Even though I am semi retired from flyer talk, I thought I'd post something I noticed yesterday at the NYC consulate.

Saw a sign that the NYC consulate will no longer be processing visa applications at the consulate - this is being "outsourced", to another agency that operates at 80 Maiden Lane (downtown). Did not get the name. There is a $30 fee for this, in addition to the usual fees. Starting after the spring holidays, May 2012.

Sign was only in english. I guess if you can read cyrillic that you don't need to know. LOL.

Hopefully this will alleviate the chaos that people who apply in person have to endure. This I think is unique to NYC, I've been to the Embassy in Washington, its much more pleasant.

This does not affect Russian citizen services (passport/pensions, etc)

My visa is good though next year...so I won't be affected by this. Hopefully the new visa agreement will be in effect by then.

Great to kn0ow - as I was about to walk over there on Monday (or whenever the consulate is open around May 1)...

So, to apply in-person you have to go to 80 maiden? No wonder they have not been answering phones the last week

For the record they, NYC consulate never answer the phones.

I had to call someone I know at the Washington Embassy, who transfered the call to New York ( internally) , if I want to talk to them.
LOL.

If you're going after the Spring Holdays, check the website for details. I believe it reopens when Russia goes back to work. I think May 3rd?

This applies to DC as well confirmed a few weeks ago by Travel Document Services. Another step and another $30. Typical...

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR VISA APPLICANTS

In order to improve visa services, starting from May 2, 2012,
the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in New York is
outsourcing its visa application processing to the
"Invisa Logistics Services LLC" company.
US citizens, foreign nationals and non-nationals are advised
to apply for the Russian visas to the above-mentioned company's
Visa Center located at:
Suit 302, 80 Maiden Lane, New York, NY, 10038
Tel. (212) 430-59-90, Fax. (212) 430-59-93
Business hours: 9.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.,
Lunch time: 12.00-13.30 p.m.

Visa Center service fee is $ 30.00 per visa,
consular tariffs remain the same.

I was hoping to avoid the extra fees by taking it straight to the embassy but that just went out the window. I'm better off just using Travisa which charges 55 bucks and you could mail it in.

Looks like this applies to a bunch of consulates LOL. In fact, every consulate in the United States.

More ways to stick it to people.

My concern is, their prices . Look here Specifically, EU citizens pay way less, as do citizens of countries with good relations with Russia.

Are we all obliged to pay US citizen prices?

I thought all Russian visa processing had been outsourced already, to Travisa (and another agency whose name escapes me)?

What I'd like to know is whose brother-in-law owns "Invisa Logistics Services" and how much that person is kicking back to the MID official who authorized this change...

I'm going to abstain from side comment, other than to say, I was at the NYC consulate today for a meeting.

The visa side, was notably empty! There is a big sign that says to go 3rd party site downtown.

It appears that the Russian Consulate can now handle much more Russian citizen services, passports and pensions etc, since the traffic for visitors has been moved.

Personally I think this is a good move for Russian citizens needing services.

This was for mailed in visas - you had to use one of three visa expiditers if you were mailing in your paperwork. However, up through the beginning of April you used to be able to bring your paperwork to the consulates or the Embassy in Washington if you wanted to avoid the service fee.

We pay around $120 in the UK, but $170... ouch!

It seems that one of the documents required for a visa is a confirmation / invitation from a tour company or a hotel in Russia. I booked my hotel online (with a western chain hotel) and then e-mailed them to ask for a confirmation that I could hand over along with the visa application. No reply. Even after repeated reminders. US res office of hotel chain say they can do nothing to elicit a response from their Russian franchisee.

Does anyone know if this piece of paper is absolutely indispensable? If yes, does anyone have any suggestions as to how one can circumvent the problem?

You will need an 'invitation' in rder to get a visa. You can either call the hotel (on the telephone) and ask them to send you one, or you can pay one of the many visa services $20 or $30 for one. It's also a good idea to pad your travel dates in the visa application in case you change your plans, etc. Doing that generally means your dates don't coincide exactly with the hotel stay. I suggest you do some research on the subject.