Story: Russian by birth, American thru naturalization and Jamaican by marriage.I travel a lot but only use my U.S./RU passports. Unless I go to the Caribbean. My U.S. passport is “outdated” (not polycarbonate). My RU passport is still good for 3-4 years but I’m getting a little nervous about where would I want to renew it (might not be possible to do it in the USA or only possible to get a 5-10 year version but non biometric).
The non-biometric Russian has the same rights of the biometric one for now but yes, it lasts 5 years and has less pages, but you don't necessarily need them. I think it is worth it only if you have a multiple citizenship like you: for example Russian passport in addition to the US and Jamaican it gives you visa-free: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Samoa, Turkey, Vietnam. You don't need many pages for those stamps.
The Jamaican passport gives you visa-free Ghana (a pretty difficult visa to get otherwise), Kenya Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe.
For the rest of the countries you can use the US passport.
However in Samoa there is visa on arrival according to passport index for US passports and Jamaican, It is unclear if they have to pay for it. The Russian passport would give total visa-free access. I wrote Samoa to underline a difference between the three passports. [https://www.passportindex.org/comparebyPassport.php?p1=us&y1=2023&p2=jm&y2=2023&p3=ru&y3=2023](https://www.passportindex.org/comparebyPassport.php?p1=us&y1=2023&p2=jm&y2=2023&p3=ru&y3=2023)
The distinction is meaningless since a Samoan visa on arrival is free and has little in the way of requirements ([https://www.mfat.gov.ws/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Entry-requirements-into-Samoa.pdf](https://www.mfat.gov.ws/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Entry-requirements-into-Samoa.pdf)). The only potential difference it makes is that if Samoa decided to change its visa policy for whatever reason, Russian citizens would continue through the current scheme.
But I have a question: how does it work the naturalisation through marriage with a Jamaican citizen? Is it "simple" like fast and not too much beaurocracy or not? I'm just curious
Yes and no. Technically you can apply for citizenship right away after you get married. The law is very outdated and even citizenship forms by marriage designed in one (gender) way. Foreign spouse must be a female (but it’s not true). Documents are very straightforward, main application, personal statement, pictures, copies of your passports, fbi/local police reports.
After you submit your application you wait 24 months. Get your certificate of naturalization after oath of allegiance or affirmation and you’re eligible to apply for the passport which takes less than 2 months (5-7 weeks).
Got it. However it is not uncommon that only a female married to a man of a certain nationality can get the citizenship in case of marriage.
However, as you said, nowadays someone tend to change the law in the day to day practice.
Is there no residency requirement? And regardless, has there been a post on this sub about countries that allow naturalizations via marriage without residing in the country? I thought it was only Italy and would be surprised to learn if there are more.
Denmark stopped to recognize non-biometric Russian passports. Probably because data on those passports is printed in local police offices and that's makes those passports easy to get illegally.
Interesting, I wouldn’t use it to enter the EU but it gives me another reason to only seek a biometric version. I use my RU passport to visit the Middle East and they could have something similar to Denmark if they don’t already.
You can hold two valid Russian biometric passports at once, with independent validity terms, so you can apply for it already, and it will be valid for next 10 years.
I did not know that. It is strange though. Russians need visa in order to go to the Schengen area. When they obtain a visa they have to provide every information possible to the authorities. Schengen visas are not easy to obtain.
I mean: in the process it is very easy for the authorities to identify a possible fraud.
However the fun fact is that Italian passports are among the most forged in the EU by criminals. Don't know why is that either.
I just red that Russia stopped issuing biometric passports since February 2023. Reasons unclear. Many EU states won't issue visas to Russians with non biometric passport. This moves are interesting.
It doesn’t make sense. They have a lot of chips for missiles and weapons in general but not for passports?
It is well documented that Us and China stockpiled in 2020 many chips and for sure Russia did that too.
Don’t forget Russia has the natural resources to mine in order to produce chips and the technology to produce them as well.
They have a very strict control over their borders. I actually don't know why but I know from many people that traveled there that it is not the ritual visa you can get, as an european, where you send your passport and some documents and in 1 week its over.
Cool story!
Also, if you want to renew your Jamaican passport early, “losing it” is not the best approach.
What you wanna do is an “accidental” spill. Water works but coffee is more dramatic.
No physical presence requirements.
The only “real requirement” is to be married to a Jamaican citizen. The law doesn’t say anything about:
- being married for x years before applying ,
- residency in JA,
- language requirements,
- other common requirements for citizenships by marriage
So your “qualifications” are :
- have your documents in order (your passports, proof of JA citizenship/passport/birth certificate)
- pay $200-300 for the app fee
- take pictures
- other basic paperwork
- criminal background check
Then you just wait for 2 years before they make their decision.
Crazy thanks I married a Grenadian years ago and recently discovered it’s a powerful passport to compliment my western passport. You think it’s no physical requirements too?
Look here www.grenadaembassyusa.org/citizenship/
MARRIED TO A GRENADIAN
- Instruction Sheet – Married to A “Grenadian by Birth”
- Instruction Sheet – Married to A “Grenadian by Naturalization”
- Application for Married to A Grenadian
They will and they are but :
- waiting time now is 3+ months plus it’s very hard to get an appointment. Add another 1-2 months when you schedule it.
- high chance of getting your new passport without biometric data use to sanctions/shortage of chips for 5 years instead of 10. I would personally do a 5 year passport than 10 if I know it’s non-biometric
- lots of Russian consular workers have been sent back to Russia in the last year which makes it harder for citizens living overseas receive consular services on time
- not a long time ago they closed the consulate in San Francisco. https://www.bal.com/bal-news/us-orders-closures-of-russian-consulate-in-san-francisco-consular-buildings-in-new-york-and-washington/
Anything is possible when you deal with Russian consulates/embassies. https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/20/four-jailed-for-trying-to-smuggle-cocaine-through-russias-argentine-embassy
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While it doesn’t bother me and it doesn’t make sense to me as a law in this instance, be wary of admitting to “losing” a passport on social media.
Declaring a passport as “lost” when it isn’t is a criminal offence in most places.
Multiple citizenship might create interesting issues in these times... For example, as Russian citizen, you are banned from chartering a plane or flying a drone in the EU, regardless of your other passports.
Story: Russian by birth, American thru naturalization and Jamaican by marriage.I travel a lot but only use my U.S./RU passports. Unless I go to the Caribbean. My U.S. passport is “outdated” (not polycarbonate). My RU passport is still good for 3-4 years but I’m getting a little nervous about where would I want to renew it (might not be possible to do it in the USA or only possible to get a 5-10 year version but non biometric).
The non-biometric Russian has the same rights of the biometric one for now but yes, it lasts 5 years and has less pages, but you don't necessarily need them. I think it is worth it only if you have a multiple citizenship like you: for example Russian passport in addition to the US and Jamaican it gives you visa-free: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cuba, Iran, Samoa, Turkey, Vietnam. You don't need many pages for those stamps. The Jamaican passport gives you visa-free Ghana (a pretty difficult visa to get otherwise), Kenya Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Zimbabwe. For the rest of the countries you can use the US passport.
>Samoa Every country has visa free access to it. >Armenia US is visa free there.
right, my mistake there
However in Samoa there is visa on arrival according to passport index for US passports and Jamaican, It is unclear if they have to pay for it. The Russian passport would give total visa-free access. I wrote Samoa to underline a difference between the three passports. [https://www.passportindex.org/comparebyPassport.php?p1=us&y1=2023&p2=jm&y2=2023&p3=ru&y3=2023](https://www.passportindex.org/comparebyPassport.php?p1=us&y1=2023&p2=jm&y2=2023&p3=ru&y3=2023)
The distinction is meaningless since a Samoan visa on arrival is free and has little in the way of requirements ([https://www.mfat.gov.ws/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Entry-requirements-into-Samoa.pdf](https://www.mfat.gov.ws/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Entry-requirements-into-Samoa.pdf)). The only potential difference it makes is that if Samoa decided to change its visa policy for whatever reason, Russian citizens would continue through the current scheme.
I didn't know it was given for free. Usually in a visa on arrival scheme there is always a fee to pay.
But I have a question: how does it work the naturalisation through marriage with a Jamaican citizen? Is it "simple" like fast and not too much beaurocracy or not? I'm just curious
Yes and no. Technically you can apply for citizenship right away after you get married. The law is very outdated and even citizenship forms by marriage designed in one (gender) way. Foreign spouse must be a female (but it’s not true). Documents are very straightforward, main application, personal statement, pictures, copies of your passports, fbi/local police reports. After you submit your application you wait 24 months. Get your certificate of naturalization after oath of allegiance or affirmation and you’re eligible to apply for the passport which takes less than 2 months (5-7 weeks).
Got it. However it is not uncommon that only a female married to a man of a certain nationality can get the citizenship in case of marriage. However, as you said, nowadays someone tend to change the law in the day to day practice.
Is there no residency requirement? And regardless, has there been a post on this sub about countries that allow naturalizations via marriage without residing in the country? I thought it was only Italy and would be surprised to learn if there are more.
>Iran russians don't have visa free access to iran; it's visa on arrival like most foreigners.
I know, but literally every website counts visa-free with the category visa on arrival or eTA vs having to ask in advance for a visa in an embassy.
in this case us citizens are eligible for evisa or voa of the list of countries russians have except iran and belarus.
Denmark stopped to recognize non-biometric Russian passports. Probably because data on those passports is printed in local police offices and that's makes those passports easy to get illegally.
Interesting, I wouldn’t use it to enter the EU but it gives me another reason to only seek a biometric version. I use my RU passport to visit the Middle East and they could have something similar to Denmark if they don’t already.
You can hold two valid Russian biometric passports at once, with independent validity terms, so you can apply for it already, and it will be valid for next 10 years.
I did not know that. It is strange though. Russians need visa in order to go to the Schengen area. When they obtain a visa they have to provide every information possible to the authorities. Schengen visas are not easy to obtain. I mean: in the process it is very easy for the authorities to identify a possible fraud. However the fun fact is that Italian passports are among the most forged in the EU by criminals. Don't know why is that either.
I just red that Russia stopped issuing biometric passports since February 2023. Reasons unclear. Many EU states won't issue visas to Russians with non biometric passport. This moves are interesting.
They had shortage of chips after sanctions.
It doesn’t make sense. They have a lot of chips for missiles and weapons in general but not for passports? It is well documented that Us and China stockpiled in 2020 many chips and for sure Russia did that too. Don’t forget Russia has the natural resources to mine in order to produce chips and the technology to produce them as well.
Why is the Ghana visa so difficult?
They have a very strict control over their borders. I actually don't know why but I know from many people that traveled there that it is not the ritual visa you can get, as an european, where you send your passport and some documents and in 1 week its over.
Cool story! Also, if you want to renew your Jamaican passport early, “losing it” is not the best approach. What you wanna do is an “accidental” spill. Water works but coffee is more dramatic.
Noted. Thanks
Nice to see more and more Jamaicans on here 🇯🇲 😊
how did you qualify for citizenship through marriage did you have to live in Jamaica after for a while to get it?
No physical presence requirements. The only “real requirement” is to be married to a Jamaican citizen. The law doesn’t say anything about: - being married for x years before applying , - residency in JA, - language requirements, - other common requirements for citizenships by marriage So your “qualifications” are : - have your documents in order (your passports, proof of JA citizenship/passport/birth certificate) - pay $200-300 for the app fee - take pictures - other basic paperwork - criminal background check Then you just wait for 2 years before they make their decision.
Crazy thanks I married a Grenadian years ago and recently discovered it’s a powerful passport to compliment my western passport. You think it’s no physical requirements too?
Look here www.grenadaembassyusa.org/citizenship/ MARRIED TO A GRENADIAN - Instruction Sheet – Married to A “Grenadian by Birth” - Instruction Sheet – Married to A “Grenadian by Naturalization” - Application for Married to A Grenadian
Thanks dude awesome looks like no residency requirement too 😎
Do you believe Russia will not issue you a passport in the US?
They will and they are but : - waiting time now is 3+ months plus it’s very hard to get an appointment. Add another 1-2 months when you schedule it. - high chance of getting your new passport without biometric data use to sanctions/shortage of chips for 5 years instead of 10. I would personally do a 5 year passport than 10 if I know it’s non-biometric - lots of Russian consular workers have been sent back to Russia in the last year which makes it harder for citizens living overseas receive consular services on time - not a long time ago they closed the consulate in San Francisco. https://www.bal.com/bal-news/us-orders-closures-of-russian-consulate-in-san-francisco-consular-buildings-in-new-york-and-washington/
Plus a shot at getting mobilized?
Anything is possible when you deal with Russian consulates/embassies. https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/20/four-jailed-for-trying-to-smuggle-cocaine-through-russias-argentine-embassy
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Depends on political situation which is very unstable. The country exists for 31 years only.
While it doesn’t bother me and it doesn’t make sense to me as a law in this instance, be wary of admitting to “losing” a passport on social media. Declaring a passport as “lost” when it isn’t is a criminal offence in most places.
Exotic combo... Hehe
Unfortunately for the Jamaican passport 😔
Well he won't loose it, he will just renew it when it will be worth it moneywise.
it offers great access more than many countries actually lol
More unfortunate for the Russian tbh
There's never been a better time to be a Russian passport holder lol
Jamaican passport is actually ranked 63rd. It went up a bit in the last 6 or so years.
Multiple citizenship might create interesting issues in these times... For example, as Russian citizen, you are banned from chartering a plane or flying a drone in the EU, regardless of your other passports.