New member and seeking information.

[Carlos]

Hola Everyone,

I'm new member married to my wonderful Rusian wife from Vyborg close to St. Petersburg Russia for 6 years. My wife became US Citizen last year and we are trying to brimng my mother in law for a visit and possibly stay here in the US. I have a some questions. I do not know if this is the correct place top post this or not. My wife let expired her Russian Visa, and now she was informed that since she has a US Passpost and an expired Russian Visa. She would have to make a trip directly to the Russian Embassy in Wash. DC in person just to fill out the necessary forms. In about 30 to 45 days fly back to Washington D.C. and personally pick up her Russian Visa. Can someone inform me if this is correct? or provide me direction of where can I get more information and correct procedures on this scenario. We would appreciate all the assistance possible.

Carlos

[Faux Pas]

Hola Everyone,

I'm new member married to my wonderful Rusian wife from Vyborg close to St. Petersburg Russia for 6 years. My wife became US Citizen last year and we are trying to brimng my mother in law for a visit and possibly stay here in the US. I have a some questions. I do not know if this is the correct place top post this or not. My wife let expired her Russian Visa, and now she was informed that since she has a US Passpost and an expired Russian Visa. She would have to make a trip directly to the Russian Embassy in Wash. DC in person just to fill out the necessary forms. In about 30 to 45 days fly back to Washington D.C. and personally pick up her Russian Visa. Can someone inform me if this is correct? or provide me direction of where can I get more information and correct procedures on this scenario. We would appreciate all the assistance possible.

Carlos

Carlos welcome to RWD! Did you mean to say that your wife's Russian passport has expired?

To obtain a Russian visa, this can be done without personally going to the Russian consulate. The forms can be downloaded off of the internet, an invitation can be purchased on the internet and a company will walk the invitation and visa application into the consulate for you. All for a fee of course. Probably $120- $160 bucks IIRC invested total. If she is trying to obtain a Russian Passport, it's much more complicated than that.

[Chicagoguy]

Try web page: www.russianpassportsandvisas.com

[dbneeley]

Carlos,

Unless I am mistaken, she can apply for a new passport at any Russian Consulate, not just the Consular section of the Embassy in Washington. There are Russian Consulates General in New York, Houston, San Francisco, and Seattle. You might check with any of these that may be closer to you than Washington.

Russia formally recognizes dual citizenships, so it really should be no big deal although I am sure it will be inconvenient.

David

[Gator]

A Russian citizen must apply in person to renew a passport, and then appear in person again to obtain the new passport.   

[Muzh]

Hola Tocayo.

The guys gave you good advice. Follow it.

Suerte.

[Carlos]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your response. My wife now is a US Citizen and the reply from gator was the information she got. Now I was having a hard time trying to understand that she had to go in person to DC 2 times. Now David you say that it can be any of the other consulates as well. I will check on this also. Chicagoguy I will also check on the link you provided and Muzh great coment, will do. Faux Pas, yes my wife is trying to renew her Russian Visa because she wants to go back to visit her mother( mother-in-Law) and bring her back wioth her.

Any other suggestions? Mean while I will search this information so far.

Thanks,
Carlos

[I/O]

Carlos: To be clear here, your wife has one vaild passport which is American and she wishes to obtain a new Rusisan visa (inserted in her American passport) to visit Russia? Your wife is NOT trying to obtain a new Russian passport?

[Muzh]

Carlos: To be clear here, your wife has one vaild passport which is American and she wishes to obtain a new Rusisan visa (inserted in her American passport) to visit Russia? Your wife is NOT trying to obtain a new Russian passport?

I/O

Believe it or not, if you were born in Russia you can apply for a Russian passport and get it, regardles of what citizenship you have that day. IF you have a valid Russian passport you don't need to have a visa to enter Russia. Question is, how do you handle visa control on your way out?

However, I believe Carlos' wife is trying to do what other US citizens do when they wan to travel to Russia. get a visa.

[Sailor291]

I am no expert, but to my knowledge Russia does NOT recognized dual citizenship with the United States.

[Muzh]

I am no expert, but to my knowledge Russia does NOT recognized dual citizenship with the United States.

THAT has nothing to do with what I said. Russia does not recognize the US citizenship of their expats. All they have to do (usually when they get in trouble with the law) is fly to Russia (with US passport if it has not been confiscated) and tell them you are Russian; and if you are in trouble with the law, state that the US (or any other country) wants to put you in jail.

The Russian DUMA passed a law recognizing this.

[dbneeley]

I am no expert, but to my knowledge Russia does NOT recognized dual citizenship with the United States.

You are correct about one thing--you are no expert.

Russia and the U.S. both now recognize dual citizenship and have for some years.

David