Way to Russia Talk Lounge

BlackTiger · Just Starting Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 4

Hello,

I am 24, I got Dual citizenship, with Russia and US. I am not too thrilled about refusing from Russian citizenship (plus it's a LOT of work), but if that what it'll take for me to visit Russia, then so be it.
On the other hand, the 27 yr old mark is not too far anymore.

Is there any chance I might have problems with Russian customs if I enter Russia after I am 27 or 28 yr old?
I am hearing that I'll definetly have problems if I enter now.

Or should I just try to refuse from Russian citizenship and be done with it? - Get the visa and visit that way.

I could write in Russian, but everyone writes in english here Rolling Eyes

thanks

Paul Holmes · VIP Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 958

The age limit is 28 years old and they recruit only certain times a year. It is highly unlike that they will go after you. If you search the forum, you see many posts on this subject. Waytorussia has the best posts on it. and that is about three years ago.

BlackTiger · Just Starting Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 4

yep, I've been reading posts here.

well this is interesting then. My friend told me that the passport itself doesnt say anything about army, if you have been there or not.

the only thing that I am cautious about is, I also read that it's possible the army will see me as a deserter or something like that. I was actually registered when I was 15-16 yr old (that's when I left Russia). So they were looking for me for a couple years.

If customs in Moscow / International Airport can somehow check my passport against the records of that military station, it seems like I may have problems then. Especially considering that second country has no agreement over Dual Citizenship with Russia.

DITTRICH · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 1:00 am Post subject:

Since you have a russian international pasport you must also have a russian domestic passport - you know - the one with your propiska in it - where you officially live. The military do their recruitment via the propiska system - they send the dreaded letter to that address. Now if you dergister yourself from your russian address and register with the nearest russian embassy in the US as being resident abroad then you are not on the list anymore. At age 28 you simply reverse the process. I know someone whose stepson did this and has been back to Russia several times no problems at all. You don't have to renounce anything. I know.
Les

Gyuri_FT · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:23 am Post subject:

This is ABSOLUTELY not a problem. I visited USSR with Soviet passport many times - esp. during Afghan war.

The key issue is: where is the "propiska". Normally, dual citizens have a passport issued by "Konsul'skij Otdel" abroad. Usually there is also a remark, "snjat s uchjota za vyezdom v ****" (**** is the country). The problem will arise is someone still has the "domestic" passport, "zagranichnyj passport" and the foreign passport.

If hat is the case, you should take care about NOT resigning from the citizenship (IMHO a pretty dumb move!) but resigning the "domestic passport". Which - as dual citizen living abroad - you have to do ANYWAY.

But in 99% of the cases the dual citizens living abroad do not have the "domestic passport" anymore, only Russian consular passport with stamp "vyezd za granicu na postoyannoe zhitel'stvo" and the foreign (in your case US) passport.

It is impossible to be drawn in the army if all you have is the Russian passport with "vyezd za granicu na postoyannoe zhitel'stvo". That passport is basically "just" a visa-free travel permit to most of the C.I.S., not much else. And of course, it's a permit to return back or buy property without limitations.

BlackTiger · Just Starting Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 4

Thanks guys, that clarifies a lot

I'll sort through my documents, but yep. the passport that I have is the one that I got in Russia when I was in school... - domestic. And it does have the stamp that I 'moved away'. So I take it by their records I do not leave in Russia.
...Not sure why though, but my relatives still had recieved notices from the army for couple months after I moved, back in Russia.

@DITTRICH, what do you mean reverse the process? Seems like nothing else needs to change, does it?

Now, am I reading this right...

If I get the russian international pasport, make sure that it officialy says that I live in US, then I shouldnt have any problems with army service even if I go before I turn 28?

bswaminathan · Lounge Lizard Joined: 09 Oct 2007 Posts: 164

Putin Bans Dual Nationality Russians From Secret Services

http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=3230965&C=europe

DITTRICH · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 6:41 pm Post subject:

By reversing the process, I mean de-registering yourself from the Embassy and getting your russian propiska address back again. Always useful to have a russian propiska address and russian domestic passport so you can do lots of things like register foreigners in your apartment through the post office - something good for people married to non russian nationals.
Les

If you want more advice, I think the embassy strangely enough might be quite helpful in this respect. They can hardly refuse.
Les

BlackTiger · Just Starting Joined: 04 Dec 2007 Posts: 4

alright,

the reason I hadnt talked to russian embassy myself yet, is because I still have warm and fuzzy memories of talking to US embassy in Moscow, and how "nice" and "helpful" they were

the stepson, that you knew, went to russia several times, before he was 28?

DITTRICH · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 9:42 pm Post subject:

Yaponchik · Just Starting Joined: 22 Aug 2007 Posts: 3

Hi,

Sorry to revive an old thread, but I require some information. I was born and raised in Moscow, Russia and left in 1990. I never had a "Russian" citizenship or passport nor a Soviet passport as I was too young (not 15) to apply for one. Nevertheless my mother emigrated and brought me along and she had me obtain a U.S. citizenship and passport. Does that mean I renounced or nullified my chances of having a Russian citizenship, domestic or international passport?

I tried to go to the Russian consulate and also contacted the Russian embassy in the U.S. and asked them how to obtain a Russian passport. They said firstly I have to have a Russian citizenship, and in order to get that I need to renounce my U.S. citizenship. Is there another way I can obtain a passport or citizenship without renounciation? My father and other relatives still live in Moscow. I read somewhere that it may be possible for me to obtain automatic citizenship by virtue of the rules of citizenship and following the citizenship of one's parent(s).

Also, I want to join the Russian military to fulfill my duty before it's too late and need to resolve this matter as I have called at least a dozen posts and spoken to as many commisars/dezhurnies and they all say I need to have a Russian citizenship. Most continued to push me onto other numbers and superiors who may be able to wrestle the question further and in particular explore the possibility of military service by contract/volunteer without a citizenship.

Thank you for your time

TahEtiquette · Just Starting Joined: 24 Jul 2008 Posts: 2

im also curious as to what approach BlackTiger took to get into russia without being detained