Way to Russia Talk Lounge

tripled

Anybody out there had a visa application refused and been black listed, i recentley applied to renew my Multi Entry Business visa to be told that due to some Federal Law they would not issue a visa to me. No more information than that, no detail of what and when and how i broke their laws, no information of when i might be able to apply again, no way of appealing or consulting with them. Just a straight forward go away - Russia haven't quite heard of democracy yet, at least in this country you can argue your case and defend your self. The visa agencey i used will not investigate further because they don't want to damage their reputation despite me spending quite allot of money with them on visa's and other services, by the way its no company connected with "Waytorussia", another setup who when you read their website proclaim to be the experts until you give them a problem. My mistake was to trust in their expert opinion, i would have been better saving money and trying to sort my own problems, atleast i could only blame myself now. I have travelled to Russia many times and always made 100% effort to stay within Federal Law and register my visa etc when required. I have had issues when registering but only becasue the offices don't even know their own laws, thats the problem when you have a complicated system which is not black and white. The big issue for me know is not that i cannot travel to Russia on Business, i have no desire to ever do business with this country again and will never invest anything here now i know how easily you can be kept out. But the problem is i have a wife and child in Russia, obviuosly i want that they now leave and live in the UK, but that won't happen over night. How can i appeal and discuss my case with the UFMS, i have tried telephoning the Consulate, Embassy etc and anyone i think that could help, i have written letters etc and all with no reply or not interested. Some one out there must have experienced my position and could offer advice or give a contact who can help. I now have a business colleague in Moscow trying to make contact with UFMS but i doubt this will work either, is it possible that i could get a private invation, if i could just establish the facts it would be helpfull and know exactly where i stand, i can't just keep applying for Visa's and they take my money with no explanation, last time £200+ , says allot about Russia and they need not wonder why they have such a bad reputation in the West when they conduct themselves in this way. Crying or Very sad

tripled · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 11:26 am Post subject:

I am suprised that no one so far on the site has any advice, looks like it's going to be much more difficult than i thought. I cannot be the only one to experience this problem of not being able to get a Visa. Sad

david77080 · Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 5:37 pm Post subject: Visa

Your situation does not sound good. I don't really have any good advice for you. In life its easy for people to blow you off over the phone or in email. I think you need to go to the consulate in person and have a meeting with them and state your case and see what they say. Some things are handled better in person. Not sure they would give you an appointment but, you should go down there and take your best shot. Good luck. David

tripled · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 12:59 am Post subject:

One month on and i am no wiser to my situation, the Russian consulate will not help at all, they will not comment or give me any advice, they say that they cannot comment on decisions made in Russia, so why are these people here then Mad

, i stupidly thought that they may represent their country, talk about a secret society, no wonder some many people in the west have little confidence in Russia. At least in the UK you have the right to appeal and discuss issues and generally if people here can't help they will point you in the right direction, i have written letters and posted them to the UFMS in Moscow and they don't reply either Mad

. So i have no idea of if i am black listed (i know for sure i can't get Business visa) , no idea of how long i may be banned for and why they really refuse to issue me a visa, i have just walk straight into a solid Russian Wall, i hope others don't get into my situation, and i thought i was doing everything the correct way. Mad

Paul Holmes · VIP Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 973

simple, Hire a lawyer

tripled · Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2008 11:28 am Post subject:

Thanks for the advice i had thought of that, but i was really looking for someone to tell me "Yes i was in this situation and i did this , and this the people to speak to, and this Lawyer or person helped me, etc etc". When i am stuck in UK its not easy to find in Moscow a Lawyer i can trust and know will have good experience in Russian Immigration Law. I am pretty sure unless i recieve a good recommendation it would be a quick way to loose allot of money and only stir up more problems with the UFMS. I am trying to leave that approach as a final resort, it would be better if i could communicate with the UFMS myself to start with, thats not happening either, but i'm hopefull that if i can get a contact name or email address for UFMS i can start to make progress.

hddguru · Frequent Guest Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 14

Didn't they change Rules for Business visa that only allows you to stay a certain amount of time in each year?

How long in the last year have you stayed on Russia?

tripled · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:46 pm Post subject:

Yes they did change the rules about 1 year ago, now you can only stay 90 days in every 180 days, i have not overstayed my visa, i know the rules. Rolling Eyes

Aceman12 · Just Starting Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 4

As u know they are not very democratic to say the least! I would strongly suggest you hire a good UK lawyer to handle this case, and also contact your Embassy for any assistance they can lend. I have also prayed this situation will be favorably resolved and SOON. Good luck, please email me at masteraceman123@yahoo.com when it is. Very Happy

L-A · Just Starting Joined: 21 Aug 2008 Posts: 2

Im afraid you dont even realize how silly all these democracy rants sound. watched too much BBC?

If the topic starter used the services of an agency that provided him a fake business visa invitation which seems to be the case then thats illegal and OBVIOUSLY he finally got refused with entry. i dont understand what else what he expected??? If he is really an invester, has his own company that actually invests and works in Russia..i really doubt that though, then he d really have to have a WORK visa. Business visa is only for business trips from a company based overseas, people who work on business are violating the Russia/UK/China/etc visa regime.

If he is married with a kid in Russia and actually lives there (?), gotta have a Russian residence permit, cannot happen of course with a business visa. If he doesnt live here, his wife and a kid should have a residence permit in the UK (with all those big investments into Russia shouldnt be a problem:-) otherwise they live separately.

About a lawyer in the UK. thats the most retarded thing ive heard/read today... cannot really comment that.

just one thing about the appeals in the democratic UK - you can appeal only for immigration visas!! not for tourist or business visas. and of course these UK immigration visa appeals have nothing to do with Russian laywers or Russian government (if you are Russian) and the other way around - Russian visas have nothing to do with UK lawyers. How come anybody who finished high school may think that local courts may have any legal force on other foreign visa issuance, i ll never understand. Serioulsy.... sorry for being rude but thats just outrageous.

The topic starter can really try to talk to a higher person in the Russian Embassy and explain the situation (with a real business invitation of course). Sometimes helps. Theres nothing else you can really do about obtaining business visa. Or try to apply for another visa with correct papers. Or.. never come of course. But i really hope you will sort it out and come to Russia again.

Paul Holmes · VIP Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 973

L-A, I think he stated that they will not discuss the topic. He will have to hire a Russian lawyer to discuss his case on his behalf. I think he will get no where trying to meet an official of higher rank.
Richard Dudley is the CEO of TNK-BP and he is denied entry to Russia and there is nothing he can do. It is not fair, but that is life.

Aceman12 · Just Starting Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 4

I just prayed that YOU get your comeuppance. How do u like that? Twisted Evil

L-A · Just Starting Joined: 21 Aug 2008 Posts: 2

To Paul Holmes:

No lawers will help him. Tourist/business visa issuance not to be discussed either in "democratic" UK nor in "autocratic" RF. forget it. He gets other type of visa or he doesnt come.

Richard Dudley is not same case; its the RF strategic natural resourses we are talking about. As for the topic starter I believe its simply bullsh@t business visa invitation.