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RE: Travel to Russia

AB2014 — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 09:51:05 GMT

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[b]Monkos - 10 Aug 19 9:45 PM[/b]

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[b]AB2014 - 6 Aug 19 2:43 PM[/b]

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[b]Monkos - 6 Aug 19 1:54 PM[/b]

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[b]AB2014 - 6 Aug 19 8:50 AM[/b]

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[b]Monkos - 5 Aug 19 4:57 PM[/b]

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[b]Trev@ok - 1 Aug 19 8:48 PM[/b]

Ok, so basically when filling in the visa forms, disclosing my past convictions would give the Russian Authorities to Deny me access.And also hoping that my PPO will not issue the green notice. Doesn’t sound promising either way. Really frustrating as my offence was over 12 years ago but Oh well. Thanks for the info. Much appreciated. 👍

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Ignore the advice much higher in this thread from Mirrorman, he has no idea what he's talking about. For a green notice to be issued, you PPO has to have assessed the risk of committing an offence abroad as likely, and he needs to both tell you this fact before you go, and tell the NCA to issue the notice. If he tells you he is going to do it, don't travel yet, get a lawyer to pressure him to explain his reasoning. Unless your original offence relates to going abroad to fiddle with kids then they are not going to issue such a notice at all.

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That explains the theory very well. In practice, it's very different. If you're prepared to engage a solicitor to scrutinise everything PPU does in your case, then good luck if you have the money. Otherwise, they will say that they don't have to tell you whether they're issuing a green notice, as they probably aren't the ones doing it, and they'll hide behind the standard get out of "prevention and detection of crime". Some forces are better/more pragmatic than others. Yes, a Green Notice, according to Interpol, is issued to warn a country that someone is travelling there with the intention of offending. Perhaps someone should make sure that every police force in the country, and the Home Office, is aware of that and will actually take that into account.

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Don't give advice here you're clearly not qualified to give. Almost all of the posts you make here are highly misleading.

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Are you qualified to say I'm not qualified? This forum is for members to share their experiences, not to give legal advice. As I said, no matter what might be required of the police, it doesn't necessarily have any bearing on what they actually do. They may be relying on people not challenging them. You may think my posts are highly misleading, but that may be just because you disagree with me. It doesn't mean either of us is right.

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I've read many of your posts and I'm horrified at the bad advice you give. Get yourself a lawyer and get yourself educated please.

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Educated? Why would I need a lawyer to educate me? As I don't give legal advice, why would I need a lawyer? If there's anything that particularly horrifies you, why not say so here so we can all discuss it?

Travel to Russia

BT — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 09:51:05 GMT

Very much a long shot here but has anyone travelled or tried to travel to Russia whilst under the SOR? I'm not convinced Russia is the place I want to go to regardless of whether or not I have a spent offence, but I'm mulling it over for a short holiday. I know you need a visa, but can't find anything online saying whether I would or wouldn't be admitted. Thank you

RE: Travel to Russia

Monkos — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 21:45:22 GMT

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[b]AB2014 - 6 Aug 19 2:43 PM[/b]

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[b]Monkos - 6 Aug 19 1:54 PM[/b]

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[b]AB2014 - 6 Aug 19 8:50 AM[/b]

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[b]Monkos - 5 Aug 19 4:57 PM[/b]

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[b]Trev@ok - 1 Aug 19 8:48 PM[/b]

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Don't give advice here you're clearly not qualified to give. Almost all of the posts you make here are highly misleading.

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I've read many of your posts and I'm horrified at the bad advice you give. Get yourself a lawyer and get yourself educated please.

RE: Travel to Russia

Yankee — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 12:27:30 GMT

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[b]Monkos - 6 Aug 19 1:54 PM[/b]

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[b]AB2014 - 6 Aug 19 8:50 AM[/b]

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[b]Monkos - 5 Aug 19 4:57 PM[/b]

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[b]Trev@ok - 1 Aug 19 8:48 PM[/b]

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Don't give advice here you're clearly not qualified to give. Almost all of the posts you make here are highly misleading.

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I'd disagree with that statement.

Posts on the forum generally contain a mix of facts, anecdotal evidence, perceptions ... .. and a lot of misinformation. There is also the big issue that all the caveats and assumptions are not listed or the specific scenarios explained. For example, travel advice is inherently different depending upon the nature of your offence, where you are travelling to, any individual circumstances etc.

The better posters provide links to evidence or support their comments in other ways.

While I cannot vouch for the overall accuracy of AB2014's posts, I have generally found when he/she comments on things where I have specific facts myself, he/she has been very consistent.

RE: Travel to Russia

AB2014 — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 14:43:17 GMT

[quote]

[b]Monkos - 6 Aug 19 1:54 PM[/b]

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[b]AB2014 - 6 Aug 19 8:50 AM[/b]

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[b]Monkos - 5 Aug 19 4:57 PM[/b]

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[b]Trev@ok - 1 Aug 19 8:48 PM[/b]

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Don't give advice here you're clearly not qualified to give. Almost all of the posts you make here are highly misleading.

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RE: Travel to Russia

Monkos — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 13:54:18 GMT

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[b]AB2014 - 6 Aug 19 8:50 AM[/b]

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[b]Monkos - 5 Aug 19 4:57 PM[/b]

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[b]Trev@ok - 1 Aug 19 8:48 PM[/b]

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Don't give advice here you're clearly not qualified to give. Almost all of the posts you make here are highly misleading.

RE: Travel to Russia

Deb S — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 08:53:40 GMT

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[b]Monkos - 5 Aug 19 4:57 PM[/b]

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[b]Trev@ok - 1 Aug 19 8:48 PM[/b]

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Hi Trev@ok

We're just in the process of putting together some information on travelling to Russia - I'll let forum members know when it goes live. However, to clarify, the question on the visa form asks:

“Have you ever been arrested or convicted for any offence?” - [If ‘Yes’ please describe all the facts about the arrest/conviction]

Answering ‘Yes’ wouldn’t automatically mean that your visa would be refused but it’s likely that you’d have to attend an interview at the consulate. Like the US Embassy, the Russian Consulate give little guidance as to who will be given a visa and who won’t, they deal with each application on a case by case basis (hopefully we'll find more information during the course of our research).

Good luck.

Debs

RE: Travel to Russia

AB2014 — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 08:50:13 GMT

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[b]Monkos - 5 Aug 19 4:57 PM[/b]

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[b]Trev@ok - 1 Aug 19 8:48 PM[/b]

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RE: Travel to Russia

Monkos — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 16:57:24 GMT

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[b]Trev@ok - 1 Aug 19 8:48 PM[/b]

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RE: Travel to Russia

Trev@ok — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 20:48:13 GMT

Ok, so basically when filling in the visa forms, disclosing my past convictions would give the Russian Authorities to Deny me access. And also hoping that my PPO will not issue the green notice. Doesn’t sound promising either way. Really frustrating as my offence was over 12 years ago but Oh well. Thanks for the info. Much appreciated. 👍

RE: Travel to Russia

BenS — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 08:00:10 GMT

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[b]Trev@ok - 31 Jul 19 9:12 PM[/b]

Thank you Ben. So the Question asked about criminal convictions would be come up on the visa form then , correct ?

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I've never been to Russia, so I don't know what questions are on the form. But in most of these forms there seems to a question about arrests/convictions. Non-EU and non-Schengen countries won't see anything when they scan your passport, unless your PPO has issued an Interpol Green Notice or you're on some international terror watchlist or something..

RE: Travel to Russia

Trev@ok — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 21:12:23 GMT

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[b]BenS - 31 Jul 19 8:48 AM[/b]

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[b]Trev@ok - 30 Jul 19 7:41 PM[/b]

Hello , I'm looking at travelling to Saint Petersburg and i am on the SOR in the UK. I've travelled to Spain and Egypt with No real problem in the past, egypt just filling in the immigration slip for the visa stamp on arrival. I understand that i will need a Visa to allow me to travel to Russia but I'm concerned of being turned away when arriving. I have to tell my PPO about any travel abroad which is no problem but I'mconcerned about this Interpol Green notice. I would also like to travel to Tashkent in Uzbekistan . Could anyone please help, assist or advise me on any info. I would be very Grateful. Thanks

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I have been to a few far-off countries while notifying on the SOR and had no problems. But none of the countries I went to required a visa (or if so, only an e-visa done online, not going to an embassy or sending documents etc.).

As you've alluded to, it depends whether your PPO will issue a Green Notice. Unfortunately there is no way to find this out; they will not tell you.

But if you've been to Egypt with no problems, it must mean:

- Your PPO did not put an Interpol Green Notice on you (hopefully this option!); or
- The Egyptian IT systems were insufficient and didn't pick it up; or
- The Egyptians only visually looked at your passport, rather than scanning it and checking for alerts

As an aside, by notifying to travel to non-EU, non-Schengen countries, you are effectively telling your PPO that you will be lying to the immigration authorities of those countries by ticking "no" to any questions about convictions (as you will undoubtedly be denied entry if you tell them about sex offence convictions). I was economical with the truth on the forms for the countries I visited; my PPO was clearly aware of this and looked the other way, but it depends on your relationship with the PPO.

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Thank you Ben. So the Question asked about criminal convictions would be come up on the visa form then , correct ?
I've only filled in the immigration cards when travelling to Egypt and have been many times through security without no problem. I have a good relationship with my PPO , i am no problem for them here ( at least i think the relationship is ok.) They've never had No problem with me. I just wondered how it would work travelling to Saint Petersburg but thanks for your reply.

RE: Travel to Russia

Trev@ok — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 21:03:09 GMT

Hi , I'm looking at travelling to Saint Petersburg and i am on the UK SOR . Offence happened 12 years ago. I have travelled to European countries and Egypt many times with no problem.
I have to notify my PPO when and where I'm travelling to.
I understand that i have to have a Visa to travel to Russia but am concerned they will turn me away or ask questions on arrival. I'm aware of the Interpol Green notice but don't know how it works.
I am also looking at travelling to Tashkent in Uzbekistan at some point but believe they now have the tourist immigration cards in place for visitors.
Could anyone give me correct information or advice for travelling to Russia as a UK SOR.
Many thanks.

RE: Travel to Russia

BenS — Wed, 31 Jul 2019 08:48:42 GMT

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[b]Trev@ok - 30 Jul 19 7:41 PM[/b]

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Trev@ok — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 19:41:54 GMT

Travel to Russia

JohnL — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 22:57:48 GMT

The system has stopped him travelling, but there was no point in him going to be turned away at the border

Travel to Russia

Mirrorman — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 22:57:48 GMT

Yes exactly - the system as worked as intended.

And there is no recourse as technically he can travel all he wants, he just has to by law notify the authorities who will then issue a notice to the destination country that a person with a previous criminal conviction is coming to their country to commit further crimes.. but of course you're still free to go.... you're choice.

How this does not contravene human rights laws I have no idea.

Travel to Russia

Mirrorman — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 22:57:48 GMT

See, so their actual plans have worked - they have prevented you from travelling due to the system. Working perfectly for them.

Travel to Russia

Mirrorman — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 22:57:48 GMT

Of course I cannot prove it, but I would take a guess that you had a Green Notice sent out against you each time you notified you were leaving the country. These allow for a variety of different actions when you cross an international border, so perhaps they just asked for a discreet check, where you wouldn't even notice it.

I'd agree, give zero notification and limit all interactions with law enforcement.

Travel to Russia

BT — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 22:57:48 GMT

I think I'll take the advice & give it a miss. I would have liked to go to a concert out there, but it's not exactly life & death. Thanks all.

Travel to Russia

JohnL — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 22:57:48 GMT

Can you back up the above statement with fact?

I know of people who have travelled outside of the EU, including myself, who have not had a flag when entering or exiting those countries. Policies may have changed more recently, and we all know that the police can be slow at adopting their own new guidelines.

Anyway, as I said, in my opinion it's best to steer clear until you're not notifying at the very least.

Travel to Russia

Square — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 22:57:48 GMT

I don't know the answer, but the criminal justice system in Russia is... well... tough. As a result of this I would be very, very careful. Russian 'detention' looks quite scary!

Travel to Russia

Mirrorman — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 22:57:48 GMT

JohnL said...
It'll depend on your PPU, BT. Obviously Russia isn't in the EU and so a Schengen alert 36 flag won't come up, but if your PPU informs Interpol then a green notice will be issued, which signifies that the UK believe that you "are of potential harm to the public".

Not necessarily what you want flagging up in front of some Russians face who's spoiling for a fight.

I don't say this lightly, as I think it's adherent that we should change plans because of past mistakes, but I'd steer clear until your notification time is up.

Do not be naive, there is absolutely no 'if'. The notification/alert is sent out for anyone who has to notify. Anything they can do, they will do.

BT I don't know if you would have any troubles at all with getting it, but you would have to deal with the reality that you will be going to a country where they have already been told by your own country that you are a risk, a danger to others and you are travelling to their country with the intention of committing further crimes.

Do you want to be entering into Russia and have a Russian border guard see this flash up on his screen? What do you think the next course of action would be? They have option of gathering discreet intelligence or they can stop you, question you and deny you entry into their country.

These laws are to completely discourage travel without falling foul of any human rights and they are very effective.

Travel to Russia

JohnL — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 22:57:48 GMT

It'll depend on your PPU, BT. Obviously Russia isn't in the EU and so a Schengen alert 36 flag won't come up, but if your PPU informs Interpol then a green notice will be issued, which signifies that the UK believe that you "are of potential harm to the public".

Not necessarily what you want flagging up in front of some Russians face who's spoiling for a fight.

I don't say this lightly, as I think it's adherent that we should change plans because of past mistakes, but I'd steer clear until your notification time is up.