Wife Visiting Russia

[visaveteran 1]

My Russian wife's son is currently in the Russian Army doing his one year tour. She plans to visit him when in exits the army next year. She plans to have an extended visit to help her son get settled back into Russian life, get a job, etc. She will stay for several months.

My question is how long can she visit Russia before she must return to the USA? She has a 2-year green card at present.

Thanks.

[payxibka 10,045]

My Russian wife's son is currently in the Russian Army doing his one year tour. She plans to visit him when in exits the army next year. She plans to have an extended visit to help her son get settled back into Russian life, get a job, etc. She will stay for several months.

My question is how long can she visit Russia before she must return to the USA? She has a 2-year green card at present.

Thanks.

up to one year (before a re-entry permit is needed), but best if you try to keep it to less than 6 months.

[slim 1,525]

Yep, any stays over six months start to raise some eyebrows. "If she came to the U.S. to immigrate and be with you, why did she go back for more than six months? Her son is a grown up. Surely there was some other reason." - That's what'll start happening. Less than six months shouldn't be a problem at all.

[visaveteran 1]

Thanks for advice. Her visits would not go beyond a few months.

My only other concern is the continuing deterioration of US-Russian relations. Will Russia start to hassle returning Russians who've immigrated elsewhere? Play passport games? Take property? Levy taxes? Lean on relatives still living in Russia? Etc. Etc.

[chili74 0]

Unfortunately, we do not often hear on this forum about people's experiences traveling back to Russia, positive OR negative. Lots of potential problems are raised (name changes, internal and external Russian passport renewals, tax issues, property issues, leaving Russia after visiting to come home to the US and various hassles at the airport (in Russia, I mean), stories of which DO exist elsewhere online) but we rarely get reports back.

The situation and rules are always changing, so it would be great if members could let us know about visits back.

Edited April 28, 2009 by chili74

[slim 1,525]

My wife still hasn't gone back, nor have I. But, from what I've seen here on the forum, about the worst thing that's happened is once the customs folks figure out you're from or going back to America, all the sudden there are extra fees.