Visa registraion regulations have changed

[Zink]

I just back from my latest trip to the far east. I wanted to give everyone a heads up on the new visa registtration regulations. I almost always use a tourist visa and register it at a hotel and then live somewhere else. But Russia has introduced a new law that hotels can only register you for the days that you are actively renting a room from them. I was lucky and found a nice lady that said screw the system and helped me with my registration so no fines or hassles when leaving. Very short version of a long story. For any one who is planning a trip now, check with your visa support company or travel agent on what is neccessary to register your visa. I have to do this myself because I will be going back again late this year.

[Yorkman]

... in response to Visa registraion regulations have change..., posted by Zink on Jul 4, 2004

Yes, the official rules have changed.  Or at least the interpretation and enforcement has changed.  But, as always, there are wide difference between the treatment that individual receive from area to area, from hotel to hotel, and even from day to day.

But, even for those who have had no problems in the past, even the recent past, you would do well to heed Zink's words.  You could get caught up in this web your next time there, irrespective of your previous experiences.

[Bobby Orr]

... in response to Visa registraion regulations have change..., posted by Zink on Jul 4, 2004

All I have been doing is to find a hotel where I pay for one night and they register me in that hotel for the length of my stay within the first three days.  Then, I would stay in a flat locally.

[Zink]

... in response to You find a hotel that will register you ..., posted by Bobby Orr on Jul 5, 2004

Used to be able to do that. Now you need to be registered for every day you are in Russia and the hotels won't do it unless you stay there. If you stay there for a day or two they'll register you for that but not longer. New rules brought into effect as of June 1st. It was a major pain in the @ss and I spent 2 days going to OVIR and different hotels trying to find someone who would help me. Seriously, check into it with someone in Russia.

[Bobby Orr]

... in response to Re: You find a hotel that will register ..., posted by Zink on Jul 5, 2004

I was in Tver, Russia from June 11 until June 21 - no problem for me.

[Zink]

... in response to Re: Re: You find a hotel that will regis..., posted by Bobby Orr on Jul 6, 2004

Everyone's experiences are different. I'm just telling what happened to me and what the officials and hotel people told me. Maybe in other areas they aren't enforcing it yet. In Vladivostok they are and they said it was a Russia wide system. It doesn't hurt to check around so that you don't have to deal with the crap that I did. I noticed that in Moscow they were much more flexible with the rules than in the far east. But it's already been several years since I was in western Russia the last time. It'd be interesting to hear about some other people's experiences with this. I seem to have had more than my share of bad luck with visa registrations.

[Apk1]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: You find a hotel that will r..., posted by Zink on Jul 6, 2004

Yes, I had the exact problem on my first visit about 4 years ago to Moscow.

 I had acquired a tourist visa from my travel agent, their Russian equivalent handled the application and the invitation at the same place. It was foolish of me to not read all of the paperwork that accompanied my visa...

 So here I was, in Moscow with my lady (now wife) and frantically trying to find someplace to stamp my visa..
we tried the OVIR...they just sent us on our way, we tried a hotel....even with a bribe we were unsuccessful. We then went to red Square and tried a hotel there...they said yes, but we need to pay for a room (about $70 USD) but they only stamped and dated it for the one night.

 Finally I called to my travel agent back home, and was given the correct address for the agency to get the correct stamp. What a learning experience!

So for what it is worth...do not go against the odds, get the stamp the right way.

I visited Moscow 3 times that year, every time I saw Americans being taken out of line at passport control due to improper paperwork...and who knows how much money in bribes they had to pay to get back home. This happened to a friend of mine who visited Ukraine..

My experience, your mileage may vary..

[Bobby Orr]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: You find a hotel that will r..., posted by Zink on Jul 6, 2004

Jack says I lucked out.  It seems like you had a harder time than I did.  Sorry you were unduly hassled.  I still do not know what exactly changed with the rule change.  We always had to register within three days in Russia.

[Zink]

... in response to Do not mean to rub you the wrong way - j..., posted by Bobby Orr on Jul 6, 2004

No offence taken. I'm still trying to find out what exactly changed and how to deal with it too. All I know is that the days of simply walking into a hotel and registering a visa are gone. Hopefully Jack can find out the details for us because I know for certain I will be going back and need to decide what visa is best and easiest for me.

[Jack]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: You find a hotel that will r..., posted by Zink on Jul 6, 2004

HockeyGuy, Zink is right.  You somehow slid under the radar, maybe it was because you were in Tver.

Things have gotten a little more complicated over the last 30 days with Russian visa registrations.

[Burt]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: You find a hotel that wi..., posted by Jack on Jul 6, 2004

n/t

[Bobby Orr]

... in response to Re: Re: Re: Re: You find a hotel that wi..., posted by Jack on Jul 6, 2004

I assume I slid under the radar and from what you are saying a guest in Russia must stay in a hotel for the length of his stay or register with the local Ovir office if he is staying in a flat.  Is this right?  Thanks for the information since knowing me, I'll probably be going back to Russia for one reason or another sooner than I expect.

[Jack]

... in response to Jack, what exactly is the deal in Russia..., posted by Bobby Orr on Jul 6, 2004

I have just placed call to get some "official" ruling on what's going on. Suppose to get an "official" answer tomorrow.

I do not know how the business visa will be effected but I will get that answer as well. If I had to guess I would think the business visa would not be effected.