Way to Russia Talk Lounge

John060675 · Just Starting Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 6

My wife is originally from Russia, and she is now in St. Petersburg to finish her graduate studies. I would like to go there for several months to be with her. Here is my questions:

1. G3 Visas offers a business visa with an inviation option. Even though I am not going to Russia to work (yet), they say I can use this. Is this a common thing or is it something that will get me in serious trouble?

2. If I get this "business visa" and stay for several months, I plan on finding a job (English teacher, sales, etc.). Will having a business visa from another organization allow me to work at any company while I am there? or will I have to reapply through the new company?

Thank you for your help on this issue!

saint_chrisburg · Frequent Guest Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 46

1) A business visa is the most common visa for those wishing to stay in Russia longer than 3 months. You don't necessarily have to have any work lined up at the time. I was never once asked anything specific by a Russian guard regarding my business visas. Oddly, one time a Finnish guard started interrogating me about it...I'm not sure what business it was of his, since he was only responsible for letting me leave Finland, not for letting me enter Russia. Anyway, I digress...

2) If you find a job that pays under the table (teaching, sales, etc) then you'll have no issues, seeing as you are technically working illegally (don't worry, this is how most expats work). If you wish to have legal work, all on the books and what not, you have to have a lot more than just a business visa.

First off, the Russian government (like most governments) has very strict rules on the hiring of foreigners (can only have 1 foreign worker per x number of Russian workers, etc.) so the beauracracy alone makes most companies extremely reluctant to legally hire a foreign worker. If they do, however, eventually you'll have to go and get work authorization, which will be handled for the most part by your employer, but you will also have to do your own busy work as well. When you have authorization, you'll receive a booklet like document (I forget the official title of the document) which your employers fill out - it's sort of a government issue cv (but obviously much more official) as any company you legally work for will enter information in this booklet (and when you leave a company's employment, the reason why is also entered - e.g. if you're fired for stealing pens, that's exactly what will be written in the book...obviously this will have major repercussions for any future legal work you might try to obtain).

I think you're also require to take a yearly physical and show that you don't have any communicable diseases. My memory is a little sketchy on the medical part though (it's been a long time since I've been involved with this stuff!).

Unfortunately, I'm not exactly sure what will happen if you have a business visa sponsored by one company, and try to get work at another. The bureaucrats will certianly check and see that there's a discrepancy...whether they'll care is another question.

I once had a visa sponsored by a company I DID work for, and they still didn't bother getting my official work authorization. So I worked for them in this kind of legal/illegal manner for a while until I left the company.

And for your information, because you are the spouse of a Russian national, you do have the right to apply for a three-year, temporary residence card, which can then be turned into a permanent-residence card, if you wish to stay in Russia for the long term. With the three-year, temporary residence card, you're allowed to stay in Russia, with no visa(!), for three years, and you have all the same rights to work in Russia as a Russian citizen (which would be a major relief of burden of any potential employer wishing to hire you for legal work). You can get more information about the residence card through the U.S. Embassy in Moscow's website. Please note, however, that many government officials in Russia are unaware/unhelpful when it comes to obtaining residency, so stick to your guys, otherwise you'll just get a lot of blank stares and "there's no such thing" comments.

John060675 · Just Starting Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 6

I am not sure if this belongs in the forum section, but I cannot find it anywhere on here.

I am married to a Russian woman, who is in St. Petersburg studying now. I would love to go over there for several months to be with her, and I was told on here that there is a temporary residency card option that I can get.

My question, can I get this before I go over there, or do I need to get remarried in Russia and apply for it over there?

I would appreciate any feedback on the process. The Russian Embassy's website does not really explain it. Thank you.

saint_chrisburg · Frequent Guest Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 46

You can only get the temporary residence card once you are legally in Russia. You'll first have to enter with a regular visa (best choice is a business visa). You do not have to be "re-married in Russia" - you will, however, have to bring your original marriage license, and have a notarized translation of it done into Russian. There are some other documents necessary, as well. I think they post all the requirements on the American Embassy website, but if they don't, you just need to find out at the local OVIR where you apply for the permit in the first place.