Way to Russia Talk Lounge

johnmcga · Just Starting Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 8

Hi everyone,

I recently completed an immensely enjoyable trip across Russia, finishing in Vladivostok and leaving the country via the ferry to Japan. (If anyone wants any advice on the ferry, give me a shout - I struggled to find people who'd done it when I asked around.)

I was shit-scared about customs and passport control, and so of course aside from the usual Russian bureaucracy I actually had no problems. Except for one little detail, which I failed to notice at the time because the ferry staff keep your passport for the duration of the journey.

They didn't take my immigration card off me. That's the one with all the pretty stamps of where I stayed.

I'm not overly worried about this, as I'm not planning a trip back to Russia imminently. However, although it makes a lovely souvenir, I figure I should get it sorted, because I might run into trouble next time I try and enter the country. And I definitely want to go back at some point.

I'll contact the Russian embassy / consulate when I get back to the UK, but has this happened to anyone before? And do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks for any help,

John.

surfguy · Lounge Wizard Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 6996

they didn't take mine either so I wouldn't worry at all. Just imagine if they kept them all...they'd have to store them...no point in that. You are ok

johnmcga · Just Starting Joined: 24 Jan 2006 Posts: 8

Ah, that's good to hear. Guess I'll be able to go back and visit sometime then.

Thanks for that. Must admit though, I don't buy the theory that they'd have to store them all. Given all the other bureacratic mountains they create, I would've thought they'd stamp, sign and store them all somewhere very safe. In triplicate.

Cheers!

John.

nikir · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 4:16 pm Post subject:

Sometimes they don't take the arrival or departure card out. I have had 5 visas and have 2 cards left in my passport that were not removed. They have always taken out the other bit of paper with registration stamps and details.

Generation P · Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 10:08 pm Post subject:

I always give them a copy of the original migration card. For instance, if I happen to have a multivisa and a registration for 3 months ( and during that 3 months spend some time waving away and back to Russia), there is absolutely no point at all to give my only document of the registration to custom officials because I might need it later as well.