PRESS RELEASE

September 26, 2005

PROCREDIT BANK TO ACCEPT U.S. VISA APPLICATION FEES

Starting September 26, select branches of ProCredit Bank in Kyiv will accept payment of the $100 U.S. nonimmigrant visa application fee -- the “machine-readable visa” or MRV fee. This new service is free of charge to visa applicants.

"This free, secure service is the Embassy’s most recent effort to streamline visa procedures for Ukrainian applicants," said the U.S. Consul General, MaryKay Carlson. "It will also be much more convenient for applicants who will no longer have to wait in line to see our single consular cashier," she said. "Since the German Embassy also accepts payments through ProCredit Bank, many Ukrainian visa applicants are already familiar with this process," she said.

All nonimmigrant visa fees for Ukrainians were eliminated in July 2005. However, the Congressionally-mandated $100 application (MRV) fee remains in effect worldwide for all applicants for U.S. nonimmigrant visas.

The new MRV payment system has many advantages. Applicants do not need to pay in person. Friends, colleagues or family can make the payment at ProCredit Bank on the applicant’s behalf by presenting either the applicant’s passport or its photocopy. The bank tellers only need the applicant’s name, as written in his or her international passport, and passport number. The transaction takes just minutes and can be done at the applicant’s convenience any day prior to the visa interview date. There are no banking fees assessed for this service.

In addition, applicants no longer have to pay the visa application fee in U.S. dollars, as was required at the U.S. Embassy. In compliance with Ukrainian law, payments can only be accepted in hryvnias. The U.S. Embassy sets the exchange rate.

Applicants will receive a smart card (a small plastic card containing a computer chip) and three paper receipts from ProCredit Bank in exchange for their payment. This smart card will be scanned at the Consular Section to confirm payment and one receipt will be retained with the visa application.

The following ProCredit branches will accept U.S. nonimmigrant visa application payments:

ProCredit Bank plans to expand the service soon to other branches throughout Ukraine.

Consul-General MaryKay Carlson and ProCredit Bank General Manager Dirk Habock will be available to answer questions about this new service on September 27, at 11:00 am at ProCredit Bank, Chervonoarmiyska Street 24. Please be advised that Chervonoarmiyska Street is under construction. Please plan your trip accordingly. Call 490-4090 or 490-4129 by 5:00 p.m. today to register.