“Novaya Gazeta Europe” reports that Castle spoke about this on his YouTube channel.
Castle says that before moving to Russia he served in the U.S. Army and has combat experience in Afghanistan. According to him, all this time he lived in the country on a tourist visa, and over four years he managed to get married, buy an apartment, acquire land, and start building a house.
In October 2025, Castle claims, his son was born. He also said that attempts to obtain legal status were accompanied by changing requirements.
At first, according to Castle, a residence permit could be obtained on the basis of marriage to a Russian citizen. Then, he said, they began to require several years of marriage and a common child, and in November 2025 a new decree appeared.
According to Castle, this decree stipulates that to have one’s candidacy considered for the right of residence, permanent residence permit, or citizenship, one must complete military service or confirm that the person is unfit for it. He added that after the birth of his son he cannot imagine taking part in a war again.
Castle also said that the current visa in his U.S. passport expires in December and he does not intend to renew it. Instead, he plans to go to Mongolia and request a family visa in his Mexican passport at the Russian representative office.
He stated that he no longer wants to enter Russia on a U.S. passport because such entries raise additional questions and suspicions. Castle does not plan to take part in the program for foreigners who share “traditional values”, since, according to him, he did not leave the U.S. for ideological reasons.
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