Military Service and Taxes for Russian Citizens

[Satellite 1]

For those of you marrying Russians citizen ladies who have children who came over on K2/K4, what do you think the policy is about those boys visiting Russia during their prime military age? Is it possible for those boys who at the time will probably be dual US and Russian citizens to be forcefully detained and drafted into the military upon their arrival on a visit to Russia? I haven't heard any stories, but if you are a Russian male in Russia and you aren't going to a University or are not medically excused there is a good chance you are going to go into compulsory military service. Anybody have thoughts on these issues?

Similarily what about tax law? Any chance that your Russian citizen spouses could be dragged into court and jailed for not paying taxes on foreign income he or she earned? I don't know Russian tax law but I am sure it is pretty arbitrary like all other things over there.

Are these legitimate concerns or just silly thoughts?

[slim 1,525]

Definately legitimate concerns!

I haven't heard anyone actually having to do this, but I'm sure it's possible. Anything is possible in Russia.

I saw the cumpulsory military service thing in Korea though. Korean/American guys would show up to hang out with their girlfriends or wives after they got out of the US military, and would be subject to Korean military service. Another instance was when a guy who grew up in the States his whole life (didn't even speak Korean) went on the family trip to visit grandma and grandpa, and was asked to join too. In all cases that I've heard of though, they didn't actually get detained and forced in, however, they were permanantly blacklisted and I believe they were also stripped of citizenship. Not 100% on the facts, just stories, but it sounds possible in Russia too.

Taxes, probably same thing.

Sat, you are military age. Where does this put you? You emmigrated prior to '91 right? Still a little worried though?

[Satellite 1]

Sat, you are military age. Where does this put you? You emmigrated prior to '91 right? Still a little worried though?

I am of military age, but I am not a Russian Citizen, so I have nothing to worry about. We left as traitors of the USSR (refugees) at the end of 1988. Not only were we stripped of citizenships, we didn't even have passports for that matter. Just one of those silly green paper exit visas. So I always had to use visas to travel to Russia. I had to show that old piece of paper when applying for a Russian visa with my US passport, because otherwise I could not prove I am no longer a Russian citizen because I was born in the former USSR. That is an extra burden put on us ex-citizens

Although there was a small time frame in 2002 or 2003 that all of us ex-pats could have restored citizenship by paying huge fines and filling out a lot of paperwork. The news never got to me in time.

This post was actually more concerned with kids. For those with kids or planning on having kids; getting Russian citizenship for them seems like an advantage to avoid the visa issues, but I was just curious if the military and tax burden could ever rise to a real concern when these boys reach military age.

[slim 1,525]

Curious about all that too.

Anyone out there have kids or taxes?

[Jason-Sasha 1]

I was bored so I happened to go to the oldest page of threads in the Russian forum. It was interesting to see these posts and others from exactly 2 years ago. I didn't know this stuff about Satellite before and found the questions very interesting. Anyway, cool little read.

[slim 1,525]

This is what's cool about our Forum. We have unique people with different angles on things so that really broadens the discussions. However, it also dials us in on what we're looking for fairly quickly and whatever questions or comments are posted get addressed in real short order.

And for those that don't know... Satellite's word is akin to gospel when it comes to legal matters. He'll tell you he's not giving you legal advice, but he'll also post the link to that legal advice and they've always been one and the same. And if you reread all of his posts, you'll see an unorthodox style that comes from a very unique insight, one that most of us on here lack. Why, because he has a unique insight... and so do we all!

POST!!! Share your two kopeks! You never know, it could be what someone else was wondering or needed agreement (or disagreement) on in order to advance their Visa Journey.

[visaveteran1 33]

From the recent rumblings from Czar Putin, I'd be very worried. My wife just told me that after Putin's recent tirade, there is again strong talk of no longer allowing Russian women to immigrate to marry non Russian men. The time frame talked about was within two years no more immigration.

I know it's comfortable for us to think this is all political chess playing and will lead to nothing, but the more I see Putin, the more I see his KGB side coming out. Sadly, it seems to his advantage to press more and more anti-American actions and his strong nationalist tendencies are driving the future course of Russian-American relations.

It will be interesting to see what Putin does now that Kosovo has declared itself a nation.

[eekee 182]

Seanconneryii, do you have a link to the text or video of that speech? In russian is fine.

I know that there's been an anti-immigration propaganda campaign for a while (i.e., you will miss russia too much and never adjust, and your foreign spouse will never understand you and divorce you and not let you see your kids), and zhirnovsky (?) tried to get something passed in duma, but this is the first i've heard of putin stopping immigration altogether.

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Well, just give us our girls first!!

[visaveteran1 33]

From the recent rumblings from Czar Putin, I'd be very worried. My wife just told me that after Putin's recent tirade, there is again strong talk of no longer allowing Russian women to immigrate to marry non Russian men. The time frame talked about was within two years no more immigration.

I know it's comfortable for us to think this is all political chess playing and will lead to nothing, but the more I see Putin, the more I see his KGB side coming out. Sadly, it seems to his advantage to press more and more anti-American actions and his strong nationalist tendencies are driving the future course of Russian-American relations.

It will be interesting to see what Putin does now that Kosovo has declared itself a nation.

Sorry...I don't have a link.

[eekee 182]

From the recent rumblings from Czar Putin, I'd be very worried. My wife just told me that after Putin's recent tirade, there is again strong talk of no longer allowing Russian women to immigrate to marry non Russian men. The time frame talked about was within two years no more immigration.

I know it's comfortable for us to think this is all political chess playing and will lead to nothing, but the more I see Putin, the more I see his KGB side coming out. Sadly, it seems to his advantage to press more and more anti-American actions and his strong nationalist tendencies are driving the future course of Russian-American relations.

It will be interesting to see what Putin does now that Kosovo has declared itself a nation.

Sorry...I don't have a link.

it's just interesting because i read nothing about it in my russian rss news feed. would it only apply to women?

i'd think that if they tried to ban people from leaving, they'd want to uh, leave more.

Edited February 17, 2008 by eekee

[slim 1,525]

All that would do is increase the amount of money (and American presence) in Ukraine. We would get really friendly with them and that seems to be what Russia is trying to avoid most; us on their doorstep.

[Blues Fairy 0]

According to the current tax law, Russian citizens not domiciled in Russia are not subject to Russian income tax for any jobs performed outside of Russia. A citizen is considered non-domiciled if he/she spends abroad more than 183 calendar days out of the past 12 consecutive months in the current tax period. From here. So spouses of US citizens would not be subject to Russian income taxation, provided they spend the larger part of the year in USA.

As for military service, those boys who have Russian citizenship, regardless of any additional citizenship, are definitely subject for drafting to the Russian army. If their parents defer the decision to their kid until his coming of age, and the boy ultimately decides to renounce Russian citizenship, he will have to pay a hefty fee - smth like $2K (not the easiest process too). So perhaps it's better to decide for him while he's still under age.

[Chris Parker 11]

As for military service, those boys who have Russian citizenship, regardless of any additional citizenship, are definitely subject for drafting to the Russian army. If their parents defer the decision to their kid until his coming of age, and the boy ultimately decides to renounce Russian citizenship, he will have to pay a hefty fee - smth like $2K (not the easiest process too). So perhaps it's better to decide for him while he's still under age.

Many countries offer an exemption when permanent residence is abroad and has been abroad for a long time. In Russian terms, that means no registered residence within Russia (only consular registration, if any). Nonresident Russian citizens visiting Russia without acquiring a new residence there are subject to the migration card and temporary passport registration the same as non-citizens, aren't they? Despite this, are you sure that military conscription would nevertheless apply in Russia?

Edited February 18, 2008 by Chris Parker

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Well, just give us our girls first!!