Originally Posted by
bankops
The Russian Embassies tend to be extremely territorial (money money money), so good luck with that. In fact, I remember seeing that Houston will only work with one particular facilitator agency.
I must admit, I don't understand how the Houston Embassy got it wrong. They told you it was too late to issue a new visa, doesn't that mean they knew you needed one for the SVO transit to MSQ? Now, why the airport told you that you didn't need one is a mystery (but unless you post your question and their answer...) since it is widely known.
In fact, the Belarus border guards have been known to "let" you out without a visa, for a moderate 3 figure fee. Of course, the Russians will have an issue with this when you go through exit procedures and you don't have a visa for being in Russia and they are unlikely to take your money.
If you plan on going even once a year, I would get the multi-year visa. Good business case for your employer too. There are some interesting MR's on SU that a lot of people miss out on because they have no visa.
First, in terms of jurisdiction, it looks to me like if I use VisaHQ that they use DC but perhaps I have this wrong.
The woman in the Houston office for the Russian Consulate told me that Travisa let me down. When I told her that Aeroflot told me on the phone that I would be deported, she then replied that it was too late to make a change since they issued a visa and it was only for my return. She went on to say, however, that they were still right and I would not have a problem getting from STR to SVO and on to MSQ.
In terms of the email from SVO, here is part of that exchange:
From: Call_Center_SVO2 [mailto:
[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 3:45 PM
To: xxx
Subject: RE: [?? Probable Spam] Russian transit visa
Hello,
Thank you for visiting on our web-site and we inform you that flight from Stuttgart will be to land in Terminal-D of Sheremetyevo International airport and depature to Minsk will be from Terminal-D too. Since your flights is arriving and departing from the same Terminals then waiting the next flight (to Minsk) you will be in a transit area. In this case you do not need a transit visa.
Best regards,
Julia Lebedeva
Call center, Sheremetyevo International airport
________________________________________
From: xxx
Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2012 11:33 PM
To: Call_Center_SVO2
Subject: [?? Probable Spam] Russian transit visa
Call Center, Sheremetyevo International Airport:
Greetings from the U.S.A.
I had the pleasure of visiting Moscow in May 2011. Next week, I will be in Germany and I fly on Aeroflot from Stuttgart (STR) to Moscow (SVO, #2337) and on to Minsk (MSQ, #1834) on September 29. On October 4, I will fly on Aeroflot from Minsk (MSQ) to Moscow (SVO, #1835) then pick up Delta Airlines to fly to New York City (JFK) and finally back to my home in Oklahoma City (OKC).
I have a Belarusian visa and I have a single entry Russian transit visa granted me by the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Houston. I used Travisa in Houston to submit my application because I just returned home two weeks ago from Greece.
My original application was for a double entry transit visa, however, the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Houston determined that I only need a single transit visa for October 4. I spoke directly to the Consulate General today and was told that I did not need a transit visa for September 26 because I arrive at Terminal D and depart from Terminal D without going through customs.
However, I will go through passport control so I would like to know what kind of documentation if any that I should provide in case there is a problem when I arrive at SVO on my way to MSQ. Would it be appropriate for me to print a page from the U.S. Department of State that confirms I do not need a visa when not going through customs? Here is the link:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_p.../cis_1006.html
It was the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Houston that suggested I turn to you for help as you could let me know what happens to passengers like me. I was told there would be no problem, but I want to be prepared for any complications.
Thank you for this consideration.
xxx