Russian Tourist Visa

[Jet]

Seems that the latest round of "tit for tat" has emerged on the new Russian tourist Visa application. There is no longer a supplemental form to fill out but they've added a question and requirement heretofore absent:
36. IMPORTANT! EACH APPLICANT MUST READ AND GIVE ANSWERS TO THE FOLOWING QUESTIONS. A visa may not be issued to persons belonging to specific categories, defined by the Law as undesirable, except in cases when a waiver has been obtained in advance.
Have you ever been arrested or convicted for any offence? Yes      When?                     Where?      No   
While an affirmative answer does not automatically mean ineligibility for a visa, if you answered «Yes» you will have to appear in person  before a Consular officer.

So, looks like I get to trek on up to DC if I want a visa to spend New year with the family as I was arrested for driving on a suspended license a few years back (had no idea it was suspended at the time) and spent a less than spectacular evening in the Palm Beach County jail before being released on my own recogisance first thing the next morning. Seems I had forgotten to pay a speeding ticket in Virginia some years earlier and my lawless past had caught up with me oooops.

[viking]

Jet

Well this is pretty stupid. I can see if they were asking about some type of crime leading to, say more than a year in prison, or a convicted felony,  but a traffic violation? I can see the lines now.

And if someone already has a few visas in their passport, what are the chances that the Russian Embassey is going to do that detailed of a search? I dunno.

[Rvrwind]

I am surprised that you are surprised by this.
American customs crossing the border from Canada to the US ask that same question everytime. For almost 15 years I said 'no'. I recieved a full pardon from the Canadian government in the late 70's & was told that I no longer had a criminal record & should I be asked, I was to reply 'no' to that question, which I did.
Then one time I decided I was going to see what would happen if I said 'yes'. Well I promptly found out. They hauled me into a little office & gave me a form to fill out listing my offenses. Well I put on the form that I had a full pardon from the Canadian Government & when they got pissed about that & started badgering me I told them I didn't have to tell them squat. Their reply was I didn't get a pardon from the US government. Pretty damn arrogant to think that I need a pardon from the US when I was a Canadian citizen & my crime was commited in Canada.
Anyway I was turned around right then & there & sent back to the Canadian side with a warning to never return, which I havn't.
Seems to me the US reaps what it sows. All that for getting busted for smokin' a joint that the Canadian Government saw fit to forgive & forget but the arrogant American Government, well lets not go there...

[chivo]

Jet,

Since I have done it before, without going over any details, I would just answer no and be done with it. You stand a much higher chance to be issued a visa than saying yes and dealing with the interview.

i know you might say its easy for me because, well its you who has to deal with it. But like i said, i haven't always answered correctly when it meant an interview as an option. Given your circumstances, I'm very confident that nothing will come of it. with as many visas that they have to deal with and you being an American, they want you to go to Russia and spend your money. again, taking into condieration what you were arrested for.

of course its your call, but I think you'd be red flagging an area thats needs or warrants one...good luck

chivo

PS you hardly fit the "undesirables" they want to keep out.

[chivo]

one more thing i thought about is that while you were arrested your criminal record could be completely clean. you can easily check your report out (or have it checked by someone). it would surprise me if that was on your record. and of course if youre record is clean, you have nothing to worry about.

personally i think youll be fine....but maybe youre looking for some peace of mind. good luck

chivo

[BillyB]

I agree with Chivo. Answer no. I doubt the Russian embassy is going to spend big dollars doing a background check on every applicant. If they do catch the blemish on your record, tell them you didn't think driving with a suspended license is a criminal "offence" but it's your American right. #36 states "applicants must give answers to the following questions". It does not state the answers must be "correct"!

If you do go to D.C. for that interview, hopefully the personnel at the Russian embassy will use lubricating jelly when applying the rubber glove treatment. Another reason to lie.

[Rvrwind]

It does not state the answers must be "correct"!

Now thats a point I overlooked, LOL.

[William3rd]

I always answered no- even for my multientry business visa. they want the dollars. I do not think that they even check that stuff.

However-do not take that as legal advice.

[Jet]

It does not state the answers must be "correct"!

Umm, yeah, it actually does!

"I declare that to the best of my knowledge all particulars supplied by me are correct and complete. "

Anyway, I spoke to my "visa connection" Natalia, from Russian American consulting, this morning. She concurred with all you guys...
"Vat, are you crazy? Zheem, just check NO and be done with it, nobody is checking anything, especially with the visas already in your passpurt."
So I'll give it a whirl...

[BillyB]

Umm, yeah, it actually does!

"I declare that to the best of my knowledge all particulars supplied by me are correct and complete. "

If you get caught, claim "the best of your knowledge" is not very good compared to others. Can't fault you if God gave you occasional amnesia. The guys at RWD will back you till the very end. If you get thrown in the gulag, call William3rd.