Travel to Russia

[ChristopherG 8]

I forgot to mention... visiting Russia was amazing, here is a picture of the worst thing you will see during your trip to Russia!

Edited June 5, 2022 by ChristopherG

[TBoneTX 43,058]

Your information is a wonderful help to those who will or might travel.  Thanks for your thoughtfulness.

[Simplytex 386]

56 minutes ago, ChristopherG said:

Border Patrol

Yep, that's my biggest concern with going back to Russia at this point. I have nothing to indicate that I'm any problem, except my passport and profile. 

 

Did you have any prior trips to Russia on record?

[ChristopherG 8]

32 minutes ago, Simplytex said:

Did you have any prior trips to Russia on record?

Negative, this was my first trip to Russia. Now that my passport has been stamped I do not see this happening again in my future trips.

[ChristopherG 8]

1 hour ago, TBoneTX said:

Your information is a wonderful help to those who will or might travel.  Thanks for your thoughtfulness.

Thank you for the kind words.

[Simplytex 386]

1 hour ago, ChristopherG said:

Negative, this was my first trip to Russia. Now that my passport has been stamped I do not see this happening again in my future trips.

Ok, good to know. I'm married but still only have a tourist visa, been a couple times so I do wonder how much hassle I might have to deal with on the future. 

[Cheddy 788]

Hey all, just came back from a 10 day trip. I went on my existing three year tourist visa. Nothing really to report here, I had absolutely no problems, everything was as usual.

 

Flew from LA to Istanbul - had a 1.5hr layover which was plenty of time to get to my flight, but not enough time for them to load my bag onto the plane. Flew from Istanbul to Vnukova. Nothing out of the ordinary. I think the lady at the border took a few minutes longer than usual inspecting my passport as well as scanning several of its pages. Maybe because I already had several stamps from Russia in this passport, I had no problems.

 

My bag didn't make it, and I had to travel back to Vnukova about 4-5 hours later to get it from the next flight. Not a big deal, was an easy enough process.

 

Stayed in Moscow a few days, also spent a few days down south in my fiancés hometown (Lipetsk).

 

Like what has already been mentioned here, only bring crisp and clean 100 dollar bills. Any marks, blemishes, tears .etc will be rejected. Russia has always had this policy, but I found they're even more strict than usual these days. There are great website that show you the live and best exchange rates all around Moscow. I exchanged some USD at a rate of 1USD to 71RUB. I brought in about 6k or so, tons of gifts etc, no one looked at my baggage or asked me about anything. When I was leaving out of Vnukova to come back to LA, one random TSA-equivalent guy asked how much money I had, I told him "I don't know, probably about $1k" and he just waved me through.

 

Let me know if anyone has any specific questions!

[Simplytex 386]

On 6/6/2022 at 12:30 AM, Cheddy said:

71RUB

Oof, what a strange thing to think the Russian govt is doing some strange things to the currency right now, it's stronger than it was a year ago! 

 

If anyone needs some rubles in country, I'll take your USD at this rate 🤑

[Mike20090622 45]

3 hours ago, Simplytex said:

Oof, what a strange thing to think the Russian govt is doing some strange things to the currency right now, it's stronger than it was a year ago! 

 

If anyone needs some rubles in country, I'll take your USD at this rate 🤑

You mean you can take my dollars and send rubles to my fiancé Russian bank account?

[JayFromTexas 58]

On 6/6/2022 at 12:30 AM, Cheddy said:

Hey all, just came back from a 10 day trip. I went on my existing three year tourist visa. Nothing really to report here, I had absolutely no problems, everything was as usual.

 

Flew from LA to Istanbul - had a 1.5hr layover which was plenty of time to get to my flight, but not enough time for them to load my bag onto the plane. Flew from Istanbul to Vnukova. Nothing out of the ordinary. I think the lady at the border took a few minutes longer than usual inspecting my passport as well as scanning several of its pages. Maybe because I already had several stamps from Russia in this passport, I had no problems.

 

My bag didn't make it, and I had to travel back to Vnukova about 4-5 hours later to get it from the next flight. Not a big deal, was an easy enough process.

 

Stayed in Moscow a few days, also spent a few days down south in my fiancés hometown (Lipetsk).

 

Like what has already been mentioned here, only bring crisp and clean 100 dollar bills. Any marks, blemishes, tears .etc will be rejected. Russia has always had this policy, but I found they're even more strict than usual these days. There are great website that show you the live and best exchange rates all around Moscow. I exchanged some USD at a rate of 1USD to 71RUB. I brought in about 6k or so, tons of gifts etc, no one looked at my baggage or asked me about anything. When I was leaving out of Vnukova to come back to LA, one random TSA-equivalent guy asked how much money I had, I told him "I don't know, probably about $1k" and he just waved me through.

 

Let me know if anyone has any specific questions!

Thanks for the report Cheddy. I am going to go to Moscow on 7/20 and spend 4 weeks. I hope conditions are the same or better by then.

[HashWad 19]

On 6/5/2022 at 2:29 AM, ChristopherG said:

Hello Folks, I hope you all are well !
I have some information that could be useful from a recent trip to Russia in April using AirSerbia.

To Russia;

AirSerbia Flight: JU501. JFK, New York Terminal 1 to BEG, Serbia Terminal 2.

AirSerbia Flight: JU654. BEG, Serbia Terminal 2 to SVO, Moscow Terminal C.

PCR Testing at JFK: 250 USD

Adams Health Services 

JFK Terminal 1.

+1(917)992-4645

www.ada'mshealthcareservices.com

 

To United States;

AirSerbia Flight: JU651. SVO, Moscow Terminal C to BEG, Serbia Terminal 2.

AirSerbia Flight: JU500. BEG, Serbia Terminal 2 to JFK, Terminal 1.

PCR Testing at SVO: 3000 RUB.

Clinic of new medical technologies ArhiMed

SVO ground floor, main building.

+7(499)288-07-29

Mail: arhimed@arhimedlab.com

 

Please note, you will have a layover in Serbia so make sure you have a minimum of 50 USD to exchange in the vending machine to cover your food and coffee for one trip through BEG.

 

Also note, very important.... if you are planning to bring U.S. currency to exchange into Russian Rubles the U.S. currency must be in brand new condition and void of any marks that will show up under UV lighting, each U.S. dollar will be checked at least three times. Make sure the USD you bring look like they are directly from the U.S. Federal Reserve!

 

Russian Border Patrol,

I have a three year multiple entry private visa and I was detained for 3.5 hours, and in this time two Russian Customs Agents interrogated me extensively. Be prepared by 1.- Having a picture of your partner's International Russian Passport (not domestic passport) in your phone. 2.- Have your partner's cellphone number immediately available. 3.- Make sure you leave plenty of time for your connecting flight to your partner's city.

 

This is all I can think of at the moment, feel free to ask questions as needed.... I wish you all the best, safe travels to all of you and your families!

 

 

 

Just got into Moscow last night. I to have a 3 year visa and was pulled into a back room and interviewed by a Political Officer for about an hour. Luckily I had a copy of my wife's internal passport and our copy of our marriage certificate. He even called my wife and had her verify things

[TBoneTX 43,058]

I have no personal dog in this fight, but I certainly admire everyone's intrepid persistence.  Keep it up, and keep the faith.

[JayFromTexas 58]

On 6/17/2022 at 7:32 AM, HashWad said:

Just got into Moscow last night. I to have a 3 year visa and was pulled into a back room and interviewed by a Political Officer for about an hour. Luckily I had a copy of my wife's internal passport and our copy of our marriage certificate. He even called my wife and had her verify things

That's a bit worrisome. Which airport? What time did you arrive? My flight is scheduled to arrive very late/early morning at VKO. Do you have any insight as to why they pulled you aside? 

 

My plan is to visit my girlfriend for 3 weeks, starting July 21st.

 

Anyone else have recent experiences visiting Russia, especially if American? Are the risks too high?

[JayFromTexas 58]

19 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

I have no personal dog in this fight, but I certainly admire everyone's intrepid persistence.  Keep it up, and keep the faith.

TBoneTX, do you think it is too risky for an American to visit Russia at the present time?

[TBoneTX 43,058]

22 minutes ago, JayFromTexas said:

TBoneTX, do you think it is too risky for an American to visit Russia at the present time?

I can neither say nor judge.  Heed State Department travel advisories; rely on stories from members here; balance your wish to go against other known information.  Some threads in this forum have some excellent recent information, including financial considerations.