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Randy
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 13 Jul 2003
Posts: 115
Location: Texas, USA
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 Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 8:56 am Post subject: |
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| My passport is USA, and I have been traveling to Russia since 1991. And yes, the visa used to be seperate from the passport. My wife is Russian, my daughter, and also my two grandchildren. I have lived there on and off since 1991. I attend the pow wow's every July that is possible, visit with my family as musch as possible. I will be going back very soon because my father-in-law had a stroke and is in the hospital. I have attended funerals, weddings, births, etc. I have worked as a volunteer in the childrens hospital in St. Pete, have been an abuse consulor to Russian war veterans from Angola, Afganistan, and Chechniya. There is so much more, but then I don't have to prove anything. What is the extent of your vast experience? I believe I have much experience, but from the questioning here suggesting that I may be lying Romdur, like saying (apparently?), and EXpat, by saying ( " Anyone who imagines this to be possible or vaguely advisable has not an ounce of good common sense--nor any sense of self preservation either.") I am not giving advise, just mentioning my experience in the past. Apparently you are the only one on here that is an expert, and believe if it you haven't heard of something before, or it hasn't happened to you then it is wrong, or stupid. Please forgive me for stating my lowly experience and for trying to say something that may help someone. Expat, your five visa's are just a spit in the bucket to all the ones I have had. Yes, this should be in another thread, but better than that, I will just keep my mouth shut and be humbled by your worldly experience. How's that? |
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overseas_expat
VIP
Joined: 11 Jan 2005
Posts: 741
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 9:10 am Post subject: |
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On this page in the upper left http://www.waytorussia.net/RussianVisa/, is a picture of the Russian visa which is glued into the passport.
Advising anyone that Russian registration is not necessary--is a lie and a folly. And a particular disservice to the innocent traveler who comes here looking for assistance. |
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polarrrbear
Frequent Guest
Joined: 31 Aug 2007
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 9:25 am Post subject: |
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| Just as an information, back in early 90's (and I suppose during Soviet time as well?), visa was a purple piece of paper stapled on one of the passport pages. It didn't have to be stapled there as long as it was in it. That was pre-sticky visa. |
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romdur
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 197
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| Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 11:28 am Post subject: |
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Hey Randy,
I used the word 'apparently' because it was an inference I made from your post (reading between the lines), of which I was not quite certain. I didn't mean to imply mistrust.
I asked the questions I did because your experience is so different from anything I have heard before -- I was wondering if there was some special circumstance.
It's very cool to have input from such an "old Russia hand" with such a broad and deep range of contact with Russian life, and I hope you will continue to share your experience here.
For myself, I am a piker who loves to visit for the sheer pleasure and fascination. Whenever I leave Russia, I am thinking about when I might return again. It would be a great loss for me if my ability to travel to Russia were lost -- поэтому, I try to be "squeaky clean" about following all of the visa rules, and have tried to learn exactly what they are.
But in Russia, there are no exact rules. |
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Randy
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 13 Jul 2003
Posts: 115
Location: Texas, USA
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| Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2010 7:42 pm Post subject: |
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Hello Romdur,
Sorry I came off a little strong in my last post. I, like you, love Rusia, and the people. I am always looking for the next oppourtunity to get back there. Maybe for different reasons than you, but just the same urge. I stay in constant contact with my family there by phone or Russian websites.
Yes, my experience there is lot different that the normal tourist, and it has been very fullfilling with both good, and some not so good experiences. Other than Mexico, it is the only country I continuosly return to.
Not that you need me to tell you, but you are doing the right thing in trying to follow the visa rules. Fortunately for me, when I get ready to go, I just make one phone call and things are taken care of. But it hasn't always been that easy for me. When I first began traveling to Russia the St. Pete airport had no terminal docking for the planes. The plane stoped on the runway and we remained seated until the military took positions on both sides of the stairs coming off the plane. They took us by bus to the terminal, the only lights in the terminal were in the passport control booths which were made of plywood. It was in the middle of winter, the roof had holes in it, and it was so cold. Pretty scary, and some of these people had never even seen an American. There were no 'McDonalds, or Pizza Huts', and the only food stores were strictly government owned. It was a totally different place then. I have seen the laws change litterlly over night, as well as their history. I have learned so much, but have so much to learn. I will also enjoy hearing about your experiences there Romdur.
As for EXpat, well, you are still intent on trying to humiliate me, and completely blow my post all out of proportion. quote"Advising anyone that Russian registration is not necessary--is a lie and a folly. And a particular disservice to the innocent traveler who comes here looking for assistance.". Again, I have never advised anyone not to register their visa, or lied in my post. I am happy that there is someone like you who can quote the laws, and know everything there is to know about Russia here in this site. |
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ColeW1993
Just Starting
Joined: 10 Mar 2010
Posts: 1
Location: Seattle, Washington, United States of America
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| Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 5:06 am Post subject: |
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| O.k, so, just out of curiosity, what happens if you fail to register. Also, what happens if you are late leaving Russia, than what your visa authorized? |
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romdur
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 197
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| Posted: Wed Mar 10, 2010 7:41 am Post subject: |
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ColeW,
Failure to register
One definite consequence, is that if you did not register, and you are "controlled" (that is, your documents are checked by a Russian official) you will be required to pay a fine, and might have difficulties obtaining a visa from Russia in the future.
There may be other consequences, I don't have clear information about this.
Leaving Russia late
See http://www.waytorussia.net/TalkLounge/conversation13913.html |
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sunebeck
Just Starting
Joined: 09 Aug 2010
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
Firstly, I had to "register" to post on this forum, hah, hah. 
| overseas_expat wrote: | | I can't believe there is even any discussion here on the possibility of NOT registering in Russia. Anyone who imagines this to be possible or vaguely advisable has not an ounce of good common sense--nor any sense of self preservation either. |
I went to Russia (Moscow and SPB) seven times and only registered three times. Then I stopped doing it. My Russian friends are divided, some say of course a cop will use it against you to get a bribe if you are randomly stopped in the street or in car, and they decide to think it matters. But the other half say that only Asian-looking people would ever get questioned about registration, and that they would never see any reason to do it.
Upon exit I hardly doubt they ever check for registration; I always passed through quickly: A swift scan of the passport, a slight glance from the lady (face comparison), two stamps, and you're off to go.
If you decide to register but do not stay in a hotel, you either have the choice of inconveniencing your homestay hosts by making them make a private registration (the procedure is a bit annoying and involves having to go to the local police station, wait there, fill out a really long form, etc) or pay some office to do this. They fill the forms and go to the post office to register you. One such example is getrussian dot com (they also make visas).
But my general experience is that the passport ladies really only care about the immigration card and visa. And the passport itself of course. And the person passing.
Sune |
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DITTRICH-2010
Frequent Guest
Joined: 18 Mar 2010
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 4:15 pm Post subject: |
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There is a big distinction between people who don't register and those who do. The above posters who don't seem to be experienced and have made an educated decision for themselves. Anyone else just going on one trip would be advised to follow the rules and register. Russia is remarkable in that most of the time you can do what you want until something happens. Not registering is a breach of their laws in their country. Experienced people might have the confidence to solve any such problem in unconventional ways but one trip tourists should not do this because they aren't familiar with the country and its little ways. Advising anyone not to register is in my opinion just asking for trouble. Note that the people who don't register made the decision themselves based on familiarity and weighing up the risks. The people you are advising are not capable of doing this (if they were they would not post the question).
I have been travelling to Russia for many years and I trudge to the post office every year to register. It takes an hour or so but buys me peace of mind. |
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