Way to Russia Talk Lounge

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

Has anyone seen the new ones yet--are they really being used as of now?

Anyone care to post a pic of the new migration cards?

These are the old dual-language (Russian/English) ones:

I think the new ones will be exactly the same, just no English translation.

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3436

Is this really true??? Why would they remove the English portion? Is that a new way to promote tourism?

MrSpice · Lounge Wizard Joined: 14 Jul 2003 Posts: 3436

http://acg.ru/english/news2.phtml?m=575

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

I don't know for sure, but it's all in the news.

I'm travelling this Sunday for an 'in and out', so I will definitely post a pic of the new card. If they removed the English bit indeed, I hope it was because there wasn't much space to write anything! (My name couldn't even fit in the boxes!)

I'm sure Russia welcomes visitors who are genuine tourists, esecially from the west, but the bulk of foreigners who visit are often CIS states or China and they do have problems with them being in Russia.

In the meantime, should this really be implemented, you can simply print out a copy of the old dual-language card to help you out at the airport. Actually most things will be in your visa anyway (if you've figured out what everything in your visa meant).

I♥Russia · Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 7:16 am Post subject:

Thank you for bringing this up.

Rick · Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2005 10:15 pm Post subject:

Useful post. As soon as we got the new card scanned, we'll make a sticky post out of it...

eightmileshigh · Just Starting Joined: 11 Dec 2005 Posts: 3

The Russian Consulate site has a sample migration card.
It is a sample only,but it is in Russian and English. I am not sure if it is the new card. I printed a copy and will use it to guide me when filling out the migration card at the airport.

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

NEWS: Yes, the new cards are indeed all in Russian, and the layout is slightly different, and twice more space for stamps (for registration I think).

However, the airline stewardesses gave out cards before landing, and they were the old ones--the Russian/English ones. These are still valid for use.

At the airport (I was ad Domodedovo) only the new cards were available, so if it happens that airline staff is distributing cards, ask for one, as they may be the dual-language cards and they are easier to handle.

You can fill out either cards, old and new, in Russian or in English.

Click to see the card:

http://www.geocities.com/akula_pera/newmigrationcard.jpg

I♥Russia · Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 3:02 pm Post subject:

Even though there are new migration cards in Russian only, you mean that they still will give you a dual-language card if you ask for it?

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

I don't think the airport staff will give them to you, but airline staff probably have some to spare, so you could try asking before landing.

I♥Russia · Posted: Tue Dec 13, 2005 11:57 pm Post subject:

Okay, thanks. Smile

dutchdragon · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 12:53 pm Post subject:

Very foreigner-friendly Sad

. Thanks for the link to the translation, I will take a printout on my trip next week.

Is the number of the invitation really required? The agent which handles the visas for me never gives me a copy of the invitation.

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

Looks like... but even if you do not have the invitation, you should just ask your visa agent for all the info. They should at least know about the new migration cards.

init6 · Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2005 5:40 pm Post subject:

It's not as big a deal as many of you are making it out to be. For one, I flew from Moscow SVO2 to Atlanta yesterday and the US migration cards are only in English, not English/Russian. How do you think the Russians feel? I had to help my seat neighbor, a middle-aged Chukchik, fill hers out. She could read some English at least, but I had to explain almost every English entry to her.

On the other hand, I'm happy to do it and I was pleased that my Russian has improved enough to do so. There was only one Russian-speaking flight attendant onboard (Delta) and toward the end of the flight she went around helping non-English speakers.

So...since on the Aeroflot flight I took from Warsaw back in August all the flight crew spoke English they will be able to help you with it.

But here's a crazy idea for some of you - learn enough Russian to fill it out. Cool

mediashark · Moderator Joined: 04 Nov 2004 Posts: 1601

you're right, casey! I hope travellers and tourists will not be intimidated by this little piece of paper--all you really need to do is to ask for help from airline staff, and have the info (particularly the Invitation no. and address of host organization--the rest of the info is in your visa), handy.

I can read and write Russian enough, but I'm still filling up the forms in English, because I know the militsia doesn't like to decipher a foreign language. Wink