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18 Jan 2013
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Gold Member
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: UK but currently on the road RTW
Posts: 206
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Stantours/Online vs Real Russia (or other)
Hi Griff,
I'm sure you're busy sorting last minute stuff but if you do happen to read this then I have a question for you (or anybody else who's made this decision).
I'm about to go through the same process myself so...
What made you go down the Stantours LOI/Self-Application Online route rather than hand the whole process over to Real Russia?
It looks as though the prices would be virtually identical.
I ask because I've recently been in contact with Stantours regarding other visa's and David offered his services for a Russian LOI.
Cheers and Safe Travels
Adam
PS...I'll keep an eye out for you on the road this summer
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18 Jan 2013
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Contributing Member
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JediMaster
What made you go down the Stantours LOI/Self-Application Online route rather than hand the whole process over to Real Russia?
It looks as though the prices would be virtually identical.
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I have used David in past also over the others. For me it was because even before I even spent a cent with him, he provided excellent information on my many questions, gratis. From my point view I saw benefit in keeping him in business for both myself and others.
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18 Jan 2013
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Registered Users
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Warrington UK
Posts: 703
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Hi all,
We both live in China.
So the preferred is either an "Auto-tourism" visa, or a business visa.
Both multi-entry.
This is a reply I got from Real Russia. on 14th January 2013.
My question:
Hi Real Russia,
We plan to drive our Land Cruiser through Latvia to enter Russia.
We plan to be in Russia for about 15 days, then enter Mongolia.
We will then plan to enter China.
Then we will return, entering Russia a second time.
The time between the first entry, and the second entry will be less than 3 months.
We therefore need "Auto tourism" visa's? double entry.
Is that correct?
Their answer~~~~~~~
Hi Vette,
Please note that 'auto tourism' visas can be valid for 30 days only, both single and double entry.
We got the information that now people can enter Russian with any type of a visa, so it is better for you to get a cultural or a business Russian visa, double entry, valid for 90 days. But please note that you will need to enter and leave Russia twice within a 90-day period.
You should apply for your Russian visas either in a country of citizenship or past 90-day residency. So you can apply for them in China or you can send your passport to us and we will help you with a Russian visa. Please note that we could not help your wife with a Russian visa unless she is 90-day resident in the UK.
Hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Anastasia Pashovkina
Visa Support Administrator
So for us, it seems we can quite easily get both our Russian visas in Beijing together.
It appears that Real Russia are confirming that there is no need to use the "auto-tourism" visa, or "cultural visa", and that any visa is now OK.
vette
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18 Jan 2013
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Registered Users
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Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Bristol UK
Posts: 454
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JediMaster
Hi Griff,
I'm sure you're busy sorting last minute stuff but if you do happen to read this then I have a question for you (or anybody else who's made this decision).
I'm about to go through the same process myself so...
What made you go down the Stantours LOI/Self-Application Online route rather than hand the whole process over to Real Russia?
It looks as though the prices would be virtually identical.
I ask because I've recently been in contact with Stantours regarding other visa's and David offered his services for a Russian LOI.
Cheers and Safe Travels
Adam
PS...I'll keep an eye out for you on the road this summer
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I don't know Adam. Same as Craig, David has been an excellent resource and helped/reassured us along the way. I heard good things in the past about him so went with it. I don't see how Real Russia can process your visa application any differently as all of the questions are personal. For example, your last 2 employers, previous addresses, 10 year travel history etc. What do you gain from using an agency anyway? Get the LOI from David then print out the visa forms, its pretty easy.
I also like to be in control of things so if it got denied I would know why. If an agency is doing it for you, you dont know what they are writing!
what do real russia charge for LOI and visa?
EDIT: I just looks. Seems we saved about £65 each overall so its not a bad saving considering the extra work required is very little and you have some scope for movement. As I said above, you would still need to provide them with bank statements, visa application etc. I guess they just fill some things in and do your LOI processing so it does remove a step I guess.
G
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18 Jan 2013
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: UK but currently on the road RTW
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Stantours it is...
Good answers guys, thanks...
Quote:
Originally Posted by craig.iedema
I have used David in past also over the others. For me it was because even before I even spent a cent with him, he provided excellent information on my many questions, gratis. From my point view I saw benefit in keeping him in business for both myself and others.
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I've been in contact with David for the first time this week and had exactly the experience described by Craig (above). For that, and your comments, I'll give him my Russian visa business.
Cheers
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19 Jan 2013
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Warrington UK
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uk_vette
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Thanks Griff,
Not quite as cheap as I was hoping, but any way.
The rest of your plans still on track?
vette
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Hi Griff,
Can I go back to the Russia visa please...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Griffdowg 
Total cost was about £750 for 2. This was everything including the LOI, bank transfer rates, postage rates to have the LOI retuned to us. Visas, service charges, postage, postal order and return postage.
I would guess, with the charges you would be looking at just shy of £400 for a single visa.
This was for a 12 month multi-entry 'cultural' visa.
G
.
I live in China, and have asked my wife (Chinese) to check the Russia visa services, as well as a whole lot of others
Her has told me that the agents in China can do us a double entry visa into Russia for £143 each.
This is 3 (?) months duration, with 30 days stay each time.
Her will double check with the agents on Monday, but this looks like the going price.
All we need to do is secure send our passports to the agent, they take care of everything, and secure return our passports to us.
Did you apply for Mongolia visa, or is Mongolia not on your route?
vette
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19 Jan 2013
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London / Moscow
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Quote:
Originally Posted by uk_vette
It appears that Real Russia are confirming that there is no need to use the "auto-tourism" visa, or "cultural visa", and that any visa is now OK.
vette
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Note .. there was NEVER a need for an auto tourism visa.
A plain tourist visa or plain business visa is ALWAYS what I use. Every year without fail since 1998. Never had an issue.
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19 Jan 2013
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Join Date: Oct 2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by colebatch
Note .. there was NEVER a need for an auto tourism visa.
A plain tourist visa or plain business visa is ALWAYS what I use. Every year without fail since 1998. Never had an issue.
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Hi CB,
That's the exact information reply I got from the visa people.
Tourist or business visa.
Job done.
vette
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12 Feb 2013
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Join Date: Apr 2012
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Just an FYI for the Americans reading this. It is now possible to get a 3 year multiple entry tourist visa. I'm not sure if this will work for other western countries. I should be getting my passport back soon with this visa. I used Rainier World Travel Inc. in Seattle. They got my invitation letter also. Cheers.
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12 Feb 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Snoah
Just an FYI for the Americans reading this. It is now possible to get a 3 year multiple entry tourist visa. I'm not sure if this will work for other western countries. I should be getting my passport back soon with this visa. I used Rainier World Travel Inc. in Seattle. They got my invitation letter also. Cheers.
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different rules for each nationality ... French and Germans can get 5 year business visas. Brits and Australians can only get 1 year business visas.
I have also heard that Americans, as you mentioned, can now get 3 year visas. - tho I heard it was business visas.
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12 Feb 2013
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Join Date: Apr 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by colebatch
I have also heard that Americans, as you mentioned, can now get 3 year visas. - tho I heard it was business visas.
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Both might be possible? They told me to fill out the forms for Tourist visa. In any case, seems to be a better option then the 6 moth business visa Barton and others had to do a few years back.
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Stantours/Online vs Real Russia (or other)
Stantours it is...
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