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23 Jun 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kennichi
Hi
I'm currently in Rostov something north of Sochi , I got to Sochi and I was given 14 days entry into Russia for my bike but detained on the ferry for 2 days due to customs troubles, it took me 2 days to get here due to a crash and thus I only have 10 days left.
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What type of Russian visa did you get? Multiple entry business? Double Entry Business?
Why did they issue you a 14 day import? The import document allows the official to write in how many days the temporary import is good for.
On a double/multiple entry, you usually tell the official you estimate of time during that entry and purchase insurance for the duration of both/multiple entries.
Did the rules change? I'm curious as I may be heading that ways soon enough.
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29 Jun 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MotoEdde
What type of Russian visa did you get? Multiple entry business? Double Entry Business?
Why did they issue you a 14 day import? The import document allows the official to write in how many days the temporary import is good for.
On a double/multiple entry, you usually tell the official you estimate of time during that entry and purchase insurance for the duration of both/multiple entries.
Did the rules change? I'm curious as I may be heading that ways soon enough.
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I got to Sochi and they have temp import documents printed out on computer now and thus they put an entry date in and it automatically puts an exit date in , asking around they said it was the law they can't change it even if you offer enourmous bribes, apparently on the Ukraine , Finland , Bellarus borders they are computerised and thus cannot be bribed for as long as you want , same with the vladivostok exit point, Mongolian border its still done by hand though so they can give you as long as you like, Others just renew them whenever it is needed which is a fairly difficult thing to do as described above.
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29 Jun 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kennichi
...thus they put an entry date in and it automatically puts an exit date in , asking around they said it was the law they can't change it even if you offer enourmous bribes, apparently on the Ukraine , Finland , Bellarus borders they are computerised and thus cannot be bribed for as long as you want..
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This is not true from my recent experience (early May 2009). I crossed into Russia from Ukraine, they tried to give me two weeks temp import, I told that that it would very inconvenient for me and proposed a bit more than two months instead (to correspond to my visa expiration). They said OK. I could not, however, have it extended beyond my visa expiration.
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29 Jun 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by motoreiter
This is not true from my recent experience (early May 2009). I crossed into Russia from Ukraine, they tried to give me two weeks temp import, I told that that it would very inconvenient for me and proposed a bit more than two months instead (to correspond to my visa expiration). They said OK. I could not, however, have it extended beyond my visa expiration.
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Hey I tried the same thing too in Sochi and they said no cannot do not even accepting a 3000 rouble bribe (which went up to 6000) they eventually told me take the two weeks or go back to trazbon simple as that this was after hours of argueing with them.
The finn next to me had the same experience crossing from finland and had to renew in Irkusk
The two icelandic guys who entered via Ukraine had the same experience and had to renew in Samara.
A couple of Germans I met about a week back also had the same experience 2 weeks , is law take it or leave it..(not Claudia and husband).
Must have changed or something... much to my chagrin as I spent a whole day getting up renewed.
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29 Jun 2009
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Hmm, I don't know what to say, I definitely got mine issued for slightly more than two months at the border. I will ask another guy I know here with a temp import, see what he got.
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29 Jun 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kennichi
I got to Sochi and they have temp import documents printed out on computer now and thus they put an entry date in and it automatically puts an exit date in , asking around they said it was the law they can't change it even if you offer enourmous bribes, apparently on the Ukraine , Finland , Bellarus borders they are computerised and thus cannot be bribed for as long as you want , same with the vladivostok exit point, Mongolian border its still done by hand though so they can give you as long as you like, Others just renew them whenever it is needed which is a fairly difficult thing to do as described above.
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They had the computerised system when I crossed from Semey to Russia...and Mongolia...back into Russia...etc. in 2007.
Since I had a multiple entry visa...with an end date...I showed them a printout of my intenary for both entries into Russia...and they saw by tentative time lines...
I worked with them to explain how they could change the date of exit in their system. They have the power! Sometimes, its a matter of computer illiteracy more than them seeking a bribe.
Lastly...offering bribes is not a good thing...you make things 20 times more difficult for the next traveller.
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30 Jun 2009
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I dont like to give out bribes.
But I made the same arguement
I cannot ride to Vladivostok in 14 days , they didn't seem to care.
I showed them the map with the long way - you ride faster easy for you
It went round and round for a few minutes.
Then can you not give me another week to get to Mongolia at least -
No this is law in Russia no more than 14 days please sign.
Can I pay to have it longer I have some roubles if this can make it easier? , NO YOU CAN NO THIS IS RUSSIAN LAW. (customs officer is visibly angry and is shouting). (I had not put the change away from the rip off insurance I had paid for earlier).
So what can I do to make it longer can I extend outside ? (another customs officer) I do not know I do not care. Now you sign customs form.
Have another circular arguement with him about vladivostok being far away he doesn't care.
He gets incredibly angry shouts you SIGN NOW , or we send you to Turkey on next ship.
So I signed the damned thing...
Once I did he said f**k you englis....and something probably insulting in Russian. .....
What the hell was I supposed to do? say no ? with an armed customs officer about to deport you , who was already iffy about letting you into the country you gonna stand your ground and say no some random guy on the hubb got longer.
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30 Jun 2009
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I'd like to add the chances of me entering via sochi again are going to be close to nil anyway, in that I figure for the future I'd ship the bike from my location to S Korea then take the ferry to Vladivostok , as the amount of money I spent traversing Europe Turkey etc was about even to the amount it costs to cargo ship it out to S Korea and the Dong Chun Ferry.
There is also the uninteresting 6000km to get to Irkusk where the interesting bits start.
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30 Jun 2009
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I just spoke with a guy who entered Russia from Ukraine a few days ago--they gave him a three month temp import, with no fuss at all.
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30 Jun 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kennichi
I dont like to give out bribes.
But I made the same arguement
I cannot ride to Vladivostok in 14 days , they didn't seem to care.
I showed them the map with the long way - you ride faster easy for you
It went round and round for a few minutes.
<SNIP>
Once I did he said f**k you englis....and something probably insulting in Russian. .....
What the hell was I supposed to do? say no ? with an armed customs officer about to deport you , who was already iffy about letting you into the country you gonna stand your ground and say no some random guy on the hubb got longer.
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First off, I'm sorry to hear about your difficult border crossing. Having a critical look at it will help future travellers. That's the motive behind my queries.
Secondly, I'm not some random guy on the HUBB...I've done some travelling in Russia and spent a bit of time dealing with difficult border crossings...so I can sympathize...and hope to share from my of my failures. That's why I'm on the HUBB...to get more folks out there travelling!
Lastly, i think there is some missing information that you may not be aware of...BUT my guess is something pissed this guy off before you and your paperwork showed up...and his interpretation of the rules was his own.
If you can think back to the incident...did you jump ahead in the queue, etc....that may help future travellers...but may be moot for you.
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30 Jun 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kennichi
He gets incredibly angry shouts you SIGN NOW , or we send you to Turkey on next ship.
So I signed the damned thing...
Once I did he said f**k you englis....and something probably insulting in Russian. .....
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I have also entered Russia dozens of times (usually not on a bike) and have never seen a border guy get even a bit angry. Either the guy was having a very very bad day when you rolled up, or you did something inadvertant to piss him off, which can be pretty easy given cultural differences, language barrier, etc.
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1 Jul 2009
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I didn't annoy him I dont think in that I was sat waiting in the customs hall for hours and he was wandering around with a big bottle of KBAC swigging happily , insurance agent came after hours and hours and the paperwork was handed to the customs guy then the arguement started.
I'm not saying you are some random guy its just that I dont think even if I knew you by name it would make a difference , ie but you gave Mr whoever 3 months, must be this border point as Blue88 and Alan last year were both given 14 days here (and fined when they realised their mistake).
But as said I dont want to enter via sochi anytime in the future anyway.
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1 Jul 2009
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I am sure that it differs by border post (even though in theory it shouldn't), some are worse/better than others. All I'm saying is that it is not true as a blanket statement that you can't get longer than 14 days whenever you enter Russia (but maybe true for Sochi).
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1 Jul 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kennichi
I didn't annoy him I dont think in that I was sat waiting in the customs hall for hours and he was wandering around with a big bottle of KBAC swigging happily , insurance agent came after hours and hours and the paperwork was handed to the customs guy then the arguement started.
<SNIP
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Sounds like you're having a rough time...with border fun and lost/stolen tools.
At the end of the day though...you're on a trip...and what you're doing is very special...don't forget that 
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