Russian Visa, anyone used this websiite?

[davel1001]

Hi there,

I am an Australian hoping to get a multi-entry tourist visa for Russia. I understand you need a Russian tour company/hotel/hostel to 'sponsor' your stay and give a copy of these details to the Embassy when applying for your visa. During my research I came across this mob: Russian Visa Online, Moscow, Russia. Tourist, Business, Multiple-Entry Travel Russia Visa Support Invitation Services. Russian Federation Visa Requirements, Embassy and Consulate Application Form. Visas to all CIS Countries: Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhs

It appears, for a fee, they can sponsor you for the visa without providing them with a detailed itinerary, i.e. without pre-booking accomodation. My question is has anyone used these people? They still want basic details like which cities you plan to visit, and dates of entry and exit but no hotel bookings. Any thoughts?

Dave.

[Daithi Rynhart]

I used a similar such company in 2009 and got a "tourist invitation" to russia for about €15. Applied for it online and had it within a few minutes. I then sent this with my visa application and other required paperwork to my nearest russian embassy and hey presto got a visa without any pre-booked accomodation. At the border entering russia from latvia i simply gave an approximate plan (very basic) of my stay and expected exit date. Important to remember to register your visa within a day or two, usually hotels do this for free or a small fee. I loved my travels in western russia!

[danielsprague]

There is no such thing as a multi-entry tourist visa. Tourist visas are valid for a maximum of 30 days, good for one or two entries. If you need more, you need to get a business visa. You can get 3, 6 or 12 month business visas. 12 month business visas can be multiple entry. It's sometimes also possible to get multi-entry 3 or 6 month visas, but it depends on the individual embassy - contaact them first to find out.

The most important rule to remember is that (with a few exceptions; Hong Kong, Tehran, Trabzon) you can only get a Russian visa in your home country, (or a country where you have the right to reside for more than 90 days - this does not include fellow EU member states if you are European).

The invitation, be it a tourist or business invitation, is a joke. You dont need to have any accommodation bookings / business proposals to get a tourist / business visa. Companies like Apartments St Petersburg Russia Internet Connected & WiFi Wireless , Way to Russia Guide | waytorussia.net can get you an invitation online with no other fuss. It's actually very easy. Usually, for tourist visas, a print-out or photocopy ofthe invitation is sufficient, but for business visas the original invitation is generally requested.

Providing you are applying in your country of origin / residence, getting a Russian visa for up to a year is generally pretty easy. You just need to do your own research and familiarise yourself with what exactly the particular embassy needs from you.

Daniel

[Tony P]

I don't know if it has started yet but there was a new regulation being spoken about last year saying you cannot apply for a One Year Multi Entry Visa as your first ever Visa for Russia.

A Visa Agency will clarify.

[colebatch]

Dave there are a fair few visa agencies that organise the business visa invitations for you.

I have always used Russian Visa | Visas For Russia | Russian Invitation | Your Way To Visit Russia - Visalink Services and still use them after 12 one-year multiple entry visas back to back ... so they must be doing something right.

Other companies include waytorussia and others.

[farqhuar]

Originally Posted by Tony P

I don't know if it has started yet but there was a new regulation being spoken about last year saying you cannot apply for a One Year Multi Entry Visa as your first ever Visa for Russia.

A Visa Agency will clarify.

That regulation came in in late 2007 according to the visa agency I applied to in early 2008. As a result, as a first time visa holder the best I could get was a 3 month double entry business visa.

[T.REX63]

Originally Posted by farqhuar

That regulation came in in late 2007 according to the visa agency I applied to in early 2008. As a result, as a first time visa holder the best I could get was a 3 month double entry business visa.

Hmmm, ...that would put a kink into my travels. I had planned on entering Russia a total of three (3) times on my trip from the US to Germany going west:

1.Vladivostok (Zarubino)
2.Leaving Mongolia (M52)
3.Leaving Kazakhstan (into Russia)

I will be a first time applicant... Is that something that's written in stone...?

I have two passports (different nationalities). I guess applying for two (2) Russian visa would invite questions and problems, especially since the bike is registered in the US. Any opinions...?

[T.REX63]

Originally Posted by Tony P

I don't know if it has started yet but there was a new regulation being spoken about last year saying you cannot apply for a One Year Multi Entry Visa as your first ever Visa for Russia.

A Visa Agency will clarify.

I have been going back and forth by email and phone with a Russian Visa Service here in Atlanta, GA / USA. Russian Visa Full Service and Support. Russian Visa Online | go to russia travel, apply for russian visa, visa to russia, visa for russia, go to russia, russia visa, russian tourist visa, russian visa, visa russia, russian visas, russian business vis.

I specifically asked about the limitation of a first time applicant not being able to apply for a multiple entry 12 month business visa. The gentlemen, Dimitri, has not heard about it, nor could he confirm it after checking with his colleague.

Is this a regulation that could possibly apply only to UK citizens? Does anybody have a link making reference to this limitation?

Thanx y'all

[srace7]

On this page there is a reference to the regulation: Click here

The wording that is appropriate on the EU site is:

For EU citizens applying for single or double entry visa with invitation letter containing Individual Tax Number (ИНН) visa processing time is 5 working days.
For EU citizens applying for multiple entries business or humanitarian visa with invitation letter containing Individual Tax Number (ИНН) visa processing time is 10 working days. Applicants should also have a single or double Russian visa in the last 1 year, without which they cannot apply for multiple entries.
For Applicants wishing to travel to some parts of North Caucasus visa processing time is up to 10 working days.

It may be different for other nationalities...