On May 4, 2005, the U.S. Embassy begins issuing immigrant visas for Ukrainian citizens in Kyiv. Previously, immigrant visa applicants had to travel to the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw to complete the immigrant visa process. Implementing immigrant visa processing in Kyiv saves significant time and resources for Ukrainian citizens who no longer have to travel to Poland. The vast majority of immigrant visas for Ukrainians are issued on the basis of existing family ties to the United States. Applications for the Diversity Visa program (“visa lottery”) will continue to be processed in Warsaw; refugee applications will continue to be processed in Moscow.

The U.S.Embassy in Kyiv has received over 600 pending immigrant visa cases in various stages of completion from the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw. Applicants who were interviewed in Warsaw and were asked to present additional documents will complete their immigrant visa cases in Warsaw.

The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv will soon send information packets with instructions on how to schedule an immigrant visa interview to all applicants on-file. Applicants who have notified the Embassy that they have already collected all of the required documents and are ready to be interviewed will then receive appointment packets containing an appointment date, application forms, and additional instructions.

For the purposes of fairness and efficiency, immigrant visa interviews are conducted by appointment only. For additional information, please contact ivkyiv@state.gov or visit http://kyiv.usembassy.gov/visa_immigrantvisas_eng.html.