I'm planning to visit St.Petersburg and Moscow this summer, on a student visa, and also visiting my friends that I've been corresponding with for over the past year. I have been giving serious thought to the idea of moving there permanently, and was wondering how would one go about doing this. I mean, does one have to have a job and/or residence lined up, as for example, if on my trip this summer, I were to find a job opportunity and an apartment, would I be able to change my visa status, or what? If anyone out there has gone through this process and moved there successfully, I would really appreciate some advice!!