Way to Russia Talk Lounge

Tantuss · Frequent Guest Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 19

The latest recieved info:

On Monday, November 12, AmCham held a breakfast briefing with Alexey Klimov, Deputy Director of the Consular Department of the RF Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Alexander Aksyonov, Head of the Visa and Registration Department of the RF Federal Migration Service. Mr. Klimov and Mr. Aksyonov discussed the October 2007 Russian government decrees on the introduction of a new regime for Business Visas.

Mr. Klimov and Mr. Aksyonov both chose to forego opening comments, wishing instead to address members’ questions directly. Below, we present some key points that were made during the question-and-answer period. The complete transcripts, in English and Russian, are now available on the AmCham website www.amcham.ru.

We will email our members a more detailed account of the visa regulations and requirements, and will also provide constant updates as information unfolds.

● Multi-entry business and commercial (delovaya) visas are frequently used by foreign nationals for work in Russia and this is a violation of Russian law. Now the Russian Government is bringing legislation in conformity with globally accepted rules and procedures by making it difficult to work in Russia using a business or commercial visa.

● The U.S. and EU countries have similar visa systems - that is, requiring work visas. In the EU, foreign nationals holding multi-entry business visas, as opposed to work visas, cannot spend more than 90 days in the country during each 180-days period.

● For long-term stays and work in Russia, foreign citizens must have a work visa (not a delovaya visa), be a family member of a work (not delovaya) visa holder, or have a training (studenchiskaya) visa, a temporary residence permit, or a permanent residence permit.

● The new visa regulation will not apply to those whose multi-entry business, commercial or humanitarian (gumanitarnaya) visas were issued before October 18, 2007. The visa regime allowing them to stay in the country for up to 180 days at a time will remain in effect until visa expiry.

● Multi-entry business, commercial and humanitarian visas issued on October 18, 2007 and afterward shall only allow the holder to spend a total of 90 days out of a 180-day period in Russia. Thus the maximum time a foreigner could spend in Russia per annum on an ordinary multi-entry business, commercial and humanitarian visa is 180 days, and half the days in each 180-day period must be spent outside of Russia.

● The 180-day visa period regarding the 90-day restriction starts from the first day of first arrival (border crossing), not from the date of the visa issuance.

● A reciprocity principle will apply going forward regarding the issuance of visas in third countries. A foreign citizen will be able to receive a Russian visa in a country other than his own if his own country allows Russian citizens to receive visas at its embassies and consulates outside of Russia. A list of 40 countries that allow Russian citizens to receive visas in countries other than Russia was mentioned, and it will be possible for citizens of these countries to receive Russian visas in third countries (please see transcript). The list always changes, so it is important to call the Russian embassy you are planning to visit to verify if it will issue a visa before you order a visa invitation sent to that country.

● If the third country allows you to reside over 90 days, then the Russian embassy in that country will also issue a visa in that country.

● The timing of visa issuance will now also be based on reciprocity. This means that it may not be possible to get visas as quickly as in the past for nationals of certain countries, including the U.S.

● The penalty for individuals who violate the visa-regime is up to 5,000 rubles, or deportation, or denial of entry, or a refusal of a new visa. A total of two administrative violations (for visa violations or other reasons including tax violations and failure to properly file a notification form) may result in the refusal of new visas.

● The penalty for a company that sponsors someone on an inappropriate type of visa is up to 800,000 rubles, or the possible limitations on the company’s ability to issue invitations in the future.

● A visa invitation on company letterhead will be allowed for most of the EC countries once the relevant agreement between the EC and Russia becomes effective. This is not yet in effect and the rules and procedures have not been issued but are expected by the New Year.

● Accompanying family members who will not work in Russia (children, spouse) of a work visa holder must hold a so-called work visa for accompanying family members (обыкновенная рабочая виза c целью поездки: ≪Сопровождающий член семьи≫) which in fact do not allow them to work.

● A stay by a foreign national in Russia can be extended beyond the visa period by three governmental agencies: The Border Guard Service, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or the FSB (3 days). If it is up to 10 days, the Federal Migration Service can assist.

● Limited-entry business visas of shorter duration shall not be subject to the 90-day rule. That is, one could in theory get a two month visa every two months and avoid the 90-day limitation, but would have to leave the country every two months to get the visa. One could also not work on such a visa.

WayToRussia · Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 6:00 pm Post subject:

Thanks a lot for a very useful post! I'll put a link to it from our blog article http://blogs.waytorussia.net/item/107

thjms · Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 7:31 pm Post subject:

Many thanks to Tantuss for the article.
The link that was provided leads to a Russian webhoster though.
The mentioned transcripts can be found at:
http://www.amcham.ru/advocacy/legislative_updates/migrationlegislation
Best regards,
Theo