Travel to Russia

[Mike20090622 45]

Anybody has a plan to travel to Russia? I know we can’t use our credit card there but we may still can pay for hotels like holiday inn, also there is a 3000$ cash limit you can bring in, not sure what happens if you bring 5000$ cash 

[millefleur 5,035]

I think American bank cards still work in Russia? It's the Russian banks and Russian visa/mastercard holders that are sanctioned, not the American ones. I don't know for sure though, there's a lot of conflicting info out there. Also, just because it's an American company in Russia does not mean it's connected to some American sources. For example, Citibank in Russia is a Russian entity independent of American Citibank. They're not connected in any way other that corporate stuff at the top.

 

In terms of bringing in cash, I would probably bring Euros rather than dollars. There is an EO out by Biden that basically makes it illegal to give USD cash to any person inside of Russia. I have not heard about the $3k limit, can you link me to the source where you read that?

[Boiler 43,433]

Russia Travel Advisory

 

Travel Advisory
March 29, 2022

Russia - Level 4: Do Not Travel

OKHUT

Click Here for Important Information for U.S. Citizens Seeking to Depart Russia (Updated Daily).

Do not travel to Russia due to the unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine by Russian military forces, the potential for harassment against U.S. citizens by Russian government security officials, the singling out of U.S. citizens in Russia by Russian government security officials including for detention, the arbitrary enforcement of local law, limited flights into and out of Russia, the Embassy’s limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, COVID-19 and related entry restrictions, and terrorism.  U.S. citizens residing or travelling in Russia should depart Russia immediately.

U.S. citizens should note that U.S. credit and debit cards no longer work in Russia, and options to electronically transfer funds from the United States are extremely limited as a result of sanctions imposed on Russian banks.  There are reports of cash shortages within Russia.

Limited commercial flight options and overland routes by car and bus are still open and available.  If you wish to depart Russia, you should make arrangements on your own as soon as possible.  The U.S. Embassy has severe limitations on its ability to assist U.S. citizens, and conditions, including transportation options, may suddenly become even more limited.  U.S. citizens who are able to depart Russia for another country and are in need of emergency assistance upon arrival may contact a U.S. embassy or consulate in that country.

Due to Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine, an increasing number of airlines are cancelling flights into and out of Russia, and numerous countries have closed their airspace to Russian airlines.  In addition, airspace around southern Russia is restricted, and a number of airports in the area have closed.  U.S. citizens located in, or considering travel to, the districts of the Russian Federation immediately bordering Ukraine should be aware that the situation along the border is dangerous and unpredictable.  Given the ongoing armed conflict, U.S. citizens are strongly advised against traveling by land from Russia to Ukraine.  In addition, there is the potential throughout Russia of harassment of foreigners, including through regulations targeted specifically against foreigners.  

The U.S. government’s ability to provide routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens in Russia is severely limited, particularly in areas far from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, due to Russian government limitations on travel, the number of U.S. staff, and the ongoing suspension of operations, including consular services, at U.S. consulates.

[C@m 23]

49 minutes ago, millefleur said:

I think American bank cards still work in Russia?

I'm not so sure about this, at least in the case of Chase. Chase notified me about a month ago letting me know that my Chase Sapphire Reserve card would no longer work in Russia as of midnight Moscow time (I believe it was around March 5th). Not sure if that's still the case or if it applies to all credit cards, though. @Mike20090622 if I were you I'd call my credit card company(s) and check to see if the card will work in Russia if you decide to go.

[millefleur 5,035]

38 minutes ago, Boiler said:

In addition, there is the potential throughout Russia of harassment of foreigners, including through regulations targeted specifically against foreigners.  

I haven't heard anything about this. It would be nice if they pointed to what regulations they're talking about. Arbitrary harassment sure, but what regulations exactly?

 

 

[millefleur 5,035]

1 minute ago, C@m said:

I'm not so sure about this, at least in the case of Chase. Chase notified me about a month ago letting me know that my Chase Sapphire Reserve card would no longer work in Russia as of midnight Moscow time (I believe it was around March 5th). Not sure if that's still the case or if it applies to all credit cards, though. @Mike20090622 if I were you I'd call my credit card company(s) and check to see if the card will work in Russia if you decide to go.

It was based on old info I had when the sanctions were first passed about a month ago. I think now it's true that US bank cards no longer function in Russia.

 

I agree that calling your credit card or bank card company before hand is the best way to confirm if it's working or not.

[Bluestraveler49 2]

Has anyone here had any luck buying plane tickets to Moscow? Any of the usual sites (Expedia, Sky Scanner, etc) turn up nothing, even when flying from a foreign airport (I had heard that Turkey still has international flights to Russia). I would be surprised if an American passport holder would even be able to make it past immigration at the airport upon arrival, at this point in the game. My 3 year tourist visa will expire June 2023, and my wife must renew her Russian passport before May 2023. We are worried that if this situation is not resolved before then, we may never be able to get over to see her family again.

[Mike20090622 45]

6 minutes ago, Bluestraveler49 said:

Has anyone here had any luck buying plane tickets to Moscow? Any of the usual sites (Expedia, Sky Scanner, etc) turn up nothing, even when flying from a foreign airport (I had heard that Turkey still has international flights to Russia). I would be surprised if an American passport holder would even be able to make it past immigration at the airport upon arrival, at this point in the game. My 3 year tourist visa will expire June 2023, and my wife must renew her Russian passport before May 2023. We are worried that if this situation is not resolved before then, we may never be able to get over to see her family again.

Booking.com still works and you can buy flights tickets from Turkish airlines directly I think, I am also worried about my safety going to Moscow at this time 

[Rosalind F 178]

7 hours ago, Bluestraveler49 said:

Has anyone here had any luck buying plane tickets to Moscow? Any of the usual sites (Expedia, Sky Scanner, etc) turn up nothing, even when flying from a foreign airport (I had heard that Turkey still has international flights to Russia). I would be surprised if an American passport holder would even be able to make it past immigration at the airport upon arrival, at this point in the game. My 3 year tourist visa will expire June 2023, and my wife must renew her Russian passport before May 2023. We are worried that if this situation is not resolved before then, we may never be able to get over to see her family again.

Google Flights finds multiple flights. Most flights go through Turkey, Qatar, or Egypt. 

 

If your wife only needs to renew her external passport ("zagran"), it should be fairly easy to do at the consulate. Pretty sure New York consulate still did external passports renewals but I think only with cash. Even if her passport expires, she still can renew it easily after the expiry date with internal Russian passport or birth certificate. 

[Bluestraveler49 2]

22 hours ago, Rosalind F said:

Google Flights finds multiple flights. Most flights go through Turkey, Qatar, or Egypt. 

 

If your wife only needs to renew her external passport ("zagran"), it should be fairly easy to do at the consulate. Pretty sure New York consulate still did external passports renewals but I think only with cash. Even if her passport expires, she still can renew it easily after the expiry date with internal Russian passport or birth certificate. 

So you are saying in person transactions only? I was under the assumption that  staff had all but left the consulates in USA because of the situation in Ukraine. ####### for tat after most of the US Embassy Moscow has closed aside from essential staff.

[millefleur 5,035]

31 minutes ago, Bluestraveler49 said:

So you are saying in person transactions only? I was under the assumption that  staff had all but left the consulates in USA because of the situation in Ukraine. ####### for tat after most of the US Embassy Moscow has closed aside from essential staff.

No, that's not the case. There are still Russian consulates functioning in the US as far as I'm aware. I believe one in Texas, NYC and then there's the Embassy in DC.

[To_the_moon 94]

On 4/3/2022 at 8:16 AM, Bluestraveler49 said:

Has anyone here had any luck buying plane tickets to Moscow? Any of the usual sites (Expedia, Sky Scanner, etc) turn up nothing, even when flying from a foreign airport (I had heard that Turkey still has international flights to Russia). I would be surprised if an American passport holder would even be able to make it past immigration at the airport upon arrival, at this point in the game. My 3 year tourist visa will expire June 2023, and my wife must renew her Russian passport before May 2023. We are worried that if this situation is not resolved before then, we may never be able to get over to see her family again.

As of today, there has not been a single restriction to enter Russia as a regular US citizen or any other citizen, besides COVID-related policies. Considering that all docs and visas are fine, you should not have any problems crossing the border. People have not completely stopped travelling from the US to Russia, so I assume we would have heard anything by now, if someone had troubles upon arrival. I am personally going to Russia in a couple of weeks and will let everyone know how it went, if it'll still be relevant. I purchased my tickets directly from Turkish Airlines website.

Edited April 4, 2022 by To_the_moon

[millefleur 5,035]

16 hours ago, To_the_moon said:

I am personally going to Russia in a couple of weeks and will let everyone know how it went, if it'll still be relevant.

Please do update us with how your trip goes.

[AnJay 137]

On 4/4/2022 at 4:43 PM, Bluestraveler49 said:

So you are saying in person transactions only? I was under the assumption that  staff had all but left the consulates in USA because of the situation in Ukraine. ####### for tat after most of the US Embassy Moscow has closed aside from essential staff.

Hello, I am going to NYC in the end of this month to renew my international Russian passport. I had to file paperwork online and make an appointment. You have to go in person though  I made an appointment In January for April ( they have very limited spots). You can also go to DC or Texas if it’s closer to you. 

[To_the_moon 94]

Update on my earlier post. 

I am currently in Russia with my fiancé. Everything went well. I did not have any problems at passport control. No one questioned me and everything went smooth as always. 

 

I took a flight from San Francisco to Moscow via Istanbul. Purchased my tickets directly from Turkish Airlines website. They had to change my flight twice, just some minor schedule changes, but I had the option to either cancel or change my flight with no penalty fee. So, in the end my ticket to Moscow came up to around $500 one way (2 luggage bags included). Had to fill up a health screening form and do a Covid test 48 hours prior to my arrival in Moscow. I did it at CVS pharmacy for free and got the results within 24 hours. They asked for it at SFO airport and Istanbul. Other than a longer flight from Istanbul to Moscow everything else was the same. Masks are now somewhat optional I guess😄