Home
The most popular online travel guide to Russia, since 2001.
  • Register
Welcome to Way To Russia Q&A Talk Lounge where you can get help about Russian visa, trains, travel and any other information you need from our community. For a faster response, you can contact us on Twitter using @waytorussia.

This free independent travel guide to Russia exists thanks to the commission we get when you order these endorsed third-party services or when you buy our book. Please, support us!
 

 

Get Our Book:

Our 780-page PDF e-book includes all the essential info you need while you're in Russia. Take it with you on your phone, computer or USB stick.

• Moscow & St. Petersburg guides
• Off-the-beaten track locations
• Getting a Russian visa with no ties
• Traveling Trans-Siberian on the budget
• Russian alphabet and phrasebook
• 200 pages on Russian culture and customs


BUY NOW  
or learn more about the book...
 
 
 
 


 

Russian Visas From Manila?

+1 vote
Hi guys - This is my first post.

So!
As many people know the Philippines is one of the most corrupt places in the world.
I am applying for a 3-year tourist visa for Russia via the Russian Consulate in Manila, Philippines.

I took a loooooooong trip last week and was turned away because they said that this specified day is only for Russian citizens.
Which was completely the Opposite of what it said on the Embassy/Consulate website.
And there is no good contact number available anywhere for them, so a person is just forced to come to Manila from whatever province they are living in (through hellacious traffic - worst in the world), and cross their fingers.

So I was turned away, but before I left, the front desk guy told me that they "don't issue 3 year visas."
I assured him I'm a US citizen & yes US citizens can get that kind of visa.
He was Filipino & I think he only cares about the rules applying to fellow Filipinos, he was basically just trying to discourage me in any way he could, and obviously didn't even know what he was talking about.

So I have to take that looooooong trip from the province again this coming week to Manila (to the Russian Consulate) and hoping I can get the 3-year tourist visa that I require.
And yes I have followed all the instructions from this website (and from other sites) very carefully.
I got all my ducks in a row, dotted my I's, crossed my T's.

My question, if you can please fill me in...

Has anyone had any experience getting Russian visas from Manila?  Did you have many problems?  And for any kind of shorter visa I don't think you would have a problem.  But for the 3-year visa that American citizens ARE QUALIFIED for.... I don't think believe they come across many of these applications in Manila.
Going into this I have a bad feeling, with the level of corruption & Constant shakedowns of white foreigners here, I think they are going to really hassle me.
Or just turn me away - to make me go back to the province yet again, redo my application and get a short month-long visa, which is just not long enough for me.

Any feedback is much appreciated, thank you.
asked Dec 24, 2019 in Russian Visa by Bob Cobb (130 points)

Please log in or register to answer this question.

...