Visa Lecture

Transport / Countries / Visa

Visa Lecture

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"A free traveler with a Russian passport in the focus of international law"

Summary content
  1. How and why this lecture was prepared
  2. Acknowledgments
  3. Freedom of movement is a dilemma of international law
  4. The territory of the state. State borders.
  5. Legal transition of the state border. Types of transitions.
  6. Citizenship. Passports. Good (comfortable) and uncomfortable passports. Dual and multiple citizenship. Statelessness.
  7. Permission to enter the country. Visas, their types. The actual division of citizens of European countries into people of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades.
  8. Protection of the rights of a citizen of the Russian Federation abroad. Consulates Russia and their functions.
  9. To the reader - visa-free Europe from the Atlantic to the Urals!

How and why was this lecture written?

For the first time free travelers from ex- USSR stepped abroad around 1987 during the Gorbachev Thaw. In the autumn of 1989. Representatives of the first informal hitchhiking youth club, the Leningrad Hitchhiking League, left for Denmark. But then overseas travel was exotic. The vast majority of hitchhikers from USSR - Russia the road abroad Opened only on April 1, 1993 AD - when the passport was issued freely to all comers who could pay it not so little cost-around $28 at the moment.

But as soon as citizens Russia opened the "Iron Curtain" - many rich countries, including those who constantly talk about human rights, have become Build your own - the "golden curtain", wildly inflating the prices of entry visas, and causing them to receive the execution of difficult requirements.

In fairness, it should be noted that in the last year or two (1996-97) many of the consulates of the visited Western countries have normalized their work and to obtain a visa it is no longer necessary to spend the night in a square on a bench in front of the consulate building, 200 lucky ones, whose questionnaire will be taken today. But all the same now the organization of foreign travel still presents for the owner of the Russian passport known difficulties. Especially often they are faced with people who have chosen to travel as a hobby or even a profession.

On one of the days of August 1997 AD My old friend Mikhail Gumenik, one of the founders of the St. Petersburg Hitchhiking Guild, offered me to prepare and give a lecture on the independent organization of travel abroad. Soon, with such a request, I was addressed by the famous writer and traveler from Moscow, president of the Academy of Free Travel Anton Krotov. I think their choice fell on me not only because they are my friends. Apparently they knew that I had collected information of this kind for quite a long time, which helped, for example, to avoid some difficulties when Philip Leontief traveled by hitchhiking St. Petersburg. Petersburg - Dakar - St. Petersburg Petersburg and in some other cases. A huge help for me was the discussion of the topic of the lecture in the ULTRA Hitchhiking Team. The final version of the text appeared after the meeting of the ULTRA Team on November 12, 1997 AD For the first time the lecture was read on November 16, 1997 in Moscow at the Academy of Free Journeys. On November 26 she also performed at the Autostop Guild in St. Petersburg.

Acknowledgments

I express my gratitude to the following persons and organizations who rendered me, directly or indirectly, help and support in the preparation of this lecture
  • Philip Leontiev, Andrey Pozhidaev - Team "ULTRA hitchhiking" (St. Petersburg),
  • Anton Krotov, Oleg Morenkov - Free Journey Academy (Moscow),
  • Anastasia Patrysheva is an independent webmaster specializing in online travel publications,
  • Valery Loshchitsu - Travelers Association (Moscow),
  • Dr. Pavel Badaev - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation,
  • Dr. Andrey Yakovlev - Institute of Africa of the Academy of Sciences of the Russian Federation (Moscow),
  • Kirill Baranov, Elena Satarova, Nikolay Grishin, Alexei Vorov, Sergei Shumilo, Andrey Kuritsyn, Nikolay Suslov - St. Petersburg League of Hitchhiking (St. Petersburg),
  • Tatyana Yashnikova, Valery Shanin - School of Hitchhiking (Moscow),
  • Vladasu Sapranavičius - Vilnius is a hit-hiking club.

Freedom of movement - the dilemma of international law

Freedom of movement, choice of location and permanent residence - are internationally recognized human rights. These rights are enshrined in the UN Charter, but the duty of a specific state to comply with them is rather vague. Another principle of international law is that the state does not interfere in the internal affairs of another state more or less regularly by the UN member states. And since the direct regulation and protection of human rights and freedoms is still an internal matter of each particular state, we observe huge queues of Russian citizens at the buildings of the consular departments of the Embassies in Moscow.

Thus, a free traveler should base his concepts of travel guided by the fact that the domestic laws of the visited state are primary, and not at all norms of international law.

Remember, being on the territory of a foreign country you are visiting, and if you yourself have requested and received a visa for yourself - you asked for a visit. While abroad, Russia do not degrade one's own dignity, but behave in a way that would please the owners - the people and authorities of the visited country.

Territory of the state. State borders

The sovereign territory of any state is a three-dimensional region of space, where the whole set of laws of the given state operates.

The territory is limited to the state land border, the outer edge of the territorial sea and the vertical surface strictly above them. The height of the territory is 80 km above sea level. Above

There is a neutral space. The land border is established by international treaties of two neighboring countries.

Normally the boundary is

  1. taking into account the peculiarity of the terrain (along the ridge, the river) - so called. Orographic borders,
  2. along a straight line between two points - geometric boundaries,
  3. Astronomical boundaries along a given parallel or meridian.
Boundaries on navigable rivers are established (unless otherwise stipulated by the agreement of neighboring countries) - on the thalweg (the line of greatest depths) or in the middle of the main river front.

Borders on non-navigable rivers are established (unless otherwise stipulated by the agreement of neighboring countries) - in the middle of the river.

Border on Lakes - this is a straight line connecting two land border exits to the shores of this lake.

Border crossing by sea
In accordance with the UN Convention on International Maritime Law 1982 AD The concepts of inland waters, the territorial sea and the neutral sea are introduced. The border of the state adjoins the outer edge of the territorial sea. This edge can not be protected from the shore at the most outflow by more than 12 moor. Miles (about 21 km). However, there are often exceptions.

These include, in particular,

  • international straits (eg Gibraltar, English Channel) - are neutral
  • international channels (Suez, Panama) - they are also neutral
  • historical bays - are considered the territory of a particular state (eg Hudson Bay - Canada, Varanger Fjord of Norway).

Legal transition of the state border. Types of transitions

As a rule, it is legally impossible to cross state borders anywhere, for this purpose there are specially equipped places called transitions. I divided the transitions according to a number of characteristics into the following types

By the type of traffic passed, there are transitions

  • Pedestrian bicycles (for example, the M2 route on the border of Ukraine -Russia)
  • Automobile (example - Torfyanovka-Vaalimaa, Russia- Finland)
  • Railway (Example Lawn-Vainikkala, Russia- Finland)
  • ferry and sea (example Kerch, ferry Ukraine -Russia)
  • International airports (Sheremetyevo-II)
Versatility
  • International. Here, citizens of all countries are omitted,
  • only for citizens of the group of countries. (Example of a number of FRG transitions- GDR in the Soviet era),
  • only for citizens of the two neighboring countries (for example - several current and current transitions on the Austrian-Hungarian border),
  • Technological - only for some citizens of two neighboring countries, registered in the border zone or specified in a special list available at the transition, etc. (For example, the transition "Svetogorsk" on the border of Russia- Finland).

By running time

  • 24-hour,
  • working according to the schedule (be careful when planning to leave the country on the last day of the visa operation! Perhaps you will be late to closing the transition closing, for example, at 18 00 and already at midnight, in addition to his will become an illegal).
As a rule, people who enter the country are checked most strictly at the border. The visitors are checked in passing or not at all. But from this rule there are exceptions. In totalitarian countries, it is usually the other way around-it is difficult to leave these countries, it's easier to enter.

So, when crossing the border at the transition, several types of control are carried out

  • Immigration (passport),
  • The customs
  • Other (epidemiological, veterinary, etc.).
Passport and customs control exist almost always. Other types of control may exist, but may be absent.

We must distinguish between immigration and customs control. If you have a problem with immigration authorities, you definitely do not get into the country. In case of a problem with customs, you can, however, be allowed to enter the country,

  • you must give up part of the low value cargo (eg instead of 1 bottle of vodka you had 2 - pour an extra bottle in front of the customs officer)
  • you must pay an increased fee or fine,
  • you must send a part of your group back with an unladen cargo, and you can enter the country,
  • you must leave the unloaded cargo in a special storage room at customs (It makes sense to do this only for a short time, if there is such a camera - it is paid).
Of course, if you have found drugs or a portable atomic bomb in customs inspection - you do not get off so easily. You can be sentenced to terminate an entry visa for this country for life, to be imprisoned for several tens of years or (in some countries of the East, ex. In Singapore) - Apply to you the death penalty.

There is not mentioned such a common way among some of the dishonest Russians way through the border of a number of underdeveloped countries, as a bribe - bribery of a customs officer or immigration officer. This method is illegal, so I do not consider it.

On the contrary, if you think that lawlessness has been committed against you (eg soliciting bribes) by a Russian customs officer - report this to the Russian Customs's own security service. Tel. (095) 449-8687 (Information from "Alien" gas)

Nationality. Passports.
Good (comfortable) and uncomfortable passports.
Dual and multiple citizenship. Statelessness

A passport (in
Russia - a foreign passport) is a document certifying your citizenship (citizen) or citizenship (subject).

Terminological specification.

Citizenship - the term used for countries with a republican form of government, citizenship - with the monarchical. For countries - former colonial empires, the old term national (nationality according to the passport) is sometimes used. All these terms mean the same thing - who you are on the passport. Therefore, I will use the term "citizenship" in all cases.

The citizenship is acquired, as a rule, in two ways  By birth or by naturalization. Different countries have different approaches to granting citizenship by birth. Some give citizenship under the "right of blood" (jus sanguinis) others - by "soil right" (ie, it does not matter who your parents are - if you were born in the country - you Her citizen). "Soil right" in particular exists in USA.

It also happens that a person does not have the citizenship of any country. This condition is called statelessness (stateless). For example, many non-citizens exist in Latvia. A person becomes stateless if his parents are also non-citizens, or he lost citizenship, or did not receive it. These people have special passports, more correctly non-citizen's certificates, called Alien's passport or Hansen passport.

There can be another state of a person - dual or multiple citizenship. There are countries, the procedure for obtaining citizenship in which is quite simple and there are even those who directly trade their citizenship.

Laws Russia, fortunately for us - its citizens are not forbidden to have a second passport. For a citizen of the Russian Federation, the Russian authorities do not recognize another citizenship, but you will not have anything if you find some more legally obtained passports of other countries during the search.

In addition to the passports of citizens of all countries of the world (there are ~ 190), there are several other types of passports that are accepted in most countries along with passports of citizens. For example, this is the passport of the Citizen of Peace, the passport of the Order of Malta and some others. Thus, in the world there are at least 220 different types of passports.

A few words about the passport of the Citizen of the World. This passport was established by an international organization WORLD SERVICE AUTHORITY, seemingly registered at Sute 1101 Continental Bldg. 1012 14th street N.W. Washington, DC 20005. It seems that the passport recognized 57 countries (but not Russia). The conditions for obtaining it are not known to me. The cost of all that - about $50. Write the request at this address, and after receiving the answer - tell me about it -)

About the passport of the Order of Malta. It costs $50 000. It seems to be like everyone who decided to give such a sum.

Prices for other passports. It's just about legal transactions, i.e. The passport is sold to you together with the citizenship of a certain country where the law on appropriation of citizenship for money is passed. I know three such passports - a passport of a citizen Belize, a citizen of a Dominican Republic, the passport of a non-citizen of Argentina. Each of the visa-free passports to 90-140 countries of the world, including USA. It costs $12-20 000 and is issued in the corresponding embassy for 2-4 months.

Here you need to say a few words about acceptance (recognition) of the passport. Sometimes a state changes its passports to new ones, for example Russia is now gradually changing Soviet foreign passports to Russian ones. It is considered that all other countries should familiarize themselves with the appearance of these new documents and recognize them. Usually this happens without delay, automatically. But sometimes there are problems of a political nature. When non-citizens of Estonia instead of domestic Soviet passports began to issue non-citizen foreign passports, and not passports of Estonian citizens, as required by Russia, Moscow announced the refusal to accept these Foreign documents. Fortunately, Russian officials at the time realized that the refusal to accept these documents meant refusing to place Russian visas in them and, thereby, completely prohibiting their owners from entering Russia. Soon, the documents of a non-citizen of Estonia were accepted by Russia.

What types of passports are currently in use (November 1997) in the Russian Federation? There are four kinds of them

  • A diplomatic passport,
  • service passport,
  • A regular passport,
  • seaman's passport.
Diplomatic and service passports are legally quite difficult to obtain. The seaman's passport can be obtained by spending about $2,000, having passed the appropriate certification and concluding with a shipping company a fictitious de facto, but a correct de jure contract. But I doubt whether this should be done. The overwhelming majority of countries equates the seaman's passport with ordinary passports and sticks the visas in them not at all easier and cheaper than having a regular passport. And only a few countries equate the seaman's passport with official ones.

The most common document of a free traveler from Russia is a regular, general civil passport. I was often asked whether a free traveler should seek to obtain a service passport or a seaman's passport? I think it's not worth it.

For famous travelers - I recommend consulting with lawyers and thinking about acquiring the passport of the country that trades in citizenship. The cost of such a passport will really pay off in my opinion in 3-4 years of active trips to the visa for the Russian, but in the visa-free for the holder of the selling passport of the country.

By the way, the governments of countries that trade in citizenship have taken care of ensuring that their goods are of high quality and have concluded a lot of visa-free contracts with many countries of the world. With a passport Belize, if I'm not mistaken, you will be visa-free to 136 countries, including. In USA.

Authorization to enter the country. Visas, their types.
The actual division of citizens of European countries into people of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades.

Visa (lat. permission) - a special permissive inscription (seal, sticker, protected from forgery), which is made in your passport by the authorities (consuls) of the country that agrees to let You to visit yourself. Legislation of each country establishes its own laws for the stay of foreign citizens (and stateless persons) on its territory. 99% of the countries of the world require a foreigner to have a visa in his passport if there is no special visa-free agreement between the country and the native land of the traveler. The last hundredth percent is made up of countries that have established free access to all people on the planet. This is for example Colombia.

But, along with this, very many countries conclude visa-free contracts with each other. The following countries are listed, whose citizens can enter Finland without a visa. Accordingly, Finns can go without visas to these countries.

Here they are

Australia, Austria, Andorra, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Vatican, Hungary, Guatemala, Germany, Honduras, Grenada, Greece, Dominican Republic, ECZambia, Israel, Ireland, Canada, Kenya, Cyprus, Colombia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Cuba, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Mauritius, Malawi, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Niigara, Nicaarhua, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Salvador, San Marino, Swaziland, Seychelles, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, USA, Suriname, Thailand, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, Uruguay, Fiji, France, Croatia, Czech Republic, Chile, Switzerland, Ecuador, Estonia, Jamaica, Japan (list for 1994).

Unfortunately, the Russian passport is much less available for travel than Finnish or Belize. For citizens Russia this list is much more modest in both quantitative and qualitative terms. Here is the list of countries to which Russians are visa-free (There may be inaccuracies  The list is updated very often, just once a week!)

Why are there so few visa-free countries? I think this has several explanations
  1. The population of Russia is not much poorer than the population of Finland or Canada. The authorities of all countries are more interested in the influx of wealthy tourists ready to spend their money in the country, rather than a massive influx of homeless people.
  2. In Russia a very large population - approx. 140 million people. It is not surprising that the rich United Kingdom concluded a visa-free agreement with a poor Estonia, (3 million foreign passports, and not with a poor Russia - potentially more than 100 million. Passports).
  3. But the main reason, in my opinion, is our native Russian Foreign Ministry. Foreign Ministry officials abroad charge dollars from foreign citizens who receive Russian visas and put them in the pocket of their office. Naturally, the consulates of the countries in Russia set the same prices for visas for these countries for us, the Russians. Thus, we indirectly feed our money to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
By the way, the authorities USA twice in recent years have been offering the authorities Russia to make visas mutually free. The Russian Foreign Ministry did not agree to this. Therefore, the visa USA will cost us not with $0, but at $80.

So, in relation to us, holders of passports of citizens of the Russian Federation, all countries of the world are divided into visa and visa-free. But this is a simplified division. Later, I divided all states into several types of difficulties of legitimate hitting in them.

  1. Entry into the country is possible without a passport, it is enough for any document replacing it. Example - CIS countries. I note that this practice exists in other countries. A Swede can visit Finland without a passport, only with a driver's license.
  2. Absolute visa-free status. It does not require anything, except the valid passport. Example  Slovakia.
  3. Conditional visa-free. A visa is not needed, but an invitation is required. Example  Poland, Yugoslavia.
  4. A visa is required, but it is formalized on the border instantly for money. (If you, of course, do not appear on the computer list of criminals or undesirable persons). Examples  Turkey, Nepal.
  5. A visa is issued at the consulate without any special requirements for money. Example  India, Laos.
  6. Visa is issued at the consulate by invitation. Perhaps, additional special documents are required (medical insurance, return ticket). Visa in this case can be either paid or free. Example  Most countries in the world, including the Schengen countries (now there are 8 of them, - from 27-10-97 joined Italy) and the countries of Scandinavia.
  7. Visa is issued at the consulate by invitation. Perhaps, additional documents are required (medical insurance, return ticket). Visa is paid or free. With all this, the processing time is giant from 2 to 6 months (!!). Example Morocco, Iran.
  8. Visa is issued at the consulate by invitation (or without it). Perhaps additional papers are required (health insurance, return ticket). Visa is paid or free. In addition, you need a personal interview with the consul, which decides whether you are worthy to enter his country. Sometimes on such interviews questions of humiliating and mocking character sound. Examples are United Kingdom, USA.
These are the categories of countries. I will draw your attention to what additional special documents the consulate of a foreign state may require to open a visa for you
  1. an international certificate that the applicant is not infected with the AIDS virus,
  2. A certificate of vaccination against a particular disease or several diseases,
  3. a special medical book of an established international standard (in English), where there are records of some vaccinations that are required by the authorities of the country,
  4. The absence in your passport of a visa of a state-political opponent. You will not be given a visa Iran if the passport already has an Israeli visa. By the way, the opposite is not true. Israel's visa will be fully glued, if already in the passport there is an Iranian one.
There are other, even more exotic requirements.

Often such a question sounds  Which is easier for a Russian to get a visa of the country "X" in Moscow or in their Embassy not in Russia, and in the third country "Y"?

Answer  According to my information - it all depends on the country and situation.

Situation -1.

The visa of a European country to a Russian passport is not obtained in Russia, but in another European country, it seems, is almost impossible. Example  In 1992 Nikolay Grishin (S.Peterburg) transit visa of Germany in Warsaw to Denmark (the Danish visa in the passport he had). He was refused, advising to do it in Moscow.

Example  The famous traveler Philip Leontiev (St. Petersburg, the team "ULTRA hitchhiking") in August 1996 AD Tried to roll over his multiple French-made Schengen visa in Haapshot (Mauritania) at the Embassy France. He was refused, having recommended to apply to Moscow (!!)

Situation-2.

Transit visa of Finland in 1996 AD If you have a Schengen visa, German products are made in St. Petersburg without problems, for 7 days. At the same time, the same Finnish transit visa in Bonn (FRG) in the Finnish Embassy was done without problems, but not for 7 days, but for 5 minutes (!!)

Situation-3.

The famous traveler Anton Krotov (Moscow, WUA) in the summer of 1997 AD Agreed in Moscow to issue a visa of the Islamic Republic Iran. It costs ~ 55 $, but it takes 5 months (!!). A few weeks later the same Anton Krotov issued an Iranian transit visa in Yerevan (Armenia) motivating her with the need to penetrate Turkmenistan's visa-free for Russians. He was given transit for 10 days. It cost 15 $and took 10 days. Thus, it is sometimes useful to open foreign visas in Moscow, and sometimes in other countries.

Oleg Morenkov (Moscow, WUA) told me that in London the French Schengen visa is issued in the Russian passport for 5 minutes without problems and invitations.

This rule is observed. If the country receiving the visa "Y" (in this case United Kingdom) is richer than the country where you want to get the visa "X" (in this case France) - it's usually easy to get a visa. Consul of the country "X" (France) it seems natural that if you did not stay on illegal immigration in a richer country "Y" (in UK), then most likely, you will not stay outside the visa framework and in his home country "X" (in France).

Although again I will name one curious exception. When in July 1996 AD Philippe Leontiev (St. Petersburg, ULTRA) asked Mauritania visa without invitation, and there was already a Schengen multivisa in his passport, he seriously and severely demanded guarantees that he would not stay on illegal immigration ... in Mauritania.

What are the nature of a visa?

According to the rights that their owner is entitled to and the period of validity, I divided the visas into several classes.

Class-1 Air-transit visa.

This visa valid for 12 to 48 hours is issued by some countries and entitles the holder to legally change from an international flight to another international aircraft in the neutral zone of the airport of that country, move through the neutral zone of the airport, stop at the hotel in a neutral zone, but not More validity of the visa and without the right of passage of customs and actual penetration into the country.

Example
citizen Russia follows from Delhi (India) To London (United Kingdom) with transfer from plane to plane in Rome (Italy). In this case, in addition to an entry visa, he must have an Italian air transit. I must say that most of the countries of the world have refused an air transit visa and consider that a traveler who is in the neutral zone of an international airport is, as it were, abroad and does not need a visa. In addition, some countries issue a voucher to such a traveler directly at the airport where they can enter the country before departure on the plane they expect - that is, 3-6-12 hours.

Class-2 Transit visa

It entitles its holder to enter the country and stay there for some time, usually a short time, under the pretext of transit to the next country. To get such a visa is quite simple - you just need to convincingly motivate that the country where you ultimately want to get to, is ready to accept you.

Example
Lithuania's entry visa is simply not available, but if you state that you are following in Kaliningrad - a transit visa for 3 days will be made to you Quickly and without further questions.

Example
while in St. Petersburg (Russia), try to get a transit Finnish visa to Sweden without a Swedish visa and you will most likely be denied. And if the Swedish visa is there - the Finnish transit will be fast and without problems.

A transit visa is usually cheaper than an entry visa (50-100%), but it does not last long - usually 3-5-7 days (less often 10 to 30 days).

Multiplicity - transit visa is 1-fold, 2-fold or (rarely) multiple. Depending on this, you can travel a transit country 1, 2 or many times.

Class-3. Single entry visa.

Gives its owner the right to enter the country 1 time and there is a period specified in the visa. The validity of a single entry visa is from 7 to 30 days (less often from 3 or up to 90 days, the deadline is 183 days). Here it should be noted that different countries adhere to different approaches for calculating the validity of a visa. There are two such approaches.

Example of the first approach On March 5, 1997 AD A visa to Finland for a period of 30 days, you can enter Finland on 05, 06, 07 March, etc., but you will have to leave the country of Suomi no later than April 04. those. In the visa is indicated the LAST DECISION OF CONSTRUCTION OF ITS ACTION.

Example of the second approach Having received on March 5, 1997 AD Entrance visa to USA (congratulations!) You can see on the visa form a small line in the English language "invalid when you enter after," ex. "Not valid at entry after July 31, 1997 AD" Thus, the validity of the visa (in this case - 6 months) will be effective only after you step into the territory of USA, ie. In the visa is indicated (except for the period of validity) - THE LAST DECADE WAS ITS ACTION.

Class-4 Multiple entry visa.
It differs from a one-time only in that its owner can enter the country not only once, but for a limited number of times (eg 3, 5, 10) or unlimited and is there until the date of the visa termination. Sometimes some countries impose on their visas and the time limit - the number of days a visa holder can hold in a country without leaving the country. In this case, it is usually said that you have a M/N visa, where M is the number of times you can enter the country, and N is the number of days you can be there in a row, during one visit.

Example
Finland 05 March 1997 AD Issued you a 6-fold visa for six months (expiration date 04 September 1997), and during each visit you can not stay in Finland for more than 3 days.

So you have a visa of 5/3 class.

Among the other multivies, the most welcome (and most, of course, hard-to-get) are visas where the number of entries is unlimited and the time of stay in the country is not limited (except for the general duration of the visa). On the slang of travelers, these visas are called 0/0 (it is not convenient to say and write "infinity to infinity" say "zero to zero").

Classes 5. Non-tourist visas.

All the above types of visas are tourist, that is, they give the right to their owner to enter and stay in the country, and also spend money in the country, but not to earn them. The right to work (ie to engage in any paid activity) is given by other visas by the so-called temporary working permit and immigration visa (permanent residence, unlimited). The process of obtaining such visas is a long and difficult matter and discussion of it is not included in the subject of this lecture.

Class 6. Police visa

Suppose that the route of your hike passes along the border territory with Finland Russia. It is dry hot summer. Suddenly you begin to overtake a strong forest fire and escape from the fire you tear wire barriers and flee to Finland. Or your yacht fell into a severe storm and sank off the coast of Canada, and you are forced to land on a Canadian shore on a life raft. Or as a result of engine failure, your light single-engine aircraft makes an emergency, but fortunately, a successful landing in the jungles of Zaire. You do not have visas in your passport - neither Finnish, nor Canadian, nor Zairian, because you do not have a visa. You did not plan to get there. In this case, after finding you, providing the necessary assistance and investigating the reasons for your legally illegal entry into the country, you can put a POLICY VISA on your passport for the period of your treatment and waiting for sending to your country (or to the 3rd country).

A visa issued to people who entered the country illegally, but against their will and under the influence of irresistible force (force majeure) - is called a police visa. A police visa is free, but it is issued only in such exceptional cases. It is impossible to expect to receive it consciously and in advance.

The cost of visas can fluctuate within wide limits - from 0 to 150 $, the average at the moment is approx. 35-40 $. The cost of visas and REQUIREMENTS can vary in consulates quite often - almost every week.

As is known, often in one country or in another country of the world there are unrest, military coups, wars or epidemics. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation several times a year publishes a special list of countries where the use of passports of Russian citizens is FORBIDDEN. Of course, the ban can also be violated. If you receive anywhere a visa of such a country, visit it and return to Russia alive, to hold you accountable, of course, no one will. But, if you find troubles in the forbidden country, arrest, torture, threat of execution - to call the consul Russia in this situation is meaningless. Even if your call for help comes to the consulate - help will not be provided, tk. This possibility is not available at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. The consul will watch your execution through the armored glass of the consulate, hiding behind its thick walls with an annual supply of water and food. If he tries to come to your aid - most likely he will be put to the wall next to you, regardless of diplomatic immunity. I do not recommend visiting forbidden countries. Here is a list of these states (on the beginning of 1996, may vary).

ALGERIA, ANGOLA, AFGHANISTAN, BURUNDI, IRAQ, LIBERIA, LIBYA, MOZAMBIQUE, RUAHDA

Such terrible countries exist somewhere in the world. But we will return to a stable Europe. Because Many tourists from Russia choose the purpose of their visit to the country of Europe, I will give here REVIEW OF CIVILIZATION OF CITIZENS OF EUROPEAN STATES THREE GRADE.

Despite the declaration of Europe's desire for integration, the concept of European security, where the concept of "Europe" is interpreted as "the space from the Atlantic to the Urals," many developed European states have double standards in relation to Russia and some other developing countries. The duality of standards is observed in the following.

From one country tanks are withdrawn "from the Atlantic to the Urals," and on the other hand, freedom of movement exists in the space "from the Atlantic to the Bug" or "from the Atlantic to Harves ".

In Europe, about 40 states. All of them can be conditionally divided into three categories, and citizens of European states, depending on who they are on the passport - the people of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade.

People of the 1st grade are citizens of the richest countries in Europe who can move freely and are relatively easy to get a job in the EU. These are the citizens of the following countries UK, Ireland, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Holland, Luxembourg, Belgium, Likhtinshtein, Switzerland, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Austria, Greece and Turkey. This includes citizens of a non-European country Israel.

Second-class people are citizens of post-socialist countries that are not distinguished by a developed economy, but they are helped, and most importantly - they are respected by their neighbors. Holders of passports-people of the second grade can not easily get a job for rich neighbors, but can without any additional requirements and without visas to travel to Europe anywhere. These are citizens of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia.

Transitional position from people of 3rd grade to 2nd is occupied by citizens of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. They are visa-free to Finland, Sweden and Norway, and also - Great Britain (!!). However, they still need a visa to the Schengen countries.

People of the third grade - for them to get into the rich EU countries, you need a visa, which is often quite difficult to obtain. In particular, this is difficult for Russians, tk. Often visas are issued only in Moscow, and the distance from Moscow to remote outskirts, say, Magadan - 10,000 km.

Protection of the rights of a citizen of the Russian Federation abroad
Consulates Russia and their functions

Before you start talking about how the Russian consul can help you, it should be noted that there are countries where Russian consuls exist and where they do not exist. And again I divided all the states of the world according to the level of the Russian consular activity in them into several types.
  1. not recognized and not having diplomatic relations with Russia. Example - Taiwan.
  2. Having diplomatic relations with Russia, but the exchange of Embassies was not carried out (eg due to economic reasons). Example - Guatemala, Belize.
  3. having diplomatic relations with Russia, while the exchange of Embassies was not carried out, but already there is a consulate. Example Panama, in the past - Israel (before the opening Embassy).
  4. having diplomatic relations with Russia and the Embassy. Example - many countries, - Zambia, Mexico, Laos.
  5. having the Embassy and in addition one or more consulates in non-metropolitan cities. Example USA, FRG, Estonia.
I'll note the following
if the country has an Embassy Russia, then it is MANDATORY to have a consular department. If in Moscow there is an Embassy of some country - in the capital of this country there is the Embassy Russia (99% true).

A free traveler with a Russian passport does not often have to contact the embassy staff Russia, but with consular staff - constantly.

Remember!

Consul Russia in foreign countries is your friend and savior. Often the only one. If you need support in a city in an exotic country where there is no Russian Consulate (Embassy) now, look for such places
  • Trade Delegation of the Russian Federation,
  • Aeroflot representation,
  • ITAR-TASS representation,
  • The former building of the consulate (Embassy) - perhaps the same building is rented by a company that was organized by former Embassy employees (such cases are known).
In these places you can find compatriots who can support you (at least informational).

Always going to any country - call in advance to the Foreign Ministry office (which is both in Moscow, and in St. Petersburg) and find out the addresses, phone numbers and surnames of the heads of the Russian consular missions. It will not be superfluous to spend an international telephone call and report your arrival by voice or send a notification fax that you are going to visit the country at such a time. Of course, this recommendation concerns only complex expeditions to distant exotic countries, and not ordinary trips to Europe.

When entering the country (and even better in advance), find out what is the payment system for telephone conversations. Immediately, as soon as it becomes possible, purchase a plastic card to pay for the negotiations. Having in your pocket such a card and checked out even from the Russia phone number of the Russian consulate, you will feel more or less calm when there is a misunderstanding with the local authorities. If they arise and you feel that the presence of an official Russian person will be useful for you - safely demand a telephone and directly go to the consulate. There you have to help !!

Here it is necessary to know that the Russian consuls are OBLIGED, that they CAN, and that they CAN NOT.

Consul Russia for you as a citizen Russia (But not CIS!) MANDATURE

  • advise you about the laws and customs of this country,
  • give the coordinates of other persons who can give you a more detailed consultation of this kind,
  • notarize the documents you need,
  • renew or issue a new passport (instead of stolen or lost),
  • assist you in the event of riots or natural disasters in a given country - up to landing you in a free evacuation aircraft,
  • The consulate has a Russian doctor. He is obliged to serve you free.
Consulate Russia CAN, if you want
  • accept (for payment) to deposit your money, valuables, valuables,
  • Tell your relatives in Russia about the disaster that has happened to you,
  • Give free a call around the city,
  • send an email,
  • in case of extreme disposition of the consulate staff, you should assist in extending the local visa or assist in obtaining visas for the following countries. This does not apply to USA and Europe. We are talking only about distant exotic countries.
Consulate Russia CAN NOT
  • to give free phone to Russia by an international telephone of a special communication that he has or send fax,
  • provide you with an interpreter or translate any documents from your local language or vice versa,
  • lend money,
  • pay local doctors for your treatment (this should be done by your health insurance),
  • provide services to reserve for you a local hotel or car.
In the case of organizing an extreme expedition, I strongly recommend that you join the consular account and inform the consulate about your plans for the future (routes, dates). Of course, it is not always necessary to invite Russian consuls in case of conflict with the authorities of a particular country. Almost always the conflict can be resolved independently. But if it does not work out - you have to help.

Single Europe, visa-free from the Atlantic to the Urals!

Over the past year and a half, the position of Russian citizens abroad has somewhat strengthened. Russia became a member of the European Council and became a part of the "eight" most influential world powers. Sooner or later it should affect the softening of visa requirements for citizens Russia in European countries and the phased establishment of visa-free relations. Simplified the life and signing of Schengen agreements by 7 countries in 1995 g, and joining the Schengen countries Italy on October 27

1997 AD Was greeted with delight. Russian travelers are eagerly awaiting the next step - the beginning of issuing visas for Russians on the border as the next step towards complete visa-free travel in Europe.

Best Regards, A.Netuzhilov - www.scross.ru