Russian passport endorsement for permanently living abroad

[domwardbound 73]

My wife asked me a question that I thought would be a non-issue just coming from her nervousness with traveling internationally, but once I started thinking about it and doing some research, I'm actually still looking for a clear answer.

She asked, "what do I tell Russian border control as the purpose of my trip when I leave Russia on the trip to move to America?" I asked her what she meant, and why anyone's asking her in Russia why she's going to America - isn't that American border control's job? The only people even interested in your destination/documents would be the airline, to check that you have a visa for your destination.

She said that when Russians leave the country, Russian border control asks the purpose of their trip. She also seemed to be under the impression that she could potentially not be allowed to leave if she was leaving on a green card to permanently live abroad. It seemed strange to me, but I told her just to tell them that she has a green card.

Then I started doing more research, and found here - "Citizens who are emigrating permanently must obtain a passport endorsed for permanent emigration from OVIR."

What's going on here? I know that exit visas are no longer a thing, but are Russians (in general and/or with green cards) questioned by Russian border control when leaving the country about the purpose of their trip? Do Russians who are going to live permanently abroad (which is what a green card is) need some additional endorsement in their passport by OVIR?

As I write this out, it seems even stranger, but if I've learned one thing, it's that the level of holdover USSR bureaucracy knows no bounds, which is why I'm asking in the first place.

[eekee 182]

I have never heard of this happening to anyone on the way out of Russia, and I've never seen anyone been questioned. There is stuff about giving up your internal passport and Russian registration, but pretty much no one actually does this.

Has she been questioned going abroad before?

[Hollyday 122]

Well i was asked about purpose of trip once in a blue moon (i used to travel regularly for work, so maybe once in 30 times they'd ask). I don't think there's a way to prevent her from leaving the country (though she should check she doesn't have any unpaid driving tickets, taxes, etc.).

Fun part is, random googling by words 'постановка на консульский учет в США' has led me here. So apparently she can unregister and get a stamp in passport saying 'departed to live abroad'. (Here is what the Russian embassy has to say about it, sorry failing to find the English version.) Russian embassy says that it's a voluntary act to get registered at the consulate and there's are no legal consequences of not doing it. I don't see any benefits of doing it except that you can then vote remotely and be evacuated if need be (har har).

After some more googling i found a site where it says "Исходя из целей регистрационного учета, который направлен на фиксацию места постоянного проживания, гражданин Российской Федерации при выезде на постоянное жительство за пределы Российской Федерации вправе обратиться в орган регистрационного учета с заявлением о снятии его с регистрационного учета по месту жительства в произвольной форме, в котором указывает государство, в которое выезжает. На основании данного заявления гражданин снимается в трехдневный срок с регистрационного учета по месту жительства, при этом в его паспорт проставляется соответствующая отметка и ему выдается адресный листок убытия." So the person has the right to do it but it doesn't sound like he or she must do it.

[Dave&Roza 748]

Not specifically Russia but a FSU country, Kazakhstan, does have a process for getting a stamp in your passport for living outside of Kazakhstan for an extended period of time. My wife went thru the process of going here and standing in line for this form, and then going here to stand in line for that form. Then going clear across the city to wait for yet another form. The process took about 2 months, but she has a stamp in her passport. I think the main reason she did this was because she owns property in Almaty and did not want to give up her rights to it. So we got the K-1 visa in September and the permisison to leave in late November. I am not sure it is required, but she felt the need to get it.

Dave

Edited July 16, 2013 by Dave&Roza

[V&R 1]

I think Russia has more of a "don't ask, don't tell" policy for many things, including border control. While in America you will have problems if you are not directly honest and forthright, I think in Russia, the more you make an issue of this, the worse it may get. Does this make sense?