Our family with children seven years old visited Russia from 20 july till 19 August having 30 days free non visa regime. In the day of departure we were stopped at the Sheremetievo passport control point for two hours (our passports just laid on the desk and nobody around) . At last somebody came and very fast told that we stayed in country 31 days (by hours it was 30 days from hour of crossing at arriving and departure time) and we should return back and go to court. We begged to pay any fines, make immediate deportation nothing helped and nobody helped inluding consul or aeroflot staff. All information we got to go next day in the Migration Service on Pokrovka 42 (what was wrong information). So we spent a couple weeks more staying in lines to the court which made order of fine and deportation for 5 years (for one day of mistaken counting), getting exit visas and lost money for airtickets. Nobody was helpfull including embassy. From the US embassy "Russian authorities will not allow a U.S. citizen traveler with an expired visa to depart the country, effectively stranding the person for up to 20 days, until local authorities grant an exit visa.
The Government of Russia does not recognize the standing of the U.S. diplomatic mission to intervene in visa matters, including situations in which an American is stranded because of an expired visa. U.S. citizens should also be aware that Russian immigration and visa laws change regularly, and the implementation of new regulations has not always been transparent or predictable. The Embassy and Consulates General are aware of cases in which travelers have been detained at border crossings, unable to leave Russia, because their visas were expired by a matter of hours or minutes.". The last non laughing thing was when after one more hour waiting time in airport we were asked where is court paper for baby. Just trying to imaging what will be problems if passport would be stollen what is not impossible in Russia.
- It is nobody's fault but yours that you can't count. July 20 to August 19 is 31 days, as both day of arrival and day of departure are included. Your entry permit is for days, not hours. While planning the trip it was your duty to make sure you will be not overstaying, especially when you intended to use your visa-free admission to it's limits.
- What does it mean "Government of Russia does not recognize the standing of the U.S. diplomatic mission to intervene in visa matters"? Do you mean that the US consulate was not able to bully Russian authorities into breaking their own law and letting you go? Or maybe, as I suspect, you have both Thai and US passports, chose to enter Russia with your Thai passport (no need for visa), but when problems arose you ran to US consulate for help? If so, Russian authorities were absolutely right again - in this situation they consider you to be a citizen of the country whose passport you presented at entry point, so they will not talk to US consulate about you, only to Thai one.
- "visas expired by a matter of hours or minutes" is a serious matter in many countries, you have just learnt it the hard way.
- What does it mean "asked where is court paper for baby"? Your children are 7 years old, so what baby? If you also had a baby you neglected to mention here, you sound like you have also neglected to get paperwork for that baby. Don't you consider the baby to be a person who also needs papers?
To sum it up: it very much looks like your own attitude to reality created your problems.
You're in a place like Russia (or pick any other bureaucratic hell hole on the planet) on a thirty day visa and you planned to leave (or thought you were leaving) on day 30? They eat this kind of stuff up and pegged you for special treatment the moment your visa crossed the desk. You get out of there on day 28, day 27 would be even better, just in case you're "delayed" for 72 hours. Embassies are basically worthless for anything other than the loss of your passport, and all they will give you is a temporary and tell you to end your vacation and head back to the States. A visa is issued to you by a foreign country and allows you to visit for a specific time and under specific purposes. You're own embassy can't do a thing about another nations visa rules. This whole Thailand business makes me (also) think that there is more to the story.
- My fault, I just mention dates to show it was unintentional.
- Thai consulate even more helpless we contacted them numerously.
- My relatives overstayed visa in Thailand by mistake for a months and were fined in a minutes and with smiles welcomed to the plane and this is a 100% response to any tourists for such mistakes. Please list of many countries where "visas expired by a matter of hours or minutes" is a serious matter. I would never visit them if I could not be allowed boarded and sent in court.
- For children I got exit visa but does it normal ask paper of trial seven years old in court ?
"This whole Thailand business makes me (also) think that there is more to the story." There are nothing more. We married 15 years and visited by family Russia many times. This is first time I relaxed and made mistake ( may be you right because living in Thailand on visa for 15 years starting to think that all world including police is smiling too).
You're in a place like Russia (or pick any other bureaucratic hell hole on the planet)...
Well, are the US border officers a bunch of charming daisies when I approach them with my overstayed visa?
...crazy but typical of Russia, i'm afraid. Visas are a serious matter ands must be taken seriously but a family on holiday over staying by one day is not the crime of the century.
A fine and a warning (stamp in the passport) would suffice for such a transgression (one day over stay of visa)
This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.
trusted partner
