mcbeth, davek1979
Thank you both for your replies, this is already very helpful.
I do still have a current multiple visit visa, so that's not really an issue at the moment.
However, I really do want to stay with my husband, therefore the inland application is my preferable choice.
I'm just trying to understand whether once we apply for the PR inland, do I have implied visitor status from that moment onwards or do I need to apply for an extension of my visitor status in parallel to the PR application?
I want to do is as properly as possible, even if it's more paperwork...
mcbeth, i sincerely think that moving the application services to Warsaw was probably for the best. I can only imagine how hard it must be to wait for you spouse, but it's still probably a much better chance than you would have with Moscow. I think that Eastern European countries are really trying to "prove" themselves in a sense and therefore perform at a slightly higher and more efficient level than Russia would. Just to give you an example, last year I applied for my new international passport and it took more approx. 3 months to get it instead of the "promised" maximum of 1 month. The reason for the wait? I had work experience outside of Russia. And they wouldn't accept anything from me that would have potentially accelerated the process (like original work permits and copies of my foreign ID cards during my time there), nope, just kept me hanging.
The thought of giving up travelling or family visits is, of course, a bit daunting, but at the same time I wouldn't even want to do that without my husband, so my priority is to stay with him.
davek1979, are there special separate applications for both the healthcare and open work permit, or just the work permit?