Remarks to the Press by U.S. Embassy Consul General MaryKay Carlson
Kyiv, Ukraine
July 13, 2005
CONSUL GENERAL MARYKAY CARLSON: Thank you all very much for coming today. I feel very privileged to be here in Ukraine, working at the American Embassy during this time of a great spirit of cooperation between our two countries, the United States and Ukraine.
Relations with Ukraine are very important, and this includes consular relations. When people think of consular work or consular relations, of course everyone thinks of visas and passports, and that is what consular work is about. But more importantly, it's about the people behind those passports and behind those visas. We are always looking for ways to enhance our cooperation on consular matters for the benefit of the traveling public, both for Americans coming here and Ukrainians going to the United States.
First, we have reduced the fees for visas. Currently, we charge only the $100 application fee, which is what the U.S. Congress mandates for every visa applicant, everywhere in the world.
The U.S. government has also invested over $180,000 in renovating our consular building to make the facility better for Ukrainians who come to us for services. This renovation, for example, allowed us to bring over immigrant visa processing for Ukrainian citizens that previously was being done by the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw. Now, Ukrainians who have family members in the United States, who are immigrating there, no longer have to travel to Warsaw to get their visas, at a great savings of time and money.
We also have, and I think this is very important to note, a very clear, transparent, free, and fair appointment system, that is done either online or by e-mail, at no charge to the applicant. The applicants can select their dates, either the next available appointment date, or a later appointment date of their own choosing.
Ukrainian demand for nonimmigrant visas is up dramatically -- 30 percent for the first six months of this year, compared to the same time period last year. Thirty percent more. We are working very hard, by acquiring -- as I mentioned already -- renovated premises and new personnel to process these cases for the traveling public.
And I would like to pledge to you, and to try to get this point across today, that it is our intent, in the Consular Section, to issue visas to one hundred percent of the qualified applicants who apply. If you're qualified, our goal is to help you get that visa so you can travel. At the same time, U.S. law requires, and it is our obligation, to refuse one hundred percent of those who are not qualified.
Visa decisions are made in Ukraine as in every U.S. consular operation all over the world, according to U.S. law, which, in this case, is the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation on the issue of American visas out in the public.
Also unfortunately, despite the improvements that we've made, despite the fact that there is a transparent system, that all the information is on our website about how to get a visa, we have expedited procedures to get an appointment if you have a medical emergency, or you're a student, or you have a business meeting you have to get to -- we have ways to facilitate that -- but unfortunately, there are unscrupulous people, working outside of our consular section, who cheat Ukrainians. Please don't use these intermediaries, and don't believe what they tell you, if they say that they can help you get a visa quickly, or for a fee of $300, $500, $600 -- that's just not true.
What these unscrupulous people do is they sell a package of documents, that will have an invitation letter, and all kinds of information. We can spot these packages. We see them every day. And it's very unfortunate, because then these applicants get refused. And our computerized system is such that if you're refused in Kyiv, that information is available if you try to apply in South Africa, if you try to apply in Moscow, if you try to apply in Canada -- that information is in our global database permanently.
Remember also that only American consular officers make visa decisions. Of course, we have a very qualified and dedicated staff of Ukrainian employees who assist in the consular section, but they don't make visa decisions. And also, there is no consular office of the U.S. Embassy outside of our facility at 6 Pymonenko Street. So if a Ukrainian citizen operating out of an office somewhere near -- or far -- from our office promises you a visa, I can promise you that is fraud. And this kind of fraud hurts the legitimate travelers as well, because it creates delays, it makes us question all the documents that we receive. And we would like to combat that kind of fraud as much as we can, and we appreciate your support in helping get that word out so that Ukrainian citizens aren't cheated.
I have a lot more to say, but let me hear from you, so let me open it up to questions now, and then we can go from there.
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The full transcript of the questions and answers is not reprinted here, but please visit the Consular Section website at for more information on visas and the visa application process.