Way to Russia Talk Lounge

Listvianka · Frequent Guest Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 46

I had a one year buisness visa which expied 4th May this year. With this visa I bought land in Listvianka which got registered under my name on 26 th june last year, and I built a house on the land which got registered on 19 th november last year.

My problem is that I had to go back to France to renew my visa but now buisness visas only alow people to stay in Russia for 90 days every 180 days in the year!
Last year I aplied to the OVIR for a 3 years' residential visa which got turned down; I aplied again but still have no reply. My question is if the OVIR are able to turn down my request for a residential visa despite having my home here and having lived here for more than a year.

Is there any point in my starting to grow a vegetable garden or to repare the damage caused by the break in to my house whilst in France trying to renew my Visa?

(excuse my French)
Thanks in advance for any constructive feedback.

goDutch · Frequent Guest Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 64

OVIR will most probably turn down you request for a residental visa. From my experience I know that having property in Russia does not give a foreigner any advantage in getting/registering visas. I own an appartment there. When I tried to apply for a tourist visa, the Russian consulate asked me to pay a hotel in advance for the whole period of stay. Moreover, when I visited Russia on a business visa, OVIR refused to register me in my own appartement. They said that a self-registration is prohibited.

Listvianka · Frequent Guest Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 46

Wrong! She very reluctently did so - but the head of the Ovir herself registered me at my home adress. But she still reffuses to fill my name in my "domavaya knigy" (home book) as this would apparently force them to give me the 3 years' visa!
I had to use a strong voice and tell her that the whole point of the registration voulchers is for the Russian gvt to know where I am staying whilst in Russia, she did not apreciate being talked down to but it was the only way to get her to comply.

My question to you then is if getting a wife or adopting a russian child could be of any help to me in getting permition to stay at home.

Listvianka · Frequent Guest Joined: 29 Jan 2008 Posts: 46

I was told by the immigration officials that I should get my Residential Visa on Thursday. Horray!
My question now is about the 5 years' visa. I believe that to be eligable you must have stayed in Russia for 75% of the 3 Years. What happens if you have only stayed for 70% of the time?

danbrew · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 3:55 am Post subject: