Way to Russia Talk Lounge

slud · Posted: Wed Jul 01, 2009 5:37 am Post subject: Update on San Francisco Consulate

I'm reporting success here. Contrary to what you may read on some websites, continuation forms ARE acceptable, at least in San Francisco. Never mind that they're absolutely necessary, given the very limited number of cells in the printed form, notwithstanding the specific instructions to put only one character in each cell. I couldn't even fit my father's full name into the space provided. Anyway, they accepted my forms, which had 2 pp of continuation for items too large to fit into the allotted space.

The other good news is that they specified that it would be ready in 6 business days for the lower price. This indicates to me that applications are way down, and, indeed, there was only one other person there when I arrived 5 min. before opening. Very different than 4 years ago, when the Visa section lobby was a madhouse.

One piece of bad news. They called me a few hours later to tell me that the fee would be $150, not $131, as is clearly indicated on the site for a double-entry business visa. I was in no mood to argue, so caved in, and got another $38 money order and spent $18 sending it up there by express mail. Getting a Russian visa is ALWAYS an adventure.

romdur · Lounge Lizard Joined: 03 Apr 2009 Posts: 144 Location: USA

slud,

Thanks for the follow-up posting. These are exactly the kinds of details that are so important to know, and can be so hard to find out!

I'm especially impressed by the fee business: I have read $131 in numerous places ever since April, out of the blue a different number!

If Russian travel has taught me anything, it is that nothing will go they way I expect.

sunny.ptl1 · Just Starting Joined: 16 Jun 2009 Posts: 2