I have been humbled by the many of you that have written to ask about our visa situation and what the future holds for us here in Ukraine. I posted one time about it, and countless of you took me very seriously. I am just so grateful for that, too!
The short answer is, there is no answer yet.
Hubby left on an overnight train last night to begin the first step of our process, that of renewing my passport. My passport does not expire until June or July (sorry, I forgot which), but to renew a visa, the passport has to have at least 6 months of "life" on it for the new visa. After spending the day at the American Embassy, hubby is on the train again tonight, returning home. In 10 days or so, he will make the 12-hour trip back to the capital city of Kiev to pick up my passport. [Have I ever confessed on here that I really don't like it when hubby is gone? I just really love being around that man!]
The next step in this paperwork process is being invited by an established organization (which, for us, will be our church here, Simferopol Baptist Church). Then, that invitation will have to be approved. It seems the problem that we might be facing right now is that this region of our country is seemingly not wanting to accept any invitations. No invitation = No visa.
It is really too early to know our fate yet. We have until March on our current visas and are redeeming our time here. We are already gearing up for our annual married couples' Valentine's Day banquet! I always love celebrating with my Love and the sweet couples in our church.
The positive side to this entire issue is that, after leaving Ukraine in March (we'll just be visiting a neighboring country long enough to officially leave the country.... we're thinking Italy {sounds exotic, doesn't it?!}) we can come back in for three months just as tourists, no matter what the outcome on our visas is.
And, maybe by then, the laws will have changed (in our favor) again.
Please know, that for each pray that is offered on our behalf, I am sincerely grateful.
Praying for you, my friends.
ReplyDeleteUkraine and uncertainty seem to go hand in hand. Praying for you.
ReplyDeletePraying for you and your family! Thank you for sharing so that I could pray for you guys!
ReplyDeleteI hear you! We're making plans to return to Odessa, and while we shouldn't have problems with the invitation letter and visa, it's the registration process that will be the biggest challenge!
ReplyDeletePraying!
We are praying by November that the laws have changed.
ReplyDeletePraying for your family!!
ReplyDeletePraying for you too Jolene.
ReplyDeleteI'll pray too, Jolene! We just drove down to the capital today to work on my visa. Laws have changed here too and I just lost all my years of residency status today :( We were hoping I could start my process to become a citizen this year, but now I have no years of residence to my account, so, well, the Lord knows and we rest in that! :)
ReplyDeleteI will say, we only have to drive 3 1/2 hours down to La Paz, so when I feel tired after a day of driving/paperwork, I'll remember to be thankful that we don't have to go any further!
Have a wonderful rest of the week, friend!
I'm praying! We have until March to figure our visas out, too.
ReplyDeleteWe will continue to pray.
ReplyDeleteWe will be praying!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the update. Been wondering how that was going. I'm praying for you every morning during my devotions that God will work that situation out for you as only He can.
ReplyDeleteWe're certainly praying for you and the situation on the visas!
ReplyDeleteWe will be praying!!!
ReplyDeleteI will sure whisper a prayer for you guys:))
ReplyDeleteHope everything works out for ya'll!!! ;D <3
That uncertainty is difficult but an opportunity to stretch our faith. We will continue to pray for this situation.
ReplyDeleteWe just had some laws regarding these things change here, too, so I understand a bit of the uncertainty you must be feeling! Thankfully, once we looked into things, our law change didn't effect us. This time. :-) Will be praying for you, that your the Lord will open the doors wide for His will to be accomplished- and that He'll show you that will very soon! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update! Been wondering how things were going. Will continue to pray!
ReplyDeletePraying for your situation. What a peace to know that our Heavenly Father is in control.
ReplyDeleteLove you much,
Anna