Moscow and the experience of the border
My arrival in Moscow was rather exciting where even before I was able to set foot in a city, I was forced to pay fines and seriously consider what being deported would look like. This experience wasn't nearly as dire as it sounds. In fact, it was entertaining! Let me explain.
On the flight to Moscow I glanced at my visa and realized that my visa was dated a day later than when I was arriving. I am not sure where the hiccup occurred and why. It was probably my fault but I wasn't going to admit that to anyone just yet. When I landed, I walked up to the border and presented my passport, hoping they wouldn't notice that I was a day early. Fat chance. The border-patrol lady categorically told me that she couldn't let me in to the country since my visa was invalid for today (it would become valid in 14 hours) and that they were probably going to send me back. Another woman marched up - short skirt, big heels and a uniform - and walked me over to the side. She was non-plussed by my issues, she was busy deporting some guy from Tadzhikistan by the looks of his passport. A Delta representative arrived and briefly talked to me, looked at my passport and promised to go to the consulate representative to see if he might FEEL LIKE extending my visa by one day.
A few minutes later the Delta rep came back and handed me a form to fill out - I, such and such, got a visa for these dates, arrived on this date, can you please extend my visa. I had to give a reason for why I showed up one day early. I hesitated. She looked over at me and firmly said - you couldn't find a plane ticket for the right date. Well I guess that will work! It did... $25 later I had a visa, but my "issues" weren't over just yet. A very nice, self-effacing young man from the border patrol came by and informed me that by trying to cross the border with an invalid visa I violated some laws and will now be fined and additional 2060 Rubles (about $70). He then proceeded to produce a written record of my transgressions, which took over an hour as he pecked with one finger at the keyboard with a look of determination. Then he printed the records, discovered he made a mistake, printed it again, got some liquid white-out and fixed something else, copied, stapled, removed staples, copied and stapled again. Finally I had in my hands the written record of my transgression. We then walked over to the financial office to pay my fees.
A friend of mine that was meeting me at the airport met us along the way. He tried to hand my handler the required fee. The border-patrol guard in uniform looked at him and then said - we aren't standing on the road and I am not a cop here. Since we STARTED this in an official manner we should finish it that way. Of course, on the road, it's all easier and a lot more straight-forward...
Did you catch that last one? He essentially told us that I should have just bribed him, but since I didn't here we go walking to yet another bureaucratic hole. Good morning to you, Mother Russia... Feels like home.
On the flight to Moscow I glanced at my visa and realized that my visa was dated a day later than when I was arriving. I am not sure where the hiccup occurred and why. It was probably my fault but I wasn't going to admit that to anyone just yet. When I landed, I walked up to the border and presented my passport, hoping they wouldn't notice that I was a day early. Fat chance. The border-patrol lady categorically told me that she couldn't let me in to the country since my visa was invalid for today (it would become valid in 14 hours) and that they were probably going to send me back. Another woman marched up - short skirt, big heels and a uniform - and walked me over to the side. She was non-plussed by my issues, she was busy deporting some guy from Tadzhikistan by the looks of his passport. A Delta representative arrived and briefly talked to me, looked at my passport and promised to go to the consulate representative to see if he might FEEL LIKE extending my visa by one day.
A few minutes later the Delta rep came back and handed me a form to fill out - I, such and such, got a visa for these dates, arrived on this date, can you please extend my visa. I had to give a reason for why I showed up one day early. I hesitated. She looked over at me and firmly said - you couldn't find a plane ticket for the right date. Well I guess that will work! It did... $25 later I had a visa, but my "issues" weren't over just yet. A very nice, self-effacing young man from the border patrol came by and informed me that by trying to cross the border with an invalid visa I violated some laws and will now be fined and additional 2060 Rubles (about $70). He then proceeded to produce a written record of my transgressions, which took over an hour as he pecked with one finger at the keyboard with a look of determination. Then he printed the records, discovered he made a mistake, printed it again, got some liquid white-out and fixed something else, copied, stapled, removed staples, copied and stapled again. Finally I had in my hands the written record of my transgression. We then walked over to the financial office to pay my fees.
A friend of mine that was meeting me at the airport met us along the way. He tried to hand my handler the required fee. The border-patrol guard in uniform looked at him and then said - we aren't standing on the road and I am not a cop here. Since we STARTED this in an official manner we should finish it that way. Of course, on the road, it's all easier and a lot more straight-forward...
Did you catch that last one? He essentially told us that I should have just bribed him, but since I didn't here we go walking to yet another bureaucratic hole. Good morning to you, Mother Russia... Feels like home.
posted by Q @ 02:32
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