After immigrating to the U.S. in the fall of 1989, I have finally decided to visit Russia this coming September. Although I was aware that U.S. citizens require a visa to enter Russia, I was certainly not aware of how many hoops I will have to jump through to obtain one.
Since my family left Russia when it was still USSR, my parents had to obtain exit visas from the government. The Russian Consulate requires all U.S. citizens who have previously held Russian/USSR citizenship to prove that they are no longer a citizen. In fact, the tourist visa application instructions specifically name the exit visa as valid evidence that the applicant is no longer a Russian/USSR citizen, as one had to renounce his/her citizenship, as well as the citizenship of minor children immigrating with them, in order to obtain said exit visa.
Since I was 11 years old at the time, I did not have a Soviet passport and didn't require my own exit visa - I was, however, listed on my mother's exit visa. Here's the million dollar question: would my mother's exit visa, in conjunction with my original USSR birth certificate (of which I have a certified English translation, if necessary), be sufficient proof of the fact that I am not a Russian citizen?
Since my family left Russia when it was still USSR, my parents had to obtain exit visas from the government. The Russian Consulate requires all U.S. citizens who have previously held Russian/USSR citizenship to prove that they are no longer a citizen. In fact, the tourist visa application instructions specifically name the exit visa as valid evidence that the applicant is no longer a Russian/USSR citizen, as one had to renounce his/her citizenship, as well as the citizenship of minor children immigrating with them, in order to obtain said exit visa.
Since I was 11 years old at the time, I did not have a Soviet passport and didn't require my own exit visa - I was, however, listed on my mother's exit visa. Here's the million dollar question: would my mother's exit visa, in conjunction with my original USSR birth certificate (of which I have a certified English translation, if necessary), be sufficient proof of the fact that I am not a Russian citizen?