Originally Posted by
joer1212
I recently discovered that getting a Russian visa on your own is a nightmare. The bureaucracy is unbearable, not just from the Russian government, but also from the hotels that are supposed to provide you with a visa support letter. I won't go into the excruciating details, but suffice it to say that I am very frustrated-- and quite frankly fed-up-- with all the nonsense, and I haven't even yet set foot on Russian soil.
I normally like to save money, and do things on my own, but in this very unusual case, I will make a rare exception, so I have decided to pay a visa service company to deal with all the B.S. and get me a Russian visa.
What company can you recommend that is reputable; efficient, competent, and that speaks English well enough so that I don't feel like I am trying to communicate with someone with a severe case of autism?
Details:
*I want to get a tourist visa for the FULL 30 days that the law allows, even though I am only staying for 9 days.
*I will be in Moscow and St. Petersburg from May 5 to May 15, 2013.
*I am traveling from New York.
*I am, both, a U.S. and Italian citizen.
*I am a male, 43 years-old.
You list on your application the date you will enter and date you will exit. You no longer have to show evidence of travel, (Plane Ticket etc.). So you can make it for the 30 days with no problem. But be sure you don't exceed the acutal 30 days on your visa application. I once did and since it was 31 days my visa was turned down. That was about 8 years ago. Thankfully I used an agent in Washington DC and I was able to correct my dates and he re-presented my visa the next day without an additional visa charge.