Russia clamps down on illegal immigration
Over 1 million foreigners may be denied entry to Russia for up to 10 years for overstaying legal term of residence.
MOSCOW
New immigration laws set to go into effect Jan. 10 will target foreign citizens who overstay the legal period of residence in Russia.
"Our information system shows that in the Russian Federation there are now nearly 3 million foreign citizens who have far exceeded the legal period of residency -- 90 days", Konstatin Romodanovsky, the head of Russia's Federal Migration Service (FMS), said in a statement to Interfax.
Romodanovsky said most of the immigrants come from the Commonwealth of Independent States, which is made up of nine former Soviet republics. Citizens of these countries are allowed to enter the Russian Federation without a visa for up to 90 days, with each visit no sooner than 180 days after the last one.
"These gentlemen have not bothered to apply to the FMS," he said. "They believe they may remain calm, unpunished, and most likely, that they can continue to earn. However, the information system of the FMS knows their names."
Those found to have stayed more than 120 days will barred from entry into Russia for three years. Those who have stayed more than 270 days will receive a five-year ban, and an illegal stay of over a year will result in a ten-year ban.
Romodanovsky had previously reported that, on the eve of 2015, migration to Russia had dropped by 70 percent. Most of that figure consisted of a drop in immigration from Central Asia, while migration to Russia from countries such as Ukraine and Moldova increased.
Over the past two years, Russia has barred over 1.2 million foreigners from entry into the country. The most common reasons cited were administrative offenses or violations of immigration regulations.
