Mail from US to Russia: bank cards ok?

[millefleur 5,047]

Hi everyone,

My mom sent me a bunch of documents via USPS Express Mail (EMS I guess?) to Saint Petersburg. I chose this option because I ordered some items for my wedding from the States and they were also shipped Express via USPS and they arrived fine, in about a week's time. My mom sent the package out on November 21st from the West Coast.

Sent: November 21st from the USA

The status last update as "Departed TOKYO, JAPAN November 26, 2016 4:00 am" (Your item departed a transfer airport in HANEDA, TOKYO, JAPAN on November 26, 2016 at 4:00 am. The item is currently in transit to the destination.)

I thought that this was kind of weird since I expected it to go via Europe and not via Asia, but fine, ok...maybe that makes sense, who knows.

But I saw someone mention something about bank cards in the Ukraine forum. They said it's illegal to send bank cards to Ukraine....is that also true of Russia??? If I had know that, I wouldn't have had my mom send them...argghh. Anyway, I'm just worried now because there have been no updates in almost four days.

I need this stuff for my "evidence" for filing the I-130 DCF, which will be on December 21st......I really hope it won't get lost in the mail!!! There's still some time before the interview, but I hope that customs won't reject it since it included bank cards!

Anyway, with those who had experience shipping to Russia, is this normal? Maybe I was lucky last time when I ordered stuff?

[Amy_and_Victor 159]

But I saw someone mention something about bank cards in the Ukraine forum. They said it's illegal to send bank cards to Ukraine....is that also true of Russia??? If I had know that, I wouldn't have had my mom send them...argghh. Anyway, I'm just worried now because there have been no updates in almost four days.

As far as I know there're no laws in Russia that make illegal to send a bank cards via mail. The only risk is that card may be stolen out of the package on the way to you and used somewhere.

But some banks have rules that don't allow their customers to ship issued bank cards via mail, you need to check with you bank about it. Why does it matter? If bank has this rule and let's say card happens to be stolen on the way to you, bank may deny you to dispute unathorized charges if shipping card via mail violates their own regulations and it will be card holder's responsibility.

I wouldn't worry about Japan being showed in the tracking, mail usually send packages the cheapest way and may be sending your package by air through the Japan was cheaper than sending it through the Europe. I'm surprised it wasn't sent directly from the US to Russia, when me or Amy had been sending something from the US to Russia tracking was always showing direct air delivery from New York to the Moscow, no stops in between.

- Victor from Russia

[millefleur 5,047]

As far as I know there're no laws in Russia that make illegal to send a bank cards via mail. The only risk is that card may be stolen out of the package on the way to you and used somewhere.

But some banks have rules that don't allow their customers to ship issued bank cards via mail, you need to check with you bank about it. Why does it matter? If bank has this rule and let's say card happens to be stolen on the way to you, bank may deny you to dispute unathorized charges if shipping card via mail violates their own regulations and it will be card holder's responsibility.

I wouldn't worry about Japan being showed in the tracking, mail usually send packages the cheapest way and may be sending your package by air through the Japan was cheaper than sending it through the Europe. I'm surprised it wasn't sent directly from the US to Russia, when me or Amy had been sending something from the US to Russia tracking was always showing direct air delivery from New York to the Moscow, no stops in between.

- Victor from Russia

Thanks for the answer Victor. It's not a problem with my bank as it's a military-based client base so they have tons of clients abroad. I also usually saw the direct USA-Moscow route with the mail. My only guess is because it was coming from the West Coast, maybe that's why it's cheaper?

Still no updates since November 26.

[GelendzhikBelle 7]

 Well.. when we lived in the Seattle area and I sent items to our family in Krasnodar Krai it was not unusual for a 1 or even 2 months 

wait to arrive. The postal service in Russia is a "black hole" no matter how quickly something is sent from outside of Russia. This is

a fact for Russians too. All are aware that ordering anything outside of the Federation is a long wait and possible risk of loss.

 It is one factor that President Putin and whomever is elected in 2018 will have positive responses from if it can be improved.

 I sent a bank card to my Mother in law. It arrived with no issues. She could not use it however because the bank near her

village is always out of cash it seems. We simply switched to Moneygrams. Not the easiest but at least our family in Russia

can get the assistance when needed. UPS has a better delivery to Russia (expensive). Pony Express within Russia is a good

service we have used.

[millefleur 5,047]

1 hour ago, GelendzhikBelle said:

 Well.. when we lived in the Seattle area and I sent items to our family in Krasnodar Krai it was not unusual for a 1 or even 2 months 

wait to arrive. The postal service in Russia is a "black hole" no matter how quickly something is sent from outside of Russia. This is

a fact for Russians too. All are aware that ordering anything outside of the Federation is a long wait and possible risk of loss.

 It is one factor that President Putin and whomever is elected in 2018 will have positive responses from if it can be improved.

 I sent a bank card to my Mother in law. It arrived with no issues. She could not use it however because the bank near her

village is always out of cash it seems. We simply switched to Moneygrams. Not the easiest but at least our family in Russia

can get the assistance when needed. UPS has a better delivery to Russia (expensive). Pony Express within Russia is a good

service we have used.

Thanks for the reply! The package eventually arrived without a problem. It was just delayed because I believe going to Japan was obviously a mistake (it usually comes via Europe).

 

Moneygram: hmm, how are the fees? Do you what the percentage charged is? Right now we're trying to figure out how to move USD from Russia to Russia...

[GelendzhikBelle 7]

  the fees are a bit steep.. and of course the bank in Russia also charges "exchange". So for instance we just sent $300 USd and the fee was $25.  I believe my Brother in Law had a "slip" of 2% on the change to Ruble.   Daily this rate changes also (as you are aware I am sure).

  Last week the conversion was 61 ruble to 1 dollar. Now it is approximately 59 ruble to 1 Dollar.  When we were married in 2012 the rate was 32 Ruble to 1 Dollar.

 This is a big factor when considering a large purchase such as a home in Russia, which we are expecting to do.  My Mother in Law owns a Soviet era apartment on the Black Sea, but she simply cannot stay on the 4th floor any longer. Very difficult to travel to and from her village also. The closest town of any size is Gelendzhik. We are going to purchase in or near Krasnodar, mostly because my brother in law can find a good job there and the clinics are large and modern for mom.

  For now the funds we are sending are mostly to support her against the new taxes on all property in Russia. Her utilities and building maintenance fees are much more now than last year. It would be impossible for her to stay in her home with the small pension she has. These are facts in Russia now..and also the fact is that if she cannot meet the demands of tax and "kanalization" then she would be placed into an "obsititziia".   She is as my own mother to me so that is not going to happen if I can do anything to prevent that. I asked if she would consider immigrating to the States but that is not an option for her. I understand..she is Russian and she would always feel out of place in America. My wife however is a different person. She has little interest to return to Russia for a homestead. We will keep our ties of course, but my wife is sure she prefers American life for most things.. not all.   The bread here is terrible! I agree.  We would be interested to learn from others how they have transferred large sums of dollars to purchase in Russia. Somewhere around $75,000 is going to be required I believe. so far we have decided to risk Cberbank and have a wire transfer from the US bank to Cberbank.  Hopefully the bank does not crash or we have a reset of Ruble (or Dollar) during the time of purchase.   

[millefleur 5,047]

2 hours ago, GelendzhikBelle said:

 We would be interested to learn from others how they have transferred large sums of dollars to purchase in Russia. Somewhere around $75,000 is going to be required I believe. so far we have decided to risk Cberbank and have a wire transfer from the US bank to Cberbank.  Hopefully the bank does not crash or we have a reset of Ruble (or Dollar) during the time of purchase.   

Let me know how the Sberbank transfer goes. I have a Sberbank dollars account but have never tried any direct transfers to my US account.