Way to Russia Talk Lounge

Jebber45 · Frequent Guest Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 17

Hey everyone,

Just a couple quick questions on filling out my Visa form (for US citizens via the Washington DC embassy)

I just received my invitation/voucher from IntelService (I bought through waytorussia.net)

A have a question on what to put for a couple of line items on the visa application:

1. Russian institution or organization to be visited (name and address,
phone, fax number, E-mail (if known), name of contact person) .. I am going for purely tourism -- would this just be a "N/A" response?

2. . Name, address and phone number of person or hotel in Russia
that you plan to stay with ... We have booked accommodation independently, and are staying in a rented apartment. But obviously, that is not what is on our invitation/voucher -- So not sure what to put here? The hotel we are "booked" in for voucher purposes, or the place that we will actually be staying in?

Thanks so much for your help!

danbrew · Posted: Thu Jun 26, 2008 4:02 pm Post subject:

Put the hotel you're "booked" in for both.

Smile

Jebber45 · Frequent Guest Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Posts: 17

Thanks! I actually just heard back from the tour operator that issued my invitation. They said for institution I should leave blank as that is only if you are getting a business visa.

For hotels, they said to put the name of the hotel on the invitation.. And said that an address/phone number was not necessary. (as there is no contact info for the hotels on my invitation)

waytogohome · Just Starting Joined: 16 Jul 2008 Posts: 2

I am in Laos planning to travel overland to Beijing to catch the Trans-Mongolian to Moscow. This website states that although it is not possible to obtain a Russian visa in Beijing...

The consulate in Shanghai issues Russian visas for everybody, including travelers. The consulates are OK with issuing tourist visas for up to 1 month long. It is recommended to apply at the Russian consulate in Shanghai. Everything else is fine.

...but the lonely planet thorntree and the Russian consulate state that this is no longer the case.

can somebody please advise? Thanks.

Apokryphos · Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 8:49 am Post subject: Staying with a friend...

Sorry, I seen this question asked somewhat but didn't see an answer.
I plan on visiting a friend in St. Petersburg, in December. I'll apply for my Visa and go through all the red-tape starting next week.

Will I need to reserve a hotel, or what not...even if I will be staying with my friend in her apartment?

I did read, that I would need to register with Police...

Some clarification needed please...

Thanks.

~Casey~

sarasvati00 · Just Starting Joined: 31 Mar 2009 Posts: 2

I applied today in Sydney for a Double Entry Business visa, with a printout of the invitation and a correctly filled out application form. I was asked questions about what particular type of business I was going to be conducting in Russia, which I was unable to answer as the sponsering companies name on my letter is in Russian, and I can't translate this!

I was told that is was clear I was applying for a business visa to travel as a tourist, and that it is a federal offence in both Australia and Russia to do this. I was handed back all of my documents and told to leave.

I only have 3 weeks left to apply for my visa- what should I do? Is this just Sydney being difficult, should I post it to Canberra? Do I need a cover letter? Should I just give up all together?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Renni · Just Starting Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 2

Hi! I have already bought the visa support papers over waytorussia and got them by e-mail.

Do I need the originals of the support papers to apply for a tourist visa in Switzerland? Or are they only needed to apply for a business visa?
I'm planing to apply at the Russian consulate in Bern.

If I need the originals of the support papers, how do I get them?

David T · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 11:13 pm Post subject:

hi!
Russian consulate requires original invitations only for multiple entry visa.
Look here : http://www.switzerland.mid.ru/rusbotschaft/einreise_fr.htm

Renni · Just Starting Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Posts: 2

Thanks David!
You were right. A copy was enough for a tourist visa.
I just got the visa Very Happy

David T · Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 10:56 pm Post subject:

I'm glad for you!
Enjoy your stay in wonderful Russia, and please drop a line when you'll be back!

ssokol91 · Just Starting Joined: 16 Jun 2009 Posts: 7

Visa Processing Fees and Time in Russian Embassy in US have been changed.

For single entry visas are:
$131 for 4-20 business days processing;
$250 for 3 business days processing;
For double entry visas are:
$131 for 4-20 business days processing;
$250 for 3 business days processing;

sajjad

Dear Sir,
we are pakistani national and want to visit kaliningrad. Kindly tell us that can we visit Kaliningrad on russian visa, Or we have to take any other permission after getting russian visa to visit kaliningrad.

William A. Rose · Just Starting Joined: 21 Jul 2009 Posts: 1

Hi folks. I'm new here. Not understanding some things. Of course, it has to do with a possible or probably scam, and so it's not allowed.

I guess I can ask this: If a woman wants to visit the USA, has made flight arrangements for 6 months round trip from Moscow, paid it all to a travel agency, completed a visa interview, when she goes to pick up her tickets, will someone demand that she show them over $2000 in hard currency before they give the tickets? I am betting the answer is no.

David T · Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:38 am Post subject:

Hi!
the answer is of course no. Nobody will ever ask (airport, customs, police, embassy) a person to show hard currency. The person has to prove he has a place to live and enough money (bank account) to live.
check the US embassy page, there's an e-mail where you can check if your girl has got a US visa or not.
But a girl which asks money IS a scam...

elikoa · Just Starting Joined: 28 Jul 2009 Posts: 1

Hi all, hope this is the correct place to post, didn't want to open a thread all for myself...
Well, I'm literally DESPERATE.

Back in May, I booked myself into a Russian language course at Uni of St Petersburg. I have been to Moscow before, I speak Russian half-decently, just to say that I know my stuff.

To this day, I got no invitation. I was due to leave last week and moved my flight but the only option was in two weeks' time. I have been calling this school every day for the past week, they know of my situation, they have not provided me with any explanation for the delay, they're irritating the hell out of me. And no it's not a scam, I personally know people who have been there and I have not paid any money to them, so they have no interest in delaying me, they'd actually lose a student cos I am likely not to go at all.

So my plan B is, get a tourist visa and just go for a week, no language class, just tourism, mostly not to lose out on the flight I bought.
So I was thinking of using this site but well, even if I know my Internet, I am still not sure I can trust it, and well I know a lot of users can tell me they had a good experience but how do I trust it? it seems too good to be true, getting invitation on one day and for such little money (I was suggested to do that through a local agency here, which would cost me like 200 euros and take two weeks...).

Secondly, I am an Italian citizen currently stuck in my home town (where I don't live permanently) because of the flight I had to miss. I would apply for visa in Milan. Their website says they want the original of the invitation (I did call them to make sure and they were not able to give me a definite answer (!), I emailed and they said a copy is enough. I am so stressed it's unreal for just a holiday I decide to take with a big sense of guilt for the money and time I was investing in it.

The Milan Consulate website also says the invitation needs a stamp from the hotel, and the hotel needs to be registered with the Italian Foreign Affairs service... Basically, I am kind of doubting that getting something through this website, even if it works, would be suitable for an Italian citizen... even if the FAQ says it's all fine in Milan...

I am also, as many others, vaguely concerned about the "fake" hotel thing, my Russian friend does it for her American boyfriend all the time and suggested me this way... But I'm not going to pay for a real hotel, can't afford it, I want to stay at hostels (or even considering Couchsurfing but hmm). I'm only visiting St Petersburg anyway.

Any ideas? Should I try my luck with this site as it's my very last chance? Or is it more catered towards American citizen and whatever Consulates in the US really want? Thanks in advance for any tips or sharing ideas, I am jut so frustrated and wondering why the hell I put myself through this...