International Passport

[BTalley 0]

Svetlana's international passport is due to expire in May.

She was planning on renewing it in Russia in a few weeks, but our plans may change because of a possible work-related move.

If she is unable to travel to Russia before the passport expires, is there a way she can renew it in America?

[SisJ 13]

i don't know abt Russia, but i was able to renew my passport at the Ghana Embassy in Washington and it only took two weeks. Try this site http://www.russianpassportservice.com/

[eekee 182]

You can do it, but not if she wants to keep her propiska/residency in Russia, I believe.

[SMR 368]

You can do it, but not if she wants to keep her propiska/residency in Russia, I believe.

This is true only for the internal Russian Passport. The international passport can be renewed at a Russian consulate without removing your registration and Russian residency.

In order to do this, you need to determine which Russian Consulate serves your state. Then you can read about the process on the website of that consulate. The NYC Russian Consulate is at ruscon.org. Here is the link for renewing the international passport for adults at the NYC consulate.

What state do you live in?

[Neonred 3,553]

Check the Russian Embassy website as it has the information. Apparently the procedure has changed from when we did it two years ago as we were able to do it through the mail.

As for the propiska, my wife kept hers in Russia but was called by the embassy about this which resulted in some shouting and unpleasant words to the embassy worker that called. Wife was able to keep the propiska in Russia.

[slim 1,523]

Check the Russian Embassy website as it has the information. Apparently the procedure has changed from when we did it two years ago as we were able to do it through the mail.

It changes often, so make sure you check. My wife recently renewed hers and had no problems.

This issue comes up regularly here on the RUB forum and almost every time, it's a different answer. It truly depends on which embassy you're dealing with, what time of the day it is, the temperature, humidity, cycle of the moon, high/low tide, etc. In other words, check your local embassy and do what they say.

As for the propiska, my wife kept hers in Russia but was called by the embassy about this which resulted in some shouting and unpleasant words to the embassy worker that called. Wife was able to keep the propiska in Russia.

Now that's how you handle it! Way to go, Mrs. Neon!

When my wife did hers, there was nothing at all dealing with her propiska. She was told it was an internal matter and they could care less. Obviously, your mileage will vary!

[Turboguy 6]

I am not much of an expert on the propiska, but I had the impression that was in thier domestic passport not the international one.

I think there may have been some recent changes but there have also been services that would renew a Russian passport without the necessity of the applicant actually going to the embassy which I belive is required if you do it yourself. I do know of one person who did this earlier this year and it worked find with very little extra cost.

[Neonred 3,553]

I am not much of an expert on the propiska, but I had the impression that was in thier domestic passport not the international one.

I think there may have been some recent changes but there have also been services that would renew a Russian passport without the necessity of the applicant actually going to the embassy which I belive is required if you do it yourself. I do know of one person who did this earlier this year and it worked find with very little extra cost.

The propiska is indeed in the internal/domestic passport, but when moving to the US you are supposed to change it and register with the embassy here. My wife did not and that is why we got a call from the Russian embassy.

[Jenka 0]

I don't know if you have resolved the issue already, but here's some information in case you still need it:

Foreign passport can indeed be renewed without a trip to Russia. You will need to call or email the Russian Consulate in Washington, D.C. (if you do live in FL) and schedule an appointment. Believe it or not, now they will not accept documents by mail, you have to go in person. It's fairly easy to get an appointment in winter time. Here is a link to more info My link Once you apply for a new passport, it should (and let's hope it will) arrive in about 3 months. Rumor has it, you will need to go and pick it up in person as well.

Oh, and she actually can travel to Russia with an expired passport as long as she has a "Certificate for Return" which can also be obtained from the Embassy (My link)

Good luck!

[dxt7339 1]

My wife renewed her passport at the Washington, DC Embassy about 1 year ago and we had to appear in person to apply and appear in person to pick up the new passport. It took only about 1 month for the new passport to be ready for pickup. We also did her daughters passport at the same time with a "Russian" power of Attorney. Her daughter did not have to appear in person and she is over 18.

Recently, (within the last month or so) a friend or ours has renewed his passport and he had to appear in person to apply, however, he was allowed to provide a prepaid FedEx for them to send it back to them. Againg the is the Washington, DC Embassy.

It is best to call the embassy before you start the process, because event the instructions on the embassy website are not accurate. And also even the info over the phone is not so good. We know this fronm first hand experience.

I don't know if you have resolved the issue already, but here's some information in case you still need it:

Foreign passport can indeed be renewed without a trip to Russia. You will need to call or email the Russian Consulate in Washington, D.C. (if you do live in FL) and schedule an appointment. Believe it or not, now they will not accept documents by mail, you have to go in person. It's fairly easy to get an appointment in winter time. Here is a link to more info My link Once you apply for a new passport, it should (and let's hope it will) arrive in about 3 months. Rumor has it, you will need to go and pick it up in person as well.

Oh, and she actually can travel to Russia with an expired passport as long as she has a "Certificate for Return" which can also be obtained from the Embassy (My link)

Good luck!