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British Visa Applications – New Arrangements in Ekaterinburg (Ural)

Irina — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:54:51 +0000

Following the announcement on 26 May of the centralization of visa decision-making in Russia, visa applications lodged at the Visa Application Center in Ekaterinburg will now be assessed in Moscow. Passports will continue to be returned at the Visa Application Center in Ekaterinburg. We aim to return 90% of applications within 5 working says of submission to the Visa Application Center. However we recommend applying for your visa as early as possible – applicants should allow a minimum of 15 working days for their application to be processed, and at least 28 working days in the case of long-term visas.

Source: British Embassy Moscow

Ukraine students in prostitute protest against sex industry

Irina — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 14:45:42 +0000

STUNNING students launched a blunt protest against Ukraine’s booming brothel business – by dressing as prostitutes and telling sex tourists to get lost.

The demonstration, in capital Kiev, is tied to fears held amongst many Ukrainians that the growing sex tourism industry is tarnishing their country.

“Lots of foreigners come here for sex, and to put it bluntly sex tours are now being sold. We don’t want our country to become a big brothel. It’s a shame and it’s shameful,” said one girl.

Prostitution is illegal but nevertheless widespread, with around 12,000 prostitutes in the former Soviet republic. Many head overseas to ply their trade – some of them becoming sex slavery victims.

And increasing numbers of US and European visitors are heading to Kiev for the same reason they once favoured Bangkok – to hunt out sordid pleasures.

Two more British Visa Application Centres opens in Russia

Irina — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:45:00 +0000

The British Embassy in Moscow announced today that it would open two new Visa Application Centres, in Novosibirsk and Rostov-on-Don. Together with existing Centres in Moscow, St Petersburg and Ekaterinburg, this brings the total number of Visa Application Centres in Russia to five. The new locations, which will open in August 2008, have been chosen after extensive market research on the part of our commercial partner, Visa Facilitation Services, which indicated significant demand for visa application services in those areas.

Jon Gray, Head of Visa Services for Russia, said:

These two new Visa Application Centres will make travel to Britain much easier for those in the vicinity of Novosibirsk and Rostov-on-Don, who will no longer have to travel large distances to submit their biometric data. We have been able to open these two new centres thanks to improved efficiencies flowing from the centralising of all Russia-wide visa decision-making at our hub in Moscow, thus improving quality and consistency for all our customers.

The two new Visa Application Centres will initially be able to accept up to sixty visa applications per day, with the facility to vary this capacity according to demand.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

More detailed information about how to apply and UK Visa Application Centres in Russia can be found at: www.ukvac-ru.com

Moscow-based decision-making begins Tuesday 27 May for applications lodged in Ekaterinburg, and later in the year for those lodged in St Petersburg.

Target is to process within 5 working days 90% of application being submitted at the VAC.

Advice remains to apply as early as possible, and at least 15 working days in advance of a trip, but up to 28 working days for longer term visas.

For further information, please contact:
Press and Public Affairs Section of the British Embassy
Tel.: 956.72.11 or 956.72.81
E-mail: moscow@britishembassy.ru
Website: www.britaininrussia.ru

Source: British Embassy Moscow

The International Marriage Broker Regulation Act

Irina — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:45:25 +0000

The International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (IMBRA) was initially introduced in Congress in 2003 and its sponsors were unable to pass it for more than 2 years. In December 2005 however they “plugged it into” the universally applauded Violence Against Women and Children Act (VAWA), which was up for renewal. The voting happened in Congress on December 17th, the last day before Christmas holidays, without any hearing or debating. Thus IMBRA, which became a non-obtrusive Subtitle “D” to VAWA, got voted to life.

On January 5, 2006, President Bush signed VAWA (and IMBRA) with the enacting date of 6 March 2006, thus making it a fully valid law.

From 6 March 2006 any international marriage agency should comply with this law in regard to USA clients by requesting a Personal Disclosure form to be filled out on the site, which will be sent to all the ladies you want to contact, as according to the law. The agency should check the collected data against the database of sexual offenders (http://www.nsopr.gov) and presents the contents of the Personal Disclosure Statement in the native language of the lady. (PLEASE NOTE: Non-USA clients do not have to provide Disclosures and their service operates exactly in the same manner as before.)

Fair or not, the law was voted to life by the Congress and signed by the President of the United States.

Fortunately for you, the latest edition of the law allows for the disclosure forms to be filled in and signed electronically, much in the same fashion you sign a website’s Terms and Conditions when register as a member.

This is quite simple and doesn’t take lots of time.

You as a USA client will need to fill in the disclosure form only ONCE. (If you are from other country than USA, you do NOT need to fill in any disclosure forms. The law is not applicable to you. The distinction is done by the software by the field “Location” in your profile.)

From your side, the main difference is that you need to fill in a disclosure form once.

I hope that this information makes you feel more comfortable knowing that the Romance Agency we work with is complying with the new law and your relationships with our ladies can still continue.

Ukraine drops visa requirements for 25 European countries including the US and Canada

Irina — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:40:00 +0000

According to the decrees of the President of Ukraine VISA-FREE REGIME has been established for citizens of the following countries:

United States of America
Japan
Canada

25 European Union member states:

Austria
Belgium
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
The Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
The Swiss Confederation
Principality of Liechtenstein
Principality of Andorra
The Holy See (State of the Vatican City)
Republic of Iceland
Principality of Monaco
Kingdom of Norway
Republic of San Marino

Citizens of the above-mentioned countries do not need visas to enter Ukraine or transit through its territory for the period of time of up to 90 days with a valid travel passport.