Russian Women Discussion

RWD Discussion Groups => Immigration and Visas => Topic started by: katchik_k on March 11, 2010, 12:34:12 PM

Title: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: katchik_k on March 11, 2010, 12:34:12 PM
Hey everyone! I don't know if I should be writing in English, but everyone seems to do the same here:-) I need to renew my russian passport(zagranichniy). I live so far away from the closes embassy location(TX or NY). What do you all think about some agencies who renew it for you online or through mail, without actually me driving to an embassy? They seem to charge from $350-450, which is reasonable, considering i'll spend about that on gas and hotel. Has anyone used any of these agencies? I'd like to know if I can trust them.
Thank you!
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: boaterguy on March 11, 2010, 01:58:10 PM
Hello,
You can renew your passport yourself via mail. There is a major catch 22 if you do not renew it yourself in person at the embassy. My wife's passport has a stamp in it which requires her to go to the appropriate government office in Moscow and prove she is who she is when she arrives in Russia. This would not be a biggy if she lived in Moscow...but she is from Novosibirsk. This has stiffled my wife's desire to visit her family....she is also very tired of all the crap Russia requires.
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: BillyB on March 11, 2010, 02:23:11 PM

Welcome to the forum Katchik_k,

I'm sure most agencies are reliable and you would not have to go to the embassy in person although some Russian citizens may if there are concerns. I'm sure you have a clean criminal free background. :D  You can find some agencies with google by typing for a search "renew russian passport" Here's one site below in the Russian language and their prices. The site could also be read in English too. Check a number of agencies and prices of course. Call them with your questions. They will be able to tell you if 80%, 90% or 100% of their customers can get their Russian passport renewed without having to travel to the embassy.

http://www.russianpassportservice.com/index.html

http://www.russianpassportservice.com/passport.html
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: boaterguy on March 11, 2010, 02:38:56 PM
Hmmm...things could have changed. Here is the website for the Russian Embassy in Washington DC. My wife couldn't find the information this time. It has been around 3 years since she renewed hers.


http://www.russianembassy.org/Embassy_rus/Embassy/index_rus.html

I would give the embassy a call. When my wife had hers renewed it took several months as the passport had to be issued in Moscow and sent to the embassy here.
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: I/O on March 11, 2010, 02:54:24 PM
"Russian Passport" or Russian "International Passport"?
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: katchik_k on March 11, 2010, 03:20:37 PM
Thank you to everyone who replied. Russian international passport. I tried to call the embassy and their phone is busy all the time! It says on their website that you have to renew it in person....!
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: Vaughn on March 11, 2010, 03:52:27 PM
It says on their website that you have to renew it in person....!

That's correct - they stopped taking mailed renewals around November of 2008...

We were fortunate. We live a good 8 hour drive from DC but work schedules forbid a family
trip. My daughter had to renew - and a RWD member with whom we are friends was making
the trip with his wife to renew hers. We called the DC Consulate and asked if my pal's wife
could act on behalf of our daughter with a power of attorney - it worked. The downside was
that when the passport was ready - she had to go pick it up in person. They will not mail it
to you (unless, of course, you've employed the go-between agency).

BTW - that power of attorney had to be in Cyrillic. We know an Armenian paralegal who typed it up.
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: katchik_k on March 11, 2010, 05:03:04 PM
Thank you for all the replies. I live almost 16 hours away from the nearest location. I guess what I'm wondering is about those "go between" agencies. They claim that you won't have to visit the embassy. Just pay them, and they'll handle everything. The price is 3-4 times more than what I would pay for a passport, BUT I'm willing to pay whatever:-) Just wondering if anyone had an experience with them.
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: Faux Pas on March 11, 2010, 05:04:55 PM
Thank you for all the replies. I live almost 16 hours away from the nearest location. I guess what I'm wondering is about those "go between" agencies. They claim that you won't have to visit the embassy. Just pay them, and they'll handle everything. The price is 3-4 times more than what I would pay for a passport, BUT I'm willing to pay whatever:-) Just wondering if anyone had an experience with them.

I don't know which ones you are considering but, the agencies that do the go-between for visas to Russia are pretty reliable.

Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: Chicagoguy on March 11, 2010, 05:09:12 PM
kaychik ,

For my own information - why do you need Russian International passport if you are living here and presumably have a green card or something similar ?

Also, how does one renew an Internal Russian Passport ?
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: katchik_k on March 11, 2010, 05:19:17 PM
Thank you! I will google and compare them. Just doesn't make sense that embassy would not go ahead and offer this service themselves. I'm loooking at russianpassports.org. The most reasonable price I've found.

Kaychik, I've lived in US since 1999. I can legally get citizenship, and my green card is valid through 2016. I've been back home once. I need my passport to travel back to Russia this summer. I have to have it. I'm still a Russian citizen. But, when I get my US citizenship, I will still be able to use my Russian Intl. passport. Russia still allows you to use your international passport, I've heard. I know a lot of people who do. It's WAYYY easier than go as American citizen. No hassle. Last time, I showed them my green card and passport, and there were no questions asked. I was able to go through France, Ukraine, and Russia.  I'm not sure about the dual citizenship, but I know for a fact that some US citizens use their Russian Intl. passports in Russia.
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: tfcrew on March 12, 2010, 07:00:52 AM
It's WAYYY easier than go as American citizen. No hassle.  

Then why not do that? Why maintain the expense of running multiple passports?
Presently, I don't know what "zagranichniy" means..I only just know....  
паспорт
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: Lily on March 12, 2010, 11:31:32 AM
  I'm not sure about the dual citizenship, but I know for a fact that some US citizens use their Russian Intl. passports in Russia.

Russia does not urge its citizen to give up Russian citizenship as soon as they acquire any other citizenship besides the Russian one. In other words, Russia tolerates dual citizenship.
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: tfcrew on March 12, 2010, 03:58:58 PM
Svetlana [home now] told me that zagranichniy is the Russian internal passport.
One would have to go to the Russian OVIR back there to renew?
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: ConnerVT on March 13, 2010, 07:00:12 AM
To clarify a few thoughts --

For my own information - why do you need Russian International passport if you are living here and presumably have a green card or something similar ?

An US Resident Alien Card does not replace a passport for international travel.  It is more like a permanent visa; also, when used with a non-US passport, may allow for relaxed entrance requirements when traveling to certain countries.

Expired Russian passport == no international travel.  (Except perhaps Canada).

I'm not sure about the dual citizenship, but I know for a fact that some US citizens use their Russian Intl. passports in Russia.

This is because a person must do so.  If you enter a country which you are a citizen (and, presumably should have a passport), you must use that country's passport.

So, Russians holding both US and Russian citizenship *MUST* use their Russian International Passport to enter Russia, and their US Passport to enter the USA.
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: tfcrew on March 13, 2010, 07:30:59 AM
 
Quote
An US Resident Alien Card does not replace a passport for international travel.  It is more like a permanent visa
Don't believe so..Svetlana had to apply for a visa to enter Poland last August.
She flew however on her Ukrainian ppt.

For the OP-
Here is a site on the Russian stuff ..there are others ...Why come here for answers?
http://www.russianpassportservice.com/en/renewrussianpassport.html

 
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: katchik_k on March 13, 2010, 08:01:04 AM
I wanted to find out any feedback if anyone used the services of an agency, without actually going to the consulate. I've done a LOT of research, and most of the them sound too "fishy" to me. One of them, actually told me to put any address in my form, because the agency doesnt deal with my state. They said it's ok, "nobody checks" at the embassy. As long as the address is the one of the state that they deal with...Anyway, if anyone is interested, I can share my information. I called my friend, and she's done it with a lawyer for only $210 without actually going to consulate!!
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: ConnerVT on March 13, 2010, 05:49:25 PM
An US Resident Alien Card does not replace a passport for international travel.  It is more like a permanent visa; also, when used with a non-US passport, may allow for relaxed entrance requirements when traveling to certain countries.

Don't believe so..Svetlana had to apply for a visa to enter Poland last August.
She flew however on her Ukrainian ppt.

You didn't quote the important part of my post, which I emphasized above.

If you check out Delta Airlines visa information, try looking at a few countries with just a Ukraine passport, and again with a Ukraine and US resident alien.  You will find that there are many (typically allies of the USA during WWII) that have a much more lax entry requirement for those holding a US Resident alien card.

Poland may be an exception.  But then, they may tend to hold a grudge against those countries that used to be allied with the former USSR.

http://www.delta.com/planning_reservations/plan_flight/international_travel_information/visa_passport_information/index.jsp
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: START2 on March 14, 2010, 03:48:38 PM
Kat,
Just had a close friend who went through the process a few months ago. She filled out all the applications by herself but had to travel only to pick-up the passport in person in D.C. This has been the process since sometime last year. This an alternative she told. She said it's possible to send a proxy with a notarized document in russian for in you your place. Maybe that's what these agencies do. Seems expensive to use them but weigh that with cost of you there. Our friend drove up to DC from Tn. Several hours but worked for her.
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: tfcrew on March 14, 2010, 05:45:25 PM

Poland may be an exception.  But then, they may tend to hold a grudge against those countries that used to be allied with the former USSR.
Nope, to France [using your link]

  
Quote
/ 15MAR10 / 0032 UTC
National Ukraine (UA)           /Residence U.S.A. (US)
Destination France (FR)        

 France (FR)


Passport required.
- Passports and/or passport replacing documents must be valid
  on arrival.

Visa required.

Minors:
- Alien minors up to/including 17 years of age
  For details, click here
Additional Information:
- Schengen visas, if required, are also valid for French
  Guiana, French West Indies and Reunion,
 
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: tfcrew on March 14, 2010, 05:57:59 PM
 Also for Germany...

Quote
National Ukraine (UA)            /Residence U.S.A. (US)Destination Germany (DE)        

 Germany (DE)


Passport required.
- Passports and/or passport replacing documents must be valid
  for the period of intended stay.

Visa required.
Ukraine passport...USA res.card same difference.
Tried to find England..or Great Britain but couldn't.
Until they  get a US passport Ukrainians need a visa.
Conner..your wife is a US citizen isn't she?
*Also is true Poles don't like the Russians too much but it seems they should not like the Germans much either [1939]
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: Boethius on March 14, 2010, 06:59:30 PM
Poland may be an exception.  But then, they may tend to hold a grudge against those countries that used to be allied with the former USSR.

Off topic, but Poland has been an ardent supporter of Ukraine, and has really pushed for Ukrainian admittance to the EU.
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: Gylden on March 14, 2010, 10:49:39 PM
At the time I met my wife, it was possible for Ukrainians to get a "visa" at the border to Poland, it was one of the factors in choosing Poland for us.
 8)
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: ConnerVT on March 15, 2010, 02:38:09 AM
Also for Germany...
Ukraine passport...USA res.card same difference.
Tried to find England..or Great Britain but couldn't.
Until they  get a US passport Ukrainians need a visa.

France and Germany have an agreement to follow the rules of the Schengen Visa, which doesn't directly benefit US Resident Aliens.

England is also refered to as the United Kingdom (UK).
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: Moskvichka on March 22, 2010, 02:24:58 PM
Hello Katchik_k,
I would say from all of these online agencies, I would recommend using: http://www.russianpassportsandvisas.com/en/
I did a lot of research on how to renew my Russian Passport (Zagranichnii passport)
and I think the best choice is not Russian Embassy, first they are no longer except your documents thru mail service, you actually have to go to Russian Embassy(Washington) in person TWICE...first time to bring all of your documents(by appointment) and second time to pick up your passport. I think it’s ridiculous to fly there twice and spend so much money and time.
Another thing there customer service people not nice at all, I was on hold for 20 min and after holding that long, some lady answered the phone and was speaking with me with an impolite tone of voice and instead of answering my questions she told me to go and read their website for information. After experiencing that service and how much I need to spend money and fly there, I started doing more research on all the agencies which can help me to renew my passport. After looking at all of them, I decided to call to Russianpassportsandvisas.com. I was amazed how patient they were with me, they answered all my questions and concerns and I actually didn’t have to fly to Washington at all. Customer Service there I would say the best I ever had and they told me I would get my passport in 3 months, but I actually got my Russian passport in 2 months and 1 week.
I highly recommend it!

Here’s their info:

Website: http://www.russianpassportsandvisas.com/en/ 
Phone # 1-888-838-9950
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: Iva on March 31, 2010, 08:35:36 AM
Hi Katchik_k,
Try to call www.embassydocumentservices.com , 866-573-3797 russianpassport@embdocserv.com for your Russian Passport renewal. The great team are working there. They will answer all your questions.Very friendly,professional and very helpful and their prices are reasonable. I renewed my Russian Passport with them and  I'll recommend this company to you.
Title: Re: Need to renew my russian passport. Please help!
Post by: BillyB on March 31, 2010, 10:18:56 AM

Try to call 866-573-3797


Hi Iva, you shouldn't put your personal number here on the forum unless you want us guys to call. ;D  I'm just kidding... unless you really want us to call. ;D

I see you signed up as a commercial member. What business are you in?