Originally Posted by WHBM
MDSD mentions Russia, which is different. The hotel have to take your passport to an official office along with your arrival slip inside it.
Actually, the "arrival slip" you speak of is, in fact, a Russian entry visa and it has to be registered within 72(?) business hours from your arrival to the country. Otherwise, the visa becomes invalid and you will have problems leaving because your exit visa will then also become invalid.