Applying for a Russian Visa
#2
Senior Moderator
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Please follow the discussion as the thread moves to our Travel->Russia forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.
#3
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 129
Hope you didnt pay > $200 for your Bus invitation.
#5
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Note, however, that there have been reports of refusals to issue multi-entry visas to first-time Russian visa applicants...
#6
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For example, an excerpt from Pelosi's web pages:
...U.S. citizens and residents who have difficulty obtaining a passport or other needed travel documents, and those experiencing problems travelling abroad may also contact the congresswoman's district office for assistance.
Please fill out the Privacy Authorization Release form (.PDF format) to open a case regarding immigration, citizenship, visa and passport issues with Congresswoman Pelosi's district office.
If you have a immigration, citizenship, visa and passport related emergency, please call Congresswoman Pelosi's district office directly at 415-556-4862 for assistance.
Please fill out the Privacy Authorization Release form (.PDF format) to open a case regarding immigration, citizenship, visa and passport issues with Congresswoman Pelosi's district office.
If you have a immigration, citizenship, visa and passport related emergency, please call Congresswoman Pelosi's district office directly at 415-556-4862 for assistance.
Last edited by KathyWdrf; Dec 18, 2009 at 11:08 pm
#9
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There are also a number of other threads discussing Russian visas in this forum. Various different visa service agencies are recommended in those threads.
And, I observed, when I went in person to submit my visa application to the Russian consulate in San Francisco, that the young man working there was quite friendly and helpful. Other applicants were asking him a boatload of questions about the application process, and he responded politely and didn't try to shoo them away. However, other consulates and/or workers may or may not be as helpful. (Also, this was kind of in the "off season" and perhaps when the consulate is busier, they don't have as much time to spare to personally answer all your questions.)
And, I observed, when I went in person to submit my visa application to the Russian consulate in San Francisco, that the young man working there was quite friendly and helpful. Other applicants were asking him a boatload of questions about the application process, and he responded politely and didn't try to shoo them away. However, other consulates and/or workers may or may not be as helpful. (Also, this was kind of in the "off season" and perhaps when the consulate is busier, they don't have as much time to spare to personally answer all your questions.)
#10
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 129
In my case I submited my appl on 1Oct09 with travel date of 15Oct09. Got my visa on 14Oct09 and made my trip to Moscow on 12Dec09 and just got back.
No Problems.
BTW it was damn COLD there ! -24 celsius and beautiful at this time.
PS: You will need an HIV test for the 1 YR ME BUS visa appl. A matter of repriprocity.
Last edited by lelee; Dec 20, 2009 at 10:08 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 3
anybody here recently received a russian visa? my friend just got one (last time she travelled was 3 years ago I think) and even though she showed dates when she's supposed to arrive and exist the country visa came with couple of extra dates attached...is that something new embassy is doing?
#13
Join Date: Jan 2008
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Russia has become much easier for visa processing, not cheaper, just easier. There is an option for fast processing that allows same day issuance, but you'll pay handsomely for the privilege. Now that many Latin American countries are visa-waiver for Russia the number of visas the consulates are processing everywhere seems to be declining. Friends report similar experiences in the EU because there are fewer non-EU applicants due to the same Visa-waiver programs for much of Eastern Europe.
These days it is the US and the EU that have the problems getting visas. What a switch.
These days it is the US and the EU that have the problems getting visas. What a switch.
#14
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Our Nation's Capital
Posts: 357
He used VisaHQ company recommended by others on this board - easy, breezy, no issues. Filled out an application online, dropped of his passport, go prossessed one week later at lower, 21+ day pricing fee ($140). ^
#15
Join Date: Dec 2010
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Posts: 51
^ Haven't heard of this happening outside this forum, maybe the agencies are requesting the extra dates? I'm curious to know, since I always max the number of days for my visa type on the application to give myself as much room as possible for unexpected events. I have always assumed if I didn't add extra safety days, no one else would.