Renewing a passport in Russia -- how long?

[IrinaNMike 0]

Thanks, Slim, it's good to be back. Here's the problem: Irina, reading the Russian-language text on her Embassy's website, and me, after posting a topic on this subject two years ago, arrived at the same conclusion: in order to renew her passport in the US, she must first register as a US resident. Other people on this Forun have done this with no problem. Irina, however, worries about her apartment, which she does not want to sell. Even though there is no law preventing her from keeping it, she knows of cases in Russia where people have lost title to their apartments for very cloudy reasons, and she feels safer staying 'under the radar' by not changing her registration.

Peeja and Corey-Mariya: Paying an expedite fee is a great idea! I would willingly pay a fee to expedite the process. We are checking on that today.

eekee, October Filer: You might be right! I didn't look at the possibility of buying separate tickets (Aeroflot to Russia and my hometown to the nearest US Aeroflot gateway city) because that will add about $500 - $900 to the total airfare.

On its website, Aeroflot has a lot to say about changes, and I'm not going to pretend that I understand it all. Here are some relevant passages:

Fare rules (return) for a flex/ecoomy ticket ($1810 from LAX)

CHANGES

ANY TIME

CHARGE EUR 100.00 FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION.

FLEX Economy

Changes Permitted

Fare rules (return) for a value/economy ticket ($1421 from LAX)

CHANGES

ANY TIME

CHARGE EUR 150.00 FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION.

VALUE Economy

Changes Not Permitted

Note that the "Fare rules" and the definitions of flex and economy do not match. Two different web pages, two differennt anwers.

If I go this route, I will definitely speak to someone in the Aeroflot office, or even better, get Irina to phone the ticket agent in Russia where she would be handing in her ticket.

Thanks for the help!

[eekee 182]

I think that you'd be able to change a ticket you bought from Orbitz or whatever at the airline office. i had one from a private travel agent which said "NO CHANGES" on it and they had no problem with it. I think that the rules on these travel websites only apply to if you try to change it through them.

Thanks, Slim, it's good to be back. Here's the problem: Irina, reading the Russian-language text on her Embassy's website, and me, after posting a topic on this subject two years ago, arrived at the same conclusion: in order to renew her passport in the US, she must first register as a US resident. Other people on this Forun have done this with no problem. Irina, however, worries about her apartment, which she does not want to sell. Even though there is no law preventing her from keeping it, she knows of cases in Russia where people have lost title to their apartments for very cloudy reasons, and she feels safer staying 'under the radar' by not changing her registration.

Peeja and Corey-Mariya: Paying an expedite fee is a great idea! I would willingly pay a fee to expedite the process. We are checking on that today.

eekee, October Filer: You might be right! I didn't look at the possibility of buying separate tickets (Aeroflot to Russia and my hometown to the nearest US Aeroflot gateway city) because that will add about $500 - $900 to the total airfare.

On its website, Aeroflot has a lot to say about changes, and I'm not going to pretend that I understand it all. Here are some relevant passages:

Fare rules (return) for a flex/ecoomy ticket ($1810 from LAX)

CHANGES

ANY TIME

CHARGE EUR 100.00 FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION.

FLEX Economy

Changes Permitted

Fare rules (return) for a value/economy ticket ($1421 from LAX)

CHANGES

ANY TIME

CHARGE EUR 150.00 FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION.

VALUE Economy

Changes Not Permitted

Note that the "Fare rules" and the definitions of flex and economy do not match. Two different web pages, two differennt anwers.

If I go this route, I will definitely speak to someone in the Aeroflot office, or even better, get Irina to phone the ticket agent in Russia where she would be handing in her ticket.

Thanks for the help!

[Neonred 3,445]

My wife renewed her Russian passport here in the US with the Russian embassy in Washington DC. When she talked to them they asked if she was registered with them as a US resident. She told them no. They asked if she wanted to register and she told them NO!

My wife has her propiska with our apartment in Russia. I am also listed as co-owner of that apartment which seems to help with staying and registering my visa when I am there.

It did take a long time renewing with the Russian embassy here, however. About 6 months total time. She also had them add in her married name (in the US also known as...) at the same time.

[Satellite 1]

Here's the problem: Irina, reading the Russian-language text on her Embassy's website, and me, after posting a topic on this subject two years ago, arrived at the same conclusion: in order to renew her passport in the US, she must first register as a US resident.

That's doesn't make any sense, because suppose she needed to renew and didn't have a green card, she can no longer return to Russia? Non-sense, the Russian consulate will let her renew without registering with them.

[IrinaNMike 0]

That's doesn't make any sense, because suppose she needed to renew and didn't have a green card, she can no longer return to Russia? Non-sense, the Russian consulate will let her renew without registering with them.

The website distinguishes between permanent residents in the US and registered in the US, permanent residents with green card not registered in the US, temporary residents without green card not registered in the US, etc., etc. Different rules for everybody. If you don't have a green card, they will renew your passport.

But see Neonred's post above. That's really interesting. They obligingly renewed his spouse's passport and never asked about a green card. irina wasn't planning to go back until the fall anyway, so we have six months to give this a try. Thanks for the information, Neonred.

[kc456 0]

are you guys talking about going back to Russian to renew an *internal* passport? or the foreign passport? I'm assuming they are still separate.

also, to the previous poster -- has an *internal* passport been renewed at the DC consulate? Or was it a foreign passport?

[October filer 0]

are you guys talking about going back to Russian to renew an *internal* passport? or the foreign passport? I'm assuming they are still separate.

also, to the previous poster -- has an *internal* passport been renewed at the DC consulate? Or was it a foreign passport?

The Embassy will not be able to renew your internal document--only the one for international travel.

[Satellite 1]

If you don't have a green card, they will renew your passport.

How will they be able to prove she has or does not have a green card. Just have her say she doesn't would be the simplest solution.

[Neonred 3,445]

My wife says she sent a copy of her green card to the embassy with her request for the renewal as they had asked for it.

Yes, it was for the international passport, and they will not be able to do any changes or renewal of the internal passport at the embassy.

My step-daughter just renewed her international passport in Russia two months ago and it took less than two weeks, with the help of some "special" friends. Always good to know somebody.

[kc456 0]

If you don't have a green card, they will renew your passport.

How will they be able to prove she has or does not have a green card. Just have her say she doesn't would be the simplest solution.

I believe the russian consulate requires proof of legal status in the US. if PR card the way to prove someone is here legally, she'll need to have a copy of it. I don't think the consulate will go ahead and renew without the card, unless she has some other documentation to support her status.

[Satellite 1]

I believe the Russian consulate requires proof of legal status in the US. if PR card the way to prove someone is here legally, she'll need to have a copy of it. I don't think the consulate will go ahead and renew without the card, unless she has some other documentation to support her status.

Well I ask again, do you really think the consulate will not renew a passport for its own citizens, which is the only way he or she can return to Russia? What if she has yet to receive her green card? No renewal? I disagree. She can show her K1 from back in the day and claim she has no green card. I know they wont register without a green card. Thus someone stuck in say an AOS background check would be stuck indefinitely in the US? Makes no sense to me.

[eekee 182]

ummmmm couldn't this get her in trouble in the long run? do you really want to lie?

I believe the Russian consulate requires proof of legal status in the US. if PR card the way to prove someone is here legally, she'll need to have a copy of it. I don't think the consulate will go ahead and renew without the card, unless she has some other documentation to support her status.

Well I ask again, do you really think the consulate will not renew a passport for its own citizens, which is the only way he or she can return to Russia? What if she has yet to receive her green card? No renewal? I disagree. She can show her K1 from back in the day and claim she has no green card. I know they wont register without a green card. Thus someone stuck in say an AOS background check would be stuck indefinitely in the US? Makes no sense to me.

[Neonred 3,445]

Why not just call the Russia embassy and ask? They seem to be very helpful when a Russian citizen calls and has these questions.

[slim 1,514]

All this is making me think I ought to go check the expiration dates on my wife's passports. Both of them.

And then get added as a "co-owner" of her flat. It would be kind of cool to mouth off to the guys at the airport, "I'm back here to check on my property you low-level ID checker piece of dog waste." That way, when I'm getting out of jail, they can have an address for all my papers.

[kc456 0]

I believe the Russian consulate requires proof of legal status in the US. if PR card the way to prove someone is here legally, she'll need to have a copy of it. I don't think the consulate will go ahead and renew without the card, unless she has some other documentation to support her status.

Well I ask again, do you really think the consulate will not renew a passport for its own citizens, which is the only way he or she can return to Russia?

in such case they can just issue a re-entry permit; they do not have to renew:

В случае утраты паспорта либо истечения срока его действия для возвращения в Россию оформляется свидетельство на возвращение в Российскую Федерацию

i remember they were pretty strict about verifying legal status when i renewed

ah, found the requirement for legal status here (copy from the application):

К заявлению прилагаю:

• заявление о выдаче загранпаспорта на бланке установленной формы (два экземпляра);

• учетную карточку “Сведения на отъезжающего за границу”;

• 4 фотографии;

• копию загранпаспорта;

• копию

(документ, разъясняющий статус в США) **copy of document showing status in the US**

• money order на

долларов США;

Edited April 11, 2008 by kc456