Way to Russia Talk Lounge

Sammy · Just Starting Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Posts: 2

Good Morning:

My family and I are planning a Trip to Russia, from Toronto, to visit my-laws. My Mother, Father, Wife, and myself are all going together. My in-laws in St. Petersburg arranged for Private Invitations for the three of us, stating the dates of July 15th 2004until September 15th 2004. We followed the instructions for filling out the Private VISA application, one of them was to write a letter stating when we are leaving, and when we would be coming back, and with whom we are travelling where.
My father had to do the same day processing to get his VISA, only because he needs it to travel every day. My Mom and myself we went for the 14 days processing option.
When we received our passports back, the wrong return dates were on the VISA's. My said that i had to return before August 30th, and my mom's was August 28th.
My question is, how do i go about getting the dates changed to September 15th???
As things go right now, only my father, and my wife will be going to Russia, since we are not leaving until September 1st 2004.

Any help would be very much appreciated.
Thanks,
Sammy

Sammy · Just Starting Joined: 05 Jul 2004 Posts: 2

Well, i finally got a hold of somone at the Consulate in Toronto, and he agreed that the invitation was valid from June 15th until September 15th. Even though my VISA has a due date of August 30th. Then he gave me the run around by saying that my VISA is only valid for 45 days, and that they followed their procedure properly. Even though, on the website http://www.toronto.mid.ru/ , under private invitations, that it says not to exceed 90 days, which the invitation doesn't, also, he was trying to explain to me that my father got a different private invitation then my mom and myself. In the end of the conversation, i was very frustrated, i felt like he is just giving me the run around and doesn't want to fix the error on the VISA's.
What else can i do?
Thanks,

WayToRussia · Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 10:18 pm Post subject:

Unfortunately Russian consulates are not very friendly. You could come there in person again and try to make them change the dates in your visa (or issue a new one). Another option would be to travel before 28 August to Latvia, and get a next day Russian visa there for $115 US (it would be valid for 1 month).