Moscow Visa Question - Help!
 

I need to go by Moscow on a business trip I am making to Europe. I am leaving for Vienna day after tomorrow. I just found out today I need a visa for Russia. I think I can get a tourist visa tomorrow at the Russian embassy in SFO on short notice. Do I run any risk going into Russia on a tourist visa, if I attend three days of business meetings? I really don't want to get arrested by the visa police and I have heard really bad things about Russian jails.

Why don't you get a proper business visa from the Russian embassy in Vienna? I did that at the Russian embassy in London with a US passport. I think you need an invitation from a hotel if you want a tourist visa. And last minute visas are very expensive.

I have many colleagues who have been coming to russia for many years (for business meetings) using a tourist visa. If you use a visa service which has an "arrangement" with your local embassy / consulate, you'll find it doesn;t take very long at all - less than 24 hours. You will however need an inviation from your hotel - they can fac it to you in a matter of an hour or so.