Denied boarding first flight by SN, due to lack of visa for connecting flight
Oct 23, 2015, 2:06 am
#91
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If he opted for the Finland option (to where he didnt even have to Finland to), he would have been in a position to get that visa.
Russia sometimes denies visa, but thats largely out of political considerations or because of formal mistakes. They most likely wont hit ordinary people.
Russia sometimes denies visa, but thats largely out of political considerations or because of formal mistakes. They most likely wont hit ordinary people.
I already posted, upthread, the additional documentation that can be demanded of US citizens when applying for a Russian visa. It is unlikely that the OP would have been able to furnish property deeds, etc, if requested. And I have posted upthread the advice from the US Embassy in Moscow stating that US citizens applying for Russian visas in third countries, where their right to stay is less than 3 months (which includes Finland/Schengen), may experience delays.
In any event, none of this translates to an alternative "travel document". There is no getting away from the fact that the OP needs a Russian visa. There is no alternative document that will obviate the need for a Russian visa, and the arguments advanced here do not make it look as if obtaining one would be straightforward.
Perhaps if the OP had been able to provide proof of evidence that he was arriving in Europe to obtain his Russian passport having completed the formalities for naturalisation (!!!) then yes.
Originally Posted by US Embassy, Moscow
Entry Visas: To enter Russia for any purpose, a U.S. citizen must possess a valid U.S. passport and a bona fide visa issued by a Russian Embassy or Consulate. It is impossible to obtain an entry visa upon arrival, so travelers must apply for their visas well in advance. U.S. citizens who apply for Russian visas in third countries where they do not have permission to stay more than 90 days may face considerable delays in visa processing.
However, in light of the US Embassy note, it could even be that the OP's visa application - even if made in Helsinki - would taken longer than the 3 months during which he would be allowed to stay in Schengen. Helsinki most likely does not have an exemption allowing it to treat US applicants any differently than they would be in any other station.
Of course you can say that it is not guaranteed 100 per cent that he gets the visa. Point taken!
However, what is 100 per cent?
A lot of countries issue visa on arrival entry documents. Of course, no one can be 100 per cent sure to be able to receive that visa. Some weird stuff can always happen.
However, what is 100 per cent?
A lot of countries issue visa on arrival entry documents. Of course, no one can be 100 per cent sure to be able to receive that visa. Some weird stuff can always happen.
Russia, instead, has a very strict requirement that all such visas are in place before travelling there.
Last edited by irishguy28; Oct 23, 2015 at 2:12 am
Oct 23, 2015, 2:11 am
#92
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One thing that I'd like to mention:
I know of several people who had to get to China on short notice but lacked a visa at the moment and couldn't use the rush service in their country (and TWOV wasn't a possibility) - they booked flights as following Europe-HKG-China, with a relatively short layover in HKG (1-2 days, just enough, sometimes even <24hrs) where they acquired the Visa with ease.
Technically, the airlines they used shouldn't have let them boarding the flight to HKG _if_ we assume that SN somehow was in the right here. Well, needless to say, none of them had any problem whatsoever to board their flight to HKG.
I know of several people who had to get to China on short notice but lacked a visa at the moment and couldn't use the rush service in their country (and TWOV wasn't a possibility) - they booked flights as following Europe-HKG-China, with a relatively short layover in HKG (1-2 days, just enough, sometimes even <24hrs) where they acquired the Visa with ease.
Technically, the airlines they used shouldn't have let them boarding the flight to HKG _if_ we assume that SN somehow was in the right here. Well, needless to say, none of them had any problem whatsoever to board their flight to HKG.
Oct 23, 2015, 2:50 am
#93
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One thing that I'd like to mention:
I know of several people who had to get to China on short notice but lacked a visa at the moment and couldn't use the rush service in their country (and TWOV wasn't a possibility) - they booked flights as following Europe-HKG-China, with a relatively short layover in HKG (1-2 days, just enough, sometimes even <24hrs) where they acquired the Visa with ease.
Technically, the airlines they used shouldn't have let them boarding the flight to HKG _if_ we assume that SN somehow was in the right here. Well, needless to say, none of them had any problem whatsoever to board their flight to HKG.
I know of several people who had to get to China on short notice but lacked a visa at the moment and couldn't use the rush service in their country (and TWOV wasn't a possibility) - they booked flights as following Europe-HKG-China, with a relatively short layover in HKG (1-2 days, just enough, sometimes even <24hrs) where they acquired the Visa with ease.
Technically, the airlines they used shouldn't have let them boarding the flight to HKG _if_ we assume that SN somehow was in the right here. Well, needless to say, none of them had any problem whatsoever to board their flight to HKG.
Oct 23, 2015, 3:02 am
#94
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One thing that I'd like to mention:
I know of several people who had to get to China on short notice but lacked a visa at the moment and couldn't use the rush service in their country (and TWOV wasn't a possibility) - they booked flights as following Europe-HKG-China, with a relatively short layover in HKG (1-2 days, just enough, sometimes even <24hrs) where they acquired the Visa with ease.
Technically, the airlines they used shouldn't have let them boarding the flight to HKG _if_ we assume that SN somehow was in the right here. Well, needless to say, none of them had any problem whatsoever to board their flight to HKG.
I know of several people who had to get to China on short notice but lacked a visa at the moment and couldn't use the rush service in their country (and TWOV wasn't a possibility) - they booked flights as following Europe-HKG-China, with a relatively short layover in HKG (1-2 days, just enough, sometimes even <24hrs) where they acquired the Visa with ease.
Technically, the airlines they used shouldn't have let them boarding the flight to HKG _if_ we assume that SN somehow was in the right here. Well, needless to say, none of them had any problem whatsoever to board their flight to HKG.
The OP hasn't been back here and isn't telling us anything about the denied boarding process, the questions he was asked and a case he was able to make.
Even if the OP would most likely not have any problems at BRU, SN could justify denying him if he wasn't able to prove the ability to leave the Schengen area to a third country where they were certain to be admitted.
Oct 23, 2015, 3:33 pm
#95
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Oct 24, 2015, 11:02 am
#96
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Because the penalties when interfering with "the law" or agencies are much higher in the States. On the other hand shafting passengers is still perfectly acceptable unless the latter belong to a protected group. So it comes at no surprise that the agent would choose that route.
Oct 24, 2015, 9:09 pm
#97
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I am quite convinced - despite lacking hard statistics - that there are numerous US passport holders who fly to Belgium without having a Russian visa ...
Oct 25, 2015, 7:21 am
#98
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Oct 25, 2015, 7:22 am
#99
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Oct 25, 2015, 8:23 am
#100
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Watch the source, myyra, watch the source. 
The whole situation is rather easy, if you do not present all necessary docs, you will not be allowed to board an aircraft..., simply because you are one phone call away from changing your ticket...
I do not acuse the OP of trying to get into a country without the necessary docs. , but those tricks are pretty common in the industry...
The whole situation is rather easy, if you do not present all necessary docs, you will not be allowed to board an aircraft..., simply because you are one phone call away from changing your ticket...
I do not acuse the OP of trying to get into a country without the necessary docs. , but those tricks are pretty common in the industry...
Oct 26, 2015, 7:32 pm
#101
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That's not what you said.
Do a better job in quote-mining yourself next time
!
I am not guilty of what I was just guilty of 
... reminds of the brilliant way to insult people in Australia by using the worst imaginable invective preceded by "no offence mate but ...".
Or to use the words of the immortal Scott Adams "I con and insult hence I am a consultant".
Do a better job in quote-mining yourself next time
! ... reminds of the brilliant way to insult people in Australia by using the worst imaginable invective preceded by "no offence mate but ...".Or to use the words of the immortal Scott Adams "I con and insult hence I am a consultant".
Oct 27, 2015, 12:02 pm
#103
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I did not quote him, I quoted you in full.
But linguistics aside: what the OP of this thread did is certainly less ambitious than buying a tix to the PRC with a layover in HKG as there are really very few options to travel onward from HKG without either returning or entering mainland.
But linguistics aside: what the OP of this thread did is certainly less ambitious than buying a tix to the PRC with a layover in HKG as there are really very few options to travel onward from HKG without either returning or entering mainland.
Nov 2, 2015, 1:37 pm
#104
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Also consider a hypothetical scenario where he would have a 4-month stopover in Belgium before continuing on to Russia. You cannot apply for a Russian visa more than 90 days in advance, so in this scenario, there would be no way for him at all to have "all necessary docs" during the check-in.
Nov 2, 2015, 3:01 pm
#105
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He did have all necessary docs to enter Belgium (because a US passport is all that's necessary). There was no reason not to check him in for that leg. His later travel plans to Russia are irrelevant here - because he (apparently) didn't insist on checking in all way to St. Petersburg.
Also consider a hypothetical scenario where he would have a 4-month stopover in Belgium before continuing on to Russia. You cannot apply for a Russian visa more than 90 days in advance, so in this scenario, there would be no way for him at all to have "all necessary docs" during the check-in.
Also consider a hypothetical scenario where he would have a 4-month stopover in Belgium before continuing on to Russia. You cannot apply for a Russian visa more than 90 days in advance, so in this scenario, there would be no way for him at all to have "all necessary docs" during the check-in.