'Russian' dollars for consulate fees!

[james&olya 1,121]

Olya had her interview today and all went well after one little scare for her. When she went to pay the $1050.00 ($350 apiece for her and the 2 kids) they refused to accept the payment in US cash that I left with her when I was there! Apparently when they say it can be paid in dollars or in rubles they mean in 'Russian' dollars, whatever they are. They would not accept regular US cash and she had to go to a nearby bank that only gave her 26 rubles per dollar, even though the embassy was using a fee of 30 rubles per dollar. Fortunately she had a bit of extra cash with her. But I guess all is well that ends well, they asked only several simple questions and asked to see a few pictures, then told her she would have the visa in a week! Their flight is booked for the 24th!

[Lena and Igor 5]

Congrats! Clean the house! Shoe rack by the door! Clean pyjama on the bed!

[slim 1,530]

Russian dollars? Never heard of them.

Glad everything went well otherwise.

[Blake and Jeanie 4]

Russian dollars? Oh, I think I know... it's when you pay double and under the table, right?

Thanks for the post, I'll keep this info in mind for whenever I have my interview. Although, by the time it happens I might be too old to remember anything...

[Codeblue009 3]

Olya had her interview today and all went well after one little scare for her. When she went to pay the $1050.00 ($350 apiece for her and the 2 kids) they refused to accept the payment in US cash that I left with her when I was there! Apparently when they say it can be paid in dollars or in rubles they mean in 'Russian' dollars, whatever they are. They would not accept regular US cash and she had to go to a nearby bank that only gave her 26 rubles per dollar, even though the embassy was using a fee of 30 rubles per dollar. Fortunately she had a bit of extra cash with her. But I guess all is well that ends well, they asked only several simple questions and asked to see a few pictures, then told her she would have the visa in a week! Their flight is booked for the 24th!

Thanks for the information. I am trying to schedule my finaces interview date now. I will tell her about the money situation.

[san diego 407]

Congratulations! This is strange though (regarding payment). I came for interview at Moscow Consulate) together with my fiancee (believe it or not they have let me in!) on April 22nd. I paid in US$, no problem...

[james&olya 1,121]

I am wondering if maybe they had somebody new taking payments that had not previously worked on Fridays when they do all the fiancee interviews.

[rika60607 215]

"Russian" dollars are US dollars that look new and nice, with no markings or tears. That's all.

Old looking dollars often get refused by merchants/exchanges in Russia... so I guess embassy just doesn't want to get stuck with cash that has to be shipped back to US to become useful.

And yes, you can change them to "good" bills, but for a small fee, usually 10% or so.

I am wondering if maybe they had somebody new taking payments that had not previously worked on Fridays when they do all the fiancee interviews.

[james&olya 1,121]

"Russian" dollars are US dollars that look new and nice, with no markings or tears. That's all.

Old looking dollars often get refused by merchants/exchanges in Russia... so I guess embassy just doesn't want to get stuck with cash that has to be shipped back to US to become useful.

And yes, you can change them to "good" bills, but for a small fee, usually 10% or so.

All the bills I left with her were very new appearing! 10 clean 'Franklins' and one 'Grant'!!

[san diego 407]

I think your fiancee may misunderstood... They always take US$. Anywhere in the world. This is US entity.

[ONA 133]

All the bills I left with her were very new appearing! 10 clean 'Franklins' and one 'Grant'!!

"New appearing" is not the same as "new". they really don't like it when anything is wrong with them, even a little bit. Even a little mark on a bill. It was very hard to exchange the cash every time my fiance was coming over. I think that was the problem.

[san diego 407]

"New appearing" is not the same as "new". they really don't like it when anything is wrong with them, even a little bit. Even a little mark on a bill. It was very hard to exchange the cash every time my fiance was coming over. I think that was the problem.

I brought pretty worn-off bills from US (as they usually are) withdrawn from the ATM machine at the airport (imagine how they looked like). No problem. I think either:

1) Fiancee misunderstood (more likely)

2) Or cashier did not know (less likely)

[james&olya 1,121]

I brought pretty worn-off bills from US (as they usually are) withdrawn from the ATM machine at the airport (imagine how they looked like). No problem. I think either:

1) Fiancee misunderstood (more likely)

2) Or cashier did not know (less likely)

It is hard for me to believe Olga misunderstood. She presented the clean, new-appearing US cash and had it refused. But the whole thing sounds a bit bizarre. We were able to pay US cash for the medical exams in January without any problem and that was not a US government agency. And they speak both Russian and English at the embassy so there should not be a language barrier. Maybe I need to write a letter of complaint somewhere?

[Neonred 3,576]

Somebody misunderstood or made a mistake. They do accept US dollars. That is what we paid with. Also take a look at their website. http://moscow.usembassy.gov/fiancee.html

[slim 1,530]

You know the dollar is getting low when even the government stops taking it.