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Darby
Just Starting
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Posts: 2
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 Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 8:51 am Post subject: Applying for Russian Visa in Australia |
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Hi,
Myself and my wife are planning on taking the Trans Mongolian train from Beijing to Moscow from Aug 5th, we will also want to travel on to Helsinki to be there by Aug 26th or so. We are Irish citizens (Irish passports) travelling back from Australia, we have valid working visas for Australia for more than 90 days.
What exactly will we need to apply for the visa here in Australia? I saw that the Consulate in Sydney can be difficult and we should apply in Canberra, is this still the case?
If we get the documentation from Way to Russia will this be guaranteed to get us the visa if we go through the embassy in Canberra?
Finally, how long, roughly would it take for it to be processed once we send the application in?
Any info or advice much appreciated!
Many thanks! |
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nikir
Just Starting
Joined: 17 Mar 2010
Posts: 4
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| Posted: Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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To apply you will need and invitation and a valid passport. As you have a visa that entitles you to stay in Oz for more than 3 months you should be OK as far as getting your visa here.
Apply in either Sydney or Canberra, the Sydney consulate can be difficult to contact by phone if you have a query, other than that there is no problem with them.
There is never a guarantee that you will get a visa, there are factors apart from the invitation involved. If everything else is in order with your documentation though, there is no good reason not to get one.
Processing time varies from same day onwards, depending on how much you are willing to pay. |
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Darby
Just Starting
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Fri Jul 10, 2009 5:12 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for that info, had previously contacted the consulate in Sydney by e-mail. Will work away with the application to them!
Thank again! |
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BrianR
Frequent Guest
Joined: 12 Nov 2006
Posts: 58
Location: Sydney, Australia
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| Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 11:36 am Post subject: |
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| Darby wrote: | Thanks for that info, had previously contacted the consulate in Sydney by e-mail. Will work away with the application to them!
Thank again! |
I've done Visas through the Sydney Consulate twice - never had any problems. Just get your paperwork right, it should be easy.
(Disclaimer - I am an Australian Citizen, Australian passport - you may find it different.) |
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jarman_ah
Frequent Guest
Joined: 23 Jul 2009
Posts: 10
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 8:02 am Post subject: Advice (re visas) on dealing with the Sydney consulate |
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I'd really appreciate some advice from Aussies who have dealt with the Sydney consulate also. We're just starting the process, but my first visit there (a few days ago) wasn't exactly enlightening or encouraging... lots of grim faces, but I couldn't find anyone to actually talk to, and the one window open had a LONG queue which didn't move in a half-hour. I finally picked up my forms and quietly left.
I think what we have done is to put the cart before the horse... we jumped into a cheap air fare and bought the exit air ticket from Moscow without first looking at the visa rules. Flying in to Spain, we had planned to snake our way overland by train and bus as far as Tallinn, and from there bus across to St Petersburg, get an apartment or hotel for a couple of nights, train to Moscow, another apartment or hotel for another couple of nights, and then out. No travel agents, and no exorbitant costs. Simple? Well, it seemed so before I read the rules about letters of invitation and code numbers of certified tour operators.
Flight Centre has suggested we just put ourselves in the hands of one of the Sydney-based travel agents who operate all-inclusive tours, but their prices are frightening and the fact that we've already got our exit date fixed doesn't make things any easier (they don't have a great range of dates on offer).
I've just found this site, and so far what I've read right here seems encouraging... maybe there are ways to get the letter (and book our accommodation) right from here. But can the people with apartments to rent (or the cheap hotels) write these "letters of invitation"? What about itineraries while we're there? What will the Sydney Consulate say about this plan?
Any Aussies who've been through this before -- and surely we can't be the ONLY ones to have naively bought an air fare and then had a look at how we might get into the country to join the flight! -- might be able to give me some invaluable tips... even on the best way to use this website! I'd be very grateful indeed for any advice you can give. Thanks! Alan. |
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BrianR
Frequent Guest
Joined: 12 Nov 2006
Posts: 58
Location: Sydney, Australia
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| Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:20 am Post subject: Re: Advice (re visas) on dealing with the Sydney consulate |
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| jarman_ah wrote: | But can the people with apartments to rent (or the cheap hotels) write these "letters of invitation"? What about itineraries while we're there? What will the Sydney Consulate say about this plan?
Any Aussies who've been through this before -- and surely we can't be the ONLY ones to have naively bought an air fare and then had a look at how we might get into the country to join the flight! -- might be able to give me some invaluable tips... even on the best way to use this website! I'd be very grateful indeed for any advice you can give. Thanks! Alan. |
Last time I went, I used a tourist visa. In my case, my fiancee (now wife) got an invitation in St Petersburg from a travel agent (or similar) and posted it to me. I then simply filled in the application at the Sydney consulate, gave them those papers, some money, my passport and a couple of passport photos - really quite easy.
I understand that is the same type of invitation you can get via this WTR website. It should be good enough. Put together the itinerary based on the invitation, I'd guess (that said, my itinerary was extremely easy - SPb, Moscow, SPb)
Still, if you are worried by the Sydney Consulate reputation, you can always do it by mail with the Russian Embassy in Canberra.
Good Luck. It's a great place to visit (I'll be there next in October) |
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jarman_ah
Frequent Guest
Joined: 23 Jul 2009
Posts: 10
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 9:56 am Post subject: Visas for Aussies |
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Thanks, BrianR... that's rather comforting news, and very timely, as I was beginning to think (from my frosty reception at the consulate) that they didn't really care whether they got tourists or not. I'm sure it was just an unfortunate first impression.
I will read through the support letter application sets on this site very carefully, and see if I'm game to invest a bit of money "on spec". Meanwhile, if anyone else has recent experience with visa support letters obtained through this website, I'd be happy to hear about it. |
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