Russian Visa headaches
 

I require a double entry valid for three months. When I originally enquired about the visa through an online company - they explained to me that i need to apply for the visa invitation 45 days before arriving in Russian. So i left it until now which I'm half way through my trip and is currently in Cambodia.

I went to the Russian embassy here in Phnom Penh and explained what i am doing, he then told me that the type of visa i require is the Private/guest, where i will need some-one to personally invite me.

Now i have a friend in Moscow that can invite me, but we are not sure of the process. After a little Internet research i found out that they have to make an application to a local OVIR or police station in Moscow to obtain a visa entitlement and this process takes 4-6 weeks.

So now you can see im am quietly panicking at this Internet cafe.

Has anyone experience this? Knows what to do? Can just give me some re-insurance? most importantly
What visa type do you normally apply for?

I was told by the Online visa company - i can not get a business visa, because i haven't been to Russia before does anyone know if this is true?

I am going back to the embassy to ask this guy a hundred questions - but i don't really have the time to wait to the visa entitlement to be process.

Its actually lucky i haven't booked my fights to South Korea yet!
Help!

Contact Stantours
 

Hi

Contact David at Stantours.
STANTOURS - Central Asia Travel Resources

He will be able to tell you what you can and can't do. If you need a letter of invitation, then he can sort it out.

The letter of invitation will only be issued 45 days before intended start date. Our LOI took about 20 days to process through Stantours. They do have a quicker service, but this will cost more obviously.

We are applying for a business visa because of the timeframe it gives you.

Hope this helps a bit...

have a look at waytorussia.net for visa info.

Its a sort of HUBB for Russia.

I wanted a similar visa last year and needed a dual entry business visa - you need an "invite" which you just pay for and then you can get your visa which you pay for. You dont need to know a soul in Russia - as long as you pay its not a problem.

Its just a hangover from the old USSR, but the foreign currency is still wanted.

I recommend Stan Tours as well...for the Russian visa...then can secure the invitation and have it sent to any Russian Consulate you want...at that consulate, you will have to apply for the visa, and the price and time will vary.

I know for certain that a Business Visa is NOT dependant on prior vists to RUS. This I did 4 years ago for my first Visa without problem. 3 subsequent Visa applications all followed the same process.

An agency company will organise an invitation (at a cost of about $100 or more to the Sponsor, plus their own fees) letter from the sponsor/inviting company to go to the OVIR. The OVIR then issue an official Invitation Receipt to the Company who get it to you, to present with your personal application - or to the Agency who do it for you.

This did take me about 4 weeks earlier this year.

Another point which may or may not be relevant - you can only apply for Visas from outside RUS. So if you need another or more time there, you must go outside to come back. If you see what I mean.

And an even further point! Embassy Visa fees vary dependant on the country you apply from. eg. Finland and France are much cheaper than UK. This is irrespective of your own citizenship passport.

Has anyone had to show flight tickets??
i dont really want to purchase open flight tickets, just get a business visa!

No tickets...
 

We just got our multi entry visas. See my other posts here
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...lication-35823

We did not have any flights booked and never got asked for anything.

Cheers

After the embassy telling me i need a private invitation... which was going to take over a month to get, went back and asked if i can get a business visa without flight tickets. The guy said yes. Why didn't he tell me that in the first place. My first words to him a few weeks ago were - i need a business visa, but i can not get flight tickets, what do you recommend? no hes just wasted my time... i could have been in Russia sooner!

Thanks for all your help. I know everyone has asked these questions time and time again.... its just really frustrating when you are trying to do it by the book.