Russian Women Forum: Non-USA Immigration Issues

British Council Court Win in Moscow

2009-01-31T08:06:50-04:00

[size=14]British Council Court Win[/size] Moscow Times - 30 January 2009 A Moscow appeals court has voided a raft of tax claims against the British Council, which has seen its operations hampered in Russia amid a bitter dispute about its legal status, the council said Thursday. The city's Ninth Arbitration Appeals Court drastically reduced the original tax claim, which reportedly totaled about 130 million rubles ($3.7 million), the British Council's headquarters in London said in an e-mailed statement. A British Council spokeswoman reached by telephone in London declined to elaborate, saying the "complex details would first have to be reviewed by lawyers." It was unclear what Thursday's ruling means for the dispute over the council's legal status in Russia, which culminated in the forced closure of its offices outside Moscow last January. (MT

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2008-07-27T07:53:08-04:00

Welcome to the Madhouse HollyGirl!

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2008-07-27T03:29:16-04:00

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Schengen visa news

2008-06-17T14:45:01-04:00

Applying under European law This page explains how you and your family members can apply for a registration certificate, a residence card, family member residence stamp or confirmation of permanent residence in the United Kingdom if you are a European Economic Area (EEA) or Swiss national. [b]Registration certificates[/b] A registration certificate is a document issued to EEA nationals that confirms that person's right of residence under European law. You are not required to have a registration certificate to enter, live or work in the United Kingdom. If you are a national of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia or Slovenia you are not eligible to apply for a registration certificate until you have completed 12 months continuous employment in the United Kingdom. Applications for a registration certificate should be made using application form EEA1. This can be downloaded from the right side of this page. [b]Residence cards[/b] Family members who come to the United Kingdom with an EEA national but who are not themselves a national of an EEA country can apply for a residence card, with some exceptions (see Family member residence stamp). The card confirms that person's right of residence under European law. Residence cards are normally valid for five years and take the form of an endorsement that is placed in the holder's passport. Applications for a residence card should be made using application form EEA2. This can be downloaded from the right side of this page. [b]Family member residence stamp[/b] Residence cards are not immediately available to all family members. Family members who are not themselves nationals of an EEA country and who are in the United Kingdom with a national of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia or Slovenia are not eligible to apply for a residence card until the national of those countries has been employed continuously in the United Kingdom for 12 months. Until the 12 months is completed, a family member who is not an EEA national can apply for a family member residence stamp to confirm his/her right of residence under European law. Applications for a family member residence stamp should be made using application form FMRS. This can be downloaded from the right side of this page. [b]Permanent residence[/b] After you have lived in the United Kingdom for a continuous period of five years you can apply for confirmation of your permanent residence. You will need to have been living in the United Kingdom and in employment, self-employment, studying or self-sufficient throughout the five year period. For your residence in the United Kingdom to be considered continuous you should not be absent from the United Kingdom for more than six months each year. Longer absences for compulsory military service will not affect your residence. Additionally, a single absence of a maximum of 12 months for important reasons such as pregnancy, child birth, serious illness, study, vocational training or posting overseas will not affect your residence. EEA and Swiss nationals will be issued with a document that confirms they are permanent residents in the United Kingdom. This document has no expiry date. Applications by EEA and Swiss nationals should be made using application form EEA3. This can be downloaded from the right side of this page. Non-EEA nationals will be issued with an endorsement that is placed in the holder's passport. This endorsement is valid for 10 years. Applications from non-EEA nationals should be made using application form EEA4. This can be downloaded from the right side of this page. [b]Making an application[/b] There is no charge for applications under European law. You should make sure you use the correct application form. All application forms are available on the right side of this page. The application forms contain details of all the information that you must supply to support your application. You must send the original documentation with your completed application form. From 25 February 2008, completed EEA1 application forms should be sent to: Home Office PO Box 306 Dept 45 Liverpool L2 0QN All other completed application forms should be sent to: European Applications UK Border Agency Lunar House 40 Wellesley Road Croydon CR9 2BY Applications for registration certificates from EEA nationals can be made in person at our public enquiry office in Croydon. You will need to make an appointment before you visit. Details of the location of the public enquiry office, opening times and how to make an appointment can be found in the contact us section. [b]Processing times[/b] The time it takes to process your application will depend on the type of application you make and how you submit it. If you make your application in person at Croydon public enquiry office, we will usually process your application on the same day. If you are a EU citizent from the countries that are members of the Schengen visa Protocol then the Russian Consulate FEES is charging £25 for a tourist Visa instead of £45 (58 EURO) for UK passport holders. :grin: :king:

Schengen visa news

2008-06-17T14:39:55-04:00

I have been reading and researching a lot of information, regarding marrying to a Russian woman, Visa and other information and I will copy here as much as I can because I feel in may help some other persons. I have Dual Nationality therefore I am planning to take advandange of the European Rules now that time come to bring my wife into the UK ,using my Greek Passpot. [b]This post is intended to provide you with access to general information about freedom of movement within the EU. Very important to keep in mind the following points: The information may not cover all circumstances (such as yours!) The laws may change over time We may be wrong The people/organizations/governments we have linked may have misleading information or be wrong Please be sure to always check information with other sources before deciding that it may be useful to you, or (god forbid!) acting on it[/b] European citizens This section explains how European citizens and members of their family can enter, live in and work in the United Kingdom. The information in this section applies to citizens of countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. If you are not an EEA or Swiss national you should read the sections on visiting, studying and working in the United Kingdom for information on how you can apply to enter, visit or live in the United Kingdom. [b]Rights and responsibilities[/b] This page explains the rights European Economic Area (EEA) nationals, Swiss nationals and their family have to come to the United Kingdom to visit live or work. EEA and Swiss nationals have the right to live and work in the United Kingdom. This is called the right of residence. You will only have the right of residence in the United Kingdom if: you are an EEA or Swiss national; and you are working in the United Kingdom; or you are able to support yourself and family in the United Kingdom without the help of public funds. [b]Entering the United Kingdom[/b] When you enter the United Kingdom you will need to show your passport or national identity card. You should use the separate channel marked 'EEA/EU' where it is available. Immigration officers will check your passport or national identity card to make sure that it is valid and belongs to you. [b]Your family[/b] If you have a right to live the in the United Kingdom, your family may join you. You family is defined as: your spouse or civil partner; children or grandchildren or you, your spouse or your civil partner, who are under 21 years of age or who are dependent upon you; the parents or grandparents of you, your spouse or your civil partner. If you are a student only your spouse, civil partner or dependent children are entitled to a right of residence. Other relatives, for example extended family members such as brothers, sisters and cousins do not have an automatic right to live in the United Kingdom. To be considered, the extended family member must be able to demonstrate that they are dependent on you. If you and your partner are not married or in a civil partnership you must be able to show that you are in a durable relationship with each other. [b]Family members who are not EEA or Swiss nationals[/b] If your family members are not EEA or Swiss nationals and are coming to live with you permanently or on a long term basis they will need to apply for an EEA family permit before coming to the United Kingdom. The EEA family permit is similar to a visa and is issued by UK Visa Services. Your family members should make an application for an EEA family permit at their nearest British diplomatic post. [b]Employment[/b] You and your family members can: accept offers of work; work (whether as an employee or in self-employment); set up a business; manage a company; set up a local branch of a company. You will not need to apply for a work permit. You should not be discriminated against by your employer because of your nationality in terms of conditions of employment, pay or working conditions. If you are a national of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia or Slovenia you will need to register under the Worker Registration Scheme when you take work in the United Kingdom. You should read the Worker Registration Scheme section for details. If you are a national of Bulgaria or Romania you must not work until we have given you permission. You should read the section for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals for details. Registration certificates, residence cards and family member residence stamps A registration certificate is a document issued to EEA nationals that confirms that person's right of residence under European law. You are not required to have a registration certificate to enter, live or work in the United Kingdom. Residence cards are issued to non-EEA national family members. The card confirms that person's right of residence under European law. Non-EEA national family members of nationals of Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia or Slovenia are not eligible to apply for a residence card until the EEA national has completed 12 months continuous employment in the United Kingdom. Non-EEA national family members can apply for a family member residence stamp to confirm his/her right of residence under European law. For details on how to apply for a registration certificate, residence card or family member residence stamp, you should read the page on applying. [b]Permanent residence[/b] Once you have lived in the United Kingdom for a continuous period of five years, you are entitled to apply for confirmation of permanent residence. For details on how to apply you should read the page on applying. [b]Posted workers[/b] If you are a Swiss national or a Swiss company that conducts business in the United Kingdom you may send employees to work for you in the United Kingdom for a maximum period of 90 days without having to apply for a work permit. Your employees must have been working for you in Switzerland or an EEA member state for a reasonable period of time. If your employees are not EEA or Swiss nationals they will need to apply for posted workers authorisation. UK Visa Services are responsible for processing applications for posted workers authorisation. You should contact your nearest British diplomatic post for details on how to make an application. [b]Public funds[/b] You do not have to work while you are living in the United Kingdom. If you do not work you must be able to support yourself without the use of public funds .... more to come.

Schengen visa news

2008-06-17T06:22:41-04:00

I thought our European members might be interested in a bit of news I uncovered last week regarding Schengen visa usage for Russian women married to EU citizens. My wife recently obtained a French multi-entry Schengen visa as we intend to do a bit of shopping in France. FWIW, such visas are [i]FREE[/i] for the spouses of EU citizens. Late last week we were unexpectedly invited to a wedding in Germany. As the rules on Schengen visas are a bit vague I emailed the German embassy in London to ask if a [i]French[/i] Schengen visa which had not yet been used to enter France, could be used to enter [i]Germany[/i], without passing through France [i]first.[/i] i.e., a [i]direct[/i] flight from London to Hamburg. The answer was: selbstverständlich kann Ihre Frau das von Frankreich ausgestellete Schengenvisum benutzen, um nach Hamburg zu reisen. Voraussetzung ist, dass das Visum noch gültig ist und für Mehrfacheinreise (mult entry) ausgestellt ist. Translated, this reads: [b]Naturally your wife can use her French Schengen visa to travel to Hamburg. The only conditions are that the visa is still valid and was issued as a multi-entry visa.[/b] Which seems to contradict the accepted 'wisdom' that [b]'a Schengen visa must be applied for at the Embassy of the country of your [i]main[/i] destination. If you do not have a main destination, and/or are visiting several different Schengen states, you should apply at the embassy of the country of your first entry into the Schengen zone, or the embassy of the country where you intend to spend the most time.'[/b] As you can see, the 'rules' are all a bit vague and confusing. The reason for them is to discourage what has become known as 'visa shopping.' Visa shopping is obtaining a visa from one Schengen state but not traveling to that state on it first. Having said that, the authorities seem more concerned about visitors trying to obtain a Schengen visa from one state after having been refused one by another state, than people simply obtaining a visa from one Schengen state but not traveling to that state on it first, as my wife proposes to do. So, whilst it appears that German immigration will allow visitors to enter the Federal republic with a Schengen visa issue by France (and possibly other Schegen member states), it does not follow that other Schengen member states would be equally lenient. I know of several incidents where the foreign wives of EU citizens have had difficulty entering a particular Schengen state with a visa issued by a different Schengen state. OTOH, my wife had no trouble getting into Holland last year on an Italian Shengen visa which had [i]not[/i] been used to enter Italy. Indeed, it [i]never[/i] was used to enter Italy, as we only travelled to Germany and the Czech Republic on it. Neither the German nor the Czech border guards raised so much as an eyebrow over my wife's Italian visa! So there you are. It seems that provided a Russian woman has a valid multi-entry Schengen visa she could used it to enter any Schengen state first provided she is travelling with a spouse who is an EU citizen. If anyone has any further information about the confusing minefield of Schengen visas I'd be delighted to hear from you. PM me, if you wish.

Registering visas in Russia

2008-04-17T04:49:57-04:00

Shadow_mas said:

Decided to keep the value of the thread up by splitting off the recent posts.

Excellent decision. If you're ever short of work, our kitchen needs tidying up... :-P:

Registering visas in Russia

2008-04-16T10:05:17-04:00

Decided to keep the value of the thread up by splitting off the recent posts. For those who miss the pictures, check Cafe and Chat (Dress code).

Registering visas in Russia

2008-04-15T05:18:28-04:00

Zosya_2 said:

Big mistake! Old babushkas and hot young girls on high heels jumped on my husband and ripped his jacket. He was standing there frozen and didn't know what to do, he never fought with grandmas and hot chicks.

Then you haven't trained him properly. How to deal with these two very different, but equally dangerous 'species' is essential for any foreign muzhik who wants to avoid unpleasantness in Russia. :laugh:

Quote:

OVIR office was relocated in some strange building, it was first floor of apartment block with such narrow and long halls that if one person was standing beside the wall other one would have problems passing through.

:laugh: I have no doubt that such offices are built this way quite deliberately by the central planning committee left over from some Soviet department. The ones I've visisted were exactly the same. Mind you, it's not all bad news. If you stand in the right way, all the hot young chicks have to squeeze past you to get by. OTOH, so do the disgustingly smelly old Azerbaijani dedushkas...

Quote:

What is there to like about Russia? :rolleyes:

Sushi bars. Cheap public transport Pretty young girls in miniskirts and high heels Kefir Cheap gas and electricity Pretty young girls in miniskirts and high heels Kompot Vladimir Putin Kvas Pretty young girls in miniskirts and high heels... :grin:

Registering visas in Russia

2008-04-14T18:34:19-04:00

Gorky Guy said:

Whilst I understand your feelings, it is bureaucracy that I hate, especially uncessary and self-defeating bureaucracy, not Russia. Red tape is just as red and tangled here in the UK. In fact in many ways it's much worse than Russia.

Bureaucracy doesn't appear by itself, people create it. We usually visit 2 cities in Russia, and we had register visa in both of them. People created different hurdles in different places. In one we had to stand in the same line with people trying to get or renew their passports, imagine how many of them were there. Clerk who was supposed to deal with foreigners was just helping to other that was overwhelmed by Russian people who wanted their passports to go on vacation, we were told about that before so we decided to cut the line. Big mistake! Old babushkas and hot young girls on high heels jumped on my husband and ripped his jacket. He was standing there frozen and didn't know what to do, he never fought with grandmas and hot chicks. I had to come to the rescue. OVIR office was relocated in some strange building, it was first floor of apartment block with such narrow and long halls that if one person was standing beside the wall other one would have problems passing through. In mom's place there would be different problems all together. People are creating them, not some bureaucracy I forgot to mentioned that we had to go to the bank and pay there some fee, it was stated on the forms that we had to do that. Forms for payment were like 20 years old nothing was matching and it was impossible to fill them in. Bank people could help because they didn't know much about it. When we brought this payment among other paper work to OVIR they told us that it is not requiered any more but still they keep handing out forms that ask for the payment. They probably have 5 years worth of them and will be using them till they run out. What is there to like about Russia? :rolleyes:

Registering visas in Russia

2008-04-14T12:05:39-04:00

I was concerned about the registration process. I told the lady I am visiting in Moscow about this and she called both the travel agency and from there she was connected to the Visa Registration office in Moscow. She spoke to the staff there and she said that it is very easy. We will not do the registration at the post office. We will go directly to the Visa Registration office in Moscow. She was told exactly the process and the information required. So I will scan and send my visa to her so she can fill the forms in advance; once I am there we will register the visa and I have to pay only about 200 rubles, she will get the money I was going to pay to the agency. It works for me :grin:

Registering visas in Russia

2008-04-14T06:32:43-04:00

Zosya_2 said:

We had to skip registration on 2 occasions and didnt have any problems leaving Russia.

Which proves my point that the process is an entire waste of time, not only for the poor sod who has to go through it, but for the Russian Federation too! As attentive readers will have noted from my previous post, the fact that the current 'system' requires the person who issued the invitation to return the visa registration form to the local passport office the day after their guest leaves Russia makes a complete nonsense of any claim that the process helps to keep track of foreign nationals in Russia. I feel for your pain, Zosya. I barely scratched the surface of the red tape my wife and I encountered during our registration of my last visa. If I'd told the complete tale, my post would have been five times as long. :eek:

Quote:

After trips like that I just hate Russia, well and truly :mad:

Jack said:

I will not offer this advice to men from England as I am not so up to date as to what Russia is asking of residents from England

AFAIK Russia asks the [i]same[/i] of all foreign nationals visiting the Russian Federation. There are no 'special' considerations for UK or EU citizens, other than the fact that citizens of EU states within the Schengen zone pay lower visa fees. Thank Angela Merkel for that. But that's quite unrelated to the topic of registration. Whether Russian immigration officials pay more attention to US citizens I am not in a position to say, it's possible I guess, given the present political climate and the power and influence which the US wields.

Quote:

I also want to tell all American's that GG advice could get you in trouble.

I think I have made that abundantly clear in all my posts. The decision on whether or not to register their visa rests with the individual. I'm sure I don't need to remind you that there are [i]many[/i] things that can get a foreign national into trouble in Russia. Wandering around Red Square dressed in typically American fashion, festooned with expensive cameras whilst flashing one's dollars about is IMV a lot more risky than failing to register a visa when one is staying with friends or family well away from Moscow. :-W:

Registering visas in Russia

2008-04-13T18:52:45-04:00

Gorky Guy said:

There is no point whatsoever in registering a visa if you are staying in Russia with family or friends.

I will not offer this advice to men from England as I am not so up to date as to what Russia is asking of residents from England (maybe Manny knows). But as Helen is saying, I also want to tell all American's that GG advice could get you in trouble. Of course no trouble that you cannot resolve for $100 if you put this in your passport when giving to officer. As of last week, lost month, and several of the past months, I know many American men who stayed in private flats (stating in hotels is no issue as hotel will register for you) who were asked for their immigration card. Most the men had these registered and no problem. A few American men who were asked to show their immigration card and did not have it had to take a little stroll with the police officer and ended up paying a "fee". However if any of you American's are so inclined to follow GG advice I do know of two American men in the past few months who stayed in private flats who did not register and who were not asked as they were leaving the airport. As Clint would say to the bad guy as to if he had fired 5 or 6 shot's from his 6 shooter,....."Do you feel lucky"? :confused:

Registering visas in Russia

2008-04-13T18:30:47-04:00

We had to skip registration on 2 occasions and didnt have any problems leaving Russia. Still my husband would like to register it if he can. Last time we decided to do it straight away. It is so complicated in my town. Firstly visa holder has to go to printing office. Yes, they dont accept hand written forms. At that printing office one have to wait in the long que and pay not only for filling out his forms but fro filling out internal registry forms as well and pay for all those print outs of course. That is one day trip. Later on we had to go to opposite direction to hand in those form to OVIR where another waiting in line is ahead of you.. We didnt have a photocopy of passport page with visa and instead of taking it on their copier they sent us to a copy shop across the street, came back, more waiting? Before leaving I asked female officer why they making people to print all this forms and especially half of the forms that they have to print out, that is part of their job, the forms that marked for internal use only, she became very angry and started yelling that she doesnt know anything and just does what she has been told to do. After trips like that I just hate Russia, well and truly :mad:

Registering visas in Russia

2008-04-13T13:45:48-04:00

pepecarlos said:

I think I will have the travel agency register my visa in Moscow.

That makes good sense. As I said above, registration is advisable if an agency is doing it on your behalf. The situation for visitors staying with family or friends is quite different. A minor distinction, but an important one.

Registering visas in Russia

2008-04-13T12:13:07-04:00

Thank you for your post GG. I think I will have the travel agency register my visa in Moscow. I was thinking in going to register the visa to the post office, but it would be better if someone else with experience does it.

Registering visas in Russia

2008-04-13T07:33:02-04:00

POSTSCRIPT My wife and I have recently returned from a trip to Russia. At her insistence (and against my better judgement) we registered my private visitor visa at a Post Office. Here's what happened. First, my wife filled out two identical, double-sided forms. Photocopying [i]one[/i] form is apparently 'not acceptable.' No, one needs to fill [i]two[/i] in. The form was considerably longer and more detailed than the application form needed to obtain a Russian visa! Go figure, as our American chums say... The whole process took well over an hour and was [b]CONSIDERABLY[/b] [i]more[/i] complicated than the fun and games I endured when I registered my tourist visa upon my first visit to Russia in 2006. So much for 'easier' and 'faster;' visa registration... I should point out that the Post Office babushka we dealt with, whilst polite enough, was absolutely clueless about the entire registration process. My wife then paid an 'administration fee' and 'postal expenses' amounting to 167 rubles. This was in addition to the 200 rubles my sister-in-law had previously paid to obtain the private invitation for my visa. So [b]367 rubles[/b] in all. Newbies note: these fees are quite separate from and in addition to, visa fees. The post office kept the two forms, gave us a photocopy of [i]one[/i] of them and stamped and returned my migration card to me. We left the post office and revived ourselves with a dish of Plov lovingly prepared by my mother-in-law for her favourite sinochek. At this point I suggest you make a cup of tea, because my tale is going to get a lot more Kafkaesque... A few days before we left Russia the local passport office rang my sister-in-law and told her that the photocopy we'd been given had to be returned to the local passport office (not Post Office) on the day after we left Russia. If she failed to return it, she would be 'severely punished.' 'Punishment', in this case would amount to a fine of 4,000 rubles. Yet the 'new rules' state that I should keep the form, get it stamped by the immigration officer upon leaving Russian territory and he (or she) is supposed to forward it the passport office in the city we registered the visa in. Unsurprisingly, neither the local passport office nor the Post Office babsuhka knew these rules... So, had I followed them, my sister-in-law would have been 4000 rubles poorer. As it was, my sister-in-law returned the form on the day my wife and I left Russia. But there was no way she could know we [i]had[/i] left. For all she (or the local passport office knew) we could still have been in Russia. Now you'll see why I called the entire silly process 'Kafkaesque.' Now, here comes the denoument: When we left Russia via Moskva Domodedova airport, I [b]deliberately[/b] did [b]not[/b] show the immigration officer my migration card. He glanced at my Russian visa for ten seconds, stamped my passport and that was that. This was the [b]THIRD TIME[/b] I have left Russia without presenting a migration card. On none of these occasions did I have any difficulty leaving. I know of several other foreigners who have also stopped registering their visas and none of them have experienced any difficulties upon leaving Russia. Which proves the contention made earlier in this thread. [b]There is no point whatsoever in registering a visa if you are staying in Russia with family or friends.[/b] If you're with a tour or staying in a hotel, it's a different scenario as your visa will be registered for you. Even my wife is now convinced of the futilty of visa registration. Consequently, we will not be bothering to go through this nonsensical pantomime on future visits to Russia.

UK guy: to marry in Ukraine or not?

2008-04-08T21:00:19-04:00

:reading: Jonyboy: If you want to see what documents you need to marry in Ukraine read their Embassy Website in your country for starters. It will explain to you exactly what is required. If you want to know about what is involved read my old trip report "Another marriage in Ukraine". It is on page 6 of the Trip Reports Forum here on RWG. Not sure about the church marriage or blessing in your country. Another couple here did a church wedding in Canada as a follow-up to the civil one in Ukraine. It did not seem to be a problem. However I have no idea of how either the Catholics or the Church of England handle this issue. Best to check with your own local Priest or Minister as I expect they can tell you exactly what is required for this.

UK guy: to marry in Ukraine or not?

2008-04-08T17:07:57-04:00

Manchester said:

You have been 6 times but your avatar says 20+? If you get married in Ukraine you are married, you cant do it again in an English church.

What about when someone marries in a civil ceremony first and then in a church later? So which documents would I need to marry in Ukraine? 20+ times to FSU includes times to Russia in 02-05.

UK guy: to marry in Ukraine or not?

2008-04-08T16:50:20-04:00

You have been 6 times but your avatar says 20+? If you get married in Ukraine you are married, you cant do it again in an English church.