I've just received my Russian visa using www.Russia-visa.com, which is the website for the company OLNA, Inc., based in Arlington, Va. The experience was totally positive, simple, and problem free.

Their procedure consisted of my filling out a form on their website which was transmitted to them electronically, supplying credit card information for billing, and sending my passport to them. That was it - no Russian government paper application form to fill out, no need to get an invitation (they supplied it), no need to go to or send anything to a Russian consulate or embassy, etc. It couldn't have been easier.

OLNA kept me informed by email of every step along the way - that they received my application and passport, that the documents had been taken to the Russian embassy, that the embassy had approved my application, and that the visa was on it's way to me. The entire process was completed and I had my visa in hand in less than the specified time requested. And, their rates are competetive with other such companies (they actually have a price match guarantee). One proviso -their website will not accept an application more than 45 days before the specified entry date into Russia because the Russian government won't process a visa application more than 45 days in advance.

Based on this totally positive experience, I would highly recommend russia-visa.com for anyone needing a Russian visa. I hope this is of use to someone.




------------------
Mike

__________________
Mike

excellent for you and excellent info for us, cheers :-)

so they take care of the LOI (letter of invitation) and the visa (since they made the visa with your passport for you at the embassy).

to be even more complete : which kind of visa was it ? tourist, business ? valid for how long ? single, double, multiple entry ? how much was the whole thing (if you also have details for the "LOI job" and "visa job") ?

have a good trip in russia

NB : just for info, i opened a thread in the northern asia forum about LOI in "ex ussr" :

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb...ML/000069.html


[This message has been edited by vincent danna (edited 13 June 2005).]

__________________
--
Vincent Danna

* www.va-project.com
Sept 2008 - dec 2009 : Voyage et art contemporain en Amérique du sud.

* http://vincent.danna.free.fr/
2002 - 2004 : Un tour du monde en moto.

Vincent, I attempted to copy and paste the OLNA fee schedule onto this message but it came out all jumbled and uninterpretable. My visa is a 90 day business, double entry and cost $229 total including the LOI and Fedex return postage. In general OLNA fees range from $139 for a tourist visa plus $20 for the LOI and 6 - 10 day processing, up to much higher for 6 month or one year business visas, rush processing, etc. For some reason, the LOI cost escalates rapidly for the more complex visas - it was $90 for my business visa with 6 - 10 day processing, for example. A complete fee schdule is available on the Russia-visa.com website. As mentioned in my earlier post, OLNA will match a cheaper price if you find one.

Mike

__________________
Mike