Russian Law - Registration of all Russians who are abroad

[GelendzhikBelle 7]

Thanks a lot for your response!

I did indeed get a response in one of the threads, which calmed me down a lot

But I wouldn't mind hearing the same thing from somebody else - it is always reassuring to me when several people, who are in the same situation as I am, say the same thing.

Maybe I am overthinking though, but in legal topics - I would rather overthink than..."under"think -

Anyway, thanks again!!

It might be a bit of a challenge when you return because my Wife and I were married in Moscow and after the ceremony at ZAGS #4 we right away registered both of her Passports with her new last name. If they do not match probably the "straff" you'll pay might be a bit expensive. We did this first step on both of her Passports for exactly the reasons you mention.. the registration and Passports should match. I imagine you could explain it was an oversite before you left Russia and they will "overlook" with the right "gifts".

My Wife had to fight the red tape twice in Russia because of a mis-spelled last name on her International Passport! Two times she had to take a long bus trip to the oblast offices. The local registration in Gelendzhik refused to correct the Passport, so she had to go personally to the oblast (Krasnodar). Straff... just to correct the spelling error the original person in the first registration office made. We in fact verified the spelling and guess what? On arrival the Obalst office "corrected" the spelling.. Our last name is Lehman.. they "corrected" it to Lexman.. of course because in Russian there is no "H" sound. In English this letter in our name is actually silent.. no sound.

Now we have a worry about "prospika" she still has in Russia for her flat which she and her mom still own. If we do not do this new registration then I expect the Russian Passport on entry will confiscate her Russian Passport, and then of course I worry she will not have a Visa to go to her own birth Country!! Ironically..I would be able to stay and travel because I must have a Visa, but she would be expelled..or worse..house arrest in Moscow and then the one time "exit Visa" process which is expensive.

She is telling me that it is impossible to meet the new registration law requirement because the allowance to mail the registration would only be accepted from a Russian Post!!! The law does NOT mention in the Russian text anything about accepting a Non Russian Post..it is only presumed the postmark will be within Russia.

I tend to agree with her having already had my lessons in Russian legals involving immigration, Visa's and such. Anytime a bureaucrat on either side of the cultures is involved we end up running for cover!

I am worried because if she is correct then the many thousands of Russia property owners now living outside of Russia will soon be in violation of this new law, and unless all of them make a trip back to do the registration in person, then it will be impossible to keep the International Passport legally. The really bad part of this is we were planning on buying property in a larger city in Russia and I have my doubts now that she will be able to keep her residency. We are at this time awaiting the I-751 notice of Interview (or not) so if we were to travel overseas it could be a bigger mess here in the States, so for us it is not at all wise to travel back to her home again. Once we are past this stage of the immigration steps it will be less of a problem.

Anyone know if Moscow is or will accept registrations under this new law by Post outside of Russia?

[ONA 133]

It might be a bit of a challenge when you return because my Wife and I were married in Moscow and after the ceremony at ZAGS #4 we right away registered both of her Passports with her new last name. If they do not match probably the "straff" you'll pay might be a bit expensive. We did this first step on both of her Passports for exactly the reasons you mention.. the registration and Passports should match. I imagine you could explain it was an oversite before you left Russia and they will "overlook" with the right "gifts".

My Wife had to fight the red tape twice in Russia because of a mis-spelled last name on her International Passport! Two times she had to take a long bus trip to the oblast offices. The local registration in Gelendzhik refused to correct the Passport, so she had to go personally to the oblast (Krasnodar). Straff... just to correct the spelling error the original person in the first registration office made. We in fact verified the spelling and guess what? On arrival the Obalst office "corrected" the spelling.. Our last name is Lehman.. they "corrected" it to Lexman.. of course because in Russian there is no "H" sound. In English this letter in our name is actually silent.. no sound.

Now we have a worry about "prospika" she still has in Russia for her flat which she and her mom still own. If we do not do this new registration then I expect the Russian Passport on entry will confiscate her Russian Passport, and then of course I worry she will not have a Visa to go to her own birth Country!! Ironically..I would be able to stay and travel because I must have a Visa, but she would be expelled..or worse..house arrest in Moscow and then the one time "exit Visa" process which is expensive.

She is telling me that it is impossible to meet the new registration law requirement because the allowance to mail the registration would only be accepted from a Russian Post!!! The law does NOT mention in the Russian text anything about accepting a Non Russian Post..it is only presumed the postmark will be within Russia.

I tend to agree with her having already had my lessons in Russian legals involving immigration, Visa's and such. Anytime a bureaucrat on either side of the cultures is involved we end up running for cover!

I am worried because if she is correct then the many thousands of Russia property owners now living outside of Russia will soon be in violation of this new law, and unless all of them make a trip back to do the registration in person, then it will be impossible to keep the International Passport legally. The really bad part of this is we were planning on buying property in a larger city in Russia and I have my doubts now that she will be able to keep her residency. We are at this time awaiting the I-751 notice of Interview (or not) so if we were to travel overseas it could be a bigger mess here in the States, so for us it is not at all wise to travel back to her home again. Once we are past this stage of the immigration steps it will be less of a problem.

Anyone know if Moscow is or will accept registrations under this new law by Post outside of Russia?

She doesn't need to register until she actually goes there. Once she goes to Russia to visit she will have 30 days to register either at the local immigration (UFMS) office or at a post office. It doesn't matter if she has property in Russia or not. It doesn't even really matter whether or not she is registered in Russia (propiska) or not. If she goes to Russia, it will be best if she informs the authorities about her Green Card.

Have her read this: http://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/549051ff2ae59619db9d422e

She can find other sources with similar information.

I've decided not to go to Russia in the next few years, and I am seriously considering renouncing my Russian citizenship in future. One of the reasons is this particular law.

Edited August 10, 2015 by ONA

[Hollyday 122]

She doesn't need to register until she actually goes there. Once she goes to Russia to visit she will have 30 days to register either at the local immigration (UFMS) office or at a post office. It doesn't matter if she has property in Russia or not. It doesn't even really matter whether or not she is registered in Russia (propiska) or not. If she goes to Russia, it will be best if she informs the authorities about her Green Card.

Have her read this: http://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/549051ff2ae59619db9d422e

She can find other sources with similar information.

I've decided not to go to Russia in the next few years, and I am seriously considering renouncing my Russian citizenship in future. One of the reasons is this particular law.

Hm, i thought you had 60 days. Also, it appears there is an interpretation saying 'it only applies to residents of Russia and if you 'permanently' live abroad ( > 1 year) and don't have a 'propiska' in Russia you are considered a non-resident'.

Anyways, i registered my green card before i left permanently (one of the reasons being i had the 'propiska'). I'm also seriously thinking of not going back in 2016 and 2017. Then i can get my US citizenship, drop the Russian one and reenter on a tourist/visitor visa. Also because of that ridiculous law about having to report the turnovers in accounts abroad on quarterly basis.