mr2mk1g 10 #1 May 10, 2005 Just trying to sort out a visa for Russia next month. Their consulate website is so damn full of bureaucracy that I'm damned if I can figure out exactly what I need. Helpfully there isn't a single travel agent who knows anything about going to Russia and the embassy doesn't take phone calls. I know I need an invite... but the consulate website only lists that as a requirement for a Personal Visa... I would have assumed I needed a Tourist Visa.... which requires a whole load of other crap that I don't have because I've not used a travel agent. Looks to me like Kafka wrote the system. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stumpy 256 #2 May 10, 2005 Hey mat - you going to play with big Mil helicopters??? Cool..... Never try to eat more than you can lift Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dazzle 0 #3 May 10, 2005 Give cpoxon a pm - He's been in the last couple of years and was recently giving advice on visas to some others who are going out soon. He's in perris atm but is online enough to respond to a pm there are some "tricks" to getting it done Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 135 #4 May 10, 2005 you will need : -an invitation (delivered by the hotel where you are staying) -a visa form -a certain amount of money -very valid passport -a couple of pictures NO WAY you can have the visa without the invitation (stamped by some ministry in russia) You'll need time to have everything. Ask the place where you will be staying to obtain the invitation. Now think that visas are always a measure of reciprocity (or almost always). And if you have to go to London, think about a Siberian who has to go to the British embassy in Moscow...scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mr2mk1g 10 #5 May 10, 2005 Hmmm... that was all I was lead to believe I needed. If so I'm cool cos I have all those. My only concern is that the Russian consulate website says I need a couple of other things: Quote 4. An original Tourist Voucher from a British (Russian) travel agency stamped and signed by an authorized person. 5. A standard Tourist Confirmation (in Russian language) of acceptance from the authorized Russian travel agency or a hotel, registered with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The confirmation must contain the agency’s reference number and registration number. 6. A standard covering letter from your travel agency in the UK (for the tourist agents only). Now I'm figuring one of those must be the invitation... except the website refers to an invitation as "invitation" later on when listing the requirements of a private visa.... but as I said I would have presumed I needed a tourist visa rather than a private visa??? It's these last couple of items I'm confused about... anyone know what the hell are items 4, 5, and 6 are?? Or do people just use private visas? Yes Dave - off to russia to play with big helicopters. Should be fun. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piisfish 135 #6 May 10, 2005 the best would be to get in touch with a travel agency specialised in travels to Russia and they might be able to help you... But nothing is free... When we went there we got our invitations through the Swiss Center in St Petersburg.scissors beat paper, paper beat rock, rock beat wingsuit - KarlM Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Douva 0 #7 May 10, 2005 It's not too tough. I did it all a couple of years ago. You'll have to send a form to the hotel you're staying at and get an invitation. Then you'll have to send that invitation, a visa application, and your passport to a Visa office, preferably through a pasport agency. They'll mail back your passport with the new visa in a couple of weeks. I think the Visa is just under $150.I don't have an M.D. or a law degree. I have bachelor's in kicking ass and taking names. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pack40 0 #8 May 11, 2005 Much better and easier in my opinoin to ask for a business visa. You will still need -an invitation letter from the inviting company (actually they send the inviatation letter to the Interior (?) Ministry in Russia and the Ministry issues a A5 size brown official invitation letter) -valid passport -photos -visa application form You can ask for one-month (single entry, multiple-entry), 3-month (single entry, multiple-entry), 1-year visas (multiple entry). For the 1-year you need an AIDS/HIV test. BUT they won't ask you for hotel-reservation, tickets etc. IMPORTANT once you are in Russia in 3-days you have to register at the police. Usually the hotel is doing where you are staying. Do not forget this, unless you want to enf up in jail or want to have HUGE problems when leaving Russia. How can you ask for a business visa? Many Russian companies offer such services aranging business visas. OFF-TOPIC When last time I was in Russia an MVD Trooper aksed for my documents, he was not even interested in my photo in my passport just looked at the "registration paper" which is a little paper put into you password with a stamp on it. OVER Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Joellercoaster 6 #9 May 11, 2005 Depending on your Russian, this can all be a massive pain in the arse to do for yourself. They really do (apparently) check with the cops to make sure you're staying in the hotel you said you were staying at, and the hotel will take your passport for the duration of your stay to make sure. In the end, we threw up our hands and dropped some money on a tour company nominally based in Russia but actually run by (in partnership with?) Australians. They sorted all our accommodation for us, and were handily able to provide the invitation/cover letter too. Depending on what you want to do, of course. We were just rubbernecking across from Mongolia to Moscow on the train, paying for their standard services along the way - they might not be so keen to organise someone's skydiving holiday. [edit: This was a Tourist-class visa, if that changes anything.]-- "I'll tell you how all skydivers are judged, . They are judged by the laws of physics." - kkeenan "You jump out, pull the string and either live or die. What's there to be good at? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #10 May 11, 2005 QuoteAnyone know about Russian visas?? Besure to have it with you, since they don't take American Experess. (sorry couldn't resist, and this *is* Bonfire).--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
airtwardo 6 #11 May 11, 2005 Don't know about the UK...but there are a few ways to do it from the colonies. The 'invitation' is a must, but it doesn't have to be issued by a 'travel agent' or even a hotel. If you know someone there they can assist at considerable less $ output. Basically, they want to know 'about' where you are and how to get a hold of you...if you have a 'local' contact, that's good enough. I don't give up my passport for anyone to 'hold' A US passport is wirth thousands there...a holel will want to see it but don't let them have it. Money... US currency is the gold standard there for a lot of things. New bills though, the older ones have been funny money copied there...they want the latest issue. don't change money anywhere but a currency exchange...there are specialized places and banks...they give the best rate, never at the Hotel!and sometimes the 'street vendors' that offer to exchange your $ at a highter rate are giving ya Russian funny money. ~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ernguru 0 #12 May 13, 2005 Mat Dude I'm in Moscow at the moment. Work sorted out my visa. Try this link that I got off the Aerograd website. http://www.eyevista.ru/ The standard money in high class hotels etc is dollars everywhere else is rubles. I have used dollars once for a taxi ride $20 (500 rubles) I did the same journey the next day and instead of getting a taxi from the airport I took one from the street and paid 150 rubles. Learn a few russian words the most important one I have found so far is spasiba Thank You or Spasiba bal'shoye Thank You very much. It will make life a lot friendlier. One other thing you might struggle to get rubles out of a cash machine so when it asks the language put in russian and you can kind of guess what the buttons mean if you go for english you sometime will be offered rubles but will not get them. When you buy anything in rubles divide by 50 to get the pound value. ₤1 = 50 rubles or py If you need any other info then pm me. I'm hoping weather permitting to be at Aerograd this weekend. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bobsled92 0 #13 May 13, 2005 Staso is now a U.S. citizen from Russia. He could help out alot._______________________________ If I could be a Super Hero, I chose to be: "GRANT-A-CLAUS". and work 365 days a Year. http://www.hangout.no/speednews/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Plummets 0 #14 May 13, 2005 It is very very easy. I went to Kolomna last year and didn't use a travel agent. Just speak to Chris Watkins at www.realrussia.net . They will sort out everything for you, it will take about one week thats all. I think you pay about £40 for the service but it really is worth it. "Life is a bowl of deadly nightshade, stay way way out on the rim brother" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vt1977 0 #15 May 13, 2005 Matt - give Lee King (barman at Nethers) a call. He was sorting out visas for a big group who are going out there later this month and should be able to point you in the right direction. PM me if you need his number. Vicki Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
