Entry to Russia for spouses of Russian citizens

[zolotinka 47]

37 minutes ago, Daria Parkinson said:

Well, the Embassy in Ekaterinburg started accepting the applications for C1/D/F visas. I’m thinking it’s a good sign? 

I agree, it is a good sign.

[TBoneTX 43,058]

13 hours ago, Daria Parkinson said:

What is GYQ?

The 3-letter code for the Guayaquil (Ecuador) consulate.  All the consulates have 3-letter abbreviations.

[zolotinka 47]

Another small update. The link about all categories allowed to enter Russia is presented on the site of Russian Embassy in the US https://washington.mid.ru/ru/consular-services/ssha/visa-issues/. It leads to the list on the site of Ministry of Foreign Affairs https://www.mid.ru/informacia-dla-rossijskih-i-inostrannyh-grazdan-v-svazi-s-koronavirusnoj-infekciej/-/asset_publisher/UUDFpNltySPE/content/id/4157104. 

Edited August 2, 2020 by zolotinka

[David & Olga 124]

i went to go visit my spouse in Ryazan..i left July 20th and just came back yesterday. I entered with a non-russian passport that is visa-free entry to Russia without a problem. You need to contact the US Russian Embassy in Washington DC, explain your case, and they will put you on a direct flight to Moscow via Aeroflot. Aeroflot flies twice a week from JFK to Moscow but are registered as Cargo Flights and they wont sell you a ticket online unless your name is on the list. 

[zolotinka 47]

54 minutes ago, David & Olga said:

i went to go visit my spouse in Ryazan..i left July 20th and just came back yesterday. I entered with a non-russian passport that is visa-free entry to Russia without a problem. You need to contact the US Russian Embassy in Washington DC, explain your case, and they will put you on a direct flight to Moscow via Aeroflot. Aeroflot flies twice a week from JFK to Moscow but are registered as Cargo Flights and they wont sell you a ticket online unless your name is on the list. 

Thank you so much!

Did you need to quarantine for 2 weeks?

[David & Olga 124]

9 minutes ago, zolotinka said:

Thank you so much!

Did you need to quarantine for 2 weeks?

Yes. Upon arrival at SVO, they will screen you for COVID-19 symptoms after you make it past passport control. For me, passport control was more tedious since most of the people in the flight were returning Russian Citizens. They will ask for an apostille of your marriage certificate (if you got married in the US), and also they will want to talk to your spouse (in person) at the airport - so if you go, be sure it's your spouse picking you up and that they're ready to expect a call from border control office. I'm not sure if this is protocol, but this is what happened in my case. 

 

Once you're done being screened for COVID-19 Symptoms, there will be quarantine officers giving you an office government mandated quarantine order document with the address where you will be staying. They will then escort you in special white van to your destination. You can always talk to the van drivers about having your loved ones take you instead of being escorted in these vans...but this all depends in what city your final destination is when you arrive to Russia.  

[zolotinka 47]

2 minutes ago, David & Olga said:

Yes. Upon arrival at SVO, they will screen you for COVID-19 symptoms after you make it past passport control. For me, passport control was more tedious since most of the people in the flight were returning Russian Citizens. They will ask for an apostille of your marriage certificate (if you got married in the US), and also they will want to talk to your spouse (in person) at the airport - so if you go, be sure it's your spouse picking you up and that they're ready to expect a call from border control office. I'm not sure if this is protocol, but this is what happened in my case. 

 

Once you're done being screened for COVID-19 Symptoms, there will be quarantine officers giving you an office government mandated quarantine order document with the address where you will be staying. They will then escort you in special white van to your destination. You can always talk to the van drivers about having your loved ones take you instead of being escorted in these vans...but this all depends in what city your final destination is when you arrive to Russia.  

Thank you for such detailed information. 

[David & Olga 124]

3 minutes ago, David & Olga said:

Yes. Upon arrival at SVO, they will screen you for COVID-19 symptoms after you make it past passport control. For me, passport control was more tedious since most of the people in the flight were returning Russian Citizens. They will ask for an apostille of your marriage certificate (if you got married in the US), and also they will want to talk to your spouse (in person) at the airport - so if you go, be sure it's your spouse picking you up and that they're ready to expect a call from border control office. I'm not sure if this is protocol, but this is what happened in my case. 

 

Once you're done being screened for COVID-19 Symptoms, there will be quarantine officers giving you an office government mandated quarantine order document with the address where you will be staying. They will then escort you in special white van to your destination. You can always talk to the van drivers about having your loved ones take you instead of being escorted in these vans...but this all depends in what city your final destination is when you arrive to Russia.  

And just to add, when you arrive at SVO - we had to wait almost two hours to deplane because there was two people in full hazmat suits taking thermal body temperature readings of everyone on board. So be prepared for a long deplaning operation. They let 20 people out from the plane at a time in 10-15 minute intervals so try to get a seat on the front of the plane.

[Giodude 40]

On 8/12/2020 at 9:03 AM, David & Olga said:

And just to add, when you arrive at SVO - we had to wait almost two hours to deplane because there was two people in full hazmat suits taking thermal body temperature readings of everyone on board. So be prepared for a long deplaning operation. They let 20 people out from the plane at a time in 10-15 minute intervals so try to get a seat on the front of the plane.

Wow, thank you so much for such detailed information! 😃
You're the first American I see being able to enter Russia so far. Hopefully we will be able to fly soon without going through such tedious paperwork. 😪

[CamGeniia 37]

My fiancée is in Russia. Maybe I won’t have any luck, but I want to get clearance into Russia. Does anyone have contact info, phone, email address of the agency that can help? 

[zolotinka 47]

On 9/8/2020 at 11:33 PM, CamGeniia said:

My fiancée is in Russia. Maybe I won’t have any luck, but I want to get clearance into Russia. Does anyone have contact info, phone, email address of the agency that can help? 

I’m afraid they won’t let you in. I wrote an inquiry to the Border Service and got an official response. Just member of a family, custodian or trustee of Russian citizen can enter with demonstration of a copy of a document which proves family relationship.

Edited September 10, 2020 by zolotinka

[CamGeniia 37]

2 hours ago, zolotinka said:

I’m afraid they won’t let you in. I wrote an inquiry to the Border Service and got an official response. Just member of a family, custodian or trustee of Russian citizen can enter with demonstration of a copy of a document which proves family relationship.

Thank you for the information. Maybe we will be meeting in Turkey afterall.

[millefleur 5,035]

2 hours ago, zolotinka said:

I’m afraid they won’t let you in. I wrote an inquiry to the Border Service and got an official response. Just member of a family, custodian or trustee of Russian citizen can enter with demonstration of a copy of a document which proves family relationship.

Thank you for posting this! Really good information to know.

[zolotinka 47]

Update. My husband wrote to the Russian Embassy in Washington and got the reply that he can’t enter with his private 3-year visa and would need a one time private visa. Then we decided to call there and got the reply that his visa was good enough for entering and also he would need a copy of our marriage certificate (if you are married in the US you will need apostille) and a copy of my internal passport. So better to call to the Embassy.

[millefleur 5,035]

2 hours ago, zolotinka said:

Update. My husband wrote to the Russian Embassy in Washington and got the reply that he can’t enter with his private 3-year visa and would need a one time private visa. Then we decided to call there and got the reply that his visa was good enough for entering and also he would need a copy of our marriage certificate (if you are married in the US you will need apostille) and a copy of my internal passport. So better to call to the Embassy.

Thank you for keeping us updated!! That's very frustrating that they are giving conflicting answers...

 

My 3 year Russian private visa has expired and I understand they aren't issuing them anymore until further notice. I read that the single entry private visa is only for people who are visiting sick family members or family who has recently died (that's what the Russian Embassy website says anyway).