Travel to Russia After Marriage

[Dashinka 24,493]

Just a general question for me after my fiancé and I get married this coming September. With her extensive family back in Krasnoyarsk I anticipate several trips in the future for both of us together. Of course she will still have her Russian passport, but for me (now that I am her husband) do I still need to obtain a visa every time? If so (which is what I figure) will I be able to get the multi-entry type now that I have a Russian wife? Lastly, for her, with a US green card, will see need a visa?

[baron555 934]

Yes you need a visa but the new multiple year I've will do the trick.

No she will enter Russia using het Russian passport and the GC to re-enter the US.

The best bet is to maintain both passports in the future and not yo need a visa yo visit Russia each time

[Misha'sgirl 44]

Just a general question for me after my fiancé and I get married this coming September. With her extensive family back in Krasnoyarsk I anticipate several trips in the future for both of us together. Of course she will still have her Russian passport, but for me (now that I am her husband) do I still need to obtain a visa every time? If so (which is what I figure) will I be able to get the multi-entry type now that I have a Russian wife? Lastly, for her, with a US green card, will see need a visa?

If you're talking about the three year multi entry visa, yes, you can try for it. I did before I was married and got it, and I went for six months last year.

[vbtwo 54]

For her, she will always remain a Russian citizen when dealing with Russia unless she specifically denounces her citizenship. Thus she must maintain her Russian passport and must use it when entering Russia. Even when she becomes a US citizen, she cannot use her US passport to enter Russia and must use the Russian one. You will need a visa.

[Dashinka 24,493]

Thanks to all of you for the confirmation. This is pretty much what I thought.

[Al422 221]

Russia does not recognize dual citizenships, and that has nothing to do with the Ukraine situation. It has always been the law there. So she enters Russia with her Russian passport, and you enter with your Russian visa on your US passport.

I have been to Russia four times and always got my visa easy and fast. I think for a multi entry visa they want an HIV test from your private doctor, but that may have changed over the years.

[Snipe 21]

I received 3-year multiple entry visa near end of May last year and no HIV test or any kind of Medical exam was required.

Literally I gave my passport to visa agency and 2 passport photos. They asked me some biographical questions as they filled some sort of form on a computer, helped me in terms of how to answer each to avoid issues, paid cash, and then just came back some weeks later for my passport. honestly it was really easy once I contacted that agency, the hard part was finding them and trying to read everything on my own. Most of us who are here on VJ is because we want to do paperwork ourselves but when it came to the Russian Visa after reading and calling embassy I just realized it would have been way more expensive and time consuming to do it myself, and again that's coming from the same person who has done all CR-1 paperwork so far himself. If there had been a way to do it faster myself I would have done it. Just the fact you have to go multiple times to russian embassy for visa pretty much blows up your cost if you need to travel to the city. (you'll spend more in just gas probably)

good luck.

Edited May 6, 2014 by Snipe

[ONA 133]

As far as I know, you will need HIV test if you want to obtain a student visa (at least exchange students I know had to get theirs done).

My husband has just gotten a 3-year multiple entry visa. We applied in person in DC (we live in Maryland), and then I picked it up (I happen to work 10 minutes away from the consulate). It took us about a week.

Russian visa is really easy to obtain, never had a problem.

[BatmanUSA 105]

I got a 3 year Russian Visa last year for myself and my son... No medical tests, just paperwork and money.. My wife and her daughter have to renew their Russian passport next year but they will do that when they go to visit family...

[mendeleev 68]

I remember that Russia used to want certification of HIV negative status for a multiple entry visa. That was then. Earlier this year I got a 3-year multiple entry visa and I did not come across a HIV testing requirement.

[Al422 221]

Russia is a tourist friendly nation because they understand that tourism bring in dollars (especially visa fee dollars at $200 a pop). Despite the Ukraine situation, they are still quite happy to have Americans spend their money there.