Russia - VisaHQ is an impressive visa assistance companies

I used VisaHQ for the first time and have to say I am impressed with their process.

Their online software is clean, simple and easy to follow. I received frequent emails from a specific person that was managing my application process. She introduced herself and sent me an email when VisaHQ received my FedEx envelope that contained my passport, application and picture. Another email the next day to inform me that my application met policy and procedure and was ready for submission to the Russia Embassy. Another email to let me know my visa application had been submitted. Yet another email when they received the approved visa back from the embassy and a final email with FedEx tracking info to let me know when it shipped back to me.

The entire procedure can be followed online through their website as well.

I paid for the 12 business day turnaround as it was substantially less expensive than the 5 business day turnaround. Including the day it took for FedEx to deliver my passport back to me, it took a total of 7 days!

Everything was completed flawlessly, efficiently and with an impressive level of communication.

I used them a few times by way :)f russia-visa.com (which it turned out was them) always with good results.

I used VisaHQ for the first time and have to say I am impressed with their process. Thanks you for the recommendation. I am looking at their site right now. As I understand, in order to get a visa, I need an "invitation" (or what their site calls "Russian Tourist Visa Invitation"). Did you get this one from them as well?

Thanks you for the recommendation. I am looking at their site right now. As I understand, in order to get a visa, I need an "invitation" (or what their site calls "Russian Tourist Visa Invitation"). Did you get this one from them as well?

Yes. Since I am traveling to multiple cities, it made sense to go this route rather than attempt to secure invites from each hotel. Plus, I'm spending one night on a train and I didn't want to risk there being one night where I would have a gap in my invite coverage.

Yes. Since I am traveling to multiple cities, it made sense to go this route rather than attempt to secure invites from each hotel. Plus, I'm spending one night on a train and I didn't want to risk there being one night where I would have a gap in my invite coverage. I am filling out the forms now for my companion. I guess the major question I have is whether I have to specify the places we will stay or ... not?

I am filling out the forms now for my companion. I guess the major question I have is whether I have to specify the places we will stay or ... not?

VisaHQ has a live online chat feature on their website and a toll free phone number. ^

I absolutely agree. I've used them many times over the last few years. They tend to nickel and dime you (charge you a hefty fee for even the simplest of things) so be smart about all the extras they offer. They are also very good at responding to emails quickly.

Be sure to check their facebook and twitter for discount codes. They only save you a few bucks, but every bit helps when it comes to the exhaustive Russian visa process.

I also have good experience with them. The chat feature however seems to be sporatic.

Thanks for the info. I am looking for a new visa company.

Has anyone used this company since the recent visa procedure changes?

Experiences?

Has anyone used this company since the recent visa procedure changes?

Experiences? I used VISAHQ in April to get a visa for travel to Russia at the end of May. Everything went well.

Used them recently with mixed results. We had two hotel invites (made two separate reservations) and visahq took our paperwork and submitted it.
3 weeks later (and 10 days prior to our departure) they told us the consulate rejected the application and we needed a single invite and of course expedited processing fee. The good part was that they managed to turn that around just in time and passport arrived the day before departure. Throughout the process they were easy to reach by phone so that was somewhat comforting.

Just wanted to chime in that I've used VisaHQ in the past and been very satisfied, but the rates have gone up recently. One of the great features of their website is your login/password save all your information, which for the visa application to Russia is decently long (every country you've visited in the past ten years with dates, your last 3 employers with contact info, etc.).

They do now offer the 3 year visa option, but for a 3-year tourist visa with invitation and embassy fee it comes out to about $350 all in.

Going to the new ILS processing center it's just $210, so I think this is the first time I'll go do it in person. In the past it was only $70 or so difference, which was not worth my time to stand in line. $140 is though.

Just dropping in my 2 Rubles... just got back another visa from the VisaHQ services. Like a fool I skipped over getting the new multi entry visa but I did receive my double entry visa without any delays or problems. FWIW, This company has been spot on for me for many years.

I have to echo that VisaHQ is really top-notch. I just received my passport back today with a new 3-year multientry tourist visa. I didn't have to submit all the extra documentation that some agencies are now asking for (Travisa).

I ended up going with VisaHQ because some people applying for the new visas have had issues, so I figured it was better to use a service that can help me work through problems should they arise than go in person. Turns out VisaHQ once again had no issues at all. It's easily worth the extra $80.

Where VisaHQ really shines is that you don't have to fill out the online application on the Russian site. Instead VisaHQ has their own online application, and it saves all of your info to your profile! This is huge, because some of the questions are lengthy (a list of all countries visited in the past 10 years with dates). So having that all saved so that I don't have to reenter it for each visa application is really, really handy. This is my third visa application with them and they have all gone fine.

Their web interface also has a chat feature, to bypass phone hold times. I chatted with a representative yesterday, saying I was hoping to get the visa before thanksgiving (due to traveling, I don't want it sitting in my mailbox over the weekend while I'm gone). She immediately upgraded me to overnight Fedex (extra $5) but it was instantaneous and billed automatically and immediately updated on the online invoice on their site. I know that sounds simple, but so many of these other agencies do things by email with attachments that it's refreshing to have a company like this with a good web interface. It tracks your passport as well, so you know when they have submitted it to the embassy, and it has a date for when the passport will be released by the embassy. All in all, top-notch stuff.

I am using VisaHQ this month for both a 2nd passport and a 3 year Russian visa. The agent in charge has done very well up to this point but she will be gone this week.

This week is critical as they must get everything to me by Saturday since my flight for SVO leaves early 1/1/13. Here's hoping I can return with high praise for their commitment to keep my trip together.

I am using VisaHQ this month for both a 2nd passport and a 3 year Russian visa. The agent in charge has done very well up to this point but she will be gone this week.

This week is critical as they must get everything to me by Saturday since my flight for SVO leaves early 1/1/13. Here's hoping I can return with high praise for their commitment to keep my trip together.

I just want to report in that my day of departure was moved to 12/13 and VisaHQ came through with 'flying colors'. I am amazed at how well they handled all this for me. I took delivery today of everything that was ordered so the timing is ideal.

I want to apply for the three year tourist visa to Russia. Does anyone know if the application process requires me to submit a firm itinerary? My travel dates and itinerary within Russia are still up in the air.

Also, I will first travel to Spain for a couple of weeks, and then on to Russia. That shouldn't matter, correct?

Intelservice Company and related brands, should be avoided. Apparently they no longer have the staff they had and can't issue documents?. Since the US visa rules changed, the game has changed. The Russian visa business I suppose is no longer profitable for these middlemen

Are you saying the VisaHQ is a part of this organization and should be avoided?

I want to apply for the three year tourist visa to Russia. Does anyone know if the application process requires me to submit a firm itinerary? My travel dates and itinerary within Russia are still up in the air.

Also, I will first travel to Spain for a couple of weeks, and then on to Russia. That shouldn't matter, correct?

Spain to Russia doesn't matter.

My fiance just applied for a 3 year tourist visa via VisaHQ. While he has a hotel reservation, VisaHQ advised him to buy an "invitation" from them. They also provide a sample letter to the Embassy explaining the need for a 3-year visa. So, just pick the earliest day of your first entry and go from there.

Are you saying the VisaHQ is a part of this organization and should be avoided?

AFAIK, VisaHQ is not part of Intelservice center. Intelservice center runs a few "portals", visatorussia.com being one of them. I would avoid this company as they no longer have staff to process documents (so I was told), though I have had dealings with them in the past and they were very reliable.

VisaHQ

Russia / Multiple entry (15-20 business days) / Invitation (Same day) / 299.90
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Photographs: 0.00
Shipping: 21.47
Inbound Shipping: 0.00
Discount: 0
Order Total: 321.37

Thought best to recommend the company after a successful arrival in Moscow! Yes I recommend VisaHQ. Pleased with the prospects of a three year visa. Immigration & Customs @ DME without issues and without forms!

VisaHQ

Thought best to recommend the company after a successful arrival in Moscow! Yes I recommend VisaHQ.

I second this. Just got three visas for my fiancé and his parents - single entry for them and a three year visa for him. All went without a hitch.

One interesting thing is that unlike in the past where if you specified X number of days for a single visit, you still got about a month of allowed visa validity, this time the Embassy issued their visas for exact dates of travel with not a single extra day on either end. I hope they don't get delayed at the airport somehow on their departure day.