Way to Russia Talk Lounge

rkolomiychenko · Just Starting Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2

Hi,

I have read a topic here "Dual passport issue". It discussed an issue similar to the one I would like to enquire about.

saint_chrisburg · Frequent Guest Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 46

I've crossed the border a million times, and I can honestly say that every Russian border guard I have ever met has been nothing but nice and understanding. I'd say the Finnish border guards are very often the jerks (I've seen this first hand on numerous occassions!)

You shouldn't have any problems. The border guards probably won't even notice, and if they do, just tell them honestly what you're doing. It's not illegal, so who cares? As long as you're not a jerk, there won't be an issue.

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

friends have told me the same thing about the Finnisian/Russian Border Guards

rkolomiychenko · Just Starting Joined: 06 Oct 2007 Posts: 2

Thanks a lot guys.

Saint_chrisburg, you said you crossed the border a million times, do you also have two passports? If yes,what nationality,if you don't mind me asking. My worry is that I am ukrainian rather than russian, and border control may start giving me grief. You also said it's not illegal, how certain are you about that? Sorry for all these questions, but I just don't want to have my Xmas holidays ruined by those border control monsters, I have come accross them before, on Russian - Ukrainian border, and they made my life hell on every occasion.

saint_chrisburg · Frequent Guest Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 46

I have only one passport - American.

Well I have personally known several people with dual citizenship who use different passports while traveling to/from Russia in order to avoid visa issues. That said, the border guards could always give you grief just because they can. I think there's absolutely no way you can be 100% sure of what's going to happen, so the best you can do is keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best.

The only thing I can think of is wait and see if you can find anybody else who has been in your exact position before. I spoke with a friend who has American, German, and Ukrainian passports, but she's never tried what you want to do, so no help there....sorry.

CarlSpackler · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 9:12 pm Post subject:

In my recollection, a friend of mine with Ukrainian passport had to get a Russian visa to fly from San Francisco to Moscow…. It would be a smart thing to do to call your local Russian Consulate and ask them about it.

missbehaving · Frequent Guest Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 20

I have similar problem (with russian and european passport) but it's complicated by having 2 different second names so i'm actually considering getting a russian visa to my european passport, i asked questions on numerous forums (including "border" army forums) and they all seem to say that if you have 2 different passports on 2 different names you will have a problem. However russian consulate told me they won't issue a russian visa to a russian citizen so therefore i'm stuck! and don't know what to do! I'm travelling by trans-mongolian train though so if it'd be at the airport i wouldn't have a problem. To answer the question above, when i had same name in both passports i always crossed the border without any difficulties, if they asked me for a visa to a destination i showed my russian passport. However! Border control DOES NOT (by law) require you to have a visa to the next country, they only need to check their own country's visa if it makes sense. but of course russian guards often check for visa to a destination country as well.