HELP needed on Russia Visa details (asap?)
 

As with many new posts, this has probably been covered somewhere on the HUBB, in great depth, but I can't find it, so here we go.

I want to get a Visa for Russia. I intend to go to Russia>Kazakhstan>Russia>Mongolia>Russia, and was therefore looking at getting a multiple entry business visa.

However, everywhere I look for info on this, I see the following;

"Please note: IMPORTANT: The Russian consulate may refuse to issue a multiple entry visa unless during the previous year the applicant has been issued with at least one Russian visa (which they have used)."

As the cost for this visa is about £240, and non-refundable, I'm hesitant to proceed without some indication of my chances of success.

Or should I get a double entry (!??) visa, and try and get it altered somewhere on the road?

Many thanks in advance if anyone can help

got to be honest, I have never personally heard of anyone who has had a Russian visa refused, multi entry or otherwise.

I would put your chances of success very high.

To further improve your chances, I would also apply by post to the Edinburgh consulate rather than the London one. They are quicker and more efficient processing your visa due to much much lower workload. That probably also means they are less stressed and less grumpy ... all positive factors when it comes to visas.

The invitation for multi entry business visas is cleared by the FSB (successor to the KGB and very powerful in todays Russia) ... thats why the invite for business visas takes a long time. By getting your multi entry business invite, it effectively means you have been already cleared by the FSB. I would think it was unlikely that the consulate would have any real reasons to effectively overrule the FSB regarding the granting of your visa.

Similarly, the border guards can refuse you entry, even once you get the visa. The only cases I have heard of that are for people with long standing visas who have done something to annoy the State since getting their visa. They also have warnings everywhere that holding a visa does not automatically grant you the right to enter Russia ... its at the discression ofthe border authorities ... in theory.

No guarantees in life but I would think it was highly unlikely for a consulate to not honour the FSB approved invitation.

Have a look at our site under the visa section about our experience. We decided to go for the multi entry 12 month business visa and got it no problem. We did however apply for the visa in Oz (we are British citizens.)

David from Stantours should be able to give some good advice as well.

Cheers

As Colebatch says, although border guards etc probably DO have power to rescind, they do not use it - well, not to my knowledge, also. The whole system operates on the basis people only check that you got the previous stage done. They then assume that you must be good to get this far in the process, don't check further back, but do their bit and want to be rid of you.

There was an article in Moscow Times last week by the Chief of Visas saying he is looking into pop stars applying for tourist or private visas then performing at a private party. George Michael reputedly collected $2,000,000 last year for a 20 minute set and being photographed shaking a few hands. Brian Ferry and Elton John have been similarly mentioned.

I am sure dirty/oily bikers or 4x4ers will not be scrutinised for if they have had similar offers. I never have been - but I and my bank manager would welcome the reason!

You cannot apply for a visa within RUS nor to have it altered. So either get a multi entry one, or apply for the second one after you exit the first time.

Embassy Visa fees do vary depending on where you apply in terms of country. I understand France and Finland are the cheapest in EU, and UK among the dearest - as always!

If such costs matter significantly in the overall finances of your trip, firstly think if you should be going, but if so, 'shop around' looking at local Embassy websites. Then either get your own invitation sorted if you have contacts or use a local agency.

Baron, I had the same difficulty when I applied for my visa last year.

Further to what Colebatch has said, my problem was not getting the business visa but with getting the business visa invitation.

According to "Way to Russia" the rules changed in October 2007 and they (and other internet visa invitation companies) point blank refused to allow me to apply for a multi-entry visa invitation for me if I had not previously visited Russia.

I checked with the Russian consultate in Sydney and they said they would be happy to give me a multi-entry visa providing I had the invitation.

So in effect it seems that it is the FSB who have brought this rule into place.

I ended up getting a double entry business visa and changed my route such that I entered Mongolia from China (instead of Russia), re-entered China and then went from China to Korea to Vladivostok. I was then able to go South from Russia into Kazakhstan and re-enter Russia.

Garry from Oz.

Baron ... dont know who you are using for your invites ... but I always use VisaLink.ru ... ask for Oksana

She has always charged me AFTER she got me the invite. Takes 2-3 weeks for a 12 month multiple entry invite.

Going that route, and assuming that the consulate is unlikely to deny you a visa if the FSB has approved your invite, your risk level re wasting money is pretty low.

Cheers everyone
 

Excellent, thanks for the help and encouragement people.

Colebatch, I've emailed visalink for some more details, and if they can do the invitation before I commit any money, that sounds ideal.

Pumbaa, website is excellent, and visa info sounds encouraging. I'm going to give it a shot, and see what happens. Who did your website, is it a template? I've been looking for something similar..

Latest info on Russian Visas (?)
 

I've been in email conversation with a lady called Alexandra, at RealRussia.co.uk - Russian Visas, Tourist Visa, Business Visa, Visa support and she has just sent through the email shown at the bottom of this post.

If factual, then any information on Russian Visas that relates to experiences BEFORE 23rd JAN 2009 would be outdated.

"The problem is that our terms and conditions do not allow us to process visa support documents without the payment. We used to refund consular fee when the consulate didn’t accept the pack for any reasons, but honestly speaking the situation has changed recently.
Now the consulate no longer accepts the applications, they have VAC – visa application center that coordinates visa issuing process for the consulate, they take their own fee for what they are doing (it’s crazy, and they started working from the 23d of January), but what we noticed is that they are not aware of half rules, like when we lodged the documents for a US military man, they accepted the pack and warned us only the next working day that the process will take 14 working days instead of 6 as he is a military man and they have to process additional checking on him.

I am afraid, they can accept your application pack, we will pay the consular and VAC fees and they will turn back to us the next working day to tell they are refusing the pack, and there is no guarantees they will refund the fees (most likely they won’t). So I am afraid, we won’t be able to refund them to you.

Regards,

Alexandra"

Diplomatic Tit for Tat!
(and I don't mean Colebatch's new image!)

For nearly a year the British Embassy in Moscow has only dealt with Visa Applications if channelled and paid through the UK VISA Application Centre. They guarantee nothing yet charge the same irrespective of a Visa being granted or not and, as far as I can see, is more than direct applications were previously!

Now it seems the Russians are doing the same.

As increasing numbers of Russians travel away, and I hear complaints it is getting increasingly difficult to get a visa for Europe, the only hope of an easing is from both countries responding to its citizens.

The other distant hope is a deal with EU for allowing visa free land travel for RUS citizens between Kalliningrad and 'mainland' Russia.

How's about this?
 

I'm coming round to the idea that my best route forward may be this;

Get a double entry tourist visa for Russia
Enter Russia, then depart to Kazakhstan
Back into Russia, using second permitted entry
Into Mongolia, and get another single entry visa at RUS consulate (risk?)
Back into Russia, east, shoot, leave

Any thoughts?

I asked the lady at realrussia if anyone from the UK had applied for a multi-entry business visa, without having previous RUS visas, since the changes came in a week ago, and she said no, I would be the first.
Not too keen to be guinea pig for this new scheme really.

I considered the same approach 9 months ago Baron but decided against it because:

1. It's not easy getting a visa at any Russian consulate outside your home country.
2. The Russian consulate in UB is tougher than most to get a visa from because of all the backpackers applying there after heading north from China
3. You need to allow a week to get a VI from a local travel agency or over the internet
4. Visa issuing time can be up to a month.

Hopefully this proves no longer to be the case.

Garry from Oz

Decision Made
 

Cheers Garry, very useful info.

I've made the decision to get a double entry business visa for the trip, based on the following;

-6 Month visa can still only be for a maximum of 90 days in any 180 day period
-I can get to Kazakhstan without going through Russia (Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan) - pls tell me if this isn't the case!
-This means I only need 2 entries into Russia
-Saves me about £100 on visa fee
-No worries about not having a previous Russian Visa in my passport

Thanks for all your help
Gabe

The only place you can get to from Azerbaijan at the moment is Turkmenistan. I do not believe there are any regular or reliable ferries from Baku to Atyrau or Aktau in KZ. The border from Azerbaijan to Russia is also closed to foreigners, and as Azerbaijan is not on friendly terms with Iran, that border is troublesome too. So you will have to get the dreaded Turkmenistan visa to do things that way. But you can do it with only 2 Russia entries.

If you want to avoid the Turkmenistan visa, then get your 2 entries in the UK and try and get another single entry visa while in Almaty, rather than Mongolia. KZ is one of the countries with the best relations with Russia. A single entry visa invite can be issued in an hour, and if you pay up for same day visa processing in Almaty your stay there could be as little as one or two extra days.

I too have heard that getting Russian visas in Mongolia is not something the russians encourage.

The same idea applies for one year visas - permitted time in RUS is half of the maximum of Visa total validity period which is broken into two 180 day periods.

My latest One Year Multi Entry Business Visa, issued last March (must get it renewed soon:innocent:) carries the endorsement "valid 90 days every 180 days" which effectively means 180 days in 360 days (a year) but in at least 2 visits.

You cannot stay for more than 90 days on any single visit.

This was new from last March, not being on previous Visas.

Visa application done
 

So after a change of mind, I've now taken the plunge, and applied for a business multi-entry Russian visa for 6 months. Possibly the first to do so (without previous visas in my passport) since the VAC took over Russian Visa approval on the 23rd Janurary 2009.

So in 18 days I should have my LOI, then fingers crossed time to see if it goes through.

I'll report back when I have a response..

Colebatch, can you give any more info on getting a visa for Turkmenistan?

No, cause I have never gotten one ... all i know is they are not particularly flexible and from memory you need to be "guided" thru the country to make sure you dont go where you shouldnt go.

There will be others here who are far better qualified to advise on Turkmen visas.

I do know the place to get the invitations for them is Stantours.

Hi,

Looking for some advice about our Russian visa application. We're getting an LOI from Stantours and the visa through Travcour. We're going for a 3 month double entry business visa. We will be entering from Kazakhstan, going into Mongolia, then back into Russia and on to Vlad.

I would be very grateful for answers to the following. I've seen different answers everywhere I look so I'm hoping for up to date info, sorry if this is going over old ground for some of you.

1) Is it definitely OK to get into Russia on a bike with a business visa?

2) Does the business visa application require a letter from your employer stating the trip is on business purposes?

3) Does it matter what destination cities are listed on the LOI / visa application? (Our LOI will be issued from Moscow and we have to list the 5 main cities on our route including Mosocow)

Good grief I'm fed up with visa applications....... :( Just want to be riding!! :mchappy:

Cheers.

1.) No problem at all. I have done it 3 times.

2.) I think so. I do a letter on my firm's old letterhead confirming my employment and that the Company will be responsible for me. (In fact we liquidated the Company several years ago, but they still take the letter at face value each year and issue a new Visa each year!!).

3.) It seems to matter not. The Visa only mentions the inviting organisation. On your Migration Card, on entry, you name your Sponsor organisation and their city. Beyond that no one seems to worry. I just put Moscow and StPeter on my applications. Once, on my bike, I was stopped and examined at a Police (proper ones, not Roads Police) spot check near Astrakhan, where they put my Passport and Visa details into the computor - all was OK!

Basically, each stage in the buraucratic process assumes that as you got through the previous stage it is OK and not looked into. They only look at their little bit and ticks their boxes - and want rid of you!

Thanks, that is very reassuring.

I'm fearing a cock-up at any moment!

1) Yes, no problem

2) No, you do not need a letter from employer. No-one ever asked us anything re what business we intend to do when entering Russia (entering on 3 different occassions).

3) I don't think it matters on the LOI. On our first entry to Russia (Zarubino, east russia), the lady did prepare sme paperwork and asked where we intended to go. We listed most main cities on our route, ie Vladi, Yakutsk, magadan etc etc. Not sure if this little piece of documents ever went onto any system. I never got a copy of this, I think it was for the files...

Enjoy:funmeteryes:

On entry you (she?) prepare a Migration Card in dupliate. Actually 2 serially numbered white paper forms, smaller than a passport page. They stamp both, keep one and you get the other.
This should be kept with you/your Passport. At the border exit they check it hasn't expired, stamp it again and retain it.
This form has a section to fill "Name of host person or company, and locality." This means the locality of the Host/Sponsor/Inviting Company - not necessarily where you are going.

loi
 

Make a copy of your LOI before submitting it to the embassy.
You might need it (we did when entering by ship from Japan) and it can't hurt to have one even if you never need it. The LOI (in 2003) did list the cities we planned to visit. If entering from Kaz and leaving at Vlad, I would at least list Novosibirsk and Vladivostok.

Things change all the time. There has been two changes already this year!

In Uk look through Visa pages at Russian Consulate but presumably the same applies elsewhere.

Since more than a year ago, Invitations are issued in the form of an official Certificate directly by the Foreign Ministry. This is following a request by the host person/organisation directly to the Ministry.The Applicant hands in only the Certificate, not a LOI.

An Employers Letter is still required for Business Visas.

Applications are not now made at the Embassy/Consulates but through an appointed agency, just as the British Embassy in Moscow require for UK Visa applications.

CIS country re-entry stuff..
 

I may well be wrong, but I think there are restrictions on how you can use a double entry visa.

I am sure that I read somewhere on here, that you cannot re-enter Russia from a NON-CIS country using a double entry visa.

Therefore, you cannot travel for example from Mongolia back into Russia the second time.
Does this make any sense, does anyone have up-to-date info on this?

BB

Never heard of this before.
Doesn't sound right to me, or 'her indoors' who is Russian.

I don't use Double Entry Visas, but Multi Entry Yearly Visas (5th consecutive one in application) and have regularly entered and re-entered Russia from both Non-CIS and CIS countries.

If in doubt (which I would not be), your best advice would invariably be on the current Russian Embassy website (link on my previous post) sooner than recollections of previous travellers who recount their experiences, often not recent, as they recall them - from a time when the rules may well have been different.

I haven't heard of that restriction Baron. I'm pretty sure it's not correct though.

Garry from Oz.

Russian Visa
 

G'Day Baron,

We did a similar route to you last summer.Finland, Russia, Kazhkstan, Russia, Mongolia and Russia. We all have Aussie passports ans had the same LOI and itinery, My mates applied in Aus and it took nearly three weeks, I applied in London and it took only 4 hours. A lot depends how you treat them. None of us had been there before. I would not like to be stuck in UB for weeks trying to get another visa.

try Peace travel Russian visa online , Accomodation , Transportation , Tickets and more ... - Peace Travel Services, Russia
Know people who have used them many times re Adoptions etc
they are up to date, never heard of any restriction re cis and non cis entery pojnts etc you nwill be dead out of luck getting a Visa extnesion inside or outside russia, I know as there is a site in moscow for ex pats which I look at
and they cannot beat the system and they live there and speak good russian and have contacts!!
as was said 6 month bussiness leave after 90 days re enter, year , you must leave and re enter

Thanks for all the info and encouragement folks.

Countdown it ticking for my departure now (in terms of the trip, not the morbid interpretation so much).

I'm told the visa should be with me in a couple of weeks.

My intention is to travel through the following countries;

Turkey/Georgia/Azerbaijan/Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan/Kazakhstan/Russia/Mongolia/Russia/Korea.

I'll just get the Russian visa before I go, and organise the LOI for Uzbek.
Then stop on the road for a week or two in Istanbul, to get remaining Visas when I've got a better idea of timing.

The plan is to try and get a 5 day transit visa for Turkmenistan, we'll see how this goes in due course.

Anyhoo, thanks again people

Hassle!
 

Hi, I applied for a bussiness visa at a cost of approx £355. (no previous visa in passsport) I was told it was a bit risky but then decided to go for it anyway. I then recieved a mail asking me for another £115 on top in order that my visa app' could be changed from business to cultural(?). I decided that this was well out of order and have now opted for a 30 day, single entry visa. I plan on obtaining the multi entry visa in Almaty, presumably this will be easier/cheaper as I will then have a previous Russian visa (used). I,m using RealRussia aswell.:(

Visa arrived today - All singing all dancing
 

The visas from RealRussia RealRussia.co.uk - Russian Visas, Tourist Visa, Business Visa, Visa support came through today, and what a relief.

6 Month, Multi-entry business visa, issued under the new visa approval system, I've had no Russian visas previously.
Took about 20 days, cost about £340.
Dealt with Alexandra at RealRussia, who was lovely.

Also got the Mongolian visa, which took an additional few days.

Leaving in a week now, everso everso excited.
See you there!

Congratulations Gabe, this news makes me very happy also as I intend to leave Bristol in June for Russia and Mongolia via the nordic route and have been waiting for your response:thumbup1:.

Safe travels!