For USC's in Russia: December 15 End of Russian Migration Extension Period

[millefleur 5,047]

Got this message from the Embassy today regarding USC's currently in Russia:

 

Travel Alert – U.S. Mission Russia (December 1, 2020)

 

Location:  Russia, country-wide

 

Event:  December 15 End of Russian Migration “Extension Period”

 

The Russian Government-ordered “extension period” on visas and legal admissions to Russia will expire on December 15.  This order extended the validity of visas and admissions to Russia that expired between March 15, 2020 and December 15, 2020.

 

U.S. Mission Russia is unable to predict if another extension will be granted.  All U.S. citizens present in the Russian Federation whose visas or admission periods are set to expire by December 15 are encouraged to begin planning their departure.  There are multiple international flights departing Moscow weekly, and a limited number of direct flights to the United States. 

 

U.S. Mission Russia does not have the authority to intervene on migration overstays, and individuals who overstay their visas or admission periods, even by less than one day, are subject to a fine, deportation, and a five-year ban on reentry to the Russian Federation.

Please visit this link for further information about the current extension granted by the Russian government (in Russian).

[Cheburashka34 228]

Do you think this might be good news? I don't know what to think anymore 😛

[millefleur 5,047]

On 12/2/2020 at 11:59 AM, Cheburashka34 said:

Do you think this might be good news? I don't know what to think anymore 😛

I interpret more as "If you are a USC in Russia with an expiring or expired visa, you need to leave now" kind of situation.

[TBoneTX 46,294]

10 hours ago, millefleur said:

"If you are a USC in Russia with an expiring or expired visa, you need to leave now"

"and don't let the door hit you in the rear on your way out"

[CyberSamurai013 69]

I just got off the phone with the U.S. embassy in Moscow and will write what I was told below.

 

Background: I am an American and my ex-wife is Russian. I have been 'living' in Russia for 5 years on 3-year multiple entry private homestay visas as we have 2 little girls together who live with my 'wife' in Siberia. I usually leave for a day or more every 180 days then return. I have not been able to get a TRP because i have not been able to learn Russian due to a TBI from the war in 2003. We planned on remarrying but the birth of our 18 month old and COVID-19 have prevented us from making the journey to Moscow in order to do so. My wife and I have both had COVID symptoms for over a month now and she received a CT result today indicative of COVID infection. We are awaiting her blood antibody test and I am going within the next few days to get my tests done.

 

Embassy call results: The gentleman I spoke with at the embassy essentially said they have no indication either way of if there will be a new presidential decree extending visa stays. They find out the same time we do because the Russian government does not give them advanced warning. He said they expect there will be a new extension and if so it should be retroactive if issued past December 15th. 

 

My wife read on multiple Russian news websites that the government is expected to extend the visa stays through winter and possibly until March 2021. This is speculation right now as no official sources have confirmed it.   

 

No airline will let you fly if you have COVID or have been exposed to someone with it within the last 14 days.  

 

If you do not have COVID and your stay expires on the 15th with no new decree in place before then you have to make a decision and it will be a gamble either way. Either you stay and hope there is a new decree which they make retroactive, or you leave Russia back to America and cannot return for the foreseeable future as Russia is closed to Americans right now. Either way is risky unless you plan to not return to Russia in the near future. There is a provision which allows Americans who have immediate relatives living in Russia to petition the Embassy in D.C. to allow you to return to Russia but it is not guaranteed.

 

From the U.S. Embassy in Moscow website:

 

"U.S. citizens who hold a tourist visa and have family members in Russia (spouse, children, parents, etc.) are generally NOT allowed to enter under the current rules regarding Covid-19.  They should reach out to the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Washington, DC, for their request to be considered."

 

https://ru.usembassy.gov/covid-19-information/#:~:text=Entry%20and%20Exit%20Requirements%3A&text=The%20Government%20of%20the%20Russian%20Federation%20banned%20the%20entry%20of,residence%20permit%2C%20or%20transit%20passengers

 

This is what I have learned thus far and I hope it helps people to make informed decisions. I will update this if I receive any new information.

Edited December 11, 2020 by CyberKnight13

[o1michmich 2]

Hey everyone,

 

I just saw a message saying the visa validity period has been extended to June 15, 2021. Did anyone else see this? This is quite a surprise to me. My duration of stay is supposed to end in February 2021, but I guess we can stay longer...?

 

 

"On December 15, President Putin signed a decree extending the temporary stay or permanent residency of foreigners and stateless persons in the Russian Federation until June 15, 2021. This decree applies to immigration documents, including visas, residence permits, and migration registration, that have expired or will expire between March 15, 2020, and June 15, 2021. The Russian government has not clarified procedures for handling expiring documents beyond June 15, 2021. The official text of the decree may be found here. (Russian only)

The decree contains additional language limiting the extension to March 15, 2021, for citizens of certain countries. However, per the Ministry of Internal Affairs website, the United States is not included in this list of countries. A further explanation of the presidential decree and the list of countries whose citizens’ visas are only extended until March 15, 2021 is available here. (Russian only)

The decree also contains new language that these extensions do not apply to individuals supporting “terrorist/extremist activity or attempts against public order and public security, including those who participate in an unauthorized meeting, rally, demonstration, march, or picketing.” The Russian government has not clearly defined who would be subject to such designations."

Edited December 18, 2020 by o1michmich

[millefleur 5,047]

3 hours ago, o1michmich said:

 

I just saw a message saying the visa validity period has been extended to June 15, 2021. Did anyone else see this? This is quite a surprise to me. My duration of stay is supposed to end in February 2021, but I guess we can stay longer...?

Sounds like from that decree, you can stay longer. Looks like they updated the Embassy website with the same news:

https://ru.usembassy.gov/travel-advisory-extension-of-temporary-stay-or-permanent-residency-of-foreigners-in-russia-until-june-15-2021/

[CyberSamurai013 69]

Yes, he extended it to June 15th, 2021 but they will not register anyone until January because the local MVD offices do not have clear directions on how to do so. We went down to the MVD on December 18th, 2020 and they refused to register me. They said to come back in January and that there will be no penalties in January for later registrations, expired papers, etc.

Here is the official decree No. 791

 

http://publication.pravo.gov.ru/Document/View/0001202012170001

Edited December 19, 2020 by CyberKnight13

[millefleur 5,047]

2 hours ago, CyberKnight13 said:

Yes, he extended it to June 15th, 2021 but they will not register anyone until January because the local MVD offices do not have clear directions on how to do so. We went down to the MVD on December 18th, 2020 and they refused to register me. They said to come back in January and that there will be no penalties in January for later registrations, expired papers, etc.

Very helpful info! Thanks for sharing.

[CyberSamurai013 69]

On 12/19/2020 at 12:50 PM, millefleur said:

Very helpful info! Thanks for sharing.

No worries, happy to be helpful!

[CyberSamurai013 69]

My wife went to the MVD office a few days ago to register me until June 15th, per the Presidential order, but they would only do so for a period of 3 months, They said that most likely in April most foreigners will have to leave Russia as the plan is to start working on the backlog of foreigners stuck here since COVID-19 started. My wife explained that I have a private homestay visa due to us having minor children together who are dual Russian and American citizens. She also explained I have not gotten the TRP (temporary resident permit) because I am having difficulty learning Russian due to TBI (head injuries) from the Iraq/Afghanistan wars. There was a change to the Russian immigration law in November of 2019 that may allow someone like me to get a PRP (permanent resident permit) without taking the test on Russian language, law, and history. This is not confirmed yet and she has a meeting with the information branch of the MVD to discuss it further.

 

Just wanted to share our experiences and the information we receive in the hope that it will help others in similar situations.

[millefleur 5,047]

1 hour ago, CyberKnight13 said:

There was a change to the Russian immigration law in November of 2019 that may allow someone like me to get a PRP (permanent resident permit) without taking the test on Russian language, law, and history. This is not confirmed yet and she has a meeting with the information branch of the MVD to discuss it further.

Can you explain in detail what changed? Good luck to you, hope you can get your residence permit.

[CyberSamurai013 69]

On 1/25/2021 at 10:28 PM, millefleur said:

Can you explain in detail what changed? Good luck to you, hope you can get your residence permit.

Here is a link (in Russian) to the information. I will attempt to post screenshots translated into English.

 

https://migrant.ru/chto-izmenyaetsya-s-01-11-2019-goda-dlya-inostrannyx-grazhdan-pri-poluchenii-rvp-i-vnzh/

 

‼TEMPORARY RESIDENCE PERMIT (RVP). ‼

 

📙1. Foreign citizens who have the right to receive a TRP without taking into account the quota:

✅- a minor child, as well as an incapacitated adult, if one of the parent (guardian) has a TRP, for a period like a parent (guardian). A minor child, as well as an incapacitated adult at the same time as a parent (guardian) receiving a TRP;

✅- a foreign citizen who is legally married to a citizen of the Russian Federation (at the place of residence of the spouse of a citizen of the Russian Federation);

✅- a foreign citizen who has made investments in the Russian Federation in the amount established by the government;

✅- a foreign citizen who entered the military service in the Russian Federation for a period of service;

✅- a foreign citizen who is a participant in the state program for the voluntary resettlement of compatriots;

✅- Citizens of the countries of the former USSR and who received higher professional education in the Russian Federation (an innovation, previously there was no such basis for a RWP);

✅- citizens of Ukraine or stateless persons permanently residing in the territory of Ukraine, recognized as refugees or received temporary asylum on the territory of the Russian Federation (innovation, previously there was no such basis for a temporary residence permit).

 

📙2.Term for consideration of a TRP:

For foreign citizens from visa countries and citizens who have applied for a TRP outside the Russian Federation, the term for consideration of a TRP is reduced from 6 to 4 months.

 

📙3. Grounds for cancellation of the TRP:

✅ - the period of stay outside the Russian Federation is not more than 6 months in total during the calendar year (from January 1 to December 31). Previously, it was possible to stay for no more than 6 months continuously;

✅- upon application, you can refuse the RVP (previously it was impossible to refuse the RVP).

 

‼RESIDENCE PERMIT (residence permit). ‼

 

📙1. Foreign citizens who can obtain a residence permit without going

✅through a temporary residence permit: - foreign citizens born in the territory of the RSFSR and holding USSR citizenship (before December 21, 1991);

✅- a minor child, as well as an incapacitated adult, if one of the parent (guardian) has a residence permit. Issued for a period like a parent (guardian). A minor child, as well as an incapacitated adult simultaneously with a parent (guardian) receiving a residence permit.

✅- a foreign citizen who has a parent, son or daughter who is a citizen of the Russian Federation and permanently resides in the Russian Federation. Also, this category of foreign citizens is exempt from the Russian language exam;

✅- a foreign citizen recognized as a native speaker of the Russian language;

✅- highly qualified specialists who carry out at least 6 months prior to the day of filing an application for a residence permit, labor activity in the Russian Federation in a profession (specialty, position) included in the list of professions - qualified specialists.

✅- foreign citizens who have successfully mastered a state-accredited educational program of higher education in full-time education in the Russian Federation and received a certificate of education and qualifications with honors;

✅- a foreign citizen who is himself or a relative in a direct ascending line, whose adoptive parent or spouse was illegally deported from the Crimean Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic;

✅- a foreign citizen whose Russian citizenship has been terminated or revoked.

 

📙2. Period of consideration and validity of the residence permit:

You can apply for a residence permit after 8 months after receiving the TRP and no later than 4 months before the expiration of the TRP;

The period for consideration of an application for a residence permit will be reduced from 6 to 4 months. Under the new law, the residence permit will become indefinite (for everyone except the HQS). The residence permit book is changed upon reaching the age of 14, 20, 45 years.

 

📙3.Confirmation of residence for a residence permit:

Notification of a residence permit is submitted annually within 2 months from the date of the expiration of the next year of residence.

 

📙4. Exemption from the need to take an exam for a residence permit:

Foreign citizens applying for a residence permit on the basis of a parent, son or daughter of citizens of the Russian Federation are exempted from the requirement to confirm their knowledge of the Russian language and will not take the exam.

 

📙5. Increase of the state duty The

state duty for the issuance or replacement of a residence permit will increase to 5,000 rubles.

 

📙4. Grounds for cancellation of a temporary

✅ residence permit: - the period of stay outside the Russian Federation is not more than 6 months in total during a calendar year (from January 1 to December 31). Previously, it was possible to stay for no more than 6 months continuously;

✅- The residence permit is canceled if it has not submitted an annual notification continuously during any 2 calendar years after receiving the residence permit.

 

📚You can also familiarize yourself with the text of the Federal Law of 02.08.2019 N 257-FZ in the section on regulatory legal acts. 📚