Expatriate Life: Resources & Visa info

[chivo]

I am in Estonia now. We only tend to do a series of short breaks across the year here, so I don't fall into the "expat" category really. To stay here over a year might be a stretch, but doable if there was a good reason. It wouldn't be such a hardship. Life is OK here.

Russia would be another matter. It would need to be a lot of money to make me live there.

Living anywhere in the FSU on local money would be a hardship I think. If you have enough money, you can smooth the bumps out pretty much anywhere. Even in Russia. It takes a lot more money than people imagine to do that though.

I understand your personal reasons and choices and respect them.

How much do you think it would take to live "normal"?

I would need maybe 3000-4000 Euros a month (net) to live in Estonia allowing for a car and a decent house. Its not cheap here any more. Dinner last night came out at around $140 for example. And that was a regular place that you most likely know Chivo (as I recall you spent some time here).

We did once briefly consider living in Togliatti (Russia). There were some new build houses that were pretty cool and not expensive @ around 3m Roubles (They are probably twice that now). After thought, I decided I wasn't going to live there by choice.

Yes I've been there a couple of times. I'm surprised by the cost, especially if you were only accompanied by your wife and the malchik.

But it does bring me to a point about the cost of living in these parts.

As we all know Moscow has quite the reputation as being incredibly expensive. This of course is true, but I have always maintained that it was more part and parcel a "reputation' as opposed to reality. This is not to say that Moscow isn't expensive as it is to say that many places have caught up to Moscow. Your night out is a perfect example of this.

Manny, I can live here very comfortable for 3-4k euro. I do it now by the way (actually I make more and the rest is put aside). This does exclude a car, but includes a nice 2-room apt close to the center, food, entertainment, and all other normal expenditures, including taxi fare when need be. Keep in mind that I do quite a bit of entertaining here.

You know that I have often said that Moscow's reputation for being such an expensive city is somewhat blown out of proportion.

I have also said that it is not as difficult to live here as per its reputation. And that goes for the rest of Russia, only thing is Moscow will afford the average expat with half a brain enough money to exist rather comfortably because of what people will pay for some in demand services, unlike other areas around the country.

Here's a breakdown per month:
rent $1500 includes all utilities
food excluding restaurants $300
taxi's/metro on average $150
entertainment (restaurants, movies, clubs, bars, etc.) $500-1200

So you see that most months I can cover my nut for around $3k on the high end pretty easily, and that's $$$ not euros.  

If one was to move here and rent a 1-room apt the rent would go down about $5-800 depending. Not to mention less socializing, at least in the beginning and you can see where one could get away with things for under $2k until one can figure out the landscape. Certainly doable...especially if you're only moving by yourself as many who consider this (moving here) are.

Food for thought to anyone thinking about it.

[ecocks]

The trick is finding a job that pays that much.

I pretty much lived on the budget Chivo outlined for Moscow even though I was in Kiev. My housing was a bit lower, as were my entertainment expenses, but we also purchased an apartment in that budget (besides the one we rented to live in).

[mendeleyev]

Blogs:

- Johnson's Russia List: http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/default.cfm Excellent news and analysis. One of the oldest and most successful.

- Robert Amsterdam, http://www.robertamsterdam.com/, is not only Mikhail Khodorkovsky's American lawyer (wow, does he ever spend a lot of time in Russia!) but he's also a reader of the Mendeleyev Journal. Thank you, Robert!

- Windows to Russia is a great blog: http://windowstorussia.com/ American expat Kyle Keeton and his wife Sveta make this an interesting read.

- Russia Beyond the Headlines, http://rbth.ru/, is just what the name implies. Explore and get to know the Russia most tourists never see.

- The Other Russia: http://www.theotherrussia.org/ features news from the Coalition for Democracy in Russia.

- Beware of Putin, http://bewareofputin.blogspot.com/, is just what the title suggests.

- Neek's Backlog, http://vkhokhl.blogspot.com/, is published by a RW with excellent English and a great talent for taking photos and telling their story.

- American Russian Observations, www.amrusob.blogspot.com, is published by a Scottish-American man and his Russian wife from their home in St Petersburg.

- England-Moscow is a British guy living in Moscow: http://www.england-moscow.com/


- Soviet City http://www.sovietcity.com/blog/ is run by an Englishmen who says that "I’m a born and bred Englishman but I often find English people a little annoying with their fake politeness and pretence." We like him already!  Plus, he is a regular reader of the Mendeleyev Journal. +2! (He also happens to have some of the best articles explaining the new Visa rules.)

- Siberian Light: http://siberianlight.net/ A journalist, this is a well designed and articulate presentation of life in Russia!

- Sean's Russia Blog: http://seansrussiablog.org/ One of the granddaddys and one of the best. Another well versed journalist.

-

- Place2Place is the blog of a couple from the American Embassy. http://www.place2place.blogs.com/studio/

- Adventures from abroad. And her husband. http://damasiuslife.blogspot.com/ Okay, she's not kidding, that is the title of her blog. This young couple lived in Russia until recently moving to Kiev.

- S & D, http://sidney-deena.blogspot.com, this delightful young couple are among my "secret agents" around some of Moscow's historical areas, monasteries, etc. A product of Kansas University (where Mendeleyev also did some graduate work), Sidney received both a U.S. Student Fulbright Program grant and a Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation grant to Russia. We have to call him "Dr" Sidney these days because Sidney has recently completed and defended his dissertation, "Textual Dimensions of Space in M.A. Bulgakov's Master and Margarita."


Traveling the FSU:
http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/EdVallance/Trips/6034

and this is  2011 so far:-

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/EdVallance/Trips/12531


Websites:
- American Chamber of Commerce, Moscow. http://www.amcham.ru.

- Rotary International, Moscow chapter: http://www.rotary.ru/

[mendeleyev]

More coming soon and please suggest additions.

[nicknick]

A British guy living in Moscow:-

http://www.england-moscow.com/

[mendeleyev]

Added!

[nicknick]

This one is more of a travel blog as this guy is currently travelling across Russia from west to east.

The first part is up until 2010:-

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/EdVallance/Trips/6034

and this is  2011 so far:-

http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/EdVallance/Trips/12531

[Manny]

Oh, and one final thing that is a real blessing. When the little lady is on her period I kick her back to her mothers apartment. Actually, she has learned to judge her own temperament these days so it is usually only every two months now and I don't need to kick.

I was researching the archives for a current topic, and I found this little gem. 

Really?

Bagalia was last active a week ago so he is still around........

[Vinnvinny]

Oh, and one final thing that is a real blessing. When the little lady is on her period I kick her back to her mothers apartment. Actually, she has learned to judge her own temperament these days so it is usually only every two months now and I don't need to kick.

I was researching the archives for a current topic, and I found this little gem. 

As he makes 'two pairs of long johns last a few years' she's probably happy to go!

[Manny]

Oh, and one final thing that is a real blessing. When the little lady is on her period I kick her back to her mothers apartment. Actually, she has learned to judge her own temperament these days so it is usually only every two months now and I don't need to kick.

I was researching the archives for a current topic, and I found this little gem. 

As he makes 'two pairs of long johns last a few years' she's probably happy to go!

They won't steal his long johns in Latvian hostels at least.........

Oh, the glamour of the expat life. 

[Vinnvinny]

Oh, and one final thing that is a real blessing. When the little lady is on her period I kick her back to her mothers apartment. Actually, she has learned to judge her own temperament these days so it is usually only every two months now and I don't need to kick.

I was researching the archives for a current topic, and I found this little gem. 

As he makes 'two pairs of long johns last a few years' she's probably happy to go!

They won't steal his long johns in Latvian hostels at least.........

Oh, the glamour of the expat life. 

Do you think its possible that his wife stopped menstrating years ago and now fakes it so she can go to her mums for some rest bite?

(Just kidding Scott  )

[nicknick]

More coming soon and please suggest additions.

Just to add something to this list of blogs.

I came across this blog a little while ago when I was searching for something and found it quite amusing and true to life from the Russians that I know in this country.

It's written by the American spouse of a Russian and they live in New Jersey.

So, it's not about Russia as such but more about dealing with a cross-cultural marriage in the USA:-

http://likethevodka.com/


From the blog:-

I write about the ups and downs of being married to and parenting with someone from another country. My observations are based on firsthand experience with the Russians in my life but are not intended as a generalization about all Russians. So no disrespect, Russians, seriously. Though you have to admit you guys are into some wacky stuff

[Manny]

I think I found new reading matter Nick. I just nearly fell off my chair laughing at this: http://likethevodka.wpengine.com/the-russian-has-a-toothache/

Anyone married to a Russian will relate to that!

[Millaa]

I'm reading about EdVallance kamchatka's trips... hmm, its 3 am here 

[AnfieldRiot]

  An overview of life past and present in Russia & Ukraine. Covers most aspects of life, art, sport, politics, travel, etc...

  Russian - Ukrainian Examiner

   http://russiaukraine.tumblr.com/

[mursal_mahmud]

 

May I know how about tolerance and appreciation from Russian community in general upon Asian immigrants in particularly those coming from South East Asia countries. As a real fact in Indonesia, we are so much appreciative for foreign visitors.

[Pyotr Alexeyevich]

mahud, Russia no every time nice for foreign people but big country. In Soviet structure so many race but not melted pot. Only everybody inside pot, but no melted.

[mendeleyev]

So what are we to make of the new migration law signed this week by President Putin on migration?

First, there are several essential reasons for this revision of Russia's statutes on foreign citizens living inside Russia's borders:

1- Crimea has a significant non-Russian population and not just of ethnic Ukrainians and Tatars although you can expect them to be targeted as we've already seen with the 5-year banishment last week of the Tatar leadership.

2- Were you to attend Security Council meetings it wouldn't take long to understand that the present leadership is consumed with the threat of a "colour revolution" making its way to Moscow. It is easier to control native citizens than outsiders and so the screws will tighten on anyone suspected of being inside Russia for reasons connected to political activity. As the Soviet Union considered all foreign journalists to be spies, and the current leadership is from the Soviet structure, expect to see the clampdown of journalistic activities to continue.

3- Moscow has a sizable illegal immigration problem, primarily from Central Asia. This is the primary reason the press and government will list when the new law is questioned and to be sure it is a factor, but not really the main factor as existing laws already gave the authorities freedom to deal with this issue. This issue will be the "talking points" when the subject is questioned.

Beginning immediately, foreign nationals applying to live inside Russia will be required to prove their knowledge of Russian language, Russian history, and the system of government of the Russian Federation. The law is specifically aimed at for foreign nationals who receive a temporary residence permit, permanent residence permit, or apply for a work permit with the exception for highly sought out specialists in government approved industries.

Those already inside Russia have until 1 January 2015 to comply.

Signed into law yesterday, the document amends the Federal Law "On the Legal Status of Foreign Citizens in the Russian Federation"
and repeals certain provisions of the existing statutes to consolidate the new requirements. In layman's terms the new law requires existing "expats" to comply with the statute by 1 January 2015. New applicants will be required to meet the standards immediately.

- So, what is required for language skills?

The new law refers to a "baseline" which seems to be defined as the annual skill level tests for young schoolchildren to have the ability to converse, read, write and count at a basic level. Children must meet a baseline in order to advance in grade level. Not exceptionally difficult for most expats/residents with a modest investment of time and practice.

- What are the history knowledge guidelines?

Keeping in mind that the law is new and that the regulatory bureaucrats have yet to put their fingerprints on it, the legislative intent of the law is that someone living inside Russia should know the basics of Russian history. They're not trying to force one to be a history expert but they do seem to want a resident to understand the basics found in any elementary Russian history textbook.

- How about the requirements for understanding Russia's political system or as the law defines it, the "legal basis for the Russian Federation"?

If you've read the Constitution and understand the requirements for holding office, for voting, and how elections are held regionally and federally then one should be fine.

That being said, there are two underlying intents of this bill and one of them is the expulsion of those who come to Russia in order to change the existing political order. Of course that intent is defined from the lens of those who are in power so one must understand that he/she could be a constitutional scholar of the highest order and still find themselves expelled from the Federation.  For the average expat/resident this shouldn't be an issue.

- Will this impact foreign students?

Not substantially. Lawmakers want foreign students a lot more than they want foreign aid and political folk, Ukrainians earning a living in Russia and sending the money back to Ukraine, or migrant labourers from Central Asia. They also understand that foreign students pick up the language basics fairly quickly and most don't come to Russia to start a colour revolution.

Just to be sure however I phoned up the lovely daughter Kseniya who works with foreign students at Moscow State University and asked. She doesn't know yet as the University's legal department has not had the opportunity to go over the new law and then disseminate their directives to individual departments.

I can't imagine the new law having an adverse impact on student visas, however there is enough ambiguity in some of the requirements to allow the government to use it as a pretext for booting out certain types of students (the Fulbright programme being one potential category) should the new Cold War escalate and Russia decide it convenient to boot a group just to make a point.

- So, how does one "prove" a knowledge of language, history and the system of government?

The bureaucrats will eventually set out those requirements but President Putin has commented that a course from a Russian University or language school that includes some history and government information in the coursework would be a good foundation to meet those requirements. It is an easy way for the government to verify the information and hold Russian institutions accountable should it be discovered that a foreign person obtained such documentation illegally (bribes, etc).

- Will the government really check on how I obtained the documentation?

I would imagine spots checks depending on who is doing the checking but I also think that this is more of an issue for folk who are part of the target group. Someone living in Russia who never rocks the boat and keeps their nose clean would not likely have an issue unless they were not yet in the process. All new applicants will be vetted according to the new law.

[andrewfi]

Mendy, I would like to correct factual errors in your post above.
You told us that 'the Tatar leadership' have been banished from Crimea for five years.

While it is just about conceivable that your understanding of the matter was as per your words above, when you wrote them, you now know that this is not the case.

For your confirmation, one man, Mustafa Dzhemilev, who is seen by some as being a community leader among the Crimean Tatars, was handed, it is claimed, a piece of paper. The piece of paper was handed to one person and addresses nobody by name, much less the entire Tatar community leadership.
The recipient does not know who gave him the paper but he claims it was passed to his hand as he crossed the Russian/Ukraine border. The recipient knows that it is not an official document and has stated as much. The paper that has been shown to the world is devoid of heading, document number, official seals or stamps and bears no signature.

In addition, it has been made clear by the Russian government that no such order banishing Mustafa Dzhemilev has been made.

While there is much that is useful in your posts, when sharing information that is purported by yourself to be factual it is important that the information is correct.

Thanks for the useful information you post, I am sure that you will correct the errors of fact in your article above, yes?

[mendeleyev]

who is seen by some as being a community leader among the Crimean Tatars, was handed, it is claimed, a piece of paper.

Seen by some? You're too far removed to know much about this issue apparently.

Give that photos of the piece of paper have been published, I'd say your choice of wording in "claimed" might not be factual.

A piece of paper? Yes it was. It was handed to him at a border checkpoint. Are you aware of who mans border checkpoints, Andy?

The recipient does not know who gave him the paper

Wrong again. He knows that it was the border guard who checked his papers/passport.

The paper that has been shown to the world is devoid of heading, document number, official seals or stamps and bears no signature.

Lets play a guessing game. You get 3 choices:
- Are you suggesting that it was an invitation to a BBQ party, then?   

- Perhaps the neighborhood watch society was holding an ice cream social and wanted him to feel welcome, it that what you're thinking?

- Or, was it a form of intimidation designed to send a message while being vague enough to the outside world that someone in Moscow could speculate that the army surplus stores are now selling documents?

I am sure that you will correct the errors of fact in your article above, yes?

If at some point I feel there was an error, then sure. I'm still waiting for someone to explain how all those masked me fell out of airplanes from Russ and ended up driving around in professional military equipment from Russia, but none of the men were from Russia?! Golly, gee, miracles of miracles. There are lots of "facts" that need to be cleared up in this mess, Andy.

[AkMike]

Mendy, you're talking to a brick wall  that has no sense of reality.

The ignore button works out quite well.