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svarneticist
Just Starting
Joined: 07 Jan 2007
Posts: 4
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 Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 8:31 pm Post subject: extending/overstaying child's visa |
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Hello all!
I brought my four-year-old son, a US citizen, to Russia. He has his own passport with a tourist visa that will expire in a few days. The trouble is that I have to delay our trip back to US because I am still waiting for my own US visa. I guess my son is going to overstay his visa by at least one week. This leaves me with a few options:
- ignore the situation and hope for the best at the SVO border control. What are they going to do? Detain a four-year-old? Fine? Ban from entering Russia for a few years (I woldn't care much about this one)? Just say something nasty (they do it anyway)?
- go to Ministry of Foreign affairs and try to extend the visa. It's been said in this forum that "In practice, it is impossible to extend your Russian visa."
- get US consulate to help their citizen to extend the visa. It would be only fair if they solve the problem they created :--)
Would you advise me on the best course of action?
What should I do if US consulate makes me wait for another month?
Thank you!
Mikhail |
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Rick
Moderator
Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 854
Location: Êàñàáëàíêà
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| Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 2:53 am Post subject: |
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That seems like a tough one. I don't know anything about it, but did you already have contact with the US embassy about this situation? You son can clearly not travel on his own and he seems the one who will have a visa problem soon. Also, I guess you will want to leave the country together.
Could you maybe explain your own visa situation a bit more clearly. There must be someone here that can give you some help. We must have plenty Americans with Russian roots on the forum.. |
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waytorussia
Frequent Guest
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 14
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| Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:04 am Post subject: |
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Hi,
The situation seems to be really tricky.
I guess the worst case scenario in case your 4-year old son overstays his visa is that he will not be allowed to Russia for a few years but I really doubt they will detain him. They might detain you though and not let you out of Russia because you are his father. So I would go for this option in the extreme case only (or unless you're at least ready to lose your air ticket).
The second option seems to be the most reasonable. But I think you should go to the company that issued the invitation (visa support) for your son. Come to them, explain that your only option is that your son overstays the visa in which case legally the company that issued the visa support will be held responsible. Nobody wants to have problems with officials, so I'm pretty sure they are going to help. It may cost $100-$200 US but they might be able to prolong your son's visa due to these circumstances.
The third option, well, it would be the best if US consulate actually gave you your visa faster, that would solve everything and it's not really hard to do for them.
Another possibility is to think what would happen if your son lost the passport. Then he would not be able to fly... ok... he'd get a special paper from the US embassy (as fast as they can do it) that the passport is lost and then you'd go to the company that made the invitation or to the ministry of foreign affairs to get the exit visa. In that case you wouldn't be able to fly out of Russia because your son doesn't have the passport nor the visa.... |
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waytorussia
Frequent Guest
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 14
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svarneticist
Just Starting
Joined: 07 Jan 2007
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:58 pm Post subject: |
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Thank you for your advice, guys.
Here is the deal with me. I am waiting for my H1b visa from US Consulate. At the interview on Dec 21 they told me that they are sending my papers to Washington DC for security check. I guess they do it with all (most) H1b applicants. It rarely takes longer than a week or two these days. Probably my visa got delayed because of all these holidays. Sooner or later they will discover that I'm no threat to anyone and give it to me. I've been studying biology in US for many years and my papers are in good shape and always have been.
I guess, there is no way the consulate would change their procedure for me, but maybe they can fix the issue with Russian authorities for my son, a US citizen? His Russian visa is until Jan 11 and there is only a small chance that I will get my visa on time. I am writing to the consulate again to explain the situation.
Anyway, tomorrow the holidays in Russia are over and I will make an attempt to extend my son's visa.
Obviously I appreciate any of your suggestions
Thank you
M. |
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Rick
Moderator
Joined: 04 May 2005
Posts: 854
Location: Êàñàáëàíêà
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| Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Maybe you should call the Us consulate as well, instead of just writing? Since your son is a US citizen, they should feel some obligation to help him in this situation. |
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svarneticist
Just Starting
Joined: 07 Jan 2007
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:19 am Post subject: |
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Hi guys,
I think I have the solution to my problem. I'll have to tell you later how it worked in practice.
Here is how the consulate responded:
| Quote: | | ... Per the above, the American Citizen Services unit is unable to assist you with you son’s Russian visa problem notwithstanding his US citizenship. It is indeed quite troublesome to handle visa problems in Russia. We have to agree that extension of Russian visa are reported to be granted only on the exigent circumstances basis. In any case an attempt should be made through your son’s visa sponsor listed on the visa. If we may recommend at all, you can consider leaving the country temporarily visiting a neighboring state, for instance, Ukraine, or the Baltics, and come back having collected a new Russian visa for your son at the Russian Embassy in one of the named countries. Another option that seems to us realistic would be to have one of your relatives travel out of the country with the child to get a Russian visa anew, or even take the boy to the US where you reside. |
... not a good idea.
On the phone, a lady told me to just deal with UVIR and that it might not be such a big problem. She was right.
Today the director (or whoever that guy was) of UVIR told me to come back to him when I am ready to fly back (have my US visa and tickets) and bring two photos of my son and 300 roubles. I will have to write some letter and he will give my son an exit visa. Sounds alright to me. I hope this is what will actually happen in the end.
Meanwhile, I'm still waiting for my US visa. What a drag! Anyone's willing to solve this problem? :--)
Thanks again and I hope I'll be able to actually try that procedure out.
M. |
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