Russian visa not difficult
My wife and I will ride our BMW powered Chang Jiang from northeast China to UB, then on to Russia as a part of our RTW trip starting in two weeks. I just got the Russian visa and here are a couple of hints:
1. you can get the Letter of Invitation over the Internet from any of several registered travel agents. Make sure they send you originals via express mail/courier. Do NOT rely on a faxed copy. The Russian Consulate here does not accept them and I would be surprised if the Embassy in UB will accept them.
2. Other than the regular paperwork hassles in the visa office, we had no problem. Plan to pay in local currency.
You will absolutely need a valid driver's license. My advice is to bite the bullet and go through the process (legal or otherwise) to get a real one. If you try to make one yourself and are caught, you could have your bike confiscated -- bummer!
Once you have your license and registration, make copies but have the real ones as a backup.
We will be in UB on or about July 27. Look for two black sidecar rigs that look like something out of a Mad Max movie. We will be happy to help with any questions you might have.
__________________
On the road,
Jack & Janet
|