I will apply through ILS, which is damn impossible to reach by phone. But...
I could not follow your post well (sorry!). When you say that "its not simply that you ask that they issue that instead of the 1 time," do you mean that it is not up to me whether I'll get a three-year visa. The ILS site actually says that I can specifically ask for a three-year visa (there is even a letter / form I can use to do that). The question is whether I can get a multiple visa with a passport that is set to expire in 2.5 years. Couldn't find anything on the ILS site about this.
The only information I could get is from a dubious site (
this one), which states this: "Does your passport expire in less than 3.5 years? You can still get a multiple entry visa, but it will just be good for the life of your passport, less 6 months. So, for example, if your passport expires in 2.5 years, your Russian Visa would be valid for 2 years." Can I trust that?
Ok the problem is you need to bring an Invite letter with you, your hotel will issue you 1 (like mine did) but Only for the time you will be staying with them. So flying into SPB staying a week and then going to Moskow the problem is your invite letter will only be good till the day you depart the hotel there are Agencys that handle letters where you will be staying longer then the time at your 1st hotel but they charge you for that invite letter. Was told the 3yr Visa costs even more. My hotel told me they cant help with the 3yr deal but Id need to contact an Agency to handle it. I went with the 1 timer
I believe didnt ask, if I came in with several Invite letters to cover every city I was going to go to then the Visa would exp on the last date of the last hotel I will be at. If not staying at hotels you will need an a agency for an invite letter
Not sure if ILS handles Invite letters
As for answering the phone not only dont they do that they dont return any VM left. You have to go down in person and they will help you once you are there
* just saw this on ILS's site; 3yr Multiple-entry Tourist visa:
•For 3 yr multiple-entry Business, Humanitarian, Tourist, Private visas, an interview at the Consulate is required;
•Copy of health insurance valid in Russia, covering the first trip.
I imagine that everyone would be required to go for the interview, they start at 2pm and is done by order of lining up
Copy of Ins policy, while with the 1 timer if a person puts down a brand name that should suffice eg Blue Cross, United Health Care They will want to see where on your policy it says you will be covered in Russia