Introduction but not a newbie

[Alfia & John 10]

Wouldn't you be able to conduct moose research in Russia and thus spend the entire year there?

Current Russian visa regulations allow 3 year visa but only 180 day stay during that year. One needs a waiver to be able to stay longer than 180 days. When I was in Far East Russia, I received waiver but sometimes, it is not easy. This was soon after the booming of the Moscow subway and it was difficult to get waivers. Of course, if we do this, we will be married and I will eventually get a full-time residency permit. Part of the fun and frustration of Russia: Russia is a country of change. What works today can be cancelled tomorrow and what you want may be impossible.

[eekee 182]

Current Russian visa regulations allow 3 year visa but only 180 day stay during that year. One needs a waiver to be able to stay longer than 180 days. When I was in Far East Russia, I received waiver but sometimes, it is not easy. This was soon after the booming of the Moscow subway and it was difficult to get waivers. Of course, if we do this, we will be married and I will eventually get a full-time residency permit. Part of the fun and frustration of Russia: Russia is a country of change. What works today can be cancelled tomorrow and what you want may be impossible.

That is only for a tourist visa.

If you are doing research, you will be affiliated with an educational institution, which means they will give you a multi-entry student visa for the duration of your work. I have had the same visa since September of 2011.

Edited February 6, 2013 by eekee

[Alfia & John 10]

I have had a research visa but things were different in Far East Russia. I finally received an extension from the Minister of Immigration when he attended a Museum Gallery show I presented but prior to that, it was a firm 6 months.

I also had weekly visits by the border patrol, that was always fun.

Edited February 6, 2013 by moosescape

[eekee 182]

I have had a research visa but things were different in Far East Russia. I finally received an extension from the Minister of Immigration when he attended a Museum Gallery show I presented but prior to that, it was a firm 6 months.

I also had weekly visits by the border patrol, that was always fun.

I doubt it's different. I have friends who have studied/worked all over.

[Alfia & John 10]

I doubt it's different. I have friends who have studied/worked all over.

I am not sure why you are casting dispersions on my statements. I trust you have worked in Russia and have friends that have worked all over but you must know that Russia enforces regulations differently in each region. I was there during the Moscow metro bombing and it was not a pleasant time to be in Russia because of the hassles. If you wish, you are welcome to contact the Minister of Immigration for the Amur region (Sergei)-he will confirm that he obtained special authorization for my extended visa.

[eekee 182]

I am not sure why you are casting dispersions on my statements. I trust you have worked in Russia and have friends that have worked all over but you must know that Russia enforces regulations differently in each region. I was there during the Moscow metro bombing and it was not a pleasant time to be in Russia because of the hassles. If you wish, you are welcome to contact the Minister of Immigration for the Amur region (Sergei)-he will confirm that he obtained special authorization for my extended visa.

I have lived in Russia for six years. There are special regulations for cities of certain importance like Norilsk that are closed cities that foreigners can't go to, but visa laws are federal. You don't apply for a visa to a specific region. The university or something could have done something not quite right, etc.

Edited February 6, 2013 by eekee

[Alfia & John 10]

I have lived in Russia for six years. There are special regulations for cities of certain importance like Norilsk that are closed cities that foreigners can't go to, but visa laws are federal. You don't apply for a visa to a specific region. The university or something could have done something not quite right, etc.

I agree that the visa laws are federal but it is the option of each jurisdiction to determine the length of your stay. Once in Izhevsk, my visa was 6 months but when we went to register, I was only allowed 90 days. I was told I could go to another area but not stay in Izhevsk past 90 days.

I am familiar with the special regulations for certain places. I have been to Yakutia, one of those places with special regulations.

Nevertheless, I prefer not to continue this discussion. If you do not believe me, either call the minister in Amur region or just be happy you are always right. The one thing I have learned in Russia, things change in Russia. Just because there is a federal regulation, that does not always filter down to the locals or may be enforced differently.

[eekee 182]

Fine, whatever. If you do not wish to spend the entire year with your fiancee when it is entirely possible and not difficult at all to do, that is your prerogative.

Also it is strange that you had a visas for six months in the first place. Usually you get a three month and immediately extend it for however long. If it was a homestay visa, I do know that involves a trip to OVIR every 3 months.

Edited February 7, 2013 by eekee

[SMR 368]

I have encountered what Moosescape is talking about as far as local authorities not allowing foreigners to stay beyond a certain time (although my information is a little dated at this point). It has to do with registration which used to be much more of a local deal. Your visa can be good for however long, but the local authorities can refuse to register you for more than a certain period of time. A friend of mine had to leave Angarsk because the authorities refused to renew his registration. His visa was still good and he was just fine to stay in the country. He just couldn't be in Angarsk.

Recently, the registration program has changed somewhat as it is now notification as opposed to registration, can be done through the post office (OVIR not required), and is done through the FSB on a federal level. I believe the local authorities have much less control.

[eekee 182]

I have encountered what Moosescape is talking about as far as local authorities not allowing foreigners to stay beyond a certain time (although my information is a little dated at this point). It has to do with registration which used to be much more of a local deal. Your visa can be good for however long, but the local authorities can refuse to register you for more than a certain period of time. A friend of mine had to leave Angarsk because the authorities refused to renew his registration. His visa was still good and he was just fine to stay in the country. He just couldn't be in Angarsk.

Recently, the registration program has changed somewhat as it is now notification as opposed to registration, can be done through the post office (OVIR not required), and is done through the FSB on a federal level. I believe the local authorities have much less control.

Notification? What do you mean? I just handed in registration stuff last week.

[SMR 368]

Notification? What do you mean? I just handed in registration stuff last week.

The paperwork that I have done most recently is officially called "Уведомление о прибытии иностранного гражданина на территории Российской Федерации," or something like that. That translates as a notification. Admittedly, I wasn't trying for an extended stay. Previously, I had filled out a registration. As I said, my information is somewhat dated. I was only confirming that as you get farther east in Russia (at least in 2007), the local authorities have more authority and can kick you out of a city, even if you can stay in the country. Moscow and Peter are different from Siberia in a lot of ways.

[Alfia & John 10]

I was only confirming that as you get farther east in Russia (at least in 2007), the local authorities have more authority and can kick you out of a city, even if you can stay in the country. Moscow and Peter are different from Siberia in a lot of ways.

I have also noticed that the smaller the city or the farther east one is located, the more different the enforcement of regulations.

[james&olya 1,121]

A lot of classes plus a lot of research, approximately 4 years of work between masters and PhD. My research is Osteoarthritis of Moose, studying the causation, severity, body location, diet, etc.

You spend much time on Isle Royale?

[Alfia & John 10]

You spend much time on Isle Royale?

Yes, that will be my research site. Currently, I am finishing my classwork but Isle Royale will be my study site.