travel to russia,what can be easier if you don't want any problems

[Boris 0]

hi everybody!

here is my topic.me and my wife Sarah are going to russia.

but i'm 23 and that means that in russia they can still take me to the military service if they check my passport.I looked in the russian embassy site and there was something about legalization my documents in russian embassy in the US.What can I do to avoid going to military?Did anybody has this experience or have anything to say about it?

thank you.

[Satellite 1]

I looked in the Russian embassy site and there was something about legalization my documents in Russian embassy in the US.What can I do to avoid going to military?Did anybody has this experience or have anything to say about it?

Last I recall, if you want to get out compulsory military service in Russia you simply pay a bribe to the right person. Aside from that, perhaps being placed on "консульский учет" at the Russian consulate that has jurisdiction over your residence might solve the problem. The registration indicates that you are a "registered" Russian citizen residing permanently abroad. But I don't know what bearing if any that will have on military service. It works wonders for avoiding the "прописка" system while temporally visiting Russia. I would email or call the consulate and ask. It's a question I asked on here a long time ago concerning children born in the US who decide to get dual Russian / US citizenship and what they should expect about compulsory military service once reaching the age of majority as well as any tax obligations if any.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...amp;hl=military

Of course the only almost guaranteed solution to avoiding Russian military service is to denounce your Russian citizenship at the local Russian consulate. But that is an extreme measure for a situation not likely to happen.

[gogal2020 0]

hi everybody!

here is my topic.me and my wife Sarah are going to russia.

but i'm 23 and that means that in russia they can still take me to the military service if they check my passport.I looked in the russian embassy site and there was something about legalization my documents in russian embassy in the US.What can I do to avoid going to military?Did anybody has this experience or have anything to say about it?

thank you.

Hey Boris,

As far as I understand, you need US passport to be somewhat trouble free in Russia. So when you enter Russia, you use your US passport and visa, that way they see you as a citizen of another country when they stop you on the street for a routine check. You can still be a citizen of Russia, just don't show them that passport. Since you are probably not a US citizen yet, I would avoid going back for now. In fact, even with the US passport as a US citizen, if they wanted to, they can still get you, for anything they want and then good luck proving them wrong. As far as I know, and I lived in Russia for 14 years, it's not about your rights, cops can pretty much do whatever they want, especially in Moscow, but I am sure you know that since you lived in Russia. In your case I would consult an Immigration Lawyer in your local Russian community.

Good luck,

Mike.

Edited February 2, 2007 by gogal2020

[akdiver 3]

As far as I understand, you need US passport to be somewhat trouble free in Russia. So when you enter Russia, you use your US passport and visa, that way they see you as a citizen of another country when they stop you on the street for a routine check. You can still be a citizen of Russia, just don't show them that passport. Since you are probably not a US citizen yet, I would avoid going back for now. In fact, even with the US passport as a US citizen, if they wanted to, they can still get you, for anything they want and then good luck proving them wrong. As far as I know, and I lived in Russia for 14 years, it's not about your rights, cops can pretty much do whatever they want, especially in Moscow, but I am sure you know that since you lived in Russia. In your case I would consult an Immigration Lawyer in your local Russian community.

Bad advice.

If he is a Russian citizen, then he cannot get a visa to visit Russia like a foreigner. This precludes using the US passport to get into the country (i.e. no visa). Even IF the Consulate were to give him a visa by mistake, when he gets to the border and look in his passport, if they see Russia as his country of birth, then they will require his Russian passport to gain entry into the country. The complication is that if you travel into the country with a Russian passport, as a Russian citizen, there is nothing it can to for you. Any problems are between a foreign country and one if its citizens, and is no business of the U.S.

If by chance, he was born in the U.S., but has Russian citizenship for some other reason (like maybe born of Russian citizens), then MAYBE he has some hope - if people make mistakes and dont catch things - but it isnt anything I would want to risk.

Cheers!

AKDiver

[gogal2020 0]

As far as I understand, you need US passport to be somewhat trouble free in Russia. So when you enter Russia, you use your US passport and visa, that way they see you as a citizen of another country when they stop you on the street for a routine check. You can still be a citizen of Russia, just don't show them that passport. Since you are probably not a US citizen yet, I would avoid going back for now. In fact, even with the US passport as a US citizen, if they wanted to, they can still get you, for anything they want and then good luck proving them wrong. As far as I know, and I lived in Russia for 14 years, it's not about your rights, cops can pretty much do whatever they want, especially in Moscow, but I am sure you know that since you lived in Russia. In your case I would consult an Immigration Lawyer in your local Russian community.

Bad advice.

If he is a Russian citizen, then he cannot get a visa to visit Russia like a foreigner. This precludes using the US passport to get into the country (i.e. no visa). Even IF the Consulate were to give him a visa by mistake, when he gets to the border and look in his passport, if they see Russia as his country of birth, then they will require his Russian passport to gain entry into the country. The complication is that if you travel into the country with a Russian passport, as a Russian citizen, there is nothing it can to for you. Any problems are between a foreign country and one if its citizens, and is no business of the U.S.

If by chance, he was born in the U.S., but has Russian citizenship for some other reason (like maybe born of Russian citizens), then MAYBE he has some hope - if people make mistakes and dont catch things - but it isnt anything I would want to risk.

Cheers!

AKDiver

AK, that's not completely true.

Visa is needed for a US citizen to get into Russia, we all know that. Even if he was born in Russia, has a Russian passport and becomes a US citizen, he will have to pay money to cancel his russian citizenship or pay money to renew his russian passport. The passport in Russia expires in about 5 years, about the time it takes him to become US citizen. After he is given a US passport, even though it will say he was born in Russia in it, it would not matter, they will NOT ask him for his russian passport, that's a fact. I know it because I was born in Russia, traveled there many times myself, including everyone I know who were born there and are now US citizens.

Sincerely,

Mike.

[slim 1,525]

Boris, what is your exact legal status right now for both countries?

Do you have a passport from Russia, the U.S.?

Do you have a green card from here?

How are you here, what are you doing, etc., etc.?

As of right now, I would say that you've got a good chance of going there, doing your business, and leaving without anyone saying anything to you about military service, provided you don't stay too long. It's not like they're going to stop you at the gate and throw a rifle in your hands (or a clip of bullets, like on Enemy at the Gates "the one with the rifle shoots.... when the one with the rifle dies, the one with the bullets picks up the rifle and shoots." Great movie!) and tell you to attack the enemy. Satellite is definitely right with the part about registering here before you go, that will save you a lot of grief.

I would say that if you are here with a Russian passport, a U.S. green card, and you were to register your Russian passport with the appropriate consulate here in the U.S., then go back to Russia using your Russian passport (with page saying you are a LPR in the U.S.) then you could enter, do your business, and leave without anyone even mentioning your military service. *If they do, your friend Benjamin Franklin will kindly explain to them that you're already registered with the Selective Service, and should they need you, they know where to call.* Then you could leave using your U.S. green card as authorization to exit, and then re-enter the U.S. with no problems.

Let us know, I'm curious too, and I remember the old thread about this topic. It wasn't resolved because nobody knew. You're our guinea pig! Or, pilgrim if you want to look at it that way.

[gogal2020 0]

Boris, what is your exact legal status right now for both countries?

Do you have a passport from Russia, the U.S.?

Do you have a green card from here?

How are you here, what are you doing, etc., etc.?

As of right now, I would say that you've got a good chance of going there, doing your business, and leaving without anyone saying anything to you about military service, provided you don't stay too long. It's not like they're going to stop you at the gate and throw a rifle in your hands (or a clip of bullets, like on Enemy at the Gates "the one with the rifle shoots.... when the one with the rifle dies, the one with the bullets picks up the rifle and shoots." Great movie!) and tell you to attack the enemy. Satellite is definitely right with the part about registering here before you go, that will save you a lot of grief.

I would say that if you are here with a Russian passport, a U.S. green card, and you were to register your Russian passport with the appropriate consulate here in the U.S., then go back to Russia using your Russian passport (with page saying you are a LPR in the U.S.) then you could enter, do your business, and leave without anyone even mentioning your military service. *If they do, your friend Benjamin Franklin will kindly explain to them that you're already registered with the Selective Service, and should they need you, they know where to call.* Then you could leave using your U.S. green card as authorization to exit, and then re-enter the U.S. with no problems.

Let us know, I'm curious too, and I remember the old thread about this topic. It wasn't resolved because nobody knew. You're our guinea pig! Or, pilgrim if you want to look at it that way.

If it is really necessary for you to go to Russia before you do any of the above, make sure it's either summer or winter, not spring or autumn - when they are looking for people to serve in the army (so they stop everyone on the street who looks the right age and take them in, until further investigation).

Good luck,

Mike.

[akdiver 3]

Even if he was born in Russia, has a Russian passport and becomes a US citizen, he will have to pay money to cancel his russian citizenship or pay money to renew his russian passport.

Yes, and?

After he is given a US passport, even though it will say he was born in Russia in it, it would not matter, they will NOT ask him for his russian passport, that's a fact.

That's fine - but it does directly contradict a lot of information I have already read on this topic, based on the experience of other people who WERE required to present their Russian passport (no, I didn't memorize the sources).

I think the bottom line is probably YMMV.

Cheers!

AKDiver

[Satellite 1]

After he is given a US passport, even though it will say he was born in Russia in it, it would not matter, they will NOT ask him for his Russian passport, that's a fact. I know it because I was born in Russia, traveled there many times myself, including everyone I know who were born there and are now US citizens.

You are just wrong here.

Look at:

http://www.consulrussia.org/visa_frame.fil...KED%20QUESTIONS

Take particular attention to question 13. Based on personal experience, my US passport says I was born in Latvia. Not even Russia. And I still had to bring in our old "exit visa" as a refugee from the USSR as proof that I am no longer a citizen of Russia! So I have no idea how all the people you "know" managed to get Russian visas in their US passports when they clearly are Russian citizens! They are very serious about this requirement.

*If they do, your friend Benjamin Franklin will kindly explain to them that you're already registered with the Selective Service, and should they need you, they know where to call.* Then you could leave using your U.S. green card as authorization to exit, and then re-enter the U.S. with no problems.

Your wrong about this one too. When a Russian citizen enters Russia using Russian documents (he has no choice as we discussed above) he is treated as a Russian citizen. The US government can't do anything to help even it's own citizen who is also a Russian citizen.

Pay close attention to the following:

"ultimately only Russian officials have the authority to resolve a dispute in Russia. The Embassy cannot arrange for your release from detention, act as your attorney nor provide funds to hire an attorney. "

http://www.usembassy.ru/consular/acs.php?record_id=acsinfo

Your green card or US passport only acts as chance to board an airline to the US. It is the Russian authorities who get to decide if you "actually" leave the country. Remember the "exit passport control" in Russia?

[Boris 0]

Right now i'm expecting to hear anything from uscis.because i got my biometrics done december 15th and now wait for fbi name check to be completed.

I have russian passport.

I came here with fiance visa and got married august 6th 2006.

[slim 1,525]

You are correct Satellite. U.S. papers do nothing for Russians inside Russia, save "prove" that they are allowed to enter the U.S., and thus have a valid reason to exit Russia. (Or at least a valid status to legally enter another.)

Benjamin Franklin is supposed to tell the gentlemen at the "exit passport control" that you are registered in the U.S. and need to return there.

Until we find out Boris' status, there's no correct course of action to advise him on.

[slim 1,525]

Just saw Boris' reply....

Wondering, did you get AP? Because if not, if you leave now, you're going to mess up your AOS. If you have a valid AP, then you should be OK to exit the U.S. and re-enter. That says nothing for Russia. For Russia, you must use your Russian passport only. Then you must "prove" on the way out that you're leaving for a good reason. (AOS paperwork should be sufficient.)

All of this does nothing for your original question, the military portion. The best I can tell you on that.... GOOD LUCK! (And remember $100 is pretty valuable to most lowly-paid civil servants in any country.)

[Boris 0]

i didn't get ap yet,along with the rest of documents.no touch since biometrics.

and of course i'm not going to russia before i get ap.

and i'm really worried now that they can not let me exit russia at the customs,that's sucks.i don't know what to do now.

i know how to avoid them on the street but if they can do anything they want at the customs then i'm screwed.

[slim 1,525]

Basically, you need to wait for your AP.

After that, to exit Russia, you'll probably need your green card.

Do you need to go now? Patience, maybe?

If you must go, you're probably going to have to either start over, or have big penalties.

[Boris 0]

you kidding,of course i will go only after ap and green card.

we are not in a hurry.