Wayzata World Factbook 1996/The World Factbook - 1996 Edition - Wayzata Technology (3079) (1996).iso/pc/text/tvltxt/ukraine.tvl

Text File | 1995-12-13 | 9KB | 155 lines

STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Ukraine
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Ukraine - Consular Information Sheet
 February 3, 1995

Country Description:  Ukraine is a nation undergoing profound
political and economic change.  It is a newly independent nation
still in the process of stabilizing its relations with neighboring
countries.  Tourist facilities are not highly developed, and many of
the goods and services taken for granted in other countries are not
yet available.  Except for the cities of Sevastopol and Balaklava,
which remain formally closed to foreigners and non-residents, travel
within Ukraine is unrestricted.  Internal travel, especially by air,
may be disrupted by fuel shortages and other problems.

Entry Requirements:  A passport and visa are required.  Visas can
be obtained in advance from the Embassy of Ukraine, located at 3350
M Street NW, Washington D.C. 20007, tel.[phone] or 333-7507,
or fax [phone].  Visas are also available from the Ukrainian
Consulates in Chicago and New York.  A letter of invitation from a
person, company, or organization in Ukraine or a tour company
voucher, is currently required to obtain a visa.  Travelers who
arrive without a visa must obtain one either at the border point or
within 24 hours of arrival.  Visas valid for 72 hours only are
issued at Kiev's Borispil Airport, at the airports of Lviv,
Simferopol and Odesa, and at the following border checkpoints:
Chop, Uzhhorod, Mostyska, Yalta, and Vadul-Syret.  Travelers who
cannot obtain visas as they enter Ukraine must apply within 24 hours
at a local "Visas, Permits and Passport Department" office of the
Ministry of Internal Affairs (VVIR).  Visas obtained in Ukraine cost
substantially more than visas obtained prior to travel--as much as
$150.00 U.S. dollars for a single entry visa. The duration of stay
will be determined by the traveler's letter of invitation.

Note: Travelers who intend to visit Russia from Ukraine must have a
Russian visa.  The Russian Embassy in Ukraine is located at Prospekt
Kutuzova 8, Kiev, tel: [phone].

Ukraine Registration:  All foreigners visiting Ukraine are required
to register their passports with local law enforcement authorities.
Visitors who do not register may experience delays when leaving
Ukraine, or difficulty when trying to extend visas.  The
registration requirement is automatically met when foreigners stay
in hotels, or when resident business persons register their
businesses, or when students register under established exchange
programs.  Private visitors must have their hosts, relatives or
landlords register their U.S. passport at the local "Visas, Permits
and Passport Department" office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs
(VVIR) office.  Foreigners staying three working days or less need
not register.  A fee of 10 U.S. dollars or the Ukrainian equivalent
is usually charged for visa extensions or passport registration.
Since December, 1993, foreign missionaries with expired Ukrainian
visas may only renew them with the support of the committee on
religious affairs of the city administration of the city in which
their sponsoring organization is registered.

Medical Facilities:  Medical care in Ukraine is limited.  The U.S.
Embassy maintains a list of English speaking physicians in the area.
 There is a severe shortage of basic medical supplies, including
disposable needles, anesthetics, and antibiotics.  Elderly travelers
and those with existing health problems may be at risk due to
inadequate medical facilities.  There have been isolated cases of
diphtheria, typhoid and cholera in Ukraine.  Adequate vaccination
usually protects against these diseases.  Doctors and hospitals
often expect immediate cash payment for health services.  U.S.
medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States.
Travelers have found that in some cases, supplemental medical
insurance with specific overseas coverage has proved to be useful.
Some travelers, for instance, the elderly, may wish to purchase
insurance that covers the cost of medical air evacuation.  Further
information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for
Disease Control's international travelers hotline, tel: (404)
332-4559.

Crime Information:  The deteriorated state of the Ukrainian economy
has led to an increase in economically motivated crimes.  Inflation,
unemployment, and the breakdown of the country's social fabric have
contributed to an ever increasing and violent crime rate.
Westerners and their residences are increasingly being viewed by the
local criminal element as a target-rich environment.  The loss or
theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to
the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The
Department of State's pamphlet "A Safe Trip Abroad" provides useful
information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security
while traveling abroad.  Additional information on the region can be
found in the brochure "Tips for Travelers to Russia".  Both
publications are available from the Superintendent of Documents,
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402.

Internal Travel:  Roads in Ukraine are in generally poor condition.
 Gasoline and diesel fuel may be very difficult to obtain and repair
services are often unsatisfactory.  Many Westerners who choose to
travel by automobile often rent a car and driver, although some
self-drive rental cars are available.  A few isolated cases of
carjackings of Western-made or foreign-registered cars in particular
have been reported in western Ukraine near the Polish border.
Recently, there has been an increase in the number of documented
reports of criminal acts occurring on Ukrainian trains; these acts
include gassings and robberies.  Make sure passenger compartment
doors are shut at night.

Aviation Oversight:  In March 1993, the U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration assessed Ukraine's civil aviation authority as in
compliance with international aviation safety oversight standards
for Ukraine carriers operating to and from the U.S.  The same level
of safety oversight would typically be applied to operations to
other destinations.  For further information, travelers may contact
the Department of Transportation at 1-800-322-7873.

Currency Regulations:  Ukraine is a cash economy.  Travelers'
checks and credit cards are rarely accepted, including for major
purchases such as airline tickets.  Customs regulations prohibit
sending money through the international mail system to Ukraine.
Money sent through the mail is subject to confiscation.  In Ukraine,
changing U.S. dollars for Ukrainian coupons or another currency is
legal only at banks, currency exchange desks at hotels and at
licensed exchange booths.

Drug Penalties:  U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the
country in which they are traveling.  Penalties for possession, use,
or trafficking in illegal drugs are strict and convicted offenders
can expect jail sentences and fines.

Registration:  Americans who register at the Consular Section of
the U.S. Embassy may obtain updated information on travel and
security within Ukraine.

Embassy Location:  The U.S. Embassy in Kiev, Ukraine is located at
Yuria Kotsubinskoho 10,  telephone [phone].  The U.S.
Embassy's 24-hour emergency number (answered only in English after
working hours) is (7-044) 244-7345.

 No. 95-018

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet for Ukraine dated
September 7, 1994, to delete information on the winter energy crisis
and information on radiation levels.  Added information includes,
Ukraine registration requirements, internal travel, local crime
information, and notes a new after-hours phone number for the U.S.
Embassy.


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