At Passport Control

Talking Points

What is an Immigration Card?

Text 4

A national Customs Service has many responsibilities. At its most basic level, its purpose is to regulate what comes into and goes out of a country. The foremost element of this regulation is controlling international trade. To support domestic businesses, governments impose tariffs, also called duty, on foreign goods coming into the country.

In addition to encouraging domestic trade, duty also gives the nation a “piece of the action” when somebody buys something produced overseas. Customs agencies are often major sources of revenue for the government. Customs agencies also monitor what is being exported from a country.

Exercise 14. Fill in the following gaps:

1. The purpose of the national Customs Service is __________.

2. To encourage domestic businesses the governments _________.

3. Customs are ________ for the federal budget.

4. International trade depends mostly on __________.

Exercise 15. Translate into Russian.

Foreigners are obliged to fill in the immigration card which will be given to them when they enter Russia. The immigration card is not complicated. It is important to fill in the name of the inviting company (written in Russian on the visa) and the address of the inviting company.

The Customs official takes one part of this card at the passport control, and the other part should be kept till the moment of departure and should be handed over to immigration officials on the border when leaving the country. It’s important to have the immigration card for visa registration!

The student should bring the part of immigration card to the Institute (in case he/she got the invitation letter from the Institute) to register the visa.

Exercise 16. Present your views on the following:

1. Customs agencies are often major sources of revenue for the government.

2. Going through passport and Customs formalities is a tiresome procedure.

3. Foreigners are obliged to fill in the immigration card which will be given to them when they enter Russia.

4. Travellers should get certificates for all high-value items purchased in Russia.

Exercise 17. Act out the conversation between an Immigration officer and a passenger.

“Do you have a return ticket?”

Immigration officer:	Good evening. Where have you come from?
Passenger:	...
Immigration officer:	May I have your passport and Customs form, please?
Passenger:	...
Immigration officer:	What’s the purpose of your visit? Business or pleasure?
Passenger:	...
Immigration officer:	How long are you going to stay in the Russian Federation?
Passenger:	...
Immigration officer:	What is your occupation?
Passenger:	...
Immigration officer:	Do you have a return ticket?
Passenger:	...
Immigration officer:	That’s fine. Thanks. Enjoy your trip.

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