Sorry I dont know what my mind was thinking when I was going through that scenario.

Wont the russians mind if my visa starts in January but I dont get an entry stamp until July?

Its only £30 more than the 6 month so that is the way to go :thumbup1:

Thanks all for your help! bier

G

You can enter for the first time on the very last day of a year long visa for all they care. But you must be out by the end of that day.

Yes - £30 (plus VFSGlobal's possible increased fee) is nothing in the scheme of your trip yet allows so much more possibility, flexibility and peace of mind.

It amazes me how some people, potentially prepared to spend a life's savings on their 'trip', constantly ponce about trying to save the equivalent of a quarter tank of fuel and end up with a visa that does not allow for time error or delay.

Remember - this is Russia we are talking about. The only predictable thing is unpredictability !

Griff:

At least 20 working days in advance.

I recently had to ferry an aircraft through Russia (part of a trip from Canada to Singapore), and I encountered great delays getting a Russian visa. If you are not part of an organized tour, the visa application has to be approved by the Federal Office for Migration (FOM) in Russia.

Go to the website of the Russian embassy or consulate in your country, you should be able to find instructions and download the application form there. Be sure to fill in the application exactly as instructed... my first application was rejected because I used a normal blue ballpoint pen, rather than a black pen (as specified) to fill it in.

There's a little bit more information about the troubles I encountered getting the visa at a post I made about the ferry flight at a Canadian Aviation website - to view it, click here.

Michael

Sorry for a mini hi-jack, but I've been looking at getting my Russian Visa this morning too, and have been following such threads with interest.

The stumbling point on the multiple entry business visa I've reached is this;
That is from the Visa processing site. I do not have a single or double entry visa in the last year, but was planning to go in to Russia, out to Kaz, back in to Rus, out to Mongolia, back in, and then out again into the Ukraine. Meaning by my maths I would need a multi entry. How do you get round this problem?

Thanks

Birdy

Birdy.
That is a rule introduced since I got my first Visa, which was a 1 year ME Business one. My first one was in 2005 and from then I had the same type continuously 'back to back' until I got a full time Residency Permit.

An answer could be for you to get a single entry, short period, Visa, come and have a Beer or two with Motoreiter and I, then go back and apply for a Year ME Visa.

Birdy...

In 2010, when I applied for my first Russian Business visa, I was also concerned about the requirement to have had a (used) Russian visitors visa in the previous year. I had never been to Russia, but I applied for the ME Business visa anyway. I received it without any issues. :sweatdrop:

As it turned out, I wound up going elsewhere and never entered Russia that year. I'm now in the process of applying for a second ME Business visa for this year. The invitation has been issued... crossing my fingers again that there are no issues with the visa application.

Actually, I don't see that requirement (for a previous visa) anywhere on the Russian Embassy site (Canada) or on the VisaToRussia site that I used for the LOI anymore. Have they dropped that "requirement"? Maybe the key word in your quote is "should" vs "shall" or "must".

Just curious, so no help I'M afraid. I am planning long trip, but am hitting walls as regards linking a departure date with climate, no-go countries, and visas, not to mention carnets. I also want to minimise freight time and cost. What's your plan to get to SE Asia? My school atlas is getting very dog eared and coffee stained; in a real circuitous decision process.

Hm that makes a little hope, i could need a multiple entry visa as well, but on all german websites they write a previously used visa is necessary since 2010. Should be the same for other EU states.
I just wrote to some visa agencies, will keep you posted what they say.
The bad thing is the other visas are only valid for 30 days :/

Tourist Visas can be valid for up to 30 days - never longer.
First Business Visas can be valid for up to 90 days - subsequent ones for up to a year, but with a 90/180 day restriction.

The rules are slightly different for different countrues - usually as a result of diplomatic arguments between them making things more difficult and the other responding similarly.

But always check with the Consular section of Russia Embassy Website in the country where you reside and THEIR own handling agency.

I checked the with VF Services UK Limited (the people you apply through for your visa) regarding the claim that is floating about that "you can only apply for the multiple-entry visa if you obtained a Russian visa before."

Vitaly, on the Information Service Desk has said that:

From their website:

In conclusion, it seems, at least to me, that this applies to the visa applications with support letters of the 'tax number' variety, NOT the official (traditional LOI) travel agency ones. Therefore. a previous visa is not required, at least for the likes of us.

Stephen,

I am not saying you are wrong - or right. But I see you are quoting from their Processing Times page, not Visa requirement pages.
But look at the comeplete, final, sentence in your quote with the word "also". Looks conclusively the opposite to what you continue with. On immediate looks I could disagree with you, but...

Unlike where you are, it is getting late here and the draught Emmer Пиво from the shop downstairs is taking it's toll on my thinking ability at interpreting the negative and double negative meanings - or are they positives and double positives, in which case I do not know the gramatical rules.

Tomorrow.....
Hic

Yeah it's from the 'processing time' section. It's the only reference on their website that refers to the 'tax letter' that Vitaly, from VF Services, referred to in his email to me.

In other words, it seems that there are two types of 'letters' to support your Russian visa application:

1. The usual LOI from a tourist agency.
2. A 'tax letter'.

It seems that if you're using the 'tax letter' method to support your application then you must have previously been issued a Russian visa.

However, if you're using the regular LOI to support your visa application, from a tourist agency, then you don't need to have previously been issued with a Russian visa.

I hope that's clearer? That's my understanding of the problem. Enjoy your beer my good man.

bier

No. There is only one type of Invitation for Business Visas,which is the topic earlier. I am unsure about tourist visas never having had one because of their limitations, like 30 days, proof of accommodation, etc.

But the inviting organisation may or may not have an INN number (a unique tax reference number) on its Application to invite you.

In checking the Invitation Application, the Ministry will (or should) look into the credentials of the Applicant organisation.
If the INN number is supplied they can quickly access that information with the number through their links to the tax computor. If there is no INN number on the Application it takes them longer to check if the organisation is genuine and up to date with its responsibilities. Hence a longer Processing time.

Even my befuddled state wishes you well too!

Applying from Canada - small snag encountered
 

I hit a small snag in applying in Canada for my visa. Might be a sign of things to come elsewhere though as Russia prepares for an onslaught of visa applications in association with the Olympics. :confused1:

I received my business invitation through VisaToRussia this week and just as I was about to courier my completed application to Ottawa, I see on their website, that the Canadian Embassy/Consulate no longer accepts any visa applications by mail. When did that change? Anyway, they now accept applications only in person or through a visa service. Any sent by mail will be returned. I guess they just don't want to be bothered with dealing with the ins and outs of mailing anymore. Cutbacks likely.

Scanning the visa services in Canada, it looks like it should add another $100-$200, plus add several days to the process. :rolleyes2:

Errr.. The Olympics later this year are in London, UK. Although it is referred to as Londonistan by the crooks who fled there from RUS and made it a base for building legitimacy.
The next Winter Olympics are in Sochi but that is 2 years away. There will probably be a Visa Free concession for visitors in posession of Tickets. They did that with a football match between UK teams held in Moscow a few years ago.

Do you mean 'a' visa service or 'the' visa service?
In London, they have their own appointed Visa Handling Agents who are compulsory for all except Diplomatic and similar Visas. The Handling Agent accepts applications in person, by post and from commercial visa agents and they return Visas, or rejects, by the same route.
The Commercial Visa Agents do it all for you - invitations, applications, submitting it all to the 'official' Visa Handling Agents, collecting from them and getting it back to you. For a fee of course!

Pity the poor Russians who want a visa to visit the UK. The British Consular service insists all applicants must attend in person. Recognising Russia is a bit bigger than UK they thoughtfully provided a handfull of centres other than just Moscow and StPeter.
That was a mighty relief to anyone in Vladivostock who wants to take his family to visit Britain. Every member of his family now only has to travel a 7,200 mile round trip, a quarter the way round the globe, just to get their visas. The actual trip comes later - if they have the time, energy and money remaining.