OK, I have never sent anything to Russia before but now I have to send a box of documents to Elena for her interview next month. Whats the best way? UPS, DHL, FedEx? Also, do I use her Russian language address? English? Both? This is a pretty important package (obviously) so I need advice...

I always use USPS express mail. The price is very reasonable and it will get there in about 1 week. You do not need to write the address in Russian alphabet, English will be fine.

I always used DHL. For me the reason I would avoid the USPS is that in Russia it puts your mail in the hands of the Russian Postal Service which is not real reliable. UPS would be my second choice. Anything will probably get it there with some luck.

Be careful you don't list much of a value to it. They may be valuable documents to you and her but anything over $ 100.00 and she will have to pay half the value in Duty. It is easy, for example, when you send a plane ticket that cost you $ 1000.00 to list the value as $ 1000.00 and that can create big problems. It is really just paper and your documents are just paper.

If originals are not absolutely required use USPS. Make a few copies and send it a few times if you really want to make sure it gets there. DHL, Fedex, and any other private carrier will charge you and arm and leg. USPS can deliver simple $0.84 envelopes with the help of the Russian mail service within 2 weeks or not at all has been my experience (about 70% success personally). With a regular letter there is usually no issue with customs. Speaking with one Russian postal service worker in 2004, she told me absolutely write the address in Russian characters, because many Russians outside of Moscow cannot read English.

I've sent several packages and document folders via USPS global express mail.

I want to say my K-1 packet was about $16 and took around three weeks to get all the way to Vladivostok. (As stated above, that's with USPS delivering to Moscow, then Russian Post all the way across Siberia.) I don't remember exactly, but I think that was the ballpark.

Through the years I've learned the best way to assure the package/letter arrives is to write it like this:

RUSSIA/РОССИЯ
682640 (or whatever your sweety's postal code in Russia is)
Хабаровский Край (Name of Region/Krai/Oblast)
Амурск - Пушкинская ул 24 Д 95 Кв (City/Oblast/Metro stop if applicable, Street, House #, Apt. #)
Шарапове Марие Н (Your sweety's name.... (in the dative case! Don't worry about that!))
(07) 4214-238-436 (Your sweety's mobile or home phone number. Maybe most important!)



It doesn't have to be in Cyrillic, but I believe it really expedites the process. Also, sometimes foreign packages and mail must be picked up in person, and if you don't have the phone number on there, they won't get the notice for six months. It'll just sit at the post office until they "happen to stop by" raising hell wondering where their package from America is. If you put the phone number on it, the workers at the PO might call because they're tired of tripping over that "stupid American box." Keep in mind, you can write everything in Cyrillic because your customs declaration is going to have the sender and recipient's name and address in English already. As long as that big "RUSSIA" is at the top, USPS will send it to Russia.

Totally agree with Sat here. Written in Cyrillic, I have had 100% success sending letters to Russia (more than 30). Average time about 11 days. Send a few copies USPS at least 3 weeks in advance and you will be fine. Don't post them on the same day.

If it gets within 9 days, send it DHL or Fedex. (I've had no problem with Fedex and I get a good discount, DHL is probably better though). You can instruct them to hold it at their office in Moscow if time is tight.

For documents, declare the value as $1. (You need to declare a value, that is what the paper is worth. Airline tickets have no value, and they can be re-issued if necessary.) Honestly though, buy the ticket in Russia, or get an E-ticket.

I have used USP_S exprerss mail and never had a problem

I've always used USPS Express Mail....never had a problem and my fiance told me that the packages are just as I sent them.
She told me that most of the time their packages are not opened until they get to their city and then it's opened in front of her either at the post office or when they deliver it to their apartment.
They usually receive their packages in 8 to 11 days....and it's expensive. An average package with with their "monthy stuffs" as they call them usually cost me $78.00.
I sent them some documents recently and it cost me $32.00 and they received them in 7 days.
I have no idea how they figure ..the documents were just a few pieces of paper, the package weighed over 30 lbs.
I receive things from them via Express Mail and I usually get it in 7 days. Amazing....
bruc

I pretty much used the above method and got 100% arrival of several packages that I have sent.

I use the format:

682640 РОССИЯ (ZIP, Russia)
г. Хабаровский (city)
24-95 Пушкинская ул (House, apt#, street)
Шарапове Марие Н (Your sweety's name.... (in the dative case! Don't worry about that!))
(07) 4214-238-436 (Your sweety's mobile or home phone number. Maybe most important!)
Russia 682640 (in big bold letters so the USPS computer sorting system will recognize that the parcel is going to Russia)

As far as I can tell, the only Original documents (that can't be reproduced) that you need to send are boarding passes. The I-134 can be re-created if lost. Make color copies of the boarding passes and send half (enough to prove one visit) in the first parcel along with the color copies of the remainder. After she gets the first package, send the remainder of the boarding passes in a second parcel.

Thanks all!

I used DHL after a fedex fiasco to send the documents to Elena but we have used USPS for gifts and other things back home. Just declare the value low so no duties.

If you are sending documents that she will need for the interview, I would use FedEx or DHL or UPS. Check to see which service she has in her town or region. You can use the USPS but they are not as reliable as the above because of the regional postal services.

I've used FedEx and USPS for documents and packages. I sent Christmas presents by both methods in early December 2005. The lighter FedEx package was there in a week. The heavier USPS was suppose to arrive before the Orthodox Christmas in January. They got the package in March.

All of the international delivery companies are less reliable in Russia. It isn't entirely within their control.

Sat's advice is the best, send many copies regular mail, on different days, well in advance. Write the address correctly, in cyrillic, name in the dative case, last name first in all capital letters. Block letters or Russian script are both fine.

Write "RUSSIA air mail/par aviion" at the bottom.

Back when we were preparing the K-1 paperwork I sent two packets of documents using DHL. I had noticed deep in their web site they guaranteed shipping to Russia in 4 or 5 days. Both times my packages took the long route and were 7 to 9 days getting there. I called and complained and asked them about their guarantee. They did refund me the FULL amount on both shipments because they arrived late.

Free shipping to Russia!!!

Tracking is not so good with USPS. Fedex has great tracking and about the same as USPS till you get over a couple of pounds (1k) so if its over 1k then make copies and send USPS. DHL for some reason is 30% more than Fedex.

Did you guys all miss where neonred just told us about free shipping to Russia?

Ship it DHL then call and complain, citing the guarantee. They'll refund the money = FREE SHIPPING TO RUSSIA!!!

Awesome!

If I trusted DHL I would use them at least DHL that goes through Poland (not sure whose rules they use) With documents it should be fine, and like Slim said, probably free, but for other things like presents, I wouldn't use them again, I had to pay over $100, to get my own clothes (not new, or anything) back from them, just because my dad sent them using his business account, then we had to send about a fax 20 different times, with revised lists of EVERY item in the package...It should have been to us in 3 days, but I got if after 2 weeks, and they wouldn't give me any refund...

Neonred, I looked at DHL website can you post where they garuntee time to russia??

Paul and Anna

This applies to documents and that is what I was sending a few years back. Now they are quoting 3 days for non-dutiable shipments.

http://www.dhl-usa.com/TransitTimes/IntlTT...IntTransitTimes

http://www.dhl-usa.com/IntlSvcs/detail/Int...DocumentService

see the service guarantee?? Look here....

http://www.dhl-usa.com/resources/Service_G..._New_DHL_v5.pdf

Both times I sent document packages (the DHL envelopes) it took a week or more. I was able to track the shipments and one of them ended up in Belgium for a while. They both did get properly delivered after several days. I called and complained and asked about the "service guarantee". They took my information and told me they would investigate. Sure enough after a few weeks I got full refunds both times.

I am not suggesting you consider this for "free shipping" to Russia, I only want you to know that if they screw up you are entitled to some compensation. I was really surprised to get anything back from them, no less a full refund. I don't think many people know about this policy......and I won't be surprised if they change it soon.

i sent package to Russia via regular mail,it took 3 months.

I have corporate accounts with Fedex and UPS. Another way you get screwed is that they charge things to your account that you did not ship. They credit the money back to you, but it is a pain to fight with them over it.

I wouldn't recommend addressing your package in English. Especially if she lives in a smaller city.
And under no circumstances, should you ever, NEVER send money in the mail. I have never sent
money but, I have sent plenty of packages and almost all were reported to have been opened
before they arrived.

Anyone else have this problem? My packages were sent to Tver. (TBEPb) Maybe that has something
to do with it?

Everything I have ever sent has arrived promptly. (Addressed in Cyrillic, case
doesn't seem to matter much for names. Written in block letters and cyrillic script.)

Packages sent to me from Russia have either taken many months, or not arrived at all.

My wife's daughter sent her a birthday gift a few weeks ago from Rostov-on-Don (what else but a pair of shoes!) by Russian post and it arrived here exactly one week after it was sent.

When cards were sent to me the time varied from a few weeks to more than a month.

Seems like a crapshoot either way. And, there's no rhyme or reason to the size/weight of the packages and the transit time. I've sent an 8 oz. envelope and it's taken three weeks, and I've sent an 8 lb. box, and it's taken three weeks. So, who knows.

Just remember if you have time-critical things to send (like K-1 papers) send them with a company, not the postal system. If you have time... post office is cheaper.

My mom sends me stuff from Russia sometimes, I used to send stuff to her too. She writes the address in both languages, I write in English only. Packages tend to take 1-2 weeks to arrive. During the Xmas season they may take forever - I got my mom's Xmas gift by the end of January this year, although she sent in early December

I'm about to send my next parcel to my wife by USPS Express Mail. I've lost count how many parcels I've sent this way -- about 25. Every single one has arrived -- and everything with them has also arrived every single time. I sent photos, books, clothes (for her and the grandson) cosmetics for her, MIL, daughter-in-law, organic green tea, chocolate -- those sorts of thing. I used to have concerns about the Russian postal service -- and each time I mail something I wonder if this will be the first time something went astray. Delivery time to Novosibirsk is reliably about 13 days. The tracking system has gotten better and now I can use the USPS tracking numbers and see when the parcels clear customs in Moscow. This wasn't the case a couple years ago. Some things in Russia are getting better.

(At my new address here in Colorado, I had to work with the local post office, visiting my postmaster several times, threatening to get my Congressman involved, before correspondents stopped telling me that their mail was being returned to them as undeliverable. I got some mail from day 1, and it took them months before they appeared to get it right. In my experience, the Russian postal service is *MUCH* better than this.)

My wife has sent me birthday cards a couple times by normal post.

When I sent my wife documents for her K1 interview, I used DHL. DHL did not deliver within the guaranteed time (6 days) but they did within 9 days. I was able to track my parcel throughout. Was it worth the extra $100? (USPS parcels are $32-40, depending on weight. The DHL parcel, among the lightest I've sent, was $155.) Yes, because the documents were irreplaceable.

Recently, when my wife sent back to me signature cards (since I moved, I'm changing banks and setting up a suite of new joint accounts) we used UPS. The cost was about 65 USD -- extravagant to her, but I covered the cost.

We need to set up a VJ delivery system. People go to Russia pretty regularly from our forum, so maybe we can start hand-carrying small parcels for each other. I wouldn't mind throwing a K-1 packet in my bag for someone.

But, I don't have the money to get to Russia for quite a while, so I'll be "on the list" (probably near the bottom) for a year or two before I can help.

Very common practice in the Russian community here in the states. However, all we usually do is just repackage and dump it off at the local post office in the town we are going to. Unless it is the same town nobody goes out of their way to hand deliver. And we usually get the stuff from locals, here on VJ we'd have to mail stuff domestically first. I don't know who to trust more, random people online or the Russian postal service?!

We are waiting for the packet from the embassy. Does the embassy just send it "regular mail"? My fiance lives in Moscow, and the NVC said they mailed the package on the 20th, so it should have been to him in a day or two...Any ideas? If it's lost should we write them? Or should we just use the embassy website? Do they have ALL the recquired forms there?

Hello,
As an update, I sent a 7lb box to Elena by DHL and delivery took 6 days...

$$$$???????

oh sorry,...$205

It usually takes about 29 years to get to their house. OK, more like two weeks, but it seems like it takes extra long. They send it through the Post system, so maybe that's why it takes a while. It's bigger than a letter, after all!

Patience! He'll get it soon. If he doesn't have it within a week or so, I'd say you should contact the embassy by phone and ask where it is.

You know what is really crazy about this rate?
Back in February, Aeroflot offered round trip airfaire from February to April from Los Angeles to Moscow for $598 with tax. If you send one or two more packages, it almost makes it more cost efficient to personally deliver!

The 2+ days of travel is more expensive than a few hundred bucks for many of us. Back before overnight mail (and electronic networks), it wasn't uncommon to pay couriers to fly money/checks/papers around the country.

I'll look into how much a next-day courier costs from NY to Moscow.