DCF in Moscow....6 consecutive months residence?

[millefleur 5,046]

I've been reading some of the topics here about DCF in Moscow. I'm wondering about the residency in Russia requirement.

I've been living in Russia for three years on student visas and work visas, pretty much with nothing longer than one month breaks. At the moment, I have a work visa (which was renewed and then transferred to my new passport, it's actually in the process of being transferred) and it just seems strange to me that they required 6 consecutive months in Russia....so that means I cannot leave Russia for six months, not even for a holiday abroad?

Or do they mean that the visa has to have a six month validity period minimum? Because if I have to stay here for six months without leaving at all, not even to visit my sister in Europe or to go on a holiday with my Russian husband, that seems really strict.

Or maybe I can just provide a lease (even though I live rent-free in my husband's family's flat) for one year?

I'm also asking this because I thought about switching over to a different type of visa, a business visa or a private visa, but if it will disturb my ability to apply directly in Moscow then I will stay on my work visa.

Please advise and clarify if you can. :/ Thanks in advance.

[lost_at_sea 995]

Of course you could have left for a holiday. They want to see that you had 6 months residency before filing - residency being the place that you primarily call home. That you lived there.

The Russian US embassy site lists the evidence to include to show that: http://moscow.usembassy.gov/mobile//uscis-i130.html.

Your work contract and lease are ideal, to show you have been there, using your visa. I can't actually see where it says 6 months - it may not even be that long, but it's reasonable to assume that as a minimum unless they tell you otherwise.

In Russia, you file in person, so you will be able to check then that you have the right papers.

Edited September 1, 2016 by lost_at_sea

[millefleur 5,046]

Of course you could have left for a holiday. They want to see that you had 6 months residency before filing - residency being the place that you primarily call home. That you lived there.

The Russian US embassy site lists the evidence to include to show that: http://moscow.usembassy.gov/mobile//uscis-i130.html.

Your work contract and lease are ideal, to show you have been there, using your visa. I can't actually see where it says 6 months - it may not even be that long, but it's reasonable to assume that as a minimum unless they tell you otherwise.

In Russia, you file in person, so you will be able to check then that you have the right papers.

OK that's what I thought. I just wasn't sure so I wanted to check!!

So, in theory, even if I changed my visa to a private/homestay visa, my old visas would be proof that I had been in Russia consecutively?

[lost_at_sea 995]

I don't know anything about Russian visas, but if you have the documents they are asking for on their site, you're good to go.