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I met a girl from Russia and she wants to see Denmark. I told her to meet first in Moscow to know each other better - anyway she asked me for 500 Euro for an international passport (she never had one she says) and a visa for Denmark. All that could be finished within 14 days. I won't send the money anyway but is 14 days realistic for a NEW passport?

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    Where in the world did 500 EUR come from? Adding 'scam' tag.
    – Gayot Fow
    Feb 10, 2016 at 17:50
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    Here is what Wikipedia says. Sure sounds like a classic honey trap scam. Have you actually seen (real time) video of her, or could it be some big hairy Russian guy you've been talking to.
    – Spehro Pefhany
    Feb 10, 2016 at 17:51
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    She's obviously more interested in getting to Denmark than she is in being with you.
    – DJClayworth
    Feb 10, 2016 at 17:54
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    @user40035 to get a Schengen visa, you must submit an application to the appropriate consulate. I suppose it's possible for a travel agent to submit the application on your behalf. However, since a Russian passport seems to cost about EUR 40 and an urgent visa application for Denmark seems to cost about EUR 65 (see denmarkvac-ru.com) the figure of EUR 500 implies that your friend is scamming you or else the agent is overcharging and/or scamming her. I would approach with extreme caution if I were you.
    – phoog
    Feb 10, 2016 at 18:13
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    To the tune of the Monty spam song: Scam, scam, scam, scam! Lovely scam, wonderful scam!
    – David Richerby
    Feb 10, 2016 at 18:26

2 Answers 2

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If you apply by yourself: The waiting time for getting a International passport is 30 days if you apply in your city (where you're registered) and 120 days if you apply from another Russian city. Official source: https://www.gosuslugi.ru/pgu/service/10001970310_5.html#!_description

Just if you're going to funerals or if you need to be healed abroad urgently, a passport will be ready for you within 3 days.

It's cost 2000 rub (old type) or 3500 rub (new type) (for citizens over 14 years old) which is around 24 or 41 EUR (today)

But as @IMil mentioned, there are services which claim to get a passport done quicker.

For example: http://www.9954000.ru/cont/tarifi-na-oformlenie-zagranichnogo-pasporta-cns-8/#tarify2 offers it for 4-30 days, for extra 7000-25000 RUB (around 84-300EUR)

Scammers mostly targeting dating web-sites, therefore if the girl from a dating site asks for money it's very likely a scam, because it's a super popular scheme. Normal Russian girls won't ever ask for money, only gold-diggers and scammers.

Very often you're actually talking to a Russian guy who is sending you a very nicely prepared love messages with sexy girl pictures :)

I wouldn't recommend anyone to look for Russian girls on dating web-sites, better on some interest related web-resources where their reputation is proved by a community.

Even Better would be to come to a small city in Russia (Not Moscow or St.Petersburg), look around there and choose one ;) Though you better go for "English club" meetings or something like that, as not so many Russian girls in small cities speak English well. (You can find this kind of meetings and groups on vk.com or couchsurfing.com)

Remember there are Russians "earning" lots of money by fooling foreigners to send money for their tickets, passports and some medical operations for relatives and etc... Don't support scammers by sending them your money.

In the 90's most Russians got scammed at least once or twice, everyone is aware of scammers, but still Russian scammers easily scam Russians again and again. Fooling western people is super easy (because you didn't experience getting scammed as often as Russians). It's good for the Western world that aren't so many Russian scammers speak English yet.

P.S.: I Love Russia, I'm Russian.

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  • Strictly speaking, there are services which claim to get a passport done in a couple weeks: 9954000.ru/cont/… . This doesn't change the fact that what is going on is an obvious scam attempt.
    – IMil
    Feb 25, 2016 at 12:41
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    "the girl from a dating site" (emphasis by myself) - wait, where did that piece of information just come from?
    – O. R. Mapper
    Feb 27, 2016 at 19:54
  • @O.R.Mapper Mostly scam with "500 EUR" shows up on dating web-sites. I used to have a dating web-site ("Mamba" member), I know owners and users of other dating web sites. Many times I heard about the Russian girls asking money for tickets, for renting, for some trouble and etc. Usually scammers target only dating web-sites. Even if this happened not on a dating web-site, I still recommend not to look for Russian girls there.
    – Viacheslav Bakshaev
    Feb 27, 2016 at 22:02
  • @ViacheslavBakshaev: All right. In that case, the answer should state exactly that. As it stands, "the girl from a dating site" sounds like this is a part of the background information given by the OP.
    – O. R. Mapper
    Feb 27, 2016 at 22:18
  • @O.R.Mapper is it better now? (I'm newbie to express myself in English)
    – Viacheslav Bakshaev
    Feb 27, 2016 at 22:40
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Don't waste your time. 95% it's scam. 500 EUR is too much for a new passport and a visa. I'd not even bother going to Moscow to see her. It's good you're not going to send money.

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    Although Moscow would be worth a trip even if there is no girl.
    – Jan
    Dec 11, 2016 at 20:39

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