Wikileaks informer and ex-NSA contractor Edward Snowden has applied for temporary asylum in Russia on Tuesday according to the Russian Federal Migration Service.

Konstantin Romodanovsky, the head of FMS reported that the agency had received Snowden’s application on Tuesday.

Unlike standard political asylum, temporary asylum is granted for only a period of one year, but can be renewed as many times as necessary. It also differs in that temporary asylum would not have to be determined by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, but by the Federal Migration Service. It can take up to three months to gain approval from the service.

Snowden, who has been marooned in the transit area of Moscow’s International Airport since his arrival there on June 23rd, is hoping to secure protection from the Russian government only as long as it takes to safely travel to Latin America to one of three countries that have voiced that they would take him in.

Without asylum, Snowden cannot leave the transit zone of the airport onto Russian soil. With asylum, he will be able to travel and work freely in Russia as well as obtain documentation to travel to a different country if he so chooses.

Putin said Snowden’s case is “in limbo right now,” but that he expects he will leave for another country “as soon as he has an opportunity to move elsewhere.” Putin pointed out that the United States had frightened many of the countries that Snowden had applied for asylum into not accepting him.

Putin stated that despite the Snowden incident, he hoped that the United States and Russian relations will continue to develop in a positive manner.

Russian officials say that Snowden now may be moved to another area within the airport set aside for refugees.