Russian passport renewal in US?

[jft 12]

My wide went to renew her Russian passport at the Seattle consulate today and was told that she would have to wait until September for a 5 year passport or December for a 10-year. I'm a little vague on the details but it appears she'd need to wait until July for the application to be accepted and then would not get the passport until September.

This doesn't agree with what the consulate website says (netconsul.org) as it seems to indicate the process is faster but this is going on what Bing translator says.

So the question is, is there a way for her to renew her passport in the US before July when she wants to travel home? Perhaps it would be faster at the Washington DC Embassy?

Any advice would be most appreciated. If you speak Russian too then a response in both languages would be even better!

[Neonred 3,517]

Sounds about right. When my wife renewed her passport in DC several years ago it took 6 months.

[Abell 11]

should take about 4 month for travel passport renewal

[jft 12]

Wow, that is a long time! Is there any option for faster expidited service at a higher cost?

[Neonred 3,517]

Wow, that is a long time! Is there any option for faster expidited service at a higher cost?

Not when we did it through the embassy.

She can get it done in Russia in a matter of days, or a few weeks. Just depends when it expires.

[jft 12]

I think were going to have to do it in Russia, the issue is that her passport expires about 2 weeks before she was planning to return to visit family. Thankfully we haevnt yet bought the airline tickets though. Is there any problem travelling with a passport thats going to expire in a matter of days? I seem to recall that in Russia renewing an expired passport is a bigger deal, is this true? If it is how many days should be left on it when she makes the application?

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

Not when we did it through the embassy.

She can get it done in Russia in a matter of days, or a few weeks. Just depends when it expires.

I don't think "days" are realistic unless they changed it. In my hometown it takes about a month when it's not a busy season. In a rush season (when many people applying for passport for summer vacation) it could take up to 2 months very easily bacause you would wait up to few weeks for appointment just to give them your application. Not mentioning horrible many hours waiting in crowded halls, barely moving line, etc. I renewed my passport twice back in my hometown in Russia and both times it was really horrible experience.

- Victor from Russia

Edited April 13, 2014 by Amy_and_Victor

[ONA 133]

I think were going to have to do it in Russia, the issue is that her passport expires about 2 weeks before she was planning to return to visit family. Thankfully we haevnt yet bought the airline tickets though. Is there any problem travelling with a passport thats going to expire in a matter of days? I seem to recall that in Russia renewing an expired passport is a bigger deal, is this true? If it is how many days should be left on it when she makes the application?

It will take you a couple of weeks in Russia only if you know "the right" people. Otherwise, it will take 1.5-2 months from what I can recall.

As for renewing the passport here, I renewed mine last year in DC. I made an appointment in December, but the appointment itself was for March. I applied for the passport in March and picked it up from the embassy in June. So, yeah, 6 months sounds about right.

The good news is that it doesn't really matter when her travel passport expires as long she has a valid internal passport.

Edited April 30, 2014 by ONA

[Snipe 21]

I wonder if a russian documents agency (visa agency) can do it faster.

I mean they manage to get visas without applicant having to go to an interview so maybe they have contacts to expedite renewal for an extra fee or something.

just an idea,

btw airlines get fined if you travel with an expired passport and they reject you or give you a hard time at poe regardless of country. so they may not check you in so I'd check with the airline directly as each has a dif policy since russia has 2 passports and you could prob enter as long as internal isnt expired. but dont risk it!

[Meghan&Andrey 51]

I wonder if a russian documents agency (visa agency) can do it faster.

I mean they manage to get visas without applicant having to go to an interview so maybe they have contacts to expedite renewal for an extra fee or something.

just an idea,

btw airlines get fined if you travel with an expired passport and they reject you or give you a hard time at poe regardless of country. so they may not check you in so I'd check with the airline directly as each has a dif policy since russia has 2 passports and you could prob enter as long as internal isnt expired. but dont risk it!

Kind of side tracked, but what visa agency? And does this work for US citizens? I'll hopefully be traveling to go to the interview with my fiancé' & I'm kinda terrified of having to interview for the visa. Not to mention that I don't know which one to apply for to get there.

My fiancé' just got his foreign passport in November. Applied for it in July. Took 4 months. He said that renewals are faster. I've read that people have entered Russia with about a week left before expiration then they renewed it there. Even four months is better than six. And if I'm not mistaken, since you're already married, if she has a US passport now, she can leave Russia before her Russian passport is finished because she uses that to enter the US anyway, not the Russian passport. Just a thought.

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

And if I'm not mistaken, since you're already married, if she has a US passport now, she can leave Russia before her Russian passport is finished because she uses that to enter the US anyway, not the Russian passport. Just a thought.

Not sure if that would work out so easy since Russia and US do not have dual-citizenship agreement. Simplyfing, even if you have both citizenship and passports, Russia still treating you as a Russian citizen (unless you rejected Russian citizenship) and your US passport doesn't matter, they want to see your valid Russian documents. They don't care how you will enter US - with US passport, Greencard, visa, or nothing, it will be US custom business. And I highly doubt you can leave Russia with no valid Russian international passport, Russian custom might just turn you around.

Please, somebody correct me if you know real cases when Russian citizens left Russia with US passport valid only.

- Victor from Russia

Edited April 30, 2014 by Amy_and_Victor

[Meghan&Andrey 51]

Not sure if that would work out so easy since Russia and US do not have dual-citizenship agreement. Simplyfing, even if you have both citizenship and passports, Russia still treating you as a Russian citizen (unless you rejected Russian citizenship) and your US passport doesn't matter, they want to see your valid Russian documents. They don't care how you will enter US - with US passport, Greencard, visa, or nothing, it will be US custom business. And I highly doubt you can leave Russia with no valid Russian international passport, Russian custom might just turn you around.

Please, somebody correct me if you know real cases when Russian citizens left Russia with US passport valid only.

- Victor from Russia

Here's a post where they talk about using the Russian passport to enter Russia and US passport to get back into the US:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/482848-travel-to-russia-with-two-passports-andtwo-names/

Here is another post talking about just the travel on nearly expired passport:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/492093-travel-on-nearly-expired-russian-passport/

Just what I can find quickly. I've seen the US passport to leave Russia thing before that.

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

Here's a post where they talk about using the Russian passport to enter Russia and US passport to get back into the US:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/482848-travel-to-russia-with-two-passports-andtwo-names/

Here is another post talking about just the travel on nearly expired passport:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/492093-travel-on-nearly-expired-russian-passport/

Just what I can find quickly. I've seen the US passport to leave Russia thing before that.

That's interesting, because official information from US Consulate in Russia tells opposite story. I'm confused.

http://stpetersburg.usconsulate.gov/dual-nationality.html

Persons in Russia are subject to Russian laws and procedures. Persons who are citizens of both the United States and Russia should be aware that, while U.S. immigration law requires Americans to use U.S. passports when entering or leaving the United States, Russian law likewise requires Russian citizens to use Russian passports to enter and depart Russia.

There have been several instances in which U.S. citizens who also have Russian citizenship have entered Russia using their Russian passports, but then could not leave as planned because their Russian passports had expired during their stay in Russia, or because they lost their Russian passports. Since these travelers had not obtained Russian entry/exit visas in their U.S. passports, Russian authorities did not permit them to depart using their U.S. passports.

- Victor from Russia

[Meghan&Andrey 51]

That's interesting, because official information from US Consulate in Russia tells opposite story. I'm confused.

http://stpetersburg.usconsulate.gov/dual-nationality.html

Persons in Russia are subject to Russian laws and procedures. Persons who are citizens of both the United States and Russia should be aware that, while U.S. immigration law requires Americans to use U.S. passports when entering or leaving the United States, Russian law likewise requires Russian citizens to use Russian passports to enter and depart Russia.

There have been several instances in which U.S. citizens who also have Russian citizenship have entered Russia using their Russian passports, but then could not leave as planned because their Russian passports had expired during their stay in Russia, or because they lost their Russian passports. Since these travelers had not obtained Russian entry/exit visas in their U.S. passports, Russian authorities did not permit them to depart using their U.S. passports.

- Victor from Russia

Hmm this is interesting. I guess that "There have been several instances..." means some people have just been lucky enough to get through with out problems but occasionally some did experience issues. I'm not Russian. Haven't been yet (hopefully will be for the interview then again to bring him to the US) so I'm just going off of what people have said on here. But you're right about what the consulate says. Honestly, I wouldn't risk it. But I've also seen that while you're still a Russian citizen, you can't apply for a visa to Russia. Totally confusing information. On that second post I put, it mainly is discussing calling the actual airline & seeing what their policy is. I would recommend doing this. You might fight that some airlines are more lenient for this than others. But that does require getting past security with your US passport, anyway. I'm not expert! Just sharing what I've seen/read.

[Texasav8r 183]

Kind of side tracked, but what visa agency? And does this work for US citizens? I'll hopefully be traveling to go to the interview with my fiancé' & I'm kinda terrified of having to interview for the visa. Not to mention that I don't know which one to apply for to get there.

My fiancé' just got his foreign passport in November. Applied for it in July. Took 4 months. He said that renewals are faster. I've read that people have entered Russia with about a week left before expiration then they renewed it there. Even four months is better than six. And if I'm not mistaken, since you're already married, if she has a US passport now, she can leave Russia before her Russian passport is finished because she uses that to enter the US anyway, not the Russian passport. Just a thought.

I always use http://www.gotorussia.com/visa_services_russia_visa_to_russia.htm when I need to get my visa for travel to Russia. You fill out a form, get a couple of passport photos taken and mail them your passport and they do all the work for you. I usually get the dual entry 30 day visa, but make sure you know the exact date you will be traveling and where you will be staying because the visa will have the entrance date stamped in it and expires 30 days from that period. You can also apply for the 1 year or 3 year multi entry visa if you plan on going back several times over the next couple of years. I will be getting the 3 year myself in a couple of months as it will save on fees and we will travel back to see family often.

This process takes about 3 weeks but can be expedited for an extra fee.

P.S. I highly recommend the double entry rather than single, even if you are only going to enter Russia once on the trip, because you could take a wrong turn out of the airport and need to re-enter again and you just blew your one entrance. A nice buffer to account for a simple mistake .

Edited April 30, 2014 by Texasav8r