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VISA rules when crossing CIS borders
This Easter I am planning to fly to Vilnius, then take the train from
Vilnius to Minsk and then train from Minsk to St Petersburg. I am a Norwegian Citizen and I know I will not need a visa for Litheunia. My questions a -If I have got it right - As long as my passport and visa is ok, I will not need a returnticket on entry? -Can my Russian and Bellarussian visas have overlapping periods of validity? -Do I have to decide upon what bordercrossings to use when I issue my visas? I know that I have to check if the bordercrossing in question can be used by foreigners / non-CIS citizens. Thank you in advance, Jan |
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Marc wrote: schreef in bericht ups.com... This Easter I am planning to fly to Vilnius, then take the train from Vilnius to Minsk and then train from Minsk to St Petersburg. I am a Norwegian Citizen and I know I will not need a visa for Litheunia. My questions a -If I have got it right - As long as my passport and visa is ok, I will not need a returnticket on entry? I wish it was so easy. I have visited Russia several times the past few years and regulations were never the same. Last time I went, I had to register on arrival exactly where (an when) I was going to stay. I also got a piece of paper I had to carry with me during my whole stay (not a visa, but a kind of 'proof of arrival') and give it back when leaving the country. I know that I get a emigrationcard that needs to be registered on handed over to the the autorities at depature. (I know they are strict about this in Russia, but from the information I have got, the emigrationcard is hardly ever checked in Belarus or Ukrain) I also know that I have to book some accomondation in order to get a visa invitation in the first place and that I need to regiter my visa within 3 days. What I wonder is if it matters where I cross the border on entry and exit, as long as I use a bordercrossing open for foreigners /non-CIS recidents and I don't entry more than once / the numbers of entrys allowed in my visa. What I also wonder if it is ok to entry Russia on a tourist visa without a return ticket? I have the impression that it is ok. The reason I ask, is because I want to know if I can change my mind. Say the plan was to leave Russia by a flight from St Petersburg, but I find that I want to take a train to Tallin or Moscow and find a cheap flight from there instead. In general I would recommend to have as much planned as possible when arriving in Russia. Unfortunately Russia has - except for Moscow and St. Petersburg - almost no tourist industry and adventure seekers easily run into trouble, especially those that travel on their own. That is excatly why I find it wonderful to leave St Petersburg and Moscow. I speak Russian and are experienced with booking hotels, domestic traintickets etc on my own, so that is nothing to worry about. I can't speak for Belarussia. I have never been there. But what I hear, it's equally or even more difficult than Russia. From those who are experienced I learn that Belarus and Ukrain is less complicated and strict than Russia. It is not unique that tourists skip the visa registration in those countries and most of the time they wioll get away with it. If they are caught, they hae to pay a fee thouh, that is true. I will not recommend this prosedure for new travellers to Ukrain and Belarus that don't now what they are doing or have consulted experienced travellers though. -Do I have to decide upon what bordercrossings to use when I issue my visas? I know that I have to check if the bordercrossing in question can be used by foreigners / non-CIS citizens. Always take a border crossing for foreigners. Custom officers will check your visa and passport details in their computer. Can I interpret your answer as you can choose any border crossing for foregners as long as it is for foreigners? Say if the original plan was to leave Russia with a flight from St Petersburg, there is no problem to take a train to Tallin instead? Jan |
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