Did anyone went to Latvia recently

[Tommy2]

Hi,guys can anyone help me ,iwant to go to latvia for few days, i heard that the immgtation there is very anoying, is that true?any sugestions, iam on work permit here in ireland

[runie80]

And your reason to travel to Latvia is ?

[asrpb]

Hi,guys can anyone help me ,iwant to go to latvia for few days, i heard that the immgtation there is very anoying, is that true?any sugestions, iam on work permit here in ireland

Latvian Immigration can be bit annoying, depending on what Nationality you are.
If you are EU national then it should be fine.
But if you are non-EU and from visa exempt country, make sure you take a letter from Latvian embassy stating the same. Otherwise you might end up spending a while on immigration counter, wondering what's happening as most of them on counters don't speak English and there's a tradition of not explaining what's going on.

[joesoap101]

Who wants to become an illegal immigrant in Latvia anyway? Most of the country have left for better pay!

[Administrator]

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Shame that Tommy2 hasn't popped back in. I missed the original post, but if there is a warm body ready to respond ... I have a LOT to say about Latvia.

However, a person interested will have to give some information regarding the purpose & duration of their stay, as well as their nationality.

Immigration here is still semi-Soviet in many cases. But, under some circumstances, it is fairly painless (in relation to the big picture of immigrating anywhere).

Just want to visit for a party? Or interested in working / residing?

Moved to European forum.

the Admin

[Wanderer]

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Shame that Tommy2 hasn't popped back in. I missed the original post, but if there is a warm body ready to respond ... I have a LOT to say about Latvia.

However, a person interested will have to give some information regarding the purpose & duration of their stay, as well as their nationality.

Immigration here is still semi-Soviet in many cases. But, under some circumstances, it is fairly painless (in relation to the big picture of immigrating anywhere).

Just want to visit for a party? Or interested in working / residing?

Moved to European forum.

the Admin

Do they use the term 'chornaya zhopa' in Latvia like they do in Russia?

[Administrator]

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I wouldn't know. Russian is not a language I intend to spend time learning. It's been a nightmare finding time to brush up on my high school German and try to begin Latvian.

I've got either two or three years to learn enough Latvian to qualify for permanent residency, and I'm rather hoping Russian will be a dead language here by then or soon after.



the Admin

[Wanderer]

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I wouldn't know. Russian is not a language I intend to spend time learning. It's been a nightmare finding time to brush up on my high school German and try to begin Latvian.

I've got either two or three years to learn enough Latvian to qualify for permanent residency, and I'm rather hoping Russian will be a dead language here by then or soon after.

:twisted:

the Admin

All the Baltic State people I see here are Russian speakers, perhaps they are more nomadic than the indigenous populace...

[Administrator]

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All the Baltic State people I see here are Russian speakers, perhaps they are more nomadic than the indigenous populace...

Pretty much anyone 25 & older speaks pretty decent, if not nearly native/fluent Russian.

Under 25 ... more and more speak broken or none. I teach English to 15 & 17 year-olds who don't speak Russian, or so poorly that they can just about manage traffic directions or buying things at the market.

The majority of working age people at the very least began their schooling in Russian-speaking schools, and some continued until they finished 12th form or entered the university.


That is no longer the standard case (especially in Latvia & Estonia). There are State schools that support the native language plus English as a second, with Russian still used by some of the older Soviet teachers (when they can get away with it). There is an entire second school system of 'private' Russian schools where Soviet decedents are indoctrinated into the Russian language and version of history (where the heroic Soviets saved the poor Baltic nations from Hitler and America ... and will return 'soon' to help the poor ignorants with kicking NATO out. It is pure altruism on the part of the infinitely kind and benevolent Russians, if ONLY the ignorant natives could wake up and see the Light ... ).

I still get students of 21 or 23 that are shocked (and I mean SHOCKED) by the use of the term "occupation" to describe the Soviet presence in the Baltics & East Europe. Every single one of them is the product of a Soviet household with very regimented indoctrination in Russian schools.

Those Russian schools get some subsidies from the governments via ex-Soviets (who are in the government) who funnel money to them, but increasingly it comes from 'private sources' (interests from Russia) ... and, increasingly, those schools are failing due to lack of resources. Yes, I have taught in some of those schools, and I have INTIMATE inside knowledge of the vermin running them).


A large percentage of "Baltic States" people who have left for jobs are people of Russian decent, no matter the citizenship they claim. Your personal experience/sampling is most probably rather skewed statistics.


I was being semi-sarcastic about Russian becoming a 'dead' language, but only semi.

The enclaves of Russian speakers grow smaller and more isolated each day. Largely they depend on criminal money from within these countries, or from interests within Russia.

It is an unstable relationship that is deteriorating. In ten to 15 years, Russian (the language) will be closer in parity to German and Swedish, unless 'something else' drastic happens.

Do not underestimate the seething hatred under the surface here for the Soviet occupation and rape of these countries. It is better contained but of similar intensity to the situation in Serbia & Kosovo between the Serbs & Albanians right now. I rarely use the term "hatred" lightly, and I am sure not doing so now. It is an emotion that travels in both directions ... the Russians here utterly hate the Latvians. Try to get a rational answer out of one of them .. and post about it. Because I haven't heard one yet.


Anyway, failing a manufactured 'incident,' hopefully the last of the Soviet filth will be washed from the system in another two decades. But, I'm not holding my breath ... a lot of the natives have discovered the benefits of wallowing in the Soviet-instilled corruption. It can be very profitable for people with no soul, no matter their ancestry.

And that corruption is an endemic component of all politics and business here.

Endemic.

the Admin

[stanik]

Russian laguage will never dead in Latvia!! NEVER!

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I wouldn't know. Russian is not a language I intend to spend time learning. It's been a nightmare finding time to brush up on my high school German and try to begin Latvian.

I've got either two or three years to learn enough Latvian to qualify for permanent residency, and I'm rather hoping Russian will be a dead language here by then or soon after.



the Admin