Way to Russia Talk Lounge

derevyan

Hi All,

I am seeking advice on a complex dillema. I have recently acquired US citizenship while still having a Russian one. I left Russia 8 years ago and at the time i am 22 so i still have some years till 27 and I am free of the military. I am still "propisan" in Moscow in an apartment my parents still own. The dillema is the following: I have recently received a job offer with a US company that works in Russia and would be very happy to send me there for small periods of time (to Sakhalin Island).

I am not sure how to go about this, but the only option seems to be resigning my Russian citizenship, which I really don't want to do unless I know for a fact I can get it back. I am not sure if I can work in Russia on a Russian citizenship if I have not completed military service. Does anybody have any ideas what I should do? This is a great job offer and I don't want to pass it up .

Thank you in advance,

Andrei

DITTRICH · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 4:03 pm Post subject:

Check the forum carefully for other threads.
Essentially what you have to do is deregister yourself from your russian address and register with the Russian Embassy in the USA.
I think one other poster, goDutch, knows the process quite well.
Essentially, once you change your place of registration, the draft won't catch you because their information comes through the propiska system and without a proposika in Russia, you'll never be called up.
I have a close aquaintance who has done this and he regularly visits russia no problems.
The point is you don't have to give up ANYTHING.
Les

derevyan · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 7:02 pm Post subject:

Dittrich,

I gathered that from the other forum discussions but I haven't heard anyone mention working in Russia once you register with an embassy. It just seems like it would be illegal somehow...

DITTRICH · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 7:30 pm Post subject:

I am struggling to wonder what sort of "bureacratic footprint" you will have in Sakhalin. You're not obliged to have a propiska there. My view is that you ensure you are registered in the USA and take the job. Surely a word with the 'otdel kadrov' (HR) in your company in sakhalin will tell you what sort of documentation they need to employ you as a russian local (that is if your employment is local and your salary is paid locally in roubles). As to whether all this is "illegal" I don't really know. Many people rent apartments without having a propiska in that apartment. Speak your company's local HR for an unofficial opinion. I bet you're not the first.
Les
PS If you receive good information, please post it here for others to use.