When you arrive at the airport, it's always a slightly stressful
moment when you stand front of the passport control official who
sternly inspects your papers. He may call over a colleague and
point to your documents. Questions tumble into your mind, what's
wrong? Is my visa in order? And then just as quickly he snaps your
passport shut, returns the second part of your migration card and
wishes you "An enjoyable visit to Russia."
Another stressful part of arriving in Russia can be registering
in the town where you are going to stay, something which needs to
be done within three days. If you haven't got a good agency taking
care of this for you it can be a difficult process once you get
away from the cities which are used to dealing with international
visitors.
When I arrived in Kazan, it was a
Saturday, so on the Monday morning I set off into town to register.
I arrived at the right address, 'The Registration Office for
Foreigners' which takes care of work permits for Russia's
increasing number of overseas workers as well as tourists and
visitors. I queued up in the hot stuffy office for 20 minutes
before being told I could register at any Post Office. At the Post
Office however it was a different matter! I needed an official
translation of all my documents they said or I could always go to
the Registration Office for Foreigners! Hot and bothered I returned
and queued up again in another slow moving queue where finally a
small efficient woman created my file, copied my passport number
down and directed me to another queue to complete the formalities.
I arrived at last in front of a small window where Valentina
Alexeyevna, according to her name badge took my collection of
papers and inspected them. A youngish blonde woman, she had the
unwavering, strict expression of a career bureaucrat. "Incomplete"
she cried. I needed a photocopy of my passport! " I'll do it" she
barked and marched off to her back office. Five minutes later she
returned, rubber-stamped my file and, although I may be mistaken,
she just might have smiled as she handed back my papers.
David Turner 18 July 2008
1-800-884-1721
