Mail Service to Russia?

[JayFromTexas 69]

My fiance and I are getting married on March 3rd, 2023, using the Utah Online service. I expect to have a copy of the certified marriage certificate in my hands a few days later. I need to send one of the certified copies to my fiance in Moscow, as soon as possible after I receive it. Currently, what is the fastest way to get it there?

[Crazy Cat 41,984]

Be aware that you cannot file an I-130 until you have met after the marriage ceremony.  Good Luck!!

[JayFromTexas 69]

5 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

Be aware that you cannot file an I-130 until you have met after the marriage ceremony.  Good Luck!!

Thanks! We'll be together in Turkey for the ceremony.

Edited February 16, 2023 by JayFromTexas

[Crazy Cat 41,984]

1 minute ago, JayFromTexas said:

I'm aware. We'll be together in Turkey for the ceremony.

Perfect!!!  Good luck on your journey (from Dallas)

 

[millefleur 5,047]

@mendeleev said that there's a service that will ship books to Russia. I think there is some small private company that will ship US to Russia but I don't know any details or have personal experience with it.

[Simplytex 387]

49 minutes ago, millefleur said:

@mendeleev said that there's a service that will ship books to Russia. I think there is some small private company that will ship US to Russia but I don't know any details or have personal experience with it.

Probably CDEK, but they give mixed messages on if services from some chat groups I've seen. Best to contact them directly.

[Lynxyonok 316]

There are numerous Facebook and Telegram groups where routine visitors to Russia (and similar) accept documents and small packages.

 

I don't vouch for either, but the fact that these businesses exist must mean that goods do make it across.

[mendeleev 68]

13 hours ago, millefleur said:

@mendeleev said that there's a service that will ship books to Russia. I think there is some small private company that will ship US to Russia but I don't know any details or have personal experience with it.

Sorry for misunderstanding here.  I'm not aware of services that ship books *to* Russia.  Recently, my wife managed to order a couple of novels that were delivered from Moscow to us here in the States.    It took about 3 weeks for those two detective stories to arrive.

 

For us, it is a puzzle we'll have to solve at some point how to ship items to Russia.

[millefleur 5,047]

12 hours ago, mendeleev said:

Sorry for misunderstanding here.  I'm not aware of services that ship books *to* Russia.  Recently, my wife managed to order a couple of novels that were delivered from Moscow to us here in the States.    It took about 3 weeks for those two detective stories to arrive.

Ah, got it! Interesting that you can send stuff out but not in. I think if books can go out, pretty much anything can. Weird. Do you know if her book shipment went via USPS once it got to the States?

[mendeleev 68]

9 hours ago, millefleur said:

Ah, got it! Interesting that you can send stuff out but not in. I think if books can go out, pretty much anything can. Weird. Do you know if her book shipment went via USPS once it got to the States?

We bought the books at kinga.com.  That bookstore, which I think is based in New York City, is somehow able to import.

 

Occasionally, the Russian grocery store near us gets shipments from Moscow too.  

 

I don't know how this works yet.  Those among us who want, from time to time, to send items in have things to learn here.  

 

USPS doesn't ship to Russia -- although before the SMO our parcels all went through Dubai and air connections from Dubai to Russia multiply these days.  But USPS claims, conterfactually, there is no possibility to send parcels there.  This isn't a matter of formal sanctions but something else.  We have been able to send clothing to grandchildren in Novosibirsk through Norway.  Norway no longer does express mail to Russia either, so it just takes longer.  But I have a relative living in Norway who intermediates.

[Gianelpibe 2]

My wife, sent me a post card from Moscow via regular mail, I received it about 4 weeks later via USPS.  I have not tried sending her one yet but I'll probably do that in the next few days to see how long it takes or if it even makes it.

[JayFromTexas 69]

5 hours ago, Gianelpibe said:

My wife, sent me a post card from Moscow via regular mail, I received it about 4 weeks later via USPS.  I have not tried sending her one yet but I'll probably do that in the next few days to see how long it takes or if it even makes it.

Good to know. Yes, please post what happens with your outbound post card.

 

My wife found a friend who was traveling to Turkey and I Fedex'd the letter to her in Istanbul last week. She and my wife met today and  the marriage certificate is now in my wife's possession.

[CyberSamurai013 69]

As far as I am aware, none of the major companies are shipping to Russia. This includes DHL, FedEx, UPS, USPS, etc. We have tried to get some certificates sent here and they all told us they no longer ship to russia due to the invasion of Ukraine last year. It seems like CDEK might be an option for some documents.

https://www.rbth.com/lifestyle/336063-how-to-send-parcel-to-russia-2023
 

Edited April 14, 2023 by CyberKnight13

[Gianelpibe 2]

So apparently I can receive letters from her but she cannot receive mine.  So weird!.. she has sent via regular mail, and I get them deliver with USPS, but mine keep getting returned.

[JayFromTexas 69]

Strange. And frustrating.