girl’s income makes an average $500 per month. And the income of such agencies, according to our calculations, is not less than 10 thousand dollars a month.

How to distinguish a scam on Ukrainian dating website

The authoritative marriage agencies say that there is mass of pseudo agencies. “In recent months they just grow like mushrooms after rain. If we estimate the number of women on international dating sites, we will see that about 90% of them are false. That is because after Euro 2012 foreigners came to believe that in Ukraine only beautiful girls with model look live “- the director of international marriage agency “Marriage by Natali” told us.

“Even job search sites have already begun to understand that the vacancy «translator for marriage agency” intends fraud, so they often require documents from the employer. Here I had a recent case where I needed a translator of Italian, and I could not find it, because the employment sites wrote me that I could be a scam”. The men, who are looking for a life partner, to apply only to those offices, where the real meetings are held, not only correspondence. “A marriage agency should be advertised, have its own base of women and, most importantly, not hold correspondence but personal meetings. After all, in fact, Ukrainian women never marry after correspondence with the foreigners. This we can say after 15 years practice in this business”.

A foreigner understood that he was tricked

The police say that such schemes on dating sites are unalloyed fraud. The organizers of such agencies were detained in Kiev. “We had a case where a man was detained, because he, assisted by five girls, organized the correspondence on the international dating site. For some UAH 100-150 he took their passport details, photographed and posted their profiles on the site. Other people corresponded on their behalf and earned money”- the deputy head of the department for combating against cyber crime of Kiev police told us. The organizer was detained only after a foreigner had came to Kyiv and realized that he had been tricked – he had turned to the police.

Agency: “We try to delay the meeting with a suitor in order to make money”

I could not earn a lot at once, as I practiced in the epistolary genre for another person – 29-year-old advertising girl Anastasia. “The girl, of course, knows. I have signed an agreement with her, that I give her my services – assistance in finding a partner – Julia calms me. – You still need to know more details about her, about which foreigners often are interested: she is the only child in the family, parents are divorced”.

It is possible that this profile is bought in the Internet. In any case, we notice hundreds of ads on purchase of photographs and profiles in the internet: they are bought for UAH 100 up to USD 100 and then used just for such dating sites.

Password of Nastia’s profile was immediately sent me and I was asked to turn off the webcam on my computer, saying that if a foreigner or administration of the site noticed that I was not her, we would immediately be removed.

“I enter your mobile phone in Nastia’s form because the security service of the site can call you and ask with whom of the men you have talked lately. So they trace agencies like us. If you are asked whether the agency pays you, you have to say: no! You are Nastia, and you want to find a husband. Once they get to knew that I pay you – that is the end. They remove the form “- Julia instructs.

“No meetings with suitors – they are inadequate”

According to Julia, 95% of Ukrainian girls on the dating sites are such “bride”, as we are, their goal is to get more money from a foreigner, but not to meet with him, to make love with someone and marry.

“The meeting with a potential suitor is not our goal. We try in every way, as we can, to delay the meeting in order to make more money. You should not maintain their tender feelings. If you already can not get out of the meeting, then immediately contact me. I will read all the correspondence and we will fluff him off delicately”- my instructor continues. Julia says that it is not only mercantile interest. According to her, more foreigners on the sites are not quite adequate. “For example, they practice such a scam: they invite a girl into a restaurant, order a lot of meal, and then slip away through the back door. We had a case where two guys from Europe came to meet girls, smashed up lodging, and the agency then had to pay for everything. It comes to the absurd, – they arrive, gather 30-40 girls and arrange casting. He sits like a prince, and the girls whirl before him and show themselves in all their beauty”.

Check whether you need visa to enter Ukraine

Below you will find a list of the countries the citizens of which require a visa to enter Ukraine. For some countries Ukrainian visa is not required. And for citizens of some countries Ukrainian visa is not required for a stay up to 90 days within a 180 day period for tourism or business.

Visa policy of Ukraine. Even if you do not need a visa to enter Ukraine, you will certainly need a passport valid for at least six months after the date of your proposed exit from Ukraine, and you may require other official documents. Also bear in mind that, even if you don’t require a visa to enter Ukraine, you will still need to register with the Federal Migration Service upon arrival.

Grounds for Ukrainian visa refusal or Ukrainian visa cancellation

Decision on visa refusals can be made in the following cases:

1. necessity to ensure national security or public order protection;
2. necessity of health protection, protection of rights and legal interests of Ukrainian citizens and other persons residing in Ukraine;
3. availability of information about the foreigner or the stateless person in the database of persons whom the laws of Ukraine prohibit to enter Ukraine or whose exit from Ukraine is temporarily restricted;
4. travel document presented by the foreigner or the stateless person is forged, damaged, different from the original specimen or belongs to another person;
5. intentional submission by the foreigner or the stateless person of untrue information or forged documents;
6. proof of holding an adequate and valid travel medical insurance was not provided by the foreigner or the stateless person (if acquisition of such insurance is possible in the country where the application is lodged);
7. proof of sufficient means of subsistence for the duration of the intended stay or for the return to the country of origin, or for the transit to a third country, or proof of being in a position to acquire such means lawfully on the territory of Ukraine was not provided by the foreigner or the stateless person;
8. justification for the purpose of the intended stay was not provided by the foreigner or the stateless person;
9. intention of the foreigner or the stateless person to leave the territory of Ukraine before the expiry of the visa could not be ascertained;
10. revocation of the visa was requested by the foreigner or the stateless person.

A foreign citizen or stateless person who has been refused a visa, has the right to challenge the decision with the Head of the Diplomatic Mission that considered the visa application. An applicant must reapply, with proof of visa refusal, and a letter of appeal, within two months of the date of the visa refusal.

If a foreign citizen or stateless person decides to withdraw the visa application, he/she looses the right to appeal.

Visa to Ukraine may be cancelled by the same authority that made the decision to issue the visa.

Find a wife in Ukraine

Trustful foreigners obsessed with the idea to find a wife in Ukraine fell into the tenacious hands of swindlers. However, many of them did not immediately understand, what the matter was, so they blew fabulous sums.

A company of enterprising students from Zaporizhia set up a dating site for foreigners. Girls with model looks created portfolio, they allegedly wanted to marry a foreigner, and go to another country for permanent residence. In reality, the girls were not going to go anywhere, and their main goal was to get easy money at the expense of a generous foreign suitor. By the way, a minute of communication with the girl online cost 50 cents, and the task of the girl was to extend this communication as long as possible. Work on the site was arranged in three shifts, by this fact we can judge on daily profit of the website.

How Ukrainian dating resources really work

Marriage agencies from Ukraine will suck your money

How do Ukrainian scammers work?

Find love in Ukraine and not lose money

Ukrainian marriage agencies leave their customers “without trousers and love”

Don’t repeat their mistakes. Be smart and check Ukrainian passport if you feel a fraud.

Developed countries are not very glad with an influx of residents of less prosperous countries. As a result, the legislation of most of them treats extremely rigidly to migrants. Even for a residence permit (not to mention a citizenship) a number of conditions mast be fulfilled. For example, the law of Malta does not provide its citizenship to residents of other countries. However, those who wish to get the second citizenship always find a way to fulfill their dream, though using not legal means.

There are many cases of evident fraud (when a swindler having raised money for the service disappears, without their providing), but so-called “crimes without victims” deserve special attention. In these cases, the client suspects that not everything is fair, but with the best of circumstances, he can get a legal passport.

For getting legal passports or ID cards a passport is properly designed, but not supported by any documents and nowhere registered or its obvious forgery is made (correction of stolen documents according to your name or making false forms). The law is broken at some stage (forgery of documents, bribery of officials). However, by virtue of proven schemes a result can be achieved which is almost impossible to be contested in the courts. Communication with clients in this business is in person, not over the phone.

What is to be done?

To avoid becoming a victim of fraud (somebody took money from you and disappeared with it) you should pay particular attention to the contract with the company, which services you decide to use. If the contract on passport or citizenship contains common phrases like “legal assistance”, “advice”, “assistance in gathering documents”, the customer has a real chance to be deceived. In addition, it will be no purpose to apply to court in this case. The company can also received prepayment and not to fulfill its obligations “due to reasons beyond its control”. It can also suddenly be find out that the client’s passport is properly issued but due to any other reasons, it is invalidated.

Be sure to command the services of only those companies that have reliable recommendations. Do not pay the full amount in advance. The rights and obligations of both parties should be in detail spell out in the contract. Be sure to demand inclusion in the contract of points on liability for breach of its obligations by the party issuing a passport.

Citizenship by means of relatives

This scheme operates through (implementation) the Law of Ukraine “On Citizenship”. Swindlers invent a legend according to which the grandmother, grandfather or one of the parents declares actually to be, for example, Greek. Civil Court (if there are several false witnesses) recognizes affiliation of this relative to Greek nationality. On this basis, a birth certificate with the appropriate entry is issued. Then, the process becomes quite legal. Based on the relative’s new birth certificate a client’s birth certificate with a new nationality is also issue.

According to another scheme, a fictitious father is searched. Many countries, including France, Brazil, England, Estonia, Lithuania, recognize the right of birth. That is, if it is proved that your father is, for example, France national, you get its citizenship. The scheme of a fraud is as follows: a mediator looks for one of these countries’ citizen, which could be or has been in Russia nine months before the client’s birth. Then the man bears false witness that he is your real father (the client’s mother, of course, must confirm his words). Then, for a while, (sometimes rather quickly) you get citizenship.

“Witness”

This scheme is also built according to the law on citizenship. According to it, in some countries (e.g. Greece), people who for whatever reason have entered the country without necessary documents can get them on the spot, if they prove their staying here for a long time (e.g. 5 years) . So, if you want to get a citizenship of any country, just after your arriving you go together with members of any community, with which you have agreement, in the police station. There accomplices witness that the person is a member of their community for over five years. Then he gets the desired passport.

Twins

Creating so-called “twins” for quick issuance of a second citizenship is one of the rarest ways. The scheme is based on direct contact of Ukrainian passport firm’s workers with employees of the police department of one of the Eastern European countries. It happens in that way. In the passport archives of the police departments a person is searched, who is similar to the client in age, height, hair and eye color and has left the country long ago. Then the person’s photo is glued into the documents which are the basis for issuance of a passport to that person (such documents are not destroyed). The client appeal to police with request to issue him a new passport instead of “lost one”.

Consulting with a lawyer

If such forgery is exposed, imprisonment threatens “the twin”. In other cases ─ confiscation of a semi-legal passport and deportation.

Real estate or land

Another scheme is based on giving by many countries a residence permit when purchasing a real estate or land in their territory. After a certain number of years, you will be given the opportunity to apply for a citizenship. Swindlers legalize such a purchase retroactively, and the client receives a passport within a few months.

For many of us, the search for love over the Internet can be a gift from God. For others, however, it may be just the occupation, destroying other people’s lives – leaving us with no money, with a broken heart and a wide variety of problems that we may encounter. The best way not to meet a female crook is to know «the enemy» in the face, as well as having the ability to distinguish them from ordinary people.

Dating site scams

When you communicate with someone on the Internet, pay attention to the contents of messages you receive. Do you get messages that truly respond to your questions, or are they just writing you a text in a manner that could be sent to anyone, only in a slightly modified form?

Scammers on dating sites often send similar messages to all of their victims. So if the messages seem to you too generalized and simple – stay away from such people. Their posts are so standard that you can easily copy the text and find analogues in the Google search. Even the information in their profiles can be taken from other profiles on other dating sites. Also, there are many dating website scams. That`s why before you register on the site, check the reviews. Pay attention to the speech of your interlocutor. Poor knowledge of English may be a signal for you, or, at least, you just need to get to know this person better. Many scammers are not too strong in the knowledge of English; poor grammar and mistakes in their proposals could mean that the person is not too sincere with you. Also, their speech may vary depending on the country of their origin.

Also a person may look «too good to be true». Perhaps it is so – by the photos of beauties a huge number of men have been caught in a trap in ladies` profiles, so if a woman whose profile says that she is 30 years old, and she looks on the photo to be no more than 25, then this is an alarming sign! Someone sent you a photo, or she has it in her profile? If so, take advantage of special programs, or use the Google search, to identify if you hit a dating scam or deal with a normal person. Scammers often select photos on the Internet and modify them slightly, so if you dig deeper, you may discover the truth. Even if the image was cropped to remove the signature, or processed in Photoshop (to change the face), you will still be able to find the original. Photos of models and porn actresses are used most often, but the photos of attractive ordinary people can also be used.

Internet dating scams

Look for the person on the Internet. What are the results of your search? Does the fact that you have found someone you need correspond to the reality? For example, do the accounts on Facebook, Odnoklassniki, Twitter speak about the same things?

You can check whether the things the person has said are true, taking advantage of her personal data and electronic reference books of names, depending on the city she lives in.

Learn more about the country your interlocutor talks about. Pay attention to the smallest detail that a person indicates in her messages, especially about the place where the person lives.

The simplest explanation of the fact that a person asks you for money on the Internet is that she is trying to deceive you. If this happens, then you should seriously think about the sincerity of the person with which you communicate. Dating site scams are very common.

Do not dig too deep trying to find out why a person asks you for money. It is not very decent that a person can simply ask for money from you without any good reason, just for her own benefit (the more deplorable her story is, the sooner you should forget about that person). A simple «no» would be sufficient; and if this relationship is destined to continue, it will survive your dry and hard refusal.

Online dating scams are very common, so pay attention to the messages that sound like a plea for help and contain persistent demands to provide money, even after your firm refusal to do so. This person is not your love, but just a hunter for profit.

Even if you have found out that the person is trying to deceive you, do not try to resist her. Even if you keep in touch with her just for fun, your actions can hurt her dignity and push her to create a new profile with new photos and information to try again to deceive you. Just give up communicating with her, block her emails and do not accept calls from her.

Since Internet dating scams are one of the topical issues of today, share data – photos, information, addresses and nicknames on sites that have the lists of cheaters. On these sites you may find exactly the same texts as in the profile of your former companion.