I was drinking my coffee this morning after a good night sleep and came to a conclusion that Russia has really messed up this visa issue. It is strange how a good cup of coffee will make things clearer at times…
Russia has been talking about how they are working so hard to make it better for expatiates to get visas and how Russia has stream lined registration. Medvedev has been trying to express how Russia is going to be better for people from the outside world to come and work in the Russian environment… 🙂
I sit here in Ukraine and think about how they have messed up the visa situation. I also was informed that they have changed the registration process and only “God knows” what that means to my fate in Russia yet…
To top off everything: When the Russian consulate takes your passport to put a visa in it. You do not have proper documentation during that time they have the passport in their possession. It was OK when it was only a day or two. But I am now stuck in Ukraine without my passport. It is in the Russian consulate sitting in a file for two full weeks while they let time tick slowly by…
I have copies of my passport and such, but that does not mean anything when the going gets tough. You have to have your passport as documentation to do many things or to prove many things when you travel the world. It is much more powerful though similar as a State ID in America…
I find it interesting of all the bull Russia puts you through. They then leave you stranded in a foreign country with no passport for two weeks at a time. On top of that they just give you a receipt for the money you pay and you really have nothing that says, hey this is your replacement for passport while it is kidnapped at the Russian consulate…
So as I sipped that wonderful cup of coffee here in Ukraine, I was grumpy with Russia this morning. But Russia gets hers. Everyday that I am in Ukraine I spend money with Ukraine. Everyday that they make me stay here is less income being generated in Russia. I do my business now from Ukraine. I buy cell phone cards in Ukraine. I buy food in Ukraine. I pay for sleeping arrangements (hotel) in Ukraine. I bank in Ukraine. Ukraine is home away from home and I can stay 90 days in Ukraine with out a visa…
Now Sveta is getting ready to come to Ukraine and take her vacation. Boza has to have a dog sitter and it looks like her (Sveta’s) mother will watch him. We are also trying to figure out how to go to the Black Sea without my passport?
So if you understand what I am saying. Russia has because of her inability to conceive a thought beyond today. Has lost out on tremendousness income potentials. I am now spending all my money that I was going to spend vacationing in Russia – vacationing in Ukraine. I am only one of a huge amount of people that have to deal with this issue and we all have buying power…
So while Ukraine smiles all the way to the bank at Russia’s ineptness over visa’s. I am going sip my coffee and grumble at how rescinding Russia is in the business world and convenience for human sageness…
Russia should quit complaining because of a lack of people willing to deal with the headaches. That is the same reason that Sveta has not gone to Britain for a family wedding. Countries make it hell on each other to travel…
I just love Russia and all the fun she puts expatiates through… 🙂
Windows to Russia!
Posted by Mobile!