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Customs in sheremetyevo? (Moscow, Russia Airport)
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Posted by: j_c

Hi guys

Am of to Moscow at the end of August , just wanted to know if anyone had any stories or tips about getting through customs and passport control without hassle!

I have travelled quite a lot and judging from the amount of times I get stopped and checked wherever I go , I must be one of those dodgy looking people!!

On avreage I would say that I get stopped and scrutinized at least 80% of the time!!

Anything I should be aware of ? especially about the declaration form I have read about,

Look forward to your replies!

John

Posted by: ConnerVT

Going through passport control and customs at SVO is as easy as anywhere else. A couple of tips to make life easier:

-- Bring a pen with you on the plane. They should hand out immigration cards and customs declaration forms on the flight. If they don't, ask your flight attendant for them. Fill them out on the plane before you land. There is one small table at the bottom of the stairs before passport control that has forms, but good luck getting to it if 300+ people on the plane also need to fill out forms. Use the standard immigration form (long/skinny). The form that my visa provider supplies with my passport is no good.

-- Russians are not as polite as Westerners when it comes to queuing up in line. Don't be afraid to be a assertive getting off the plane, and getting towards the front of the line at passport control. It is probably your biggest bottleneck.

-- At passport control, say hello and give her your passport. Don't worry, they almost never smile.

-- Keep on down the hall. You will see the luggage carousels. Hopefully, all of your luggage will appear there.

-- Now on to customs (if your luggage doesn't all arrive with you, you will need to go to the service desk first. Someone there almost speaks English...). On your declaration form, declare nothing but the cash that you are bringing in with you. I have heard different limits that are allowed in, with $1500 being the one that's stated most. If you do bring more than that, stash it somewhere in your carry-on luggage. Go to the green line. They will Xray all of your bags, and send you on your way. I don't declare my laptop. They ask (in Russian) "Computer?" I say "Da". They send me on.

-- If you have too much luggage to carry, there are luggage porter's carts available by the luggage carousels. I understand there's a charge to use them, but in June I never found anyone to pay, so I just took one. There also is a place to exchange money there, though I recommend that if you do, only exchange what you need at that moment. Like most things at an airport, it's gonna cost you more.

-- Welcome to Mockba!

Posted by: Keith

Connor:

In your above posting you stated, "The form that my visa provider supplies with my passport...." What is a "visa provider"?

Have you ever used the services of someone to get you through SVO or is that necessary?

What is a reasonable amount of cash to take/have on hand?

I appreciate you sharing your knowledge of having done many of things before.

Keith

Posted by: Jim_FL

Any of the travel agents that specialize in Eastern European travel usually haave a section of their site that says "visa service"
I've used East West Travel out of Seatle twice and Russian American consulting once, there are many to choose from. GoToRussia.com has gotten good reviews. Typically they'll charge between$40.00 and $80.00 and provide the required invitation, as well as an office in Moscow/St Petersburg to register your visa if you don't plan on staying in a hotel. You send them your passport and a check, they return it by FedEx with the visa "installed" on one of the pages, an arrival card stpled to the opposite page and an "accomodation voucher" (loose). If you have an invitation already (like for a homestay visa) they cut the rate. The charge from the Russian consulate is $100.00, their service is on top of that. For a first timer, I highly reccomend it, no muss no fuss, and you'd waste more than $50 of your time doing it yourself more than likely.

The "VIP" service through SVO is a huge waste of money, according to many who have used it.

Conner can tell you better about where he went, for me, I brought $1000.00 cash last time, changed $100.00 to rubles the first day and left the last $35.00 (+/-) of that hundred with Liliya when I left 10 days later. Of course I paid the hotel before I left, but they had an excellent reputation according to her closest friends. (I was no at all disappointed w/ the hotel or the room)

I do think where you go has a lot to do with how much to bring. I believe a grand would not have been enough for 10 days in Moscow, but where I went had been a "closed city" until recently so there was not much double standard in charges. 4 course dinner for two, @ $4.25 / theatre tix down front for two @ $2.75 / whole rotiserie chicken and a bottle of wine @ $2.50 / 1 hour cab ride $7.00 (hell a cabbie in moscow wouldn't open the door for $7 LOL)

Posted by: ConnerVT

Jim is on the money with visa service == visa provider. Unless you are no more than a short drive from a Russian consulate AND have an invitation letter, it's the only way to go. The Immigrations card/arrival card that my visa service staples into my passport is worthless. I filled out the standard one you get on the airplane (and at Passport Control) on my last trip, but handed the woman in the booth the one from my visa provider. When she told me it wasn't acceptable, I gave her the one I filled out instead. One of the few times I've seen them smile.

I can't imagine the VIP service to be worth 100 kopek. A complete waste of money.

In June, I brought about $2200 USD with me in cash. I was there for 24 days. But I needed to: pay for the hotel in Sochi (7 days), plus the vacation activities spent there (@ Moscow prices); purchase an engagement ring; leave money for 2 visa application fees/DHL/ and stay in Moscow for Natalya's interview; gifts for my American and Russian friends; and daily eating and travel expenses. I still came home with several hundred dollars in my pocket.

How much you need depends on where you are going, and your situation. I stayed with Natalya (except when we went to Sochi), so I didn't pay for a hotel/flat. She is very good with money -- must be from being a single mom and an accountant. I spent more of my time in markets than in cafes and nightclubs. So I could of spent more money if I was on a 'champagne' budget, vs. the 'beer' budget I was on.

Posted by: Keith

Thanks guys. I went back and checked out some of the travel agency sites and you're right...those services are listed. I had noticed them before but I thought it was merely for those who weren't willing to learn how to get the visa.

Is there any format the "letter of invitation" should or is it a simple and straightforward letter? Is anything else special required for this letter like some type of seal, etc.? If one were planning well in advance, getting this required letter should be no problem, right? I wonder how long the letter is valid? Do you think a letter from a travel agency attracts less attention than one from an individual?

Keith

Posted by: Jim_FL

The "letter of invitation" is a specific format showing specific dates and has to come from the OVIR office in the locality where the russian citizen you plan to meet resides, OR, must come from a company authorized under the "Ministry of Foriegn Affairs".

If she gets you the letter from OVIR, she can expect to wait a minimum of 6 hours, must fill it out and return it on another day, waiting again, and they will give her the official form with the required seal on yet a third day. Then, upon arrival, you must BOTH go back to OVIR to register your visa (wait time will be the same) A hotel is not authorized to register a "homestay visa" - so no "$20.00, in and out" registration.

If you go through an authorized company, any hotel can register your visa, cheap hotels charge $20-$30 and more expensive "western hotels" do it for free. If you stay in a flat, it is common practice to go to a dumpy $30.00 per nite hotel, rent a room for 1 night and they'll register the visa for the entire duration of your stay. (Who said free market capitolism wasn't alive and well in Russia?

)

As well as the companies themselves usually having an office to register it if you'll be in Moscow or St. Petersburg.

Posted by: Keith

Ah, visa services are looking better by the minute!

My preliminary and future plan is to fly into Moscow and catch a train down across the border to Belarus (I want to see the countryside...I think). I suspect I would be staying in a flat (apartment) for a couple of weeks in Belarus as opposed to a hotel unless there is some compelling reason to do otherwise. I would be returning the same way. I realize I will have to get a transit visa through Russia and that slightly adds to my costs. I hope I am not belaboring the point but I imagine many want and need some guidance on these basics of travel. The whole process of visiting the FSU does not seem to be easy...maybe it gets easier after the first trip or two. Do these ladies know what one from the West must do to travel there? Most of my travel abroad was with the military so it tends to spoil one when they have to travel as civilians.

Keith

Posted by: Jim_FL

You might consider connect to Belarus through Ukraine, much more simple visa issuance, and no invitation required

The other problem with Russia is that in your case, you will not need 1 transit visa, but 2 (or a double entry tourist visa)

I'll try to post requirements for Ukraine a little later if I have time

Posted by: ConnerVT

Quote:

Originally posted by Keith
Most of my travel abroad was with the military so it tends to spoil one when they have to travel as civilians.

Yes, people tend to hassle you a whole lot less, when you travel with a group carrying automatic weapons...

Posted by: golek

Jim_FL said, "As well as the companies themselves usually having an office to register it if you'll be in Moscow or St. Petersburg."

If you use the travel agency's office to register your visa, be sure you know what hotel the visa registration says you're staying at. Russia being Russia, there is a possibility your papers will be scrutinized by the authorities and it could be problematic if your passport says you are staying at Hotel Shwing and you have no idea about it when asked. If you can't read it, just ask your significant other to translate it for you.

Posted by: ConnerVT

Yes, it's good to know the info that's on your voucher. But 2X through SVO passport control, I have never needed to pull the voucher out. Smile, repeat the same 6 words of Russian you know, and if it really becomes an issue (which I seriously doubt), just claim ingnorance, and that those meeting you at the airport know the information. But there would have to be some other reason, for things to progress that far...

Posted by: golek

I'm talking about the paper they put in your passport when you register your visa after your arrival. I went to an office in Moscow that my visa service provided. They put a piece of paper in my passport with an official stamp and the name of my supposed hotel. Of course, I never had been to the place! Passport Control is not a concern. When entering the country, you don't have this paper yet and when leaving, passport control couldn't care less.

If you register your visa at the hotel you are staying at or a hotel you just rent a room in to register the visa, this is not a concern because you are aware of the hotel's existence. If you register at a travel agency in Russia, unless you make a note of what the registration slip says. You have no idea where you are supposed to be staying. Officially, that is.

Posted by: ConnerVT

My past two trips, I gave my passport and immigration card (that's that piece of paper you are talking about, the one that the hotel stamps) to the agency I deal with, and they have the police chief take care of it. It, of course, has nothing to do with the hotel on your voucher (the paper you get along with your visa, that says who actually invited you).

Saying all of this, on this trip, I probably will not bother to even register my visa. As I have only once stayed in a Russian hotel (on vacation in Sochi), you actually have to stand in line (or pay someone to do so) at the OVIS office. Costs you about $30, all said and done. You can also check into a hotel for one day (cost you about, $30, for a room I'll never use). Or as many guys who never register their visa find, they will pay about $30 at SVO, if someone really says anything about it. Hmmmm... I have to be at SVO anyway...

Posted by: golek

Hope your trip is great. Never thought about the consequences of NOT registering and paying the fine. I'd like to hear how you come out.

Posted by: Jim_FL

This last trip I stayed at an "apartment hotel" in Moscow for the first 7 days and then went 300 miles East for the remaining 2 weeks. The hotel registered me from Aug 1 - Aug 8. When I left Russia on Aug 21 passport control didn't bat an eyelash, they just gave me the exit stamp and sent me on my way, even though 2 weeks were unaccounted for............