Visiting Russia. Part I

Russia is the largest country in the world in terms of land area and is almost twice the size of the U.S. The population is around 148 million and is 83% ethnic Russian by nationality. Moscow is the capital city, and the largest city, with a population of 16 million. St. Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) is the second largest city with five million. Population growth is actually declining.

Temperatures in Moscow range from as low as -20C in winter to the upper +30C in summer. Once the snow falls in October or November, it doesn't melt until March or April. In the fall and spring it rains quite frequently. No matter what time you come to Moscow, it is wise to bring boots.

Russian people are generally well educated, hospitable and loyal to their country and friends. However, their country and society has changed so dramatically over the past few years that they still are adjusting to emerging democracies and free enterprise.

Detailed information has been divided into the following categories:

Visa Requirements
In order to enter Russia, you will need visa, which you can obtain by submitting an official invitation and documents to a Russian Consulate. Be sure to plan ahead and apply for your visa well in advance. For assistance, you would be well-advised to consult an experienced travel agent or visa service.

Upon arrival, you will need to register your visa. Hotels typically do this automatically; if you will not be staying in a hotel, the inviting organization is responsible for taking care of this. If your visa is not registered, you may be prevented from leaving the country or forced to pay a large fine.

On October 15, 1996, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Consular Service began implementing new procedures governing the issuance of invitations by organizations in Russia to be used in connection with applications for visas to enter Russia for business-related purposes.

What is required for an invitation? Under the new regine, sponsors of private travelers coming to Russia for business must:

• Register "in due course" with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Consular Service and obtain a registration number;
  
• apply for standardized and counterfeit-proof invitation letters produced by the Ministry of Froeign Affiars' Consular Service before the traveller can apply for a visitor's visa at a Russian Consulate or Embassy abroad;
  
• pay a processing fee for the invitation letter application. The cost depends on the degree of urgency involved, defined in a Ministry of Foreign Affairs circular as "Normal - more than 10 days," and "Urgent-less than 10 days". The circular informs applicants that urgent processing of invitation letter includes the Ministry of Foreign Affiars sending instructions to the issuing Consulate or Embassy within three days. The fee must be paid for each separate application. The visa applicant may be required to attend an interview, and may be required at the time of the interview to provide certain documents to the Russian consular officer. These documetns may include, but are not limited to: proff of payment for the processing of the invitation; a copy of the biographic page of the applicant's passport; a permit from the Russian Migration Services; an identity card (unspecified); a visa questionnaire; photographs,; a copy of the agreement with the sponsoring business; and for those planning to stay in Russian longer than three months, a form certifying that th applicant is HIV negative.

Who is affected by these changes?

In an October 1996 press release issued by the Russian Embassy in London, it was stated that business visas for the purpose of visiting companies, scientific institutions, public organizations, and other establishments in Moscow and the Moscow Region will be issued only upon presentation of the original of the invitation executed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Cconsular Service Department, or a telex from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The notice also stated that the new procedure is not currently applicable to the state bodies financed through the state budget and state (not private) higher education bodies.

The US Embassy believes, according to the information available, that the procedures for obtaining diplomatic, non-business-related and tourist visas have been left virtually unchanged, but that private travelers, including those funded under US Government programs, will eventually be required to comply with these new rules. Ministry officials have assured Embassy representatives that the new procedure will have a minimal impact on the time needed for visa issuance and the cost of the visas.

Additional information to Consider

A notice sent to Moscow-related business and brought to the Embassy's aattention in July 1996 suggests that the invitation letter may be the basis for visa issuance. Nowhere is it guaranteed that obtaining an invitation will lead to receiving a visa.

The new system will not be introduced at the same time everywhere. Reportedly, the new procedures will be first implemented in Moscow and the surrounding region. After a few months, the procedures will be put into effect in St. Petersburg and then finally throughout the rest of the country.

In consideration of the above, the US Embassy's Consular Section suggests all applicants check with the Russian Consulate or Embassy at which they intend to apply at least two weeks in advance to determine whether an original invitation will be required in order to avoid confusion or a prevent a delay in travel.

Questions or concerns may be directed to the U.S. Embassy's Consular Section or the U.S. Foreign Commercial Service office. In addition, the Consular Section would welcome reports concerning exhorbitant visa charges or similar problems encountered by US businesspeople. Please send comments by facsimile to American Citizen Services, US Embassy Moscow, 7 (095) 956-4079.

Visas for AmCham Members

Any employee of a company that is an American Chamber of Commerce member may receive expedited visa support services from Express Visa Services for travel to Russia and the CIS.

Letter of invitation for single or double entry visas may be obtained in either 1 or 3 business days. Multi-entry letters of invitation are available in 13 business days. If time is not an issue longer processing times are also available.

For those member employees already in Russia with a valid visa, it is possible to arrange receipt of a new Russian visa in Moscow and activate this visa without the necessity of leaving the country. The processing time of this service is 14 working days.

Tourist visa letters of invitation may be obtained in 1 working day for member employees who have friends or family visiting Russia (for 25 days or less).

In addition, Express Visa may obtain visas for the former CIS countries (or any country requiring a visa) for any business expatriate who can supply us with the proper documentation.

American Chamber of Commerce member employees will receive $10 off of the regular Express Visa service charge for any of the abovementioned visas.

For more information please call Express Visa Services at 925-4745.

Currency

The Russian currency is the ruble, which has remained between 27 and 28 to the dollar over the last months. While the Russian economy is heavly "dollarized", it is illegal to perform cash transactions in dollars. American dollars and German marks are easily convertible in many exchange offices located throughout the city. Other currencies are exchangeable at the major Russian banks. Whatever currency you change into rubles, be certain that the bills are new and clean, without any marks or tears, or the exchange office may refuse them. You should never change money on the street; there is presently little difference in rates and you will almost surely be cheated.

You will find that most purchases take place with cash. There are no checks and enterprises that take credit cards are limited. When you do need cash, there area number of ways to withdraw various currencies. Bringing in cash yourself, or having others bring some for you, is the easiest and least expensive way to get cash in Moscow. However, if you need additional funds, below are some ways to get cash.

• ATM or Credit Card Advance. Cash machines are available in the center and most will accept PLUS or Cirrus ATM networks, as well as Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Depending on the Russian bank that maintains the cash machine, you may be charged a 1% - 4% commission fee, on top of what your credit card charges.
  
• Traveler's Checks. Very few places take traveler's checks. AMEX traveler's checks may be cashed at the American Express office at Sadovaya Kudrinskaya 21a in the center of town. Expect to pay a 3% commission for cashing the checks. Selected Russian banks will also cash them for a fee.
  
• Western Union. Tel 119-8250. With 60 agencies in Russia, you can transfer money almost instantly.
  
• Wire Transfer to a Bank Account. Incoming wire transfer fees cost 1-3% of the amount wired in and can take several days to clear.

The days of having to bring your own bottled water and toilet paper have long gone, although you may still find them useful in regional cities. Now it is possible to easily find basic food, bottled water and toiletry items in many places around Moscow. However, the following are items some tourists prefer to bring for themselves.

1. Bring your own toiletries and pharmaceuticals. Although there are many stores carrying western medicines, you may not be able to read the Russian or European labels.
   
2. Comfortable, waterproof and warm, (if winter) boots or shoes. It is frequently wet in Moscow from snow or rain, and you will probably walk a lot.
   
3. Umbrella.
   
4. Adapter for small appliances like hair dryers. Russia has the same 220 watt currency as Europe and electrical sockets take round two prong plugs.
   
5. Travel alarm clock.
   
6. All phone numbers and addresses you will need.
   
7. Enough cash for your entire stay. Bring clean, crisp, new bills.
   
8. Travel money holder/conceiler. Pickpocketing is not uncommon, especially in the center of town and in crowded markets.
   
9. Backpack.
   
10. Photocopy of passport and visa.
    
11. Warm hat, coat, clothes and gloves in winter.
    
12. Camera and film.
    
13. Leave your expensive jewelry at home. You don't need to be conspicuous.
    
14. Locks for your luggage. Make sure to secure all your baggage with heavy locks.

Arriving at the Airport. Customs.

Most international flights arrive at Sheremetyevo II airport. This airport has had very little renovation, and is rather dim and crowded. On the descent into Moscow you will be asked to complete a customs declaration form which you will present to customs. The first thing you will encounter after you get off the plane is passport control. There is no order here. Passengers simply shove and push to get and stay in line, which, when really busy, doesn't resemble a line but a crowd of people.

Be patient,stand your ground, and you will eventually get through. On the other side of Passport Control is the baggage claim. If you need a cart to help carry your things, you can rent one for a few dollars (you must pay in rubles). Go to the right after you exit Passport Control to find the cart rental desk. There is also a bank near the baggage claim area to exchange some money into rubles. There are not many carts available, so you may find that you have to wait for one. Alternatively, there are men offering their services to assist you with your bags. Feel free to use their services, but be ready to pay. Depending on how many bags you have, expect to pay from $10 to $50 for the help. You can negotiate, although they usually don't speak much English.

After you collect your bags, you will stand in line for Customs. The lines usually here move faster than Passport Control. If you have a reasonable amount of luggage, they will rarely check the contents of your bags. Be sure to declare any currency you are carrying and hold on to your customs declaration until you depart, otherwise you will not be permitted to leave the country with more than $500. There is a Russian law issued in July 1996 that permits the taxation of personal effects taken into Russia. The law states that if you are bringing in over 50 kilograms (about 100 pounds) or baggage, you are subject to tax. The limit is higher if you are a resident. The tax can be as high as $10 a pound. Some travelers have had to pay this tax, but most tourists and foreign residents aren't confronted with this unpleasant issue.

Once you get through customs, you will walk out into the public area where you can be met. It is best to have someone with transportation meet you as taxis are extremely expensive and sometimes dangerous. If you do need a taxi though, it is best to get one through one of the taxi booths located in the airport lobby. Bus service is also available between the airport and the nearest Metro station, but this is inconvenient with luggage and not advisable if you do not speak Russian or know precisely where you are going.

Reprinted by the courtesy of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia.