Travel to Russia

[Mike20090622 45]

51 minutes ago, To_the_moon said:

Update on my earlier post. 

I am currently in Russia with my fiancé. Everything went well. I did not have any problems at passport control. No one questioned me and everything went smooth as always. 

 

I took a flight from San Francisco to Moscow via Istanbul. Purchased my tickets directly from Turkish Airlines website. They had to change my flight twice, just some minor schedule changes, but I had the option to either cancel or change my flight with no penalty fee. So, in the end my ticket to Moscow came up to around $500 one way (2 luggage bags included). Had to fill up a health screening form and do a Covid test 48 hours prior to my arrival in Moscow. I did it at CVS pharmacy for free and got the results within 24 hours. They asked for it at SFO airport and Istanbul. Other than a longer flight from Istanbul to Moscow everything else was the same. Masks are now somewhat optional I guess😄

That’s nice to hear, I need setup the interview date before I schedule my flight, if my fiancée can get multiple entries visa to Schengen area and we may spend two weeks in Italy, otherwise I may goto Moscow or we can meet in Istanbul, thanks for updating me

[Dashinka 24,448]

Has anyone heard of any other routes.  The wife wants to go back and see her mother and son.  We are leaning toward Istanbul or Doha, but wanted to see if anyone knew of any other options.

[millefleur 5,046]

3 hours ago, Dashinka said:

Has anyone heard of any other routes.  The wife wants to go back and see her mother and son.  We are leaning toward Istanbul or Doha, but wanted to see if anyone knew of any other options.

Air Serbia. They fly to NYC from Belgrade.

 

My MIL is coming soon hopefully and we just decided to go with Turkish Airlines. You can even buy in RUB on their website so that is great.

Edited May 14, 2022 by millefleur

[AlIu 3]

11 hours ago, millefleur said:

Air Serbia. They fly to NYC from Belgrade.

 

My MIL is coming soon hopefully and we just decided to go with Turkish Airlines. You can even buy in RUB on their website so that is great.

Checked wensite yesterday, no flights from Russia, no rubles accepted. The week ago the situation was different!

[JayFromTexas 69]

On 5/5/2022 at 3:25 PM, To_the_moon said:

Update on my earlier post. 

I am currently in Russia with my fiancé. Everything went well. I did not have any problems at passport control. No one questioned me and everything went smooth as always. 

 

I took a flight from San Francisco to Moscow via Istanbul. Purchased my tickets directly from Turkish Airlines website. They had to change my flight twice, just some minor schedule changes, but I had the option to either cancel or change my flight with no penalty fee. So, in the end my ticket to Moscow came up to around $500 one way (2 luggage bags included). Had to fill up a health screening form and do a Covid test 48 hours prior to my arrival in Moscow. I did it at CVS pharmacy for free and got the results within 24 hours. They asked for it at SFO airport and Istanbul. Other than a longer flight from Istanbul to Moscow everything else was the same. Masks are now somewhat optional I guess😄

TTM, are you able to use your credit card(s) in Russia? I am considering visiting my girlfriend in Moscow in a couple months and would like to know what my options are as far as paying for stuff.

 

Is there any advice you think would be helpful for someone traveling to Russia now?

 

Thanks!

[millefleur 5,046]

2 hours ago, AlIu said:

Checked wensite yesterday, no flights from Russia, no rubles accepted. The week ago the situation was different!

Which are you talking about? I was just on Turkish Air yesterday and they had tons of flights and option to pay in RUB.

[AlIu 3]

1 minute ago, millefleur said:

Which are you talking about? I was just on Turkish Air yesterday and they had tons of flights and option to pay in RUB.

Turkish Airlines

[AlIu 3]

5 minutes ago, AlIu said:

Turkish Airlines

Just checked. There are flights from Moscow. I checked Sochi yestetday. All the flights from Sochi are cancelled 

[To_the_moon 94]

20 hours ago, JayFromTexas said:

TTM, are you able to use your credit card(s) in Russia? I am considering visiting my girlfriend in Moscow in a couple months and would like to know what my options are as far as paying for stuff.

 

Is there any advice you think would be helpful for someone traveling to Russia now?

 

Thanks!

I haven't tried using my credit card yet. But I will let you guys know if there is any update. 

 

I would suggest bringing cash, if possible, just because you cannot know which bank will suspend its services next. You can bring up to $10,000. Other than that everything is still the same. 

[Mike20090622 45]

34 minutes ago, To_the_moon said:

I haven't tried using my credit card yet. But I will let you guys know if there is any update. 

 

I would suggest bringing cash, if possible, just because you cannot know which bank will suspend its services next. You can bring up to $10,000. Other than that everything is still the same. 

I remember the limit is 3000$, maybe you need declare amount between 3000 - 10000, I am also planning goto Moscow to meet my fiancée for two weeks in summer 

[To_the_moon 94]

4 minutes ago, Mike20090622 said:

I remember the limit is 3000$, maybe you need declare amount between 3000 - 10000, I am also planning goto Moscow to meet my fiancée for two weeks in summer 

No, they cancelled the previous ban. The new regulation from March 11 permits bringing cash to Russia for personal use. So you only need to declare if you bring more than $10,000.

 

However, Russia-related General License (GL) 18 authorizes certain transactions that are ordinarily incident and necessary to the transfer of U.S. dollar-denominated banknotes for noncommercial, personal remittances from:  (i) the United States or a U.S. person, wherever located, to an individual located in the Russian Federation; or (ii) a U.S. person who is an individual located in the Russian Federation.

 

Source:

https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/financial-sanctions/faqs/1028

 

 

[To_the_moon 94]

However, I would suggest staying within the $10,000 limit, so that you don't have any problems at the Russian customs. 

Edited May 15, 2022 by To_the_moon

[millefleur 5,046]

5 hours ago, To_the_moon said:

However, I would suggest staying within the $10,000 limit, so that you don't have any problems at the Russian customs. 

Even if you are bringing under $10k, bring all the paperwork you can to show that it's your money.

[HashWad 19]

On 5/13/2022 at 9:43 PM, millefleur said:

Air Serbia. They fly to NYC from Belgrade.

 

My MIL is coming soon hopefully and we just decided to go with Turkish Airlines. You can even buy in RUB on their website so that is great.

Just booked a flight for my wife and kids to fly to moscow. Air Serbia, NY to Belgrade to Moscow. 

Hopefully I'll be able to follow in a few weeks. The whole access to money is worrying. The inlaws have opened an bank account with a bank that has not been kicked off the SWIFT network. Hopefully my bank will be able to wire money to it. 

[millefleur 5,046]

40 minutes ago, HashWad said:

Just booked a flight for my wife and kids to fly to moscow. Air Serbia, NY to Belgrade to Moscow. 

Hopefully I'll be able to follow in a few weeks. The whole access to money is worrying. The inlaws have opened an bank account with a bank that has not been kicked off the SWIFT network. Hopefully my bank will be able to wire money to it. 

Let us know how it goes!