Wear can I go?
August 12, 2020 2:16 AM Subscribe
I am a US passport holder. I am in Russia on a visa and need to leave by Sept 15th. I will need to reenter as my family is here. Where can I find info on where I can go?
So I'm starting to freak out a little bit because this whole situation is F'ed up due to Corona. I moved with my fiance and our 2 (dual citizen) kids to Russia. He is a Russian citizen. I am on a personal visa that is good for another 2 years, but per the terms I need to leave at least every 6 months and that time is coming up September 15th (this is actually over my 6 months, but Russia granted a blanket extension back in July). We were supposed to get married, but I need a document notorized by the US Embassy in Moscow and those services are suspended indefinitely so I'm in limbo.
I'm having trouble figuring out where I can even go. I'm hoping I can go somewhere in Europe and stay in an airport hotel for a few nights and come right back. Are there any countries that will accept a non EU person travelling from Russia? It looks like maybe Ireland, but I can't figure out if the quarantine restriction means I would need to stay there a full 2 weeks or if I could just stay 2 or 3 days and going back to Russia.
I can't get info on entry restrictions to come back. IT seems like if you can get a flight in to Moscow and have a visa, you're good? I suspect that Russia doesn't want people coming in for the US because there aren't any direct flights? I don't really want to go back to the US right now, but if I must the situation compounds because I'd probably have to take the kids with me.
So basically my question is where can a US citizen go with no visa, travelling from Russia, stay for a few days, and face no restriction reenterring Russia (except self quarantine which I will do anyway).
So I'm starting to freak out a little bit because this whole situation is F'ed up due to Corona. I moved with my fiance and our 2 (dual citizen) kids to Russia. He is a Russian citizen. I am on a personal visa that is good for another 2 years, but per the terms I need to leave at least every 6 months and that time is coming up September 15th (this is actually over my 6 months, but Russia granted a blanket extension back in July). We were supposed to get married, but I need a document notorized by the US Embassy in Moscow and those services are suspended indefinitely so I'm in limbo.
I'm having trouble figuring out where I can even go. I'm hoping I can go somewhere in Europe and stay in an airport hotel for a few nights and come right back. Are there any countries that will accept a non EU person travelling from Russia? It looks like maybe Ireland, but I can't figure out if the quarantine restriction means I would need to stay there a full 2 weeks or if I could just stay 2 or 3 days and going back to Russia.
I can't get info on entry restrictions to come back. IT seems like if you can get a flight in to Moscow and have a visa, you're good? I suspect that Russia doesn't want people coming in for the US because there aren't any direct flights? I don't really want to go back to the US right now, but if I must the situation compounds because I'd probably have to take the kids with me.
So basically my question is where can a US citizen go with no visa, travelling from Russia, stay for a few days, and face no restriction reenterring Russia (except self quarantine which I will do anyway).
The current advice for Ireland is that you can enter, you need to self quarantine for 2 weeks, or as long as you are in the country (whichever is shorter). See here. However, there was talk about changing some requirements, particularly related to high risk areas.
posted by scorbet at 3:42 AM on August 12, 2020
posted by scorbet at 3:42 AM on August 12, 2020
Best answer: You can use this website Re-open EU to see what the current travel restrictions are in each EU country. Once you get to the next page you can click around on a map.
posted by vacapinta at 4:35 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by vacapinta at 4:35 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
The U.S. Embassy in Russia has the following information on entry requirements to Russia:
Effective March 18, the Government of the Russian Federation banned the entry of all foreign nationals. The ban does not apply to diplomats, airplane crew members, permanent residents of the Russian Federation, family members of Russian citizens, or transit passengers.
So the most important thing seems to be to establish you can indeed re-enter Russia after leaving.
posted by needled at 5:27 AM on August 12, 2020 [2 favorites]
Effective March 18, the Government of the Russian Federation banned the entry of all foreign nationals. The ban does not apply to diplomats, airplane crew members, permanent residents of the Russian Federation, family members of Russian citizens, or transit passengers.
So the most important thing seems to be to establish you can indeed re-enter Russia after leaving.
posted by needled at 5:27 AM on August 12, 2020 [2 favorites]
Best answer: It seems that the issue is less you leaving than you returning. The IATA runs a service called TIMATIC which is used by airlines to determine entry eligibility requirements. They've recently stood up a map which details COVID restrictions:
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world.php
It looks like Russia is only accepting returning Russian citizens, Russian permanent residents, and residents of four other countries if returning from those countries. I do not see exemptions for various visa holders. In general, an airline will not board you if you do not meet these eligibility requirements as they would be on the hook for transporting you back.
It looks like Belarus is pretty permissive and shares a land border, but now is NOT the time to be entering Belarus.
posted by scolbath at 5:27 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world.php
It looks like Russia is only accepting returning Russian citizens, Russian permanent residents, and residents of four other countries if returning from those countries. I do not see exemptions for various visa holders. In general, an airline will not board you if you do not meet these eligibility requirements as they would be on the hook for transporting you back.
It looks like Belarus is pretty permissive and shares a land border, but now is NOT the time to be entering Belarus.
posted by scolbath at 5:27 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Belarus is a no. AFAIK they are still offline will cell service and payment systems. All land borders are still closed. Pretty sure Belarus doesn't want any outsiders with eyes or ears there now anyway.
But you reminded me that Kazakhstan doesn't normally require visas for US citizens, but looking at that map site, their airports are still closed.
posted by WeekendJen at 6:05 AM on August 12, 2020
But you reminded me that Kazakhstan doesn't normally require visas for US citizens, but looking at that map site, their airports are still closed.
posted by WeekendJen at 6:05 AM on August 12, 2020
In my understanding, Turkey does not currently have restrictions on entry that would affect you (other than screening and quarantine only if you fail screening, get tested and test positive). I just arrived here, and can attest that the screening was not very onerous, however my flight was from a low-risk country. Turkish Airlines is flying to Moscow, though they might be expensive and prone to booking up early.
Your return to Russia is going to be the tricky part as the prohibitions there are by nationality + country you are travelling from and cover every country but 4 plus Russia. If a fiance counts as a family member or if you can get the marriage formalities sorted quickly, then you might be fine. It may also be that if you are accepted as a family member in the official definition, you might have to travel with the family member - it's definitely something to find out in advance.
Otherwise, if there are avenues for seeking advice or requesting a special dispensation, you might wish to start on that as soon as possible.
posted by tavegyl at 7:06 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
Your return to Russia is going to be the tricky part as the prohibitions there are by nationality + country you are travelling from and cover every country but 4 plus Russia. If a fiance counts as a family member or if you can get the marriage formalities sorted quickly, then you might be fine. It may also be that if you are accepted as a family member in the official definition, you might have to travel with the family member - it's definitely something to find out in advance.
Otherwise, if there are avenues for seeking advice or requesting a special dispensation, you might wish to start on that as soon as possible.
posted by tavegyl at 7:06 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
If a fiance counts as a family member or if you can get the marriage formalities sorted quickly, then you might be fine.
It may also be that you qualify as a family member of your children, who are Russian citizens. But immigration rules surrounding minors can be weird, so this is something to verify.
posted by Johnny Assay at 7:23 AM on August 12, 2020
It may also be that you qualify as a family member of your children, who are Russian citizens. But immigration rules surrounding minors can be weird, so this is something to verify.
posted by Johnny Assay at 7:23 AM on August 12, 2020
Even if your children don't immediately get you permanent residency, wouldn't that pretty unambiguously qualify you for re-entry as a family member?
posted by yeahlikethat at 7:27 AM on August 12, 2020
posted by yeahlikethat at 7:27 AM on August 12, 2020
As far as where to go: Serbia typically allows visa-free entry for US nationals, and does not (according to that IATA map) currently have any COVID restrictions. Air Serbia appears to be operating two daily flights between Belgrade and Sherementyevo. (Though the flights don't appear to show up in their timetable more than two weeks from now; not sure if they're stopping service or if they haven't been scheduled yet.)
posted by Johnny Assay at 7:45 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Johnny Assay at 7:45 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Even if your children don't immediately get you permanent residency, wouldn't that pretty unambiguously qualify you for re-entry as a family member?
posted by yeahlikethat at 7:27 AM on August 12
One would think. The problem I keep running into is noone (as in the local immigration office) knows how this hypothetical should actually play out, like what documents do I need. I think they get thrown off because they are used to seeing people's children registered in the parent passport, but US passports don't do that. One of my kids was born in Russia so I have an original Russian birth cert for them and I've been trying to find someone who can tell me whether or not that will be sufficient evidence to re-enter.
I'm not in Moscow and the local officials aren't used to cases like mine. I get the impression they typically deal with migrant workers from the same handful of countries and people in former USSR states that are trying to re-patriate to Russia. Noone really knows what to do with me. If I'm not making any progress I might go find some immigration officials in Moscow because they probably have more exposure to odd cases in these times, but they could also just punt me back to my city because that's where I'm registered. Coronavirus can eat shit and die.
posted by WeekendJen at 11:30 AM on August 12, 2020
posted by yeahlikethat at 7:27 AM on August 12
One would think. The problem I keep running into is noone (as in the local immigration office) knows how this hypothetical should actually play out, like what documents do I need. I think they get thrown off because they are used to seeing people's children registered in the parent passport, but US passports don't do that. One of my kids was born in Russia so I have an original Russian birth cert for them and I've been trying to find someone who can tell me whether or not that will be sufficient evidence to re-enter.
I'm not in Moscow and the local officials aren't used to cases like mine. I get the impression they typically deal with migrant workers from the same handful of countries and people in former USSR states that are trying to re-patriate to Russia. Noone really knows what to do with me. If I'm not making any progress I might go find some immigration officials in Moscow because they probably have more exposure to odd cases in these times, but they could also just punt me back to my city because that's where I'm registered. Coronavirus can eat shit and die.
posted by WeekendJen at 11:30 AM on August 12, 2020
Best answer: Another thing to consider is that they will extend the visa extension beyond Sept 15. This would be the safest thing to do for them as it minimizes the health risk to satisfy a technicality. I would make any travel plans as close to the 15th as possible.
posted by Short End Of A Wishbone at 11:51 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Short End Of A Wishbone at 11:51 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]
A colleague of mine went to Romania in a similar situation. No visa needed for US citizens for 90 days and Russia is off their quarantine yellow list. Could be less of a gruelling set of flights as well compared to Ireland.
Alternatively if you are outside Moscow/Piter then you might want to check if there are any external flights from a local airport so you can hop out and in: may be the most economical option.
posted by Wrinkled Stumpskin at 3:03 AM on August 14, 2020
Alternatively if you are outside Moscow/Piter then you might want to check if there are any external flights from a local airport so you can hop out and in: may be the most economical option.
posted by Wrinkled Stumpskin at 3:03 AM on August 14, 2020
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by WeekendJen at 2:19 AM on August 12, 2020 [1 favorite]