HashWad

On 8/20/2023 at 9:52 PM, millefleur said:

Update: B visa approved in Almaty! Background: MIL had a 3 year B visa prior, visited once on this visa and stayed in the US for one month.

 

Three questions were asked:

1.) What is the purpose of your trip? - To visit my son

2.) How long has he been living in the US? - A long time, he is a US citizen now

3.) Where does he live? - Answers with name of the city/metro area

 

And the visa was approved. The interview was conducted in Russian. She was given a piece of paper with info where to pick up her passport. They do not mail the passport back to Russia, you must wait in Kazakhstan and then go pick it up. 

How long is her new visa valid for? 

Cards from Belarus work. Had a family friend in Minsk make the payment. 

10 minutes ago, HashWad said:

Come to find out that payment can only be made with a credit card issued in Kazakhstan. Well how the hell do we do that!????

OK, just got work that she was able to pay. haven't heard how yet.

13 minutes ago, millefleur said:

This is the problem we have. We tried multiple US banks cards from different banks, as well as a EU bank card. None of these work.

Come to find out that payment can only be made with a credit card issued in Kazakhstan. Well how the hell do we do that!????

15 minutes ago, millefleur said:

Can you contact the embassy and switch it to pick up instead?

Since she resides outside of Kazakhstan, it has to be delivered to dhl office for pick up. Stupid. Man it always something. 

Mother inlaw visa approved but Kazakhstan Epay for the courier delivery is not working. We cant make out payment,,, Lord it always somthing. Help!!!

so, wondering about the medical exam, can we do it in Moscow or will it have to be done in Almaty?

4 hours ago, millefleur said:

I've been hearing more success stories about transfers. Someone else I talked with successfully got their case transferred to Serbia, all they had to do was contact them embassy.

We had tried Serbia but got shot down.

8 hours ago, slavaskii said:

Poland has yet, and is apparently not considering, intra-Schengen restrictions. They are all external; i.e., only border with Belarus or Kaliningrad. You may still arrive in Poland from Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, etc. 

Not from what I'm reading.

https://www.rferl.org/a/poland-baltics-entry-ban-russians-eu-visas/32040504.html

Well now that Poland is turning away Russians at the border... Where to now?

1 hour ago, Mike20090622 said:

Wow, you didn’t try to bring them to America?

Oh no)) she has been in the US with me for 10 years. We just make frequent trips to visit. She came out 3 weeks ahead of me

1 hour ago, Mike20090622 said:

I am still planning, even you buy separately, nothing less than 3000$ altogether I think, they change 1200$ from Istanbul to Moscow, more than tripled, 3300$ By Turkish airlines cheapest, also PCR test still needed?

Air Serbia is the cheapest bet. As of a couple days ago, pcr test is still required to enter russia. But the only people who wanted to see the test were the airline gate attendance. Nobody at passport control asked to see it. 

1 hour ago, Mike20090622 said:

Very beautiful lady and kids. How long have you been in relationship with her for 10 trips? Or trips to see other girls? It’s so hard for Russian fiancé at this time

 

Just her and we have been married for ten years now

9 hours ago, Cheddy said:

I'm an American who just went this earlier this month and I had no problems. It looks like the accounts from Americans who were pulled aside and questioned, it was their first time in Russia. If you have previous visits, it shouldn't be a problem. 

 

I flew in at around 4pm at VKO and had absolutely no issues.

This is probably my tenth trip to Russian. It's was a new passport with a new Visa though. 

I flew Air Serbia, I had a 12 hr layover where I did enter the country to do a little sight seeing. 

My flight landed at SVO at 01:00. I'm pretty sure I was the only US citizen on the flight

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

Emailed consulate in Nur-Sultan to transfer my mother in laws case from Warsaw. Denied((

1 hour ago, Mike20090622 said:

Where you bought the tickets? So bring enough cash?

Bought tickets from Air Serbia's web site. Air Serbia only fly's out of JFK, so you'll need to book your own separate flight to NY. Im flying Delta from San Antonio to LaGuardia. So, I will need to change airports. And yes, bring enough cash for your visit. 

Are you all straight with your Visa?

36 minutes ago, Mike20090622 said:

any updates here? I am planning a trip to Russia in summer 

The wife just arrived in Moscow. Didn't have a whole lot of time to talk about the trip yet. But seems she had no problems. 14 days till I fly. San Antonio, to LaGuardia. JFK to Belgrade Serbia to Moscow

On 5/16/2022 at 9:43 PM, millefleur said:

Let us know how it goes!

Well the wife's trip starts in the morning. The interesting part will be when I fly out two weeks latter. Will keep you posted 

14 hours ago, pavelp said:

That has changed recently. They refused to send my wire to any russian bank in Feb (I was denied in a branch office).

Not all banks are SWIFT banned. I was in the WF branch office and the swift number was accepted 

OK, Wells Fargo can send wires to Raiffeizen bank. BUT it has to be done in person at a branch, the wells Fargo fee is 45$

On 5/17/2022 at 6:44 PM, Cheddy said:

@HashWad Do you have the name of that bank? That'd be really helpful.

 

My Fiancé has one of my American credit cards with her in Moscow and it doesn't work anywhere.

 

I'm headed to Moscow on the 28th, I'll report back to you guys then.

Raiffeizen bank. But we have tried to wire anything yet. On tomorrow's to do list.

On 5/13/2022 at 9:43 PM, millefleur said:

Air Serbia. They fly to NYC from Belgrade.

 

My MIL is coming soon hopefully and we just decided to go with Turkish Airlines. You can even buy in RUB on their website so that is great.

Just booked a flight for my wife and kids to fly to moscow. Air Serbia, NY to Belgrade to Moscow. 

Hopefully I'll be able to follow in a few weeks. The whole access to money is worrying. The inlaws have opened an bank account with a bank that has not been kicked off the SWIFT network. Hopefully my bank will be able to wire money to it. 

37 minutes ago, Mollie09 said:

I got a passport in two days at a passport agency in a similar situation. My husband got one the next day. I would definitely not leave without the passport in hand, there's plenty of time to get it done at the agency if you're lucky enough to live near one.

Just sucks that you have to have the tickets purchased and you can only make the appointment 2 weeks befor you you fly. and your appointment date can only be three days before you fly.