Thanks for all who had input on travel to Krasnodar. I have been looking at registration of tourist visa and the ramifications of regisrtering once and then travelling about for a week. North, then south and eventually Sochi. It's hit or miss on the weather. Much like NYC. I am not familiar with how much bad weather affects delays in these parts. Any advice other than to pack an extra set of clothes in the carry on would be appreciated. As I stated about 350 posts back I went with Aeroflot for the only reason to have a connecting flight with the same carrier. It seemed logical at the time because if there were delays I feel the airline would do its best to make sure I made my final destination. This is my first time travelling to this region. If I had a handle on the language I would feel more comfortable trying to mix and match flights. Wish you all the best.
"I went with Aeroflot for the only reason to have a connecting flight with the same carrier. It seemed logical at the time because if there were delays I feel the airline would do its best to make sure I made my final destination"
ha - did someone invent the concept of customer service in FSU when I wasnt looking ?? :-).
Be prepared to for a it of a culture sock - if you only ever been to Kiev you will be shocked at how run down provincial UA/Russian can be (although I'v never been to kras ...).
Ralph I traveled around Russia for nearly 2 weeks before registering and it wasnt problem. If I was you I would register as soon as possible and then not worry about trying to register again when traveling for a few days here and there. Unless you are going to to stay for 'weeks' in another city, I cant see anyone asking any questions.
Im curious, did your girlfriend have much trouble getting you the invitation?
Adman, thanks, I just got off phone with her, she got the paperwork from post office and I will register there when I arrive. And will travel as we want without registering anywhere but using her address.
Because of not knowing the ins and outs of applying for a visa and the short notice I went with a 'full service' visa agency as suggested by another. I spoke to them yesterday in Atlanta and I got a fed ex tracking number for my passport w/visa to arrive in two days. They provided letter etc. and work directly with the Consulate.
She told me that travelling to visit her in her town was "extreme tourism". Meaning pretty much what DMC says. As for flights, I just guessed it would be the best approach since I only know about twenty words of Russian. Hopefully in the next few weeks I learn some more. Maybe signing up for Aeroflot frequent flier program may help -- but I doubt it.
Trip is only 12 days.
Ralph29,
I have travelled to Russia several times and I suggest that you register as soon as you can. If I remember correctly… used to you had about three days to do it. I failed to register once and the police at the airport were going to take me to their station to pay a $40 dollar fine which would have caused me to miss my $1000 flight home. Luckily my fiancé (and later my wife) was able to go to the police station for me and pay the fine. I remember before the changes in registering (which happened about 4 years ago) I registered at the local police station, this was a challenge. The police chief of Veliky Novgorad conducted the interview, he wanted all types of documents from my fiancé to prove she lived there. In the end we had to leave and she return to the station without me. I found out later that the Police chief only wanted a bribe and was afraid to ask for it in front of the American Spy! She paid him about $10 USD.
Some of the local transportation will be quite a different experience for you... the small busses can be very entertaining to say the least.
Mini-coop interesting, she told me she was going to the local police to find out story of registering. Then she comes back with post office as I had asked... interesting -- I wonder if it still happens... I do find it interesting that she was so worried about the local police to want to go there to inquire... she has the papers for me to register day one... and that is what I will do...
interesting about local transport... busses etc. I have spoken to her many times as she road the bus home from work at God awful hours... and she has indicated that it is not pleasant... it seems as devil has stated... not a very inviting place
A few years ago, I missed a connection in Moscow because my flight from New York departed late. I'm pretty sure this was an Aeroflot booking. They did take care of me by getting me on the next available flight (luckily, not a long wait). The down side was that without my smattering of Russian, getting booked on the new connection might have been tough.
While customer service in Russia is still miserable by Western standards, each year it seems to improve. ralph will be able to tell us about the new Terminal 3 in Moscow, hopefully a massive step up for Aeroflot.
@Mini Coop,
Thanks for posting your experiences with registration. Because I dread run-ins with officials when I travel, I have been very careful about registering, always (so far) using local travel agencies. I read an account (I think from 2007 or 08) from a person who tried to register at a post office in Krasnodar, and was told that he couldn't. Perhaps the post office worker was not familiar with the (relatively) new procedure. But according to Russian travel websites, registering at a post office is supposed to be a fairly easy and cheap procedure.
It will probably burn up a couple of hours of ralph's precious visit time, but it will be a good introduction to the way the Russian government drowns its people in paperwork, red tape, and official stamps.
Ralph: Good call getting the "full service" from visa agency, having them sort the invite and smooth the process means one less headache.
Registering at the post office sounds a good idea. Stay away from the police stations. I registered in what could only be described as a dungeon. At the time I didnt think I was ever going to leave.
Even a few words of Russian is good. If you know a few greetings and can order a cup of coffee, it makes a difference.
You could try using "saluyu" (kiss you)instead of saying goodbye at anytime. They love this sort of thing.
Russians really like having lots of toasts while drinking vodka, so be prepared to stand up and make a few speeches (Telling the company how great they are).
Your a braver man than me going in winter
Good luck
Dansing, when she mentioned checking with police I asked her to check with post office first --- turns out to be good idea.
Adman -- full service visa agent seemed logical -- after I spoke to them a couple times (they are russians) they explained that the invitation was more of a courtesy and not tied to any particular place (I hope). I did let them know where I was going and provided home address of gf.
I do not have the luxury of travelling at will. Most of the time it is short notice. Costs a little more. But like a convenience store in the neighborhood, a loaf of bread costs more than in the big supermarkets.
she rides the 'bus' every day to and from work... it should be fun and interesting to experience her life as it is and to not go with grand expectations of city busses like we have. I have rideen the bus in Kiev several times, no biggie.
Also learning knew words from her -- ie. "saluyu" etc.
news if anyone cares -- NVC sent paperwork to Moscow. schedule medical and interview soon
Ralph29... your in like flint! My experience is she will get the visa the same day of the interview, it will be valid for travel anytime within the following 6 months. Congratulations!
thanks MC -- a question I had never thought about. Once (IF) VISA is approved, does the ninety day clock start then and there? Or as you suggest, can we hold off for a month first? Important - we already discussed this earlier tonight - because the entire month of March I must work almost every day (long hours) and I would hate like hell to have her be a prisoner to being stuck here alone. "Welcome to my home. I'll see you in a month." It does not sound very inviting to anyone. I didn't think everything would happen as fast as it seems to be... Not that I wanted delays, but from what I heard in the past I thought the time frame worked perfectly with my schedule. But sooner the better. What is life with someone if not a trial of intentions at times?
TERMINAL D AEROFLOT'S NEW HOME
Aeroflot moves its own and partners' flights from Sheremetyevo Terminals 1, F (2) and C to Terminal D (3) for November 15 2009 - February 06 2010.
From November 15 2009, Aeroflot has started moving its own flights and flights operated by its partners to the new Sheremetyevo Terminal D, located next to Terminal F (Sheremetyevo 2).
In the period until February 06 2010, the new terminal will be operating Aeroflot's 77 international flights, 33 international flights by Aeroflot's partners and SkyTeam-membering carriers, Aeroflot's 38 domestic flights, 7 flights by DonAvia, and 16 by Aeroflot Nord.
The schedule of the flight transfer to Terminal D.....***I have list if someone needs a certain date,
it's very long almost 3 months worth of flights......
By February 06 2010, all flights departing from Sheremetyevo 1 and Terminal C will have been transferred to Terminal D.
After February 06, the following Aeroflot's flights will be departing from Terminal F (Sheremetyevo 2): SU135 Simferopol(SIP); SU145, SU147 Baku(GYD); SU151 Bukharest(OTP); SU163 Tashkent(TAS); SU179 Bishkek(FRU); SU183, SU185 Kiev(KBP); SU191, SU193, SU195 Erevan(EVN); SU161 Belgrad(BEG); SU165 Zagreb(ZAG); SU 211 Oslo(OSL); SU221 Antalya(AYT); SU231, SU235 Brussels(BRU); SU295 Athens(ATH); SU321 Los Angeles(LAX); SU333, SU335 Havana(HAV); SU341 Cairo(CAI); SU527 Shanghai(PVG); SU533, SU535 Delhi(DEL); SU541 Hanoi(HAN); SU345 Luanda(LAD); SU551,SU553 Bangkok(BKK); SU571 Beijing(PEK); SU593, SU595 HongKong(HKG); SU599 Seoul(ICN).
Please note that the shedule of the flight transfer can be changed. For more information, do not hesitate to call to our Contact Center (495) 223-55-55, 8-800-333-55-55 or 0933 (paid call).
Dear members! Please, be informed about effective designations of our terminals:
Sheremetyevo 1;
Terminal C;
Sheremetyevo 2 – Terminal F;
Sheremetyevo 3 – Terminal D
My first flight to Russia, I missed my connecting flight( needed to transfer to domestic terminal),
talk about being stuck for 4 hours trying to find someone to rebook my flight with language problems
in late evening...I did finally get a 11:30 flight out to St Pete's...I was only 7 hours late. Killer was my 'prepaid' taxi was gone and had to fork out $80 to get to my hotel because it was
after 2:30 am !!!!!!!!
One thing to add Ralph/Julian...I don't look 'russian' or white guy, so both times I was in russia I was 'hasseled' by police to see my papers, practically every block, like they saw me coming from far away!
Beemer18 - thanks for the info. Yes I will look into aeroflot's web as it gets closer. I should be okay as far as looking more russian. My gf is darker than I. A true southeastern russian gal. But of course if I can keep my yap shut I should be okay. I do recall coming into JFK will a plane full of Russians. The rudest f----g people at the airport. It was like a stampede trying to get front row seats at a G.A. WHO concert. I finally yelled, "What the f--- is wrong with you people? Just stay in line single file like you are being told." I really did. I got some nasty looks but people seemed to slow down and realize... It was like a restart at a nascar race with 2 laps to go.
I plan to register with the US Embassy before I travel as I did before. Durak, do you do this? Do others do this? Just wondering, I never heard anyone from USA bring it up.
well beemer - it seems as though the krasnodar flights use termnal D by the time I get there, don't know where the jfk flight lands and leaves yet -- this flight is not slated to move to terminal D until Feb 2010. looks like I might be doing the shuffle to connect.
The State Department always recommends citizens to register with them when abroad, simply so they know where we are in case of trouble. With so many time-consuming and absorbing things to do over there, I've never made the effort. I think it is prudent... it's one of those things you need only when things go wrong.
On the topic of stampeding -- Russians aren't (on average) very polite about waiting in line at passport control. Literally my first ever communication on Russian soil, back in 2004 (I had just gotten off the plane and into the passport control line) came from a kind Russian lady who spoke good English -- she saw several people shoving past me, and said, "don't be polite, you'll never get through."
visa arrived today -- good for thirty days --
I asked about flu in the area (Krasnodar). Yes, people are getting sick. No, it is nothing unsual for this time of year. Yes, there are news reports of swine flu. And yes, the flu 'scare' is pretty much hype and nothing more.
I also recieved an email from a lady who works in the medical field in Kiev. She said the H1N1 flu is a lttie of both -- some cases confirmed but mostly hype.
Ralph to answer you quesiton about the ninety days, it's from the time she steps foot in the US not the time of issuance. I can't remember exactly but I think the visa is valid for six months and the I94 will be stamped on her arrival and then the clock starts.