Katla close to blowing...

[slim 1,514]

the global effect of the eruption are certainly valid, but I don't think the impact will be as severe as it was the last time. Setting aside our technological advancements, industrialization has been responsible for a 1 to 1.3 degree increase in global temperatures. Perhaps the volcano, should it erupt, and should it effect global temperatures, will have helped *restore* something closer to our natural climate (I grant that's wishful thinking). It could buy us some extra time to deal with our problem before the events depicted in Water World become a reality...

I'm sure Al Gore will find a way to take credit somehow.

What I believe is going to be more of an impact is the economic one. They were saying air travel was losing something like a Billion a day when all of Europe was shut down, and that's when all of Europe wasn't shut down yet. Some of Europe was still flying. Imagine when ALL of Europe is shut down, including St. Petersburg and Moscow in the East all the way to down to Rome and Madrid in the South and West. While this volcano may not close all of them at once, it's a possibility. And the reality could be rail to Lisbon as the only out on Tuesday followed by rail to St. Petersburg on Wednesday. Then maybe on Thursday they're both closed and folks will take a ferry from Naples to Tunis, fly to Dubai, then back to New York. Talk about a headache!

That's a tricky one, therefore you can keep your $1

I am not sure I understand your question. Are you referring to shikarnov's wife or in general?

I don't have many takers on that dollar offer.

I was talking in general, but if you know a way to get anyone's wife overseas without a passport, I'm all ears!

I was not aware it was 1300 miles away, plus Russians making renewal process extremely difficult in US. You are right it makes a lot of sense to renew while visiting her relatives. I hope she makes it back with no problems.

That 1300 miles seems pretty far for me too. There are several Russian consulates here in the U.S. (NY, DC, Houston, San Fran, Seattle) so unless you live in South Dakota there should be one closer than 1300 miles. Even at that distance, why not take the opportunity to see a little bit of America and make a vacation out of it?

Also, a few weeks back I remember reading a post from someone who paid a service company to get their wife's passport renewed and they never had to make the trip. I can't remember who did it or which one they went through, just remember that it is possible if you "pay the fine" to get it done here in America too.

[shikarnov 7]

That 1300 miles seems pretty far for me too. There are several Russian consulates here in the U.S. (NY, DC, Houston, San Fran, Seattle) so unless you live in South Dakota there should be one closer than 1300 miles. Even at that distance, why not take the opportunity to see a little bit of America and make a vacation out of it?

Also, a few weeks back I remember reading a post from someone who paid a service company to get their wife's passport renewed and they never had to make the trip. I can't remember who did it or which one they went through, just remember that it is possible if you "pay the fine" to get it done here in America too.

There's a consulate in Houston that can handle passport renewals? That doesn't wax at all with what Ira found on their website. Grr... And, of course, now that you note it, Googling "Russian Consulate Houston" brings it up immediately.

She also mentioned, though, that she didn't want to give up her Russian residency insofar as Russia was concerned. So she maintains a registration at her mother's apartment, etc. Would renewing stateside impact that at all? She's heard horror stories about people having problems when their internal registration lapses or changes etc...

[slim 1,514]

Would renewing stateside impact that at all?

It shouldn't since it's handled by a completely different department of their government in a completely different country.

Think of it this way... is your home address listed inside your blue zagran?

[shikarnov 7]

It shouldn't since it's handled by a completely different department of their government in a completely different country.

Think of it this way... is your home address listed inside your blue zagran?

That just makes too much sense to apply to Russia, Slim.

[slim 1,514]

You are correct. But the beauty of that is since it's Russia, you'll be able to "pay the fine" and it won't interfere anymore.

[SMR 368]

There's a consulate in Houston that can handle passport renewals? That doesn't wax at all with what Ira found on their website. Grr... And, of course, now that you note it, Googling "Russian Consulate Houston" brings it up immediately.

She also mentioned, though, that she didn't want to give up her Russian residency insofar as Russia was concerned. So she maintains a registration at her mother's apartment, etc. Would renewing stateside impact that at all? She's heard horror stories about people having problems when their internal registration lapses or changes etc...

I might be wrong and it may very well depend on whether or not you are doing the international passport or the national passport, but I do believe that in order to renew your passport at the consulate, you have to register at the consulate and that means unregistering in Russia. I believe this is particularly applicable for the non-international passport. The national passport is not issued simply by the federal government but also through a certain local office. To compare it to the USA, the national passport is more like a state ID card, while the international is more like a passport. And if you want to renew your state ID card, it's very difficult to do unless you come to that state. A similar thing applies to Russia.

If you are willing to de-register and no longer be a citizen of a certain place in Russia, it's not a big deal to just register at the consulate. The unwillingness to do this is somewhat strange from an American perspective since we are used to a very simple process for establishing residency--you have a mortgage, title, or lease and you become a resident without much hassle. Russia has a lot of hassle, so giving up residency is a big Rubicon to cross.

[Kopa 3]

There's a consulate in Houston that can handle passport renewals? That doesn't wax at all with what Ira found on their website. Grr... And, of course, now that you note it, Googling "Russian Consulate Houston" brings it up immediately.

She also mentioned, though, that she didn't want to give up her Russian residency insofar as Russia was concerned. So she maintains a registration at her mother's apartment, etc. Would renewing stateside impact that at all? She's heard horror stories about people having problems when their internal registration lapses or changes etc...

My husband just renewed his Russian international passport this Spring in Houston it was super easy and only took 1 1/2 months to process. He did NOT lose his registration in Russia because he listed he was "temporarily" residing in the US and there was no problem. They are not able to renew your internal passport though, ever or atleast that is what they told my husband.

[shikarnov 7]

If you are willing to de-register and no longer be a citizen of a certain place in Russia, it's not a big deal to just register at the consulate. The unwillingness to do this is somewhat strange from an American perspective since we are used to a very simple process for establishing residency--you have a mortgage, title, or lease and you become a resident without much hassle. Russia has a lot of hassle, so giving up residency is a big Rubicon to cross.

Hence the horror stories my wife has heard... No doubt, it's a form of punishment for citizens that have chosen to "betray" the plot of soil upon which they were born by moving to another place. I can remember the nightmares in registering my visa -- I can't imagine what it must be like to establish residency. No thanks.

My husband just renewed his Russian international passport this Spring in Houston it was super easy and only took 1 1/2 months to process. He did NOT lose his registration in Russia because he listed he was "temporarily" residing in the US and there was no problem. They are not able to renew your internal passport though, ever or atleast that is what they told my husband.

Good to know -- although fortunately (and also strangely from an American perspective), her internal passport won't expire for another seventeen years. By that point, assuming we survive that long, maybe she'll stop hedging and won't care if she's registered there or not. I'll bookmark this thread, just in case, and will hope the VJ folks don't prune it between now and then.

[shikarnov 7]

For anybody interested in the actual volcano, I found a neat site from which you can see where recent earthquakes have been... Blue dots are 24-48 hours old. Green stars are 3 or greater on the Richter scale (aka, bad news).

Katla is underneath the Mýrdalsjökull ice sheet.

http://hraun.vedur.is/ja/englishweb/myrjokull.html

[mendeleev 67]

I might be wrong and it may very well depend on whether or not you are doing the international passport or the national passport, but I do believe that in order to renew your passport at the consulate, you have to register at the consulate and that means unregistering in Russia. I believe this is particularly applicable for the non-international passport. The national passport is not issued simply by the federal government but also through a certain local office. To compare it to the USA, the national passport is more like a state ID card, while the international is more like a passport. And if you want to renew your state ID card, it's very difficult to do unless you come to that state. A similar thing applies to Russia.

If you are willing to de-register and no longer be a citizen of a certain place in Russia, it's not a big deal to just register at the consulate. The unwillingness to do this is somewhat strange from an American perspective since we are used to a very simple process for establishing residency--you have a mortgage, title, or lease and you become a resident without much hassle. Russia has a lot of hassle, so giving up residency is a big Rubicon to cross.

SMR is correct; at least what he posts is the same as what my wife learned. She (my wife) wants to keep her property and propiska in Russia, therefore she renewed her international passport there last year.

It can be quite a good idea to renew a passport in Russia for those who wish to maintain stronger ties to their homeland.

Hope Katla doesn't cause problems; my wife also is in Russia until August.

Edited May 31, 2010 by novotul

[slim 1,514]

Has anyone had experience with FedExing the propiska back home and then having MIL or someone else "pay the fine" to have it renewed?

[JVF 0]

I'm sure Al Gore will find a way to take credit somehow.

What I believe is going to be more of an impact is the economic one. They were saying air travel was losing something like a Billion a day when all of Europe was shut down, and that's when all of Europe wasn't shut down yet. Some of Europe was still flying. Imagine when ALL of Europe is shut down, including St. Petersburg and Moscow in the East all the way to down to Rome and Madrid in the South and West. While this volcano may not close all of them at once, it's a possibility. And the reality could be rail to Lisbon as the only out on Tuesday followed by rail to St. Petersburg on Wednesday. Then maybe on Thursday they're both closed and folks will take a ferry from Naples to Tunis, fly to Dubai, then back to New York. Talk about a headache!

I don't have many takers on that dollar offer.

I was talking in general, but if you know a way to get anyone's wife overseas without a passport, I'm all ears!

That 1300 miles seems pretty far for me too. There are several Russian consulates here in the U.S. (NY, DC, Houston, San Fran, Seattle) so unless you live in South Dakota there should be one closer than 1300 miles. Even at that distance, why not take the opportunity to see a little bit of America and make a vacation out of it?

Also, a few weeks back I remember reading a post from someone who paid a service company to get their wife's passport renewed and they never had to make the trip. I can't remember who did it or which one they went through, just remember that it is possible if you "pay the fine" to get it done here in America too.

"I was talking in general, but if you know a way to get anyone's wife overseas without a passport, I'm all ears!"

That's impossible, unless you find a way to get her overseas undetected in a language

"That 1300 miles seems pretty far for me too. There are several Russian consulates here in the U.S. (NY, DC, Houston, San Fran, Seattle) so unless you live in South Dakota there should be one closer than 1300 miles. Even at that distance, why not take the opportunity to see a little bit of America and make a vacation out of it? "

Can't argue that.

[mendeleev 67]

For anybody interested in the actual volcano, I found a neat site from which you can see where recent earthquakes have been... Blue dots are 24-48 hours old. Green stars are 3 or greater on the Richter scale (aka, bad news).

Katla is underneath the Mýrdalsjökull ice sheet.

http://hraun.vedur.is/ja/englishweb/myrjokull.html

Nice. Thanks for that.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Oh. This thread is about a volcano?

[shikarnov 7]

Oh. This thread is about a volcano?

More or less.