Originally Posted by ncvet61

You have 7 days to register your Visa in Russia. It is the responsibility of both you and your friend to register it at the local Migration office. If you do stay first at a hotel, be sure to ask how long Registration will take as they will submit your passport to Migrations Office. Also, your hotel will most likely cancel their registration on the date you check-out. Depending on how long you will be in Russia, and what city your visiting, should guide you as to re-registering at your friends home. I always list the cities I will be visiting
on my initial application, as well as listing a hotel and then register at family home upon arrival there. Never been a problem.

On the first trip I've never been asked where I was staying as visa lists the cities you put on your application, as well as the hosting agent.

A multiple-entry visa allows subsequent trips with a purpose other than what was initially indicated in the visa. Thus, the new purpose of each trip and information on the new hosting organization must be indicated in the Migration Card form in order to clear Russian customs and border control.